The Norwegian royal family is one of the most recognizable families of European royals in the world. With a fascinating history spanning over 1,000 years, the Norwegian monarchy has changed the politics of its country and those of the surrounding nations over generations.
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Ancestry and Formation of the Norwegian Monarchy
Norway was once a collection of tiny kingdoms until they were united in 885 CE by a single man: Harald Fairhair. While we will get into Harald and the Fairhair dynasty a bit later, here we will discuss the origins of the monarchy and its relations to the early kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden.
Origins of the Norwegian Monarchy
Not to alarm anyone, but the origins of the Norwegian monarchy – actually, most Scandinavian monarchies – date back to the Viking Age of Scandinavia. And, no, the Viking Age wasn’t exactly as is depicted in the show, Vikings. Scrub that from your brain!
READ MORE: History’s Most Famous Vikings
The petty kingdoms of Norway numbered between 9 and 20 in all. Little record of these kingdoms exists outside of Norse sagas, which themselves were likely recorded from oral traditions. Therefore, at some point at the start of the Viking Age, Norway was likely ruled by those petty kings of the sagas until unification in 885 CE.
Harald Fairhair (or Finehair) was the son of a petty king – a kongelige – himself according to sagas, Halfdan the Black. He had high ambitions to unite Norway under his house and successfully united the realm in theory at the Battle of Hafrsfjord. Though it took years to actually have a stable ruling government, the face of the Norwegian monarchy never looked the same afterward.
Early Norwegian Monarchs
Some of the earliest Norwegian monarchs had the biggest impact on the trajectory of the kingdom. Figures like Haakon the Good, Olaf Tryggvason, and Saint Olaf helped in establishing a united Norway. They also had a hand in the Christianization of Norway, the up-and-coming religion of the time.
READ MORE: How Did Christianity Spread: Origins, Expansion, and Impact
Haakon the Good was the Christian son of Harald Fairhair. He was raised in England and became the king of a united Norway after defeating his brother, Eric Bloodaxe, and his nephews in battle. Haakon is remembered for his multiple attempts to introduce Christianity into Norway. It didn’t catch on.
Apparently, Olaf Tryggvason (a great-great-grandson of Harald Fairhair) didn’t get the memo and also attempted to convert the Norse populace to Christianity. It was more successful than Haakon the Good’s attempts. Albeit, it was by force. Olaf also built the first Christian church in Norway and founded the city of Nidaros along with it.
By the time of Saint Olaf (or Olaf II of Norway, or Olaf the Holy), petty kings were back at it and he had to unite the realm. Again. He did so successfully, and violently, and made himself immensely popular while doing it. He also made peace with the Swedes (through political marriage), which won him some brownie points with the people. Later historians attribute the Christianization of interior Norway to Olaf, though his interpretation of Christianity probably looked very different from the Christianity most everyone else within Christendom was practicing.
Key Dynasties and Monarchs
There have been roughly 16 different dynasties in possession of the throne of Norway over the country’s extensive history. Several of these dynasties were restored and thus had ruled Norway more than once since, well, there were no laws against dynastic “double-dipping.” The dynasties include the…
- Fairhair
- Gorm
- St. Olav
- Hardrada
- Gille
- Sverre
- Godwin
- Bjälbo
- Estridsen
- Griffin
- Palatinate-Neumarkt
- Bonde
- Oldenburg
- Holstein-Gottorp
- Bernadotte
- Glücksburg
Below are described the most well-known dynastic houses and their most accomplished members, as well as their impact on Norwegian history.
The House of Fairhair
The House of Fairhair was the first royal dynasty to rule over a united Norwegian realm. On top of that, they’re the first dynasty we have any real significant record of existing.
Those of the House of Fairhair set the status quo for all future dynasties: they are the reason why early Norway had the succession pass through the male line. It was also their first king, Harald Fairhair, who is thought to have united the petty kings of Norway under a single banner. So, hey – maybe they can do what they want.
Harald Fairhair
Harald Fairhair (850-932), or better yet, Harald I of Norway, was the first Fairhair king. Some attestations consider him a Yngling – a descendant of the Germanic god Freyr (or Ing) – but others just describe him as a mere man with a militaristic mind. He’s the guy who rounded all the other kings up and said, “Hey, I’m the captain now!”
