History of Norway

Introduction to History of Norway

The ancient Norwegians were a seafaring people who lived along the coast. In the third century A.D. they were in contact with the Romans in Britain and Gaul, but became isolated from the rest of Europe when the Germanic tribes swept in. In the fifth and sixth centuries several of the barbarian tribes invaded Norway from the sea, driving the earlier inhabitants inland. The population gradually became organized into many small kingdoms and earldoms. By the eighth century the Norwegians were trading with the Frisians of the northern Netherlands, exchanging furs and ivory for cloth.

Important dates in Norway

The Viking Age

About 800 A.D. the Norsemen—Northmen, the people of the Scandinavian countries—began to expand their sphere of activity. Causes of this expansion were population growth and the warlike, adventuresome spirit of the people. The Norwegians colonized the Faeroe and Orkney islands, then began to raid and plunder the west coast of Scotland and England and the east coast of Ireland. Soon Norwegian settlements were established, especially in Ireland, and Norwegian-Danish conquerors founded colonies in England and France. These Norse adventurers and colonizers are today known as Vikings.

Norwegians colonized Iceland in 874. From there they expanded to Greenland in the 980's and to Newfoundland about 1000. Some of the Viking migrations were caused by dissension at home, as the country was gradually brought under control of a central monarchy.

Growth of Monarchy

In the latter part of the ninth century Harold Haarfager (the Fair-haired), an east-coast king, made himself sovereign of all Norway. He also ruled the Shetlands and Orkneys. Harold's son Haakon converted a few Norwegians to Christianity but most of his subjects resisted his efforts. The country was finally converted during the reign of Olaf (II) Haraldsson (1016–28), who later was canonized and became the patron saint of Norway.

Olaf was driven from his throne by Knut (Canute) the Great, king of Denmark and England. Knut was one of a series of Danish rulers who at various times established sovereignty over Norway. After Knut's death Olaf's son Magnus won back the Norwegian throne and made himself also king of Denmark. He was succeeded by his uncle Harold (III) Haardraade, who invaded England in 1066 in an effort to reestablish Norse rule there and was killed in battle.

Domestic Development

In the next 200 years Norway grew increasingly powerful, building an empire that included the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. Conflict over succession to the throne led in 1130 to civil war, which lasted until the reign of Haakon IV (1223-63). The Norwegian empire was then at its greatest size, extending west to Greenland. The Hebrides and the Isle of Man were ceded to Scotland in 1266 when their defense became impracticable.

In 1349–50 the Black Death wiped out half of Norway's population, including four fifths of its nobility. Through intermarriage many Danes succeeded to the vacant titles, and Danish influence began to be felt, German merchants dominated Norway's economy in the 14th century through the Hanseatic League, which held a monopoly on Norwegian trade.

As A Danish Dependency

By inheritance Norway was united with Denmark in 1380 under Queen Margaret. She became ruler of Sweden also in 1389. The Union of Kalmar united the three countries from 1397 to 1523. Norway's power was gradually reduced. The Orkney and Shetland islands were ceded to Scotland in the 15th century, and the colony in Greenland died out from neglect. In 1523 Sweden broke away from the union, and in 1536 it was decided by Denmark that Norway should cease to exist as a separate realm. At the same time the Lutheran faith was introduced and Norway was converted to Protestantism.

Economically, Norway thrived under the Danes. The Hanseatic monopoly was broken, and a Norwegian merchant class came into being. Lumbering and shipbuilding became major industries; silver, copper, and iron mines were developed; and ironworks were built. A Norwegian merchant marine began taking over shipping from foreign ships.

In 1563 the Swedes began a war of territorial expansion. Fighting continued off and on until, in 1660, permanent boundaries were established. Norway lost three provinces to Sweden.

Transfer to Swedish Rule

During the early part of the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark remained neutral. Then in 1807 it joined France against England. Sweden joined the victorious coalition against France, and by the Treaty of Kiel in 1814 Norway was ceded to Sweden. Iceland, Greenland, and the Faeroes remained Danish. When the Norwegians learned the terms of the peace treaty, they rejected them. A constituent assembly met at Eidsvoll and on May 17 adopted a constitution. Prince Christian Frederick of Denmark was elected king. In July Sweden marched against Norway, which was forced to agree to a union under the Swedish king, Charles XIII. However, Norway was given its own national assembly (the Storting) and was recognized by Sweden as an independent kingdom.

These concessions resulted in a growth of nationalist feeling and a surge of cultural and intellectual activity. The Storting gained power until by the end of the century it governed the country. In 1905 the Storting declared the union with Sweden dissolved. Prince Carl of Denmark was elected king and took the throne as Haakon VII.

The Modern Nation

Norway, with its abundant water power to aid its industry, was prosperous until the post-World War I slump. At the outbreak of that war, the Scandinavian nations had declared themselves neutral. The Norwegian merchant marine was largely in the service of the Allies, however, and after the war Norway was awarded Spitsbergen and Björn (Bear) Island, an area now known as Svalbard. In the early 1930's Norway annexed Bouvet and Peter I islands in the South Atlantic to use as whaling stations.

The depression of the 1930's was felt severely in Norway. In 1935 the Labor party formed Norway's first Socialist government. In the latter part of the decade it enacted important social legislation in a variety of fields.

When World War II began, Norway declared itself neutral. Because of its strategic location, however, Germany invaded and occupied the country. King Haakon, Crown Prince Olaf, and the government took refuge in Great Britain, where the Norwegian government-in-exile was set up. In Norway the traitor Vidkun Quisling became head of the official political party, and in 1942 head of the puppet government.

A strong underground resistance movement grew up, assisted by exiles trained in Britain. Norway's merchant navy was at the disposal of the Allies. The country was liberated when Germany surrendered in May, 1945. Later in the year, Norway became a charter member of the United Nations. The nation joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949. In 1957 Crown Prince Olaf succeeded to the throne as King Olaf V.

Norway, heavily dependent on foreign trade, helped form the European Free Trade Association in 1959. In 1967 it sought, unsuccessfully, to join the European Community, or EC (now known as the European Union). The EC offered membership to Norway in 1972, but the Norwegian people voted against entry. The government, however, negotiated special trade arrangements with the EC in 1973. Meanwhile, in the late 1960's, huge petroleum and natural-gas reserves were discovered in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. In 1975 oil exports began on a large scale.

In 1994 Lillehammer, located about 80 miles (130 km) north of Oslo, was the site of the Winter Olympic Games. Also that year, the Norwegian people voted to reject an invitation from the European Union to become a member.

Norway has fostered peace talks in various countries. For example, the country helped Israel begin discussions between the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993, and Norway started talks in Sri Lanka between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil rebels in the early 2000's. Norway's efforts in Israel ultimately led to the Oslo accords.

The Labor Party won a majority of the seats in elections in 2005. It formed a coalition government with the Center and Socialist Left parties.