List of Norwegian monarchs
The list of Norwegian monarchs (Template:Langx or kongerekka) begins in 872: the traditional dating of the Battle of Hafrsfjord, after which victorious King Harald Fairhair merged several petty kingdoms into that of his father. Named after the homonymous geographical region, Harald's realm was later to be known as the Kingdom of Norway.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Traditionally established in 872 and existing continuously for over 1,100 years, the Kingdom of Norway is one of the oldest states of Europe: King Harald V, who has reigned since 1991, is the 64th monarch according to the official list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During interregna, Norway has been ruled by variously titled regents.
Several royal dynasties have possessed the Throne of the Kingdom of Norway: the more prominent include the Fairhair dynasty (872–970), the House of Sverre (1184–1319), the House of Oldenburg (1450–1481, 1483–1533, 1537–1818, and from 1905),including branches Holstein-Gottorp (1814–1818) and Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (from 1905), and the House of Bernadotte (1818-1905). During the civil war era (1130–1240), several pretenders fought each other, and as a consequence, some rulers from this era are not traditionally considered lawful kings and are usually omitted from lists of monarchs. Between 1319 and 1905, Norway was at times part of various unions with neighbouring countries, like The First Swedish–Norwegian union, The Kalmar Union, Denmark-Norway and Sweden–Norway.
Kings of Norway used many additional titles between 1450 and 1905, such as King of the Wends, King of the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Duke of Holstein, Prince of Rügen, and Count of Oldenburg. They called themselves Konge til Norge ("King of Norway"), usually with the style His Royal Majesty.Template:Citation needed With the introduction of constitutional monarchy in 1814, the traditional style "by the Grace of God" was extended to "by the Grace of God and the Constitution of the Kingdom", but was only briefly in use.Template:Citation needed The last king to use the by the grace of God style was Haakon VII, who died in 1957. The King's title today is formally Norges Konge ("Norway's King"), with the style "His Majesty".
Key
[edit]For lists of the prehistoric kings of Norway see List of legendary kings of Norway
R | Reign |
---|---|
I | Independent period |
D | Union with Denmark (1537 – 1814 as Denmark–Norway) |
S | Union with Sweden (1814 – 1905 as Sweden–Norway) |
DS | Union with Denmark and Sweden (1397 – 1523 as Kalmar Union) |
R | Interregnum/Regency |
Fairhair dynasty
[edit]Template:Main Besides becoming sole king after his father Harold's death, Eric Bloodaxe was king jointly with his father for three years before the latter's death. After Harald's death, Eric ruled as "overking" of his brothers, who also held status as kings and had control over certain regions.<ref name="EricINBL">Template:Cite web</ref> Harald Greycloak also ruled as "overking" of his brothers.<ref name="Harald2NBL">Template:Cite web</ref> All dates for the kings of the Fairhair dynasty are approximate and/or just scholarly estimates. Slight differences might therefore occur between different sources. The following table uses the dates given in Norsk biografisk leksikon/Store norske leksikon.
