History of Norway

The Kalmar Union and the union with Denmark

Norway was relegated to a virtual provincial status from 1396 until 1814; this period was called "the 400-year-night" by Henrik Ibsen during the national romantic period as Norwegian national awareness was rediscovered in the 19th century. It can be broken into two main periods:

Related Topics:
Provincial - 1396 - 1814 - Henrik Ibsen

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• The union of all Scandinavia referred to as the Kalmar Union, and
• The Danish Period or Union with Denmark.

The Kalmar Union (1396–1536)

Main article: Kalmar Union

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King Haakon V died without male heirs in 1319. His daughter married a Swedish prince, whose son Magnus Eriksson inherited both kingdoms. Magnus's son Haakon VI and his infant son Olav IV were Norway's last native kings. Margrethe, the queen mother, succeeded in uniting Norway with Denmark and Sweden in the Kalmar Union (1397–1523), which ended after 180 years when Sweden seceded in 1536. Norway's power was weakened during this period by the loss of a large part of the population during the Black Death pandemic of 1349–1351.

Related Topics:
Haakon V - Magnus Eriksson - Haakon VI - Olav IV - Margrethe - Denmark - Sweden - 1397 - 1523 - Black Death - Pandemic - 1349 - 1351

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The Union with Denmark (1536–1814)

Main article: Denmark-Norway

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Norway and its possessions quickly sank to the status of provinces under the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. The Danish period can be separated into subperiods:

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• The Reformation in Norway (1536–1596): Norway's power was further weakened by the dissolution of the independent Norwegian church in the reformation of 1537.
• The Northern Wars (1596–1720): A period of virtually continual war and preparation for war, including the Kalmar War (1611–1613), the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648), the Northern War (1655–1658), the Gyldenløve War (1675–1679) and culminating in the Great Northern War (1700–1721).
• The Period of Peace and Economic Growth (1721–1770): During the 18th century, Norway enjoyed a period of great prosperity and became an increasingly important part of the united kingdoms.
• National Reawakening and Preparation for Independence (1770–1814): This period was built on the strong natural independence of the Norwegian farm culture, combined with awareness of the American Revolution (1775–1783) and the French Revolution (1789–1799), building the natural national assertiveness, and culminating in the constitutional convention of 1814.