Members of Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish royal families have been Norwegian monarchs. Norwegian territories were not united until about 860 and were ruled by jarls. Harald Fairhair united the territories about 860, creating the Kingdom of Norway and founding the Fairhair dynasty.[1]
Norway was under the control of Danish monarchs from 1380 until 1814.[2] During this time, several political entities were created which included both Norway and Denmark. Margaret I of Denmark created the Union of Kalmar in 1397, merging the kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. In 1481, after the death of Christian I, Sweden abandoned the Union and a two-year interregnum in Norway resulted. Many Norwegians wished to remain in union with Denmark; others preferred to join with Sweden.[3] In 1536, after the Swedish secession, the Kingdom of Denmark–Norway was formed; it included the dependencies of Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands and lasted until 1814. In that year, Norway briefly regained independence but, after several months, was forced into union with Sweden.[4] Since 1905, Norway has been a constitutional monarchy ruled by a cadet line of the Danish House of Glücksburg.[2]
Early regnal dates are traditional and of uncertain accuracy. Before the Norwegian Law of Succession was introduced in 1163, inheritance of the throne was an affair filled with deep conflicts; in many cases, brothers would initially share it. Early Viking kings are listed using the name common in historic sources, with the Old Norwegian name in parentheses.
P | Period of rulership |
---|---|
I | Independent period |
D | Union with Denmark |
S | Union with Sweden |
DS | Union with Denmark and Sweden |
R | Interregnum |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Harald I Fairhair (Haraldr hárfagri) 872–930 |
c. 850s son of Halfdan the Black and Ragnhild Sigurdsdotter |
various | c. 930s Rogaland aged 80 |
[5][6][7] | |
I | Eric Bloodaxe (Eiríkr blóðøx) 931–933 (deposed) |
c. 895 son of Harald I and Ragnhild Eriksdotter |
Gunnhild Gormsdóttir c. 922 eight children |
c. 954 aged 59 |
[5][8][9] | |
I | Haakon I the Good (Hákon Aðalsteinsfóstri) 934–961 |
c. 920 Håkonshella son of Harald I and Thora Mosterstong |
never married | c. 961 Håkonshella aged 40–41 |
[5][10][11] | |
I | Harald II Greycloak (Haraldr gráfeldr) 961–970 (murdered) |
– | c. 930s son of Eric Bloodaxe and Gunnhild Gormsdóttir |
never married | c. 970 Hals, Denmark aged 40 |
[5][12][13] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D | Harald Bluetooth (Harald Blåtand) 970–985/86 (de jure) with Haakon Sigurdsson (regent) |
c. 925/35 son of Gorm the Old and Thyra |
Gyrid of Sweden by 950 four or six children Tove of the Obotrites c. 970 no issues |
1 November 985/86 Jomsborg aged about 50-60 |
[7][14][15][16] | |
D | Sweyn I Forkbeard (Svend Tveskæg) 986–995 (de jure) with Haakon Sigurdsson (regent) |
c. 960 son of Harald Bluetooth and Gyrid of Sweden |
(1 & 2) Gunhild of Wenden or Sigrid the Haughty eight or more children |
3 February 1014 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire aged 53–54 |
[14][17][18][19] | |
R | jarl Haakon Sigurdsson (Hákon Sigurðsson) 975–995 (de facto) (murdered) |
winter of 937 Trondheim son of Sigurd Haakonsson, Jarl of Lade and Bergljot Toresdatter |
Thora Skagesdatter & others? nine children total |
February 995 Rimul aged 57–58 |
[20][21][22] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Olaf I Tryggvason (Óláfr Tryggvason) 995–1000 (defeated) |
c. 960s son of Tryggve Olafsson and Astrid Eiriksdottir |