House of Gorm/Earl of Lade
[edit]Template:Main The Danish king Harald Bluetooth had himself hailed as king of Norway after the Battle of Fitjar (Template:Circa 961). Besides gaining direct control of Viken in south-eastern Norway, he let Harald Greycloak rule the rest of Norway as king, nominally under himself.Template:Citation needed Harald Bluetooth later switched his support to Harald Greycloak's rival, Haakon Sigurdsson, Earl of Lade, who eventually captured Harald Greycloak's kingdom. Haakon thereafter ruled Norway (except Viken), at first nominally under Harald. All dates are estimates and subject to interpretation.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Haakon is generally held as the ruler of Norway from 970 to 995.<ref name="HåkonjarlNBL">Template:Cite web</ref>
R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
D | Harald Bluetooth<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 961 – Template:Circa 980Template:Sfn (de jure) |
File:Harald Blaatand.jpg Template:Small |
Template:Circa 925/35Template:Citation needed Son of Gorm the Old and Thyra |
Template:Citation neededTove of the Obotrites Four or six children |
987 latest Jomsborg |
R | Earl Haakon Sigurdsson<ref name="HåkonjarlNBL"/> 965/70–995Template:Sfn (de facto) |
File:Håkon jarl.jpg Template:Small |
Template:Circa 935 Trondheim Son of Sigurd Haakonsson and Bergljot Toresdatter |
Tora Skagesdatter Nine childrenTemplate:Citation needed |
995 Rimul |
Fairhair dynasty (restored)
[edit]R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Olaf I Tryggvason<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 995–1000 |
File:Olav Tryggvason coin (front).png | 968 Son of Tryggve Olafsson and Astrid Eiriksdottir |
Various | Template:Circa 1000 Svolder |
House of Gorm/Earls of Lade (restored)
[edit]Template:Main After the Battle of Svolder, the Danes recaptured Norway under Sweyn Forkbeard. As before, the Danes controlled the petty kingdoms of Viken as vassals, while the two Earls of Lade, Eric Haakonsson and Sweyn Haakonsson, ruled Western Norway and Trøndelag, nominally as earls under Sweyn.Template:Sfn Eric is generally held as the de facto ruler of Norway from 1000 to 1015, together with his brother Sweyn, a lesser known figure, with whom he shared his power.<ref name="EirikjarlNBL">Template:Cite web</ref>
R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
D | Sweyn Forkbeard<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1000–1013Template:Sfn (de jure) |
File:Sweyn Forkbeard coin (cropped).jpg | 17 April 963 Son of Harald Bluetooth and Tove of the Obotrites |
(1 & 2) Gunhild of Wenden or Sigrid the Haughty Eight or more childrenTemplate:Citation needed |
3 February 1014<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gainsborough, Lincolnshire |
R | Earl Eric Haakonsson<ref name="EirikjarlNBL"/> 1000–1015Template:Sfn (de facto) |
Template:Circa 964 Son of Haakon Sigurdsson and Gunhild Mieszcosdatter |
Gytha Svendsdatter One sonTemplate:Citation needed |
Template:Circa 1024 England | |
Earl Sweyn Haakonsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1000–1015Template:Sfn (de facto) |
Template:Circa 970 Son of Haakon Sigurdsson and Thora Skagesdatter |
Holmfrid Eriksdatter Two daughtersTemplate:Citation needed |
Template:Circa 1016 Russia |
St. Olav dynasty
[edit]R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Olav II Haraldsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Saint Olav (Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae) 1015–1028 |
File:Olav der Heilige07.jpg | Template:Circa 995 Ringerike Son of Harald Grenske and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter |
Astrid Olofsdotter One daughter |
29 July 1030 Stiklestad Aged 34–35 |
House of Gorm/Earl of Lade (restored, second time)
[edit]R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
D | Cnut the GreatTemplate:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1028–1035 (de jure) |
File:Cnut the Great Obverse.jpg | Template:Circa 995 Son of Sweyn Forkbeard |
(1) Ælfgifu of Northampton Two children (2) Emma of Normandy Two children |
12 November 1035 Shaftesbury |
R | Earl Haakon Ericsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1028–1029 (de facto) |
