Born 1937. Parents: King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha. King upon the death of his father in 1991. The birth a special historic event since it was the first in 567 years that a prince had been born in Norway and the birth ensured the line of succession of the relatively newly established Norwegian Royal Family. King Haakon VII became King of Norway after the dissolution of the union with Sweden in 1905. According to the Constitution of 1814, he could only be succeeded by male heirs but this provision has subsequently been amended. Married on August 29, 1968 to Sonja Haraldsen, born in 1937. Children: Princess Märtha Louise, born in 1971; and Crown Prince Haakon Magnus, born in 1973.
His Majesty has participated in many national and international sailing competitions. As Crown Prince, he represented Norway several times in the Olympic Summer Games, won the Gold Cup Races in 1968, and took first place in the Kiel Week Races in Germany in 1972. He was number two in the World championship in the half-ton class in 1982. In the summer of 1987, the King won the world championship with his new yacht, the one-ton "Fram X", which was a gift from the Norwegian business community on His Majesty's 50th. birthday. In 1988 the yacht and its crew won a bronze medal in the World Championship in San Francisco, California.
Born on July 2, 1903 as Prince Alexander of Denmark. Full name: Olav Alexander Edward Christian Frederik. Parents: King Haakon VII *) and Queen Maud (née Princess of Great Britain and Ireland). When his father became King of Norway in 1905, Alexander became Crown Prince and his name was changed to Olav. King upon the death of his father in 1957. He died on January 17, 1991.
*) There are some controversy over who his the biological father, see press discussion. In the new book, «The People», author Tor Bomann-Larsen raises questions about who the biological father of deceased king Olav really was. According to the book, the british doctor Sir Francis Laking or his son Sir Francis Guy Laking was the real father of King Olav, not King Haakon as history dictates. Sir Francis Laking was himself a member of the British aristocracy. The foundation for the research is based on official state archives and royal archives throughout Europe, but no final conclusions are presented in the book.
Crown Prince Olav married Märtha Sophie Luise Ingeborg Dagmar Thyra of Sweden (1910-1954), daughter of Prince Oskar Carl Wilhelm of Sweden and Princess Ingeborg Charlotte Caroline Friederike Louise (née Princess of Denmark), on March 21st., 1929 in Vaar Frelsers Kirke in Oslo. Children: Ragnhild, born in 1930; Astrid born in 1932; and Harald born in 1937.
H. M. King Haakon VII 1905 - 1957
H. M. King Oscar II of Norway and Sweden 1872 - 1905
Born on August 3, 1872 in Denmark as Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel, known as Prince Carl of Denmark. Parents: King Frederik VIII of Denmark and Queen Louise (née Princess of Sweden). After the end of the Union between Norway and Sweden, Carl was offered the Norwegian Crown, which he accepted. He acceded on November 18, 1905. As King he called himself Haakon VII. He was crowned in the Cathedral of Nidaros in 1906. During the German WWII occupation of Norway (1940-45), an exile government in London was headed by HM King Haakon VII. He died on September 21, 1957.
Married Maud Charlotte von Sachsen-Coburg, daughter of King Edward VII von Sachsen-Coburg and Prinzessin Alexandra Carolina Marie Charlotte Louise Julia (née Princess of Denmark) on July 22 Jul 1896 in Buckingham Palace. (Maud Charlotte von Sachsen-Coburg was born on Nov. 26, 1869 in Marlborough House and died on Nov. 20, 1938 in London.) Son: Olav V.
Oscar II
King 1872-1905
Motto: "For the Good of the Kindred Nations"
Born on January 21, 1829 in Stockholm and was given the names Oscar Fredrik. Parents: King Oscar I and Josefina of Leuchtenberg. Duke of Östergötland. King of Sweden and Norway upon the death of his brother on September 18, 1872. Crowned in Stockholm on May 12, 1873 and in the Cathedral of Trondheim on July 18, 1873. Deposed as King of Norway by the Norwegian Parliament on June 7, 1905. Died on December 8, 1907 at Stockholm's Palace.
Married on June 6, 1857 to Sofia (Sofia Vilhelmina Mariana Henrietta) of Nassau (1836-1913), daughter of Vilhelm, Duke of Nassau, and Pauline of Würtemberg. Children: Gustaf V, Oscar Carl August (1859-1953) Duke of Gotland (1859-1888), renounced his rights to the throne, Wilhelm Carl Oscar (1861-1951) Duke of Västergötland, Eugen Napoleon Nicolaus (1865-1947) Duke of Närke.