(1) Geira c. 982 (2) Gyda of Dublin c. 988 (3) Gudrun Skeggesdatter c. 995 (4) Tyra of Denmark c. 998 |
c. 1000 Svolder aged 40 |
[5][23][24] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D | Sweyn I Forkbeard (Svend Tveskæg) 1000–1014 with Eiríkr Hákonarson (regent), Sveinn Hákonarson (regent), & Håkon Eiriksson (regent) |
c. 960 son of Harald Bluetooth and Gyrid of Sweden |
(1 & 2) Gunhild of Wenden or Sigrid the Haughty eight or more children |
3 February 1014 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire aged 53–54 |
[14][17][18][19] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Saint Olaf II (Óláfr Haraldsson) 1015–1028 (exiled) |
c. 995 Ringerike son of Harald Grenske and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter |
Astrid Olofsdotter February 1019 one daughter |
29 July 1030 Stiklestad aged 44–45 |
[5][25][26] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D | Cnut the Great (Knud den Store) 1028–1035 with Håkon Eiriksson (regent) later Sweyn II Alfífuson (junior king) |
c. 985/95 younger son of Sweyn I Forkbeard and Gunhild or Sigrid |
(1) Ælfgifu of Northampton two children (2) Emma of Normandy 2/31 July1017 two children |
12 November 1035 Shaftesbury aged about 40-50 |
[14][27][28][29] | |
D | Sweyn II Knutsson (Sveinn Knútsson) 1030–1035 with Cnut (senior king) and Queen Ælfgifu (regent) (deposed) |
– | c. 1016 eldest son of Cnut and Ælfgifu of Northampton |
never married | c. 1035 aged 19 |
[14][30][31] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Magnus I the Good (Magnus den gode) 1035–1047 |
April/June 1024 illegitimate son of Olaf II and Alfhild |
never married | 25 October 1047 Zealand aged 23 |
[5][32][33] | |
I | Harald III Hardrada (Haraldr Harðráði) 1047–1066 |
c. 1015 youngest son of Sigurd Syr and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter |
(1) Elisiv of Kiev c. 1044 two daughters (2) Tora Torbergsdatter c. 1048 (bigamously) two sons |
25 September 1066 Stamford Bridge, England aged 50–51 |
[5][34][35] | |
I | Magnus II Haraldsson (Magnús Haraldsson) 1066–1069 with Olaf III |
c. 1048 eldest son of Harald III and Tora Torbergsdatter |
never married | 28 April 1069 Nidaros aged 20–21 |
[5][36][37] | |
I | Olaf III the Quiet (Óláfr inn kyrri) 1067–1093 with Magnus II (1066–1069) |
c. 1050 youngest son of Harald III and Tora Torbergsdatter |
Ingerid of Denmark c. 1067 no issues |
22 September 1093 Håkeby, Sweden aged 42–43 |
[5][38][39] | |
I | Haakon (II) Magnusson Toresfostre (Håkon Magnusson Toresfostre) 1093–1094 with Magnus III |
– | c. 1068 illegitimate son of Magnus II |
never married | c. 1094 Dovrefjell aged 25–26 |
[5][40][41] |
I | Magnus III Barefoot (Magnús Berfœttr) 1093–1103 with Haakon Magnusson (1093–1094) |
c. 1073 illegitimate son of Olaf III and Thora |
Margaret Fredkulla c. 1101 no issues |
24 August 1103 Ulster aged 29–30 |
[5][42][43] | |
I | Olaf (IV) Magnusson (Ólafr Magnússon) 1103–1115 with Eystein I and Sigurd I |
– | c. 1099 illegitimate son of Magnus III and Sigrid Saxesdatter |
never married | 22 December 1115 Nidaros aged 15–16 |
[5][44][45] |
I | Eystein I Magnusson (Øystein Magnússon) 1103–1123 with Olaf Magnusson and Sigurd I |
c. 1088 illegitimate son of Magnus III |
Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter two children |
29 August 1123 Hustad, Romsdal peninsula aged 34–35 |
[5][46][47] | |
I | Sigurd I the Crusader (Sigurðr Jórsalafari) 1103–1130 with Olaf Magnusson and Eystein I |
c. 1090 illegitimate son of Magnus III and Thora |
