From 1397 to 1814, Norway was basically the sidekick in the Kalmar Union with Denmark. Kings ruled from Copenhagen, and Norwegian identity went into hibernation. Think of it as a five-century-long awkward roommate situation.
During this period, the “Kings” were mostly Danish—like Christian IV, who rebuilt Oslo after a fire and left a lot of Renaissance buildings. He’s also famous for having a prosthetic nose after a duel. Royal style tips: Always carry a spare nose.
The 19th century brought a revival, with Norway adopting its own constitution in 1814. They elected Christian Frederick as king, but the Swedes invaded two weeks later. So much for that. Timing is everything.
Family Tree of King Harald V of Norway : r/UsefulCharts