The Norwegian and Swedish Royal Coat of Arms prior to 1905
HM King Oscar II of Sweden’s prescript addressed to the President of the Norwegian Storting in 1905, renouncing the Crown of Norway on behalf of himself and any member of his family
Stockholm, October 26, 1905 (Translation)
"Now that I have on behalf of Sweden recognized Norway as a State severed from union with Sweden, I make the following communication as regards my own position towards Norway and the occurrences connected with the Resolution of the Storting of the 7th June last."
"I hereby express my decision to abdicate the Norwegian Crown, which, in despite of my upright intentions, has during the past year brought me so much bitterness, and which, moreover, I could not for the future wear to any good purpose, seeing that by a Resolution of the Storting in conflict with the law the Royal prerogative of suspensory veto has been set aside."
"Nevertheless, in truth, I wish only the good of that land and people which I have from my early youth always sincerely loved, and whose prosperity it has always lain near my heart to promote in so far as this object could be combined with the fulfillment of my duties as King over both realms of the Scandinavian Peninsula."
"Having regard to the direction which the relations between the two peoples have taken, I cannot believe that it would be advantageous either for Sweden or for Norway that any member of my family in the direct succession should accept election as King in Norway. Mistrust and suspicion would be sure to arise in both countries, and would fall upon him as well as myself. Thereby might easily be disturbed the more friendly feelings which will, I hope, for the good of both nations, in no long time be once more restored in order to preserve the peace between the two - from henceforth divided - realms of the Scandinavian peninsula. I therefore declare that I am unable to accept the proposal made by the Storting."
"To those who have served me with fidelity in Norway during my reign of thirty-three years, and who still retain any affection for their former King, I send my heartiest thanks and my sincerest good wishes."
The Palace of Stockholm, October 26th, 1905.
Source:British and foreign papers. 1904-1905, Vol. XCVIII (98), London: Foreign Office, 1909, p. 818-819.
H.M. King Carl XV of Norway and Sweden 1859 - 1872
H.M. King Oscar I of Norway and Sweden 1847 - 1859
Carl XV
King 1859-1872
Motto: "With Law the Country Shall be Built"
Born on May 3, 1825 at Stockholm's Palace and was given the names Carl Ludvig Eugène. Parents: King Oscar I and Josefina of Leuchtenberg. Duke of Skåne. King of Sweden and Norway upon the death of his father on July 8, 1859. Crowned in Stockholm on May 3, 1860 and in the Cathedral of Trondheim on August 5, 1860. Died on September 18, 1872 in Malmö.
Married on June 19 with Lovisa (Wilhelmina Fredrika Alexandra Anna Louise) of the Netherlands (1828-1871), daughter of Prince Fredrik of the Netherlands and Lovisa Augusta Wilhelmina Amalia of Prussia. Children: Lovisa Josefina Eugenia (1851-1926), Carl Oscar Vilhelm Fredrik (1852-1854) Duke of Södermanland.
Carl XV was succeeded by his brother Oscar II.
Oscar I
King 1844-1859
Motto: "Justice and Truth"
Born on July 4, 1799 in Paris and was given the names Joseph François Oscar. Parents: King Carl III Johan and Desideria. Duke of Södermanland on January, 26 1811. King of Sweden and Norway upon the death of his father on March 8, 1844. Crowned in Stockholm on September, 28 1844. Died on July 8, 1859 in Stockholm.
Married on May 22, 1823 to Josefina of Leuchtenberg (1807-1876), daughter of Prins Eugène de Beaurnais, Duke of Leuchtenberg, and Augusta Amalia of Bavaria. Children: Carl IV, Gustaf (1827-1852) Duke of Uppland, Oscar II, Eugenie (1830-1889), Nikolaus August (1831-1873) Duke of Dalarne.
King Oscar II of Norway and Sweden 75-year Anniversary.
The Viking period (9th to 11th centuries) was one of national unification and expansion. The Norwegian royal line died out in 1387, and the country entered a period of union with Denmark. By 1586, Norway had become part of the Danish Kingdom. In 1814, as a result of the Napoleonic wars, Norway was separated from Denmark and combined with Sweden. The Union persisted until 1905, when Sweden recognized Norwegian independence. The Norwegian Government offered the throne of Norway to the Danish Prince Carl in 1905. After a plebiscite approving the establishment of a monarchy, the parliament unanimously elected him King. He took the name of Haakon VII, after the historic kings from the earlier periods of independent Norway.