File:Sm 76, Komstad.JPG | Template:Circa 998 Son of Eric Haakonsson and Gytha Svendsdatter |
Gunhild One daughterTemplate:Citation needed |
1029 Pentland Firth |
D | Sweyn Knutsson (with Ælfgifu)Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1030–1035 (de facto) |
Template:Circa 1015 Son of Cnut and Ælfgifu of Northampton |
Never married | Template:Circa 1035 |
St. Olav dynasty (restored)
[edit]R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Magnus I Olavsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Magnus the Good 1035–1047 |
File:Magnus den gode mynt p (obverse).jpg | Template:Circa 1024 Illegitimate son of Olaf II and Alfhild |
Never married | 25 October 1047 Zealand Aged 23 |
D |
Hardrada dynasty
[edit]R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth, parents | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Harald III Sigurdsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Harald Hardrada 1046–1066 |
File:Harold-III-Coin.png | Template:Circa 1015 Son of Sigurd Syr and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter |
(1) Elisiv of Kiev Two daughters (2) Tora Torbergsdatter (bigamously) Two sons |
25 September 1066 Stamford Bridge, England Aged 50–51 |
Magnus II Haraldsson<ref name="Krag, Claus">Template:Cite web</ref> 1066–1069 |
Template:Circa 1049 Eldest son of Harald III and Tora Torbergsdatter |
Never married | 28 April 1069 Nidaros Aged 19–20 | ||
Olav III Haraldsson<ref name="Krag, Claus"/> Olaf Kyrre 1067–1093 |
File:Olav Kyrre mynt 1 (obverse).jpg | Template:Circa 1050 Youngest son of Harald III and Tora Torbergsdatter |
Ingerid of Denmark No issue |
22 September 1093 Haukbø, Rånrike (now Håkeby, Sweden) Aged 42–43 | |
Haakon (II) Magnusson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Haakon Toresfostre 1093–1095 |
Template:Circa 1069 Illegitimate son of Magnus II |
Never married | 1095 Dovrefjell Aged 25–26 | ||
Magnus III Olavsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Magnus Barefoot 1093–1103 |
File:Magnus III Barefoot of Norway coin 1865.png | Template:Circa 1073 Illegitimate son of Olav III and unknown |
Margaret Fredkulla No issue |
24 August 1103 Ulster Aged 29–30 | |
Olav (IV) Magnusson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1103–1115 |
File:Ol-Øys-Sig 8.png | Template:Circa 1098 Illegitimate son of Magnus III and Sigrid Saxesdatter |
Never married | 22 December 1115 Nidaros Aged 16–17 | |
Eystein I Magnusson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1103–1123 |
File:Oeystein.jpg | Template:Circa 1088 Illegitimate son of Magnus III |
Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter Two childrenTemplate:Citation needed |
29 August 1123 Hustad, Romsdal Aged 34–35 | |
Sigurd I Magnusson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sigurd the Crusader 1103–1130 |
Template:Circa 1089 Illegitimate son of Magnus III and Tora |
(1) Bjaðmunjo Mýrjartaksdóttir No issue (2) Malmfred of Kiev One daughter (3) CeciliaTemplate:Dubious No issue |
26 March 1130 Oslo Aged 40–41 | ||
Magnus IV Sigurdsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Magnus the Blind 1130–1135 |
File:Battle of holmengrå.png | Template:Circa 1115 Illegitimate son of Sigurd I and Borghild Olavsdatter |
Christina of Denmark Template:Circa 1133 No issue |
12 November 1139 Holmengrå Aged 23–23 |
Gille dynasty
[edit]R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth, parents | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Harald IV Magnusson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Harald Gille 1130–1136 |
– | Template:Circa 1102 Ireland/Hebrides Alleged illegitimate son of Magnus III |
Ingrid of Sweden Template:Circa 1134 One son |
14 December 1136 Bergen Aged 32–33 |
Sigurd II Haraldsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sigurd Munn 1136–1155 |
– | Template:Circa 1133 Illegitimate son of Harald IV and Thora Guttormsdatter |
Never married | 10 June 1155 Bergen Aged 21–22 | |
Inge I Haraldsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Inge the Hunchback 1136–1161 |
– | Template:Circa 1135 Only son of Harald IV and Ingrid of Sweden |
Never married | 4 February 1161 Oslo Aged 25–26 | |