READ MORE: Germanic Gods and Goddesses: 19 Ancient Gods of Northern Europe
Sort of, at least. You get the idea.
Harald determined that his male descendants should rightfully rule Norway after he kicked the bucket. Unlike other Scandinavian nations during this time period, Norway did not have an elected monarchy. Therefore, after Harald died, the rulership of Norway was divided among his sons.
Haakon the Good
Haakon the Good (920-961) was a son of Harald Fairhair and his concubine, Thora Mosterstong. According to legends and sagas, he was raised in the court of the Anglo-Saxon king Æthelstan until his father’s death. It is believed that he was introduced to the Christian faith while in England.
In history, Haakon is known for having warred against his brother, Eric Bloodaxe, for the throne. His organization of the army was, by all accounts, impeccable. It is thought that the Norwegian leiðangr naval system was Haakon’s doing, too. In short, Eric stood no chance.
Once he acquired the throne of Norway, Haakon attempted to introduce Christianity to the kingdom multiple times. It wasn’t the most successful of his endeavors. Despite this, he is memorialized in a poem that describes his journey to Valhalla, where he is embraced by Odin and other pagan Norse deities.
The House of Hardrada
The founding of the House of Hardrada was an accident, but a happy one, to say the least. It all started with Harald Sigurdsson, who was crowned King of Norway in 1046. The rest is history.
The Hardrada dynasty is remembered for having worked to progress Christianity within Norway, as well as its involvement with seemingly countless battles. These battles were a result of rival kingships and pretenders, whose contests for the throne plunged Norway into a series of civil wars.
Harald Hardrada
Harald Hardrada (1015-1066) is famously called the last Viking King of Norway. The sagas loved this guy. Not only was he the King of Norway, but at various points throughout his life he was also the King of Denmark and the King of England. Dubbed the “Thunderbolt of the North” by Adam of Bremen, Harald was also a former mercenary in Kievan Rus and a commander of the Byzantine Empire’s Varangian Guard.
So, we’ve established that Harald Hardrada was a force to be reckoned with. He had been fighting professionally since he was fifteen when he joined his half-brother in an attempt to reclaim the Norwegian throne from the Danes. While his young age isn’t a shock for the period, his later military exploits are. Not everyone can say they’ve been a member of the Varangian Guard, a mercenary, and a king all in one lifetime.
Once he became King of Norway, his life’s work culminated in the Battle of Stamford Bridge. It was there that the decisive fight for the crown of England would be determined. However, despite his impressive forces, Harald Hardrada fell in battle. In fact, the Anglo-Saxon King of England, Harold Godwinson, also fell in battle. England fell to Norman forces a handful of weeks later, effectively ending Anglo-Saxon rule in the kingdom.
The Battle of Stamford Bridge is considered by historians as the symbolic end of the Viking Age, hence why Harald Hardrada is known as the last Viking King.
The House of Sverre
The founding of the House of Sverre was a tumultuous one. They took power in the midst of Norway’s Civil War Era (which lasted 110 years), which meant that they had their fair share of pretenders and rival claimants. Regardless of these less-than-ideal circumstances, the House of Sverre came out on top and ushered in the Golden Age of Norway.
Sverre Sigurdsson
Sverre Sigurdsson (1145-1202) was the first king of the House of Sverre and the founder of the rebel Birkebeiner party that was active in the Civil War Era. He was potentially an illegitimate son of Sigurd II of Norway, though this is unconfirmed. In his youth, Sverre was raised Catholic and pursued the priesthood. Something about the life of a man of the cloth didn’t seem to satisfy Sverre, and he instead pursued the Norwegian throne.
On Sverre’s quest to reign, he had to contend with the ramifications of Norway’s messy political scene. Old Norwegian law stated that the sons of a king had the right to rule, whether or not they were legitimate. Thus, kingship would be split amongst brothers. Sverre came into the middle of the wars where each side had supported a different contender for the throne, all of whom were related to Sverre’s “father,” Sigurd II.
Since Sverre came into the civil wars as an underdog, he agreed to become the leader of the Birkebeiner rebels. They were, as far as anyone was concerned, also underdogs. The sagas cite there being only 70 men in this warband, which was poor and had a reputation for troublemaking. Sverre not only shaped these men into proper warriors, but he also led them to victory. With the Birkebeiners, Sverre was able to make a name for himself and challenge his right to rule Norway.