(1) Blathmin Ní Briain c. 1102 Ireland no issues (2) Malmfred of Kiev c. 1116-20 one daughter (3) Cecilia c. 1128 no issues |
26 March 1130 Oslo aged 39–40 |
[5][48][49] | |
I | Magnus IV Blind (Magnús inn blindi) 1130–1135 with Harald IV |
c. 1115 son of Sigurd I and Borghild Olavsdatter |
Christina of Denmark c. 1133 no issues |
12 November 1139 Holmengrå aged 23–24 |
[5][50][51] | |
I | Harald IV Gille (Haraldr gilli) 1130–1136 with Magnus IV (1130–1135) |
c. 1103 Ireland/Hebrides alleged illegitimate son of Magnus III |
Ingrid of Sweden c. 1134 one son |
14 December 1136 Bergen aged 32–33 |
[5][52][53] | |
I | Sigurd II Munn (Sigurðr Haraldsson) 1136–1155 with Inge I (1136–1155) and Eystein II (1142–1157) |
c. 1133 illegitimate son of Harald IV and Thora Guttormsdotter |
never married | 6 February 1155 Bergen aged 21–22 |
[5][54][55] | |
I | Inge I the Hunchback (Inge Krokrygg) 1136–1161 with Sigurd II (1136–1155) and Eystein II (1142–1157) and Haakon II (1157–1161) |
c. 1135 only son of Harald IV and Ingrid of Sweden |
never married | 3 February 1161 Oslo aged 25–26 |
[5][56][57] | |
I | Eystein II Haraldsson (Øystein Haraldsson) 1142–1157 with Sigurd II (1142–1155) and Inge I (1142–1157) |
c. 1125 Scotland/Ireland illegitimate son of Harald IV and Bjaðök |
Ragna Nikolasdatter no issues |
21 August 1157 Bohuslän aged 31–32 |
[5][58][59] | |
I | Haakon II the Broadshouldered (Hákon herðibreiðr) 1157–1162 with Inge I (1157–1161) and Magnus V (1161–1162) |
c. 1147 illegitimate son of Sigurd II and Thora |
never married | 7 July 1162 Romsdalen aged 14–15 |
[5][60][61] | |
I | Magnus V Erlingsson (Magnús Erlingsson) 1161–1184 with Haakon II (1161–1162) |
c. 1156 Etne son of Erling Skakke and Kristin Sigurdsdatter |
Estrid Bjørnsdotter c. 1170 two daughters |
15 June 1184 Fimreite aged 27–28 |
[5][62][63] | |
I | Sverre Sigurdsson (Sverrir Sigurðarson) 1184–1202 |
c. 1145/51 alleged illegitimate son of Sigurd II and Gunnhild |
Margaret of Sweden c. 1189 one daughter |
9 March 1202 Bergen aged 50–57 |
[5][64][65] | |
I | Haakon III Sverresson (Hákon Sverrisson) 1202–1204 |
– | c. 1182 second illegitimate son of Sverre and Astrid Roesdatter |
never married | 1 January 1204 Bergen aged 21–22 |
[5][66][67] |
I | Guttorm Sigurdsson (Guthormr Sigurðarson) 1204 |
– | c. 1199 illegitimate son of Sigurd Lavard |
never married | 11 August 1204 Nidaros aged 4–5 |
[5][68][69] |
I | Inge II Baardson (Inge Bårdsson) 1204-1217 |
– | c. 1185 Rissa son of Bård Guttormsson and Cecilia Sigurdsdotter |
never married | 23 April 1217 Nidaros aged 31–32 |
[5][70][71] |
I | Haakon IV the Old (Håkon IV Håkonsson) 1217–1263 with Haakon the Young (1240–1257) later Magnus VI (1257–1263) |
c. 1204 Varteig illegitimate son of Haakon III and Inga of Varteig |
Margrét Skúladóttir 25 May 1225 Bergen four children |
16 December 1263 Kirkwall aged 58–59 |
[5][67][72] | |
I | Haakon the Young (Håkon Håkonsson Unge) 1240–1257 with Haakon IV |
10 November 1232 Bergen second son of Haakon IV and Margrét Skúladóttir |
Rikissa Birgersdotter c. 1251 Oslo one son |
5 May 1257 Tunsberg aged 24 |
[5][73][74] | |
I | Magnus VI the Law-Mender (Magnus VI Lagabøte) 1257–1280 with Haakon IV (1257–1263) later Eric II (1273–1280) |
1 May 1238 Tønsberg third son of Haakon IV and Margrét Skúladóttir |
Ingeborg of Denmark 11 September 1261 Bergen four sons |
9 May 1280 Bergen aged 42 |
[5][75][76] | |
I | Eric II Magnusson (Eirik II Magnusson) 1273–1299 with Magnus VI (1273–1280) |
c. 1268 Bergen third son of Magnus VI and Ingeborg of Denmark |
(1) Margaret of Scotland September 1281 Bergen one daughter (2) Isabel Bruce bef. 25 September 1293 Bergen one daughter |