Eystein II Haraldsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1142–1157 |
– | Template:Circa 1125 Shetland/Orkney/Hebrides Illegitimate son of Harald IV and Biadoc |
Ragna Nikolasdatter No issue |
21 August 1157 Rånrike (now Bohuslän) Aged 31–32 | |
Magnus (V) Haraldsson<ref>Helle, Knut (1995). Aschehougs norgeshistorie : 1130–1350. 3 : Under kirke og kongemakt 1130–1350, p. 14. Aschehoug.</ref><ref name="NBL">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 1142–1145 |
– | Template:Circa 1135 Illegitimate son of Harald IV |
Never married | Template:Circa 1145 Norway | |
Haakon II Sigurdsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Haakon the Broadshouldered 1157–1162 |
– | Template:Circa 1147 Illegitimate son of Sigurd II and Thora |
Never married | 7 July 1162 Sekken, Romsdalen Aged 14–15 |
Hardrada dynasty (restored), cognatic branch
[edit]R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth, parents | Marriage(s) Issue |
Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Magnus V Erlingsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1161–1184 |
– | Template:Circa 1156 Son of Erling Skakke and Kristin Sigurdsdatter |
Estrid Bjørnsdotter (possible) Two daughtersTemplate:Citation needed |
15 June 1184 Fimreite Aged 27–28 |
Sverre dynasty
[edit]R | Name Reign |
Portrait | Birth, parents | Marriage | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Sverre Sigurdsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1184–1202 |
File:Sverre Sigurdsson (Nidaros Cathedral).jpg | Template:Circa 1151 Bergen Alleged illegitimate son of Sigurd II and Gunnhild |
Margaret of Sweden 1185 One daughter |
9 March 1202 Bergen Aged 50–51 |
Haakon III Sverresson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1202–1204 |
– | Before 1185 Illegitimate son of Sverre |
Never married | 1 January 1204 Bergen Aged 20-21 | |
Guttorm Sigurdsson<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 1204 |
– | Template:Circa 1199 Illegitimate son of Sigurd Lavard |
Never married | 11 August 1204 Nidaros Aged 4–5 |
House of Godwin (Gille dynasty, cognatic branch)
[edit]R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Inge II Bårdsson 1204–1217 |
File:Inge Bårdsson seal.jpg | Template:Circa 1185 Rissa Son of Bård Guttormsson and Cecilia Sigurdsdatter |
never married | 23 April 1217 Nidaros Aged 31–32 |
Sverre dynasty (restored)
[edit]House of Bjälbo
[edit]R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Magnus VII Eriksson August 1319 – August 1355 (abdicated, de facto) |
File:Magnus Eriksson (cropped).jpg Template:Small |
Template:Circa 1316 Norway Only son of Duke Erik Magnusson and Ingeborg of Norway |
Blanche of Namur 5 November 1335 Bohus Castle Two sons |
1 December 1374 Lyngholmen Aged 58 |
Haakon VI Magnusson
Template:Small |
File:Kong Haakon VI Magnusson PI XVII 1.jpg | 15 August 1340 Sweden Second son of Magnus VII and Blanche of Namur |
Margaret of Denmark 9 April 1363 Church of Our Lady One son |
11 September 1380 Akershus Castle Aged 40 | |
I | |||||
D | Olav IV Haakonsson 11 September 1380 –23 August 1387 |
File:Oluf 2 of Denmark (Kronborg tapestries) cropped.jpg Template:Small |
December 1370 Akershus Castle Only son of Haakon VI and Margaret I |
never married | 23 August 1387 Falsterbo Castle Aged 16 |
R | Interregnum (23 August 1387 – 2 February 1388)
Margaret Estridsen as regent |
House of Estridsen
[edit]R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DS | Margaret
Template:Small |
Queen Margaret I | c. 1353 Vordingborg Castle youngest daughter of Valdemar IV and Helvig of Schleswig |
Haakon VI of Norway 9 April 1363 Church of Our Lady One son |
28 October 1412 Ship on Flensburg Fjord Aged 58–59 |
House of Griffin
[edit]R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DS | Eric III 8 September 1389 – 4 June 1442 (deposed) |
File:Erik-af-Pommern 1424 (cropped).jpg | Template:Circa 1381/82 Rügenwalde Castle Only son of Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania and Mary of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
Philippa of England 26 October 1406 Lund Cathedral No issue |
3 May 1459 Rügenwalde Castle Aged 76–78 |
I |
House of Palatinate-Neumarkt