The House of Oldenburg
The House of Oldenburg is German in origin and has had monarchs in just about every European monarchy. They ruled Norway from 1450 to 1814.
The House of Oldenburg was established in Norway as a result of the Kalmar Union. The Kalmar Union was designed as a personal union amongst Scandinavian royals, ultimately organized by the widowed Queen Margaret of Norway and Sweden. The Union lasted from 1397 to 1523 and united the nations of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland under a single monarch. The current king of Norway, Harald V, belongs to the House of Glücksburg, which is a branch of the House of Oldenburg.
Christian I
Christian I (1426-1481) is the guy who made the House of Oldenburg a royal house of Norway. In 1448, the Kalmar Union faced a bit of a succession crisis. It led to the union splitting, with Denmark and Sweden wanting to do their own things. Christian became King of Norway after his uncle recommended him for the job.
Now, it is later in 1448 that things get complicated. Sweden crowned a totally different person king: Karl Knutsson Bonde (or just Charles VIII). It left Christian to figure out who to have a union with or, impossibly, abdicate in favor of Charles being king of all three nations.
There was some back and forth, with neither Sweden nor Norway wanting to step on each other’s toes. Eventually, Charles VIII became so wildly unpopular with the Swedes that Christian was elected king of Sweden as well. This cemented the Oldenburg dynasty’s rule in Norway for the next several generations and reestablished the Kalmar Union.
Frederick III
Frederick III (1609-1670) came into power at a problematic time in European history. The Thirty Years’ War had raged on for years and the realms of Denmark and Norway were sick of it. Well, just about every other nation was sick of it, too, but Frederick was specifically King of Denmark and Norway. So, he was left out of the Peace of Westphalia and just had to deal with the consequences.
It’s safe to say, Frederick III’s reign wasn’t off to a good start.
By 1660, Frederick managed to become incredibly popular. So much so that he was able to use his popularity to sway the Riksrådet (Council of the State) and the public into thinking an absolute hereditary monarchy was just what Norway needed. He made it a state of emergency and everything!
The House of Glücksburg
The House of Glücksburg is a branch of the Oldenburg dynasty that came into power in 1905. It all started with Prince Carl of Denmark, who later became known as King Haakon VII after being elected to the position by the Storting. The House of Glücksburg has been the royal family of Norway since Haakon VII became king, as his grandson, Harald V of Norway, is the current monarch.
Haakon VII
Haakon VII (1872-1957) was the first king of an independent Norway in over 500 years. There was a vote, the 1905 Norwegian Monarchy Referendum, to maintain the monarchy through the Danish prince Carl or to become a republic. When the votes reflected an overwhelming popularity for the monarchy, Carl took the name Haakon and became Norway’s king.
As the King of Norway, Haakon led the nation through both World Wars. He, akin to his Swedish and Danish neighbors, opted for a stance of neutrality in World War I. However, he had no option in World War II when Nazi Germany invaded Norway. Although he was prepared to abdicate if the Storting wished him to, Haakon proved resistant to German demands in the long run. His willingness to defy the occupying forces inspired people across Norway to resist as well.
READ MORE: The Danish Royal Family Tree: The Lineage of Danish Monarchs
Olav V
Olav V (1903-1991), born Alexander of Denmark, was the son of Haakon VII and his wife, Maud of Wales. He was given the title Folkekongen during his reign, which translates to “The People’s King.” The epithet was a long time coming since he started really winning the hearts of the public in World War II. During the war, Olav proved to be knowledgeable, experienced and committed to the Norwegian resistance.
Throughout his rule, Olav’s role was by and large ceremonial in nature. He was a figurehead with little executive powers. Despite this, Olav is remembered as one of the most relatable and open monarchs in Norwegian history. It is thanks to his efforts as king that Norway recovered so rapidly following WWII and began to modernize.
Harald V
Harald V (1937-present) is Norway’s current king, famed for his earnest dedication to public service and maintaining the royal family’s image and relevance in modern times. Part of his fame can be attributed to his affinity for sports. For example, Harald is a celebrated sailor, having represented his nation in three separate Olympic Games.