GOVERNMENT
The functions of the King are mainly ceremonial, but he has influence as the symbol of national unity.Although the 1814 Constitution grants important executive powers to the King, these are almost always exercised by the Council of Ministers in the name of the King (King's Council). The Council of Ministers consists of the prime minister--chosen by the political parties represented in the Storting (parliament)--and other ministers.
The 165 members of the Storting are elected from 18 fylker (counties) for 4-year terms according to a complicated system of proportional representation.After elections, the Storting divides into two chambers, the Odelsting and the Lagting, which meet separately or jointly depending on the legislative issue under consideration.
The special High Court of the Realm hears impeachment cases; the regular courts include the Supreme Court (17 permanent judges and a president), courts of appeal, city and county courts, the labor court, and conciliation councils.Judges attached to regular courts are appointed by the King in council after nomination by the Ministry of Justice. Each fylke is headed by a governor appointed by the King in council, with one governor exercising authority in both Oslo and the adjacent county of Akershus.
The address of the Storting to His Majesty King Oscar II of Sweden in 1905 justifying their Action with regard to the Government of Norway and the Dissolution of the Union
All the members of the Ministry having this day in the Storthing resigned their office, and your Majesty having, in a Protocol of May 27th of the present year, officially declared that your Majesty is unable to procure for the country a new government, the Constitutional Royal Power in Norway has thus ceased to discharge its functions.
It has therefore been the duty of the Storting, as the representatives of the Norwegian people, immediately to authorize the members of the resigning Ministry, in the capacity of the Norwegian Government, to exercise for the present the authority vested in the King in accordance with the Fundamental Law of the Kingdom of Norway and the laws in force, with such modifications as are necessitated by the fact that the union with Sweden, which implies a joint King, has been dissolved, in consequence of the King having ceased to act as Norwegian King."
The course of this evolution, which has been stronger than the desires and will of the individual, has led to this result.
The Union entered upon in 1814 has from the very first moment been differently construed by the two peoples, both as regards its nature and dispositions. From the Swedish side the exertions have been directed towards extending the partnership; from the Norwegian side towards limiting it to what has been prescribed in the Act of Union, and for the rest to maintain the exclusive right of both kingdoms in all matters which are not described in the Act of Union as being of a Union character. This radical difference in the conception of the nature of the Union has given rise to much misunderstanding between the peoples, and caused much friction. And in the Swedish conception, which during the last negotiations between the kingdoms has been maintained by the Swedish Government towards Norway, the Norwegian people has unavoidably seen a violation of its Constitutional right, its independence, and its national honor.
The Union was justified as long as it was able to contribute to. the furtherance of the welfare and prosperity of both peoples with the maintenance of their independence as sovereign States. But above the Union stands for us Norwegians our Norwegian, for the Swedes the Swedish, native land. And more valuable than a political union is the feeling of solidarity and free concord of both peoples. To this sympathy between the Norwegian and the Swedish people, which ought to secure the prosperity of both peoples, and be their strength outwardly, the Union has become a danger.
While the Union is now being dissolved, the Norwegian people has no higher desire than to live in peace and good understanding with every one, and not least with the people of Sweden and with the dynasty under whose rule our country, despite much bitter Union strife, has made such important intellectual and material progress.
With the testimony that the work of the Norwegian people and their struggle for the complete independence of the country has not arisen from any animosity against the Royal House or the Swedish people, and has left no bitterness against either, the Storting respectfully asks to solicit your Majesty's concurrence with a view to obtain permission for a Prince of your Majesty's House to be elected King of Norway, on condition that he renounced his hereditary right to the Throne of Sweden.
The day when the Norwegian people elects its own King to ascend the ancient Throne of Norway will initiate an era of tranquil years for Norway, of a good and hearty relationship to the Swedish people, and of peace, unity and faithful concord in the North, for the defense of the culture of the nations, their freedom and independence.
Fully satisfied hereof, the Storting ventures to express the confident hope that that which has now happened will be found to be best for all as well as for your Majesty, for whose person the Norwegian people will keep unabated their high esteem and affection."
June 7,1905
Source: British and foreign papers. 1904-1905, Vol. XCVIII (98), London: Foreign Office, 1909, p. 796-797.
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The June 7th Medal
The official June 7th Medal of 1905 was awarded to all members of the Norwegian Parliament and the Government in memory of the dissolution of the Union with Sweden. The medal was individually casted for each member with his/her name (not engraved). The front was drawn by the painter Eilif Pettersen and the reverse by the painter Gerhard Munthe. The medal was designed by Ivar Throndsen.