15 July 1299 Bergen aged 30–31 |
[5][77][78] | |
I | Haakon V Magnusson (Håkon V Magnusson) 1299–1319 |
10 April 1270 Tönsberg fourth son of Magnus VI and Ingeborg of Denmark |
(1) Isabelle de Joigny 1295 no issues (2) Euphemia of Rügen c. 1299 one daughter |
8 May 1319 Tunsberg aged 49 |
[5][79][80] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Magnus VII Eriksson (Magnus VII Eriksson) August 1319– 15 August 1343 (deposed) |
c. 1316 Norway or Stockholm only son of Eric, Duke of Södermanland and Ingeborg of Norway |
Blanche of Namur 5 November 1335 Bohus Castle two sons |
1 December 1374 Lyngholmen aged 58 |
[5][51][81][82] | |
S | Haakon VI Magnusson (Håkon VI Magnusson) 1343–1380 |
15 August 1340 Sweden second son of Magnus IV and Blanche of Namur |
Margaret of Denmark 9 April 1363 Church of Our Lady one son |
11 September 1380 Akershus Castle aged 40 |
[5][81][83][84] | |
I | ||||||
D | Olaf IV Haakonsson (Olav IV Håkonsson) 1380–1387 |
December 1370 Akershus Castle only son of Haakon VI of Norway and Margaret I |
never married | 23 August 1387 Falsterbo Castle aged 16 |
[14][26][85] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DS | Margaret (Margrete) 1380–1412 (de facto) |
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 |
[14][86][87] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DS | Eric III (Eirik av Pommern) 8 September 1389–1442 (deposed) with Sigurd Jonsson |
c. 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 |
[14][88][89] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DS | Christopher (Kristoffer av Bayern) 4 June1442– 5/6 January 1448 |
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 |
[14][90][91] | |
R | Interregnum (1448–1449) Sigurd Jonsson as regent |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Charles I (Karl Knutsson Bonde) 20 November 1449– June 1450 (abdicated) |
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 c. 1470 Stockholm Castle two children |
14 May 1470 Stockholm Castle aged 60 |
[92][93] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Charles II 4 November 1814– 5 February 1818 |
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 |
[117] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | Charles III John 5 February 1818– 8 March 1844 |
26 January 1763 Pau son of Jean Henri Bernadotte and Jeanne de Saint Vincent |
Désirée Clary 17 August 1798 Sceaux one son |
8 March 1844 Stockholm Palace aged 81 |
[118] | |
S | Oscar I 8 March 1844– 8 July 1859 |
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 |
[119] | |
S | Charles IV 8 July 1859– 18 September 1872 |
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 |
[120] | |
S | Oscar II 18 September 1872– 26 October 1905 |
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 |
[121] |
P | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | Haakon VII 18 November 1905– 21 September 1957 |
3 August 1872 Charlottenlund Palace second son of Frederick VIII of Denmark and Louise of Sweden |
Maud of Wales 22 July 1896 Buckingham Palace one son |
21 September 1957 Royal Palace aged 85 |
[122] | |
I | Olav V 21 September 1957– 17 January 1991 |
2 July 1903 Sandringham House only son of Haakon VII and Maud of Wales |
Märtha of Sweden 21 March 1929 Oslo Cathedral three children |
17 January 1991 Royal Lodge Kongsseteren aged 87 |
[123] | |
I | Harald V 17 January 1991– present |
21 February 1937 Skaugum only son of Olav V and Märtha of Sweden |
Sonja Haraldsen 29 August 1968 Oslo Cathedral two children |
Incumbent | [124] |
|