Despite being the youngest child of his parents, Harald became heir from Norway’s male-preference primogeniture succession traditions. His son, Haakon, is also set to benefit from the Norwegian law of succession. Harald has made extensive efforts to modernize the monarchy of Norway by making the family more accessible to media agencies and available to the public.
Current Royal Family and Roles
The current royal family includes King Harald V of Norway, his wife, Queen Sonja, their son, and their son’s family. While King Harald and Queen Sonja have maintained public images through attempts to establish a royal museum at Oslo to further modernize the family’s image, Crown Prince Haakon has become affiliated with several nonprofit organizations. The royal family has regular public appearances together for national events and holidays alike.
The Norwegian royal family, including members and relevant heirs:
- King Harald V of Norway, the current Head of State as King of Norway
- Queen Sonja, wife of Harald V and a former commoner (a.k.a. their marriage was initially controversial!)
- Princess Märtha Louise (b. 1971) is the eccentric fourth in line to the throne after her nephew, Prince Sverre Magnus; her current partner is the controversial Durek Verrett
- Ari Behn (divorced in 2017) was a Danish author; he remained a private citizen during his marriage to Märtha Louise and is the father of her three children
- Maud Angelica Behn (b. 2003)
- Leah Isadora Behn (b. 2005)
- Emma Tallulah Behn (b. 2008)
- Ari Behn (divorced in 2017) was a Danish author; he remained a private citizen during his marriage to Märtha Louise and is the father of her three children
- Crown Prince Haakon (b. 1973) is set to inherit the throne from his father, His Majesty King Harald V; after a change of in Norwegian succession laws in 1990, his children, Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus both come before his elder sister in line for succession
- Crown Princess Mette-Marit (married in 2001) is the wife of Crown Prince Haakon and is the future Queen of Norway; she has a child from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, who remains a private citizen
- Princess Ingrid Alexandra (b. 2004) is second in line to the throne after her father and has begun a 12-month military conscription as of 2024
- Prince Sverre Magnus (b. 2005) is third in line to the throne after his elder sister (yep, this is the prince known for dabbing on a palace balcony back in 2018)
- Crown Princess Mette-Marit (married in 2001) is the wife of Crown Prince Haakon and is the future Queen of Norway; she has a child from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, who remains a private citizen
An additional member of the Norwegian royal court is Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, who was born in 1932. She is the last surviving sister of King Harald V. Their eldest sister, Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen, passed away in 2012.
Extended Family and Relatives
Thanks to the frequency of “keeping it in the family” among European royals in the 19th and 20th centuries, the royal family of Norway is related to most other European nobility. This would be on top of an extensive history of political marriages within Scandinavia. Thus, through some funky ancestry, Norwegian royals can find themselves on the line of succession of, say, the British royal family. Most of these marriages, such as the marriage between first cousins King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Wales, were sought out by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, who really just…wanted a member of the British Empire in every corner of the world, we guess.
In all seriousness, royal intermarriage was (and somewhat is) a contributing factor to the world as we know it today. This is notably true in Norwegian history when Harald Hardrada pursued marriages with Princess Elisiv of Kiev and (possibly) Tora Torbergsdatter, a royal consort, for political security. Or, for example, when Christian I, the first Oldenburg king, had to marry the dowager queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, Dorothea of Brandenburg to secure his position.
Royal families that are related to the Norwegian royals include the…
- Royal family of England
- Royal family of Denmark
- Royal family of Sweden
- Royal family of Greece
The House of Glücksburg also has ties to the former German royal family and the former Imperial family of Russia through marriages.
Wrapping Up the Norwegian Royal Family Tree
The Norwegian royal family tree played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Europe. Moreover, marriages within and outside of the family directly impacted the history of Norway and its vibrant cultures. As weird as it may seem to us, the prevalence of interconnected royal relationships across Europe may be an odd boon to the public, as these relations can better facilitate alliances and unified actions.
Efforts made by the monarchs of the House of Glücksburg have further modernized the royals of Norway. They have hobbies, passions, and lives outside the monarchy. For all the titles and privileges they hold, they seem like otherwise normal folks. When looking at the family tree of Norway, it’s interesting how a couple of generations could make a family go from utterly inaccessible to wholly open and welcoming.