[edit]R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DS | Christopher 4 June 1442 – 5 January 1448 |
File:Christopher of Bavaria crop.jpg | 26 February 1416 Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz Fifth son of John, Count Palatine of Neumarkt and Catherine of Pomerania |
Dorothea of Brandenburg 12 September 1445 Copenhagen No issue |
5/6 January 1448 Kärnan Castile Aged 31 |
R | Interregnum (5/6 January 1448 – 20 November 1449) Sigurd Jonsson as regent |
House of Bonde
[edit]R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Charles I 20 November 1449 – 13 May 1450 (abdicated/deposed) |
File:Carl II of Sweden 15th century by Bernt Notke 1982 .jpg | 5 October 1409 Ekholmen Castle Only son of Knut Tordsson Bonde and Margareta Karlsdotter Sparre |
(1) Birgitta Bielke before 1 March 1429 Two children (2) Katarina Gumsehuvud 5 October 1438 Stockholm Nine children (3) Christina Abrahamsdotter Template:Circa 1470 Stockholm Castle Two children |
14 May 1470 Stockholm Castle Aged 60 |
House of Oldenburg
[edit]House of Holstein-Gottorp
[edit]R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Charles II 4 November 1814 – 5 February 1818 |
File:Charles XIII of Sweden.jpg | 7 October 1748 Stockholm Palace Second son of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia |
Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp 7 July 1774 Stockholm Cathedral Two children |
5 February 1818 Stockholm Palace Aged 69 |
House of Bernadotte
[edit]R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Charles III John 5 February 1818 – 8 March 1844 |
File:Marechal-Bernadotte.jpg | 26 January 1763 Pau Son of Jean Henri Bernadotte and Jeanne de Saint Vincent; Adopted by Charles II on 21 August 1810 |
Désirée Clary 17 August 1798 Sceaux One son |
8 March 1844 Stockholm Palace Aged 81 |
Oscar I 8 March 1844 – 8 July 1859 |
File:Oscar I of Sweden & Norway c 1855 by Augusta Åkerlöf.jpg | 4 July 1799 Paris Only son of Charles III John and Désirée Clary |
Josephine of Leuchtenberg 19 June 1823 Stockholm Cathedral Five children |
8 July 1859 Stockholm Palace Aged 60 | |
Charles IV 8 July 1859 – 18 September 1872 |
File:Carl XV of Sweden c 1870 (2).jpg | 3 May 1826 Stockholm Palace Eldest son of Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg |
Louise of the Netherlands 19 June 1850 Stockholm Cathedral Two children |
18 September 1872 Malmö Aged 46 | |
Oscar II 18 September 1872 – 7 June (deposed) or 26 October 1905 (abdicated) |
File:Oscar II of Sweden painted by Oscar Björck in 1893.jpg | 21 January 1829 Stockholm Palace Third son of Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg |
Sophia of Nassau 6 June 1857 Biebrich Palace Four children |
8 December 1907 Stockholm Palace Aged 78 | |
R | Dissolution of the Union (7 June 1905 – 26 October 1905) Interregnum (26 October 1905 – 18 November 1905) Christian Michelsen as Prime Minister |
House of Glücksburg
[edit]Template:Main Carl of Denmark was approved in a referendum as King of Norway on 13 November 1905 and then elected by the Storting on 18 November 1905. He took the regnal name Haakon VII. With him the House of Oldenburg, in the form of its junior branch, resumed occupancy of the throne of Norway.Template:Citation needed
R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Haakon VII 18 November 1905 – 21 September 1957 |
3 August 1872 Charlottenlund, Denmark Second son of Frederik VIII of Denmark and Louise of Sweden |
Maud of Wales 22 July 1896 1 son |
21 September 1957 Oslo Template:Small | |
Olav V 21 September 1957 – 17 January 1991 |
2 July 1903 Norfolk, England Only child of Haakon VII and Maud of Wales |
Märtha of Sweden 21 March 1929 3 children |
17 January 1991 Oslo Template:Small | ||
Harald V 17 January 1991 – Present |
File:King Harald V 2021.jpg | 21 February 1937 Asker Only son of Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden |
Sonja Haraldsen 29 August 1968 2 children |
(Template:Age in years and days) |
See also
[edit]- Monarchy of Norway
- List of heads of government of Norway
- List of Norwegian monarchs' coats of arms
- List of Norwegian monarchs' mottos
- List of Norwegian consorts
- Coronations in Norway
- Line of succession to the Norwegian throne
- Kings of Norway family tree