Kingdom of Norway (1814)

Kingdom of Norway (1814)
Conventional long name	Kingdom of Norway
Year start	1814
Year end	1814
P1	Denmark–Norway
S1	United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
Flag s1	Flag of Sweden (1815–1844).svg
Capital	Christiania
Common languages	Norwegian
Government type	Constitutional monarchy
Title leader	King
Leader1	Christian Frederick
Year leader1	1814
Legislature	Storting
Stat year1	1814

Kingdom of Norway (1814) was a sovereign state that existed for a brief, pivotal period during the Napoleonic Wars. It emerged following the Treaty of Kiel, which severed the union with Denmark, and was characterized by a swift, revolutionary movement for independence. This era culminated in the creation of the Constitution of Norway and a short war before entering a personal union with Sweden under the House of Bernadotte.

Background and the Treaty of Kiel

The kingdom's origins lie in the complex geopolitics of the Napoleonic Wars. Denmark–Norway, under King Frederick VI, had allied with France. Following France's defeat, the victorious United Kingdom and Russia pressured Denmark to cede Norway to Sweden as compensation for Sweden's loss of Finland to Russia. This was formalized in the Treaty of Kiel in January 1814. The treaty was signed by Frederick VI and Charles XIII of Sweden, but it was deeply unpopular in Norway, which was not a party to the negotiations. The Danish Crown Prince Christian Frederick, serving as governor, became a focal point for Norwegian resistance to the treaty.

The Norwegian Constituent Assembly

In defiance of the Treaty of Kiel, prominent Norwegian leaders called for a national assembly to decide the country's fate. Christian Frederick convened a meeting of notables at Eidsvoll in February 1814, which endorsed the election of a Constituent Assembly. Elections were held, and delegates, including figures like Christian Magnus Falsen and Wilhelm Frimann Koren Christie, gathered at the Eidsvoll Manor in April. This Norwegian Constituent Assembly was dominated by the independence-minded "Independence Party" and a smaller faction favoring union with Sweden. The assembly's primary task swiftly became drafting a foundational constitution rather than negotiating with Charles XIII.

The Constitution of 1814

The document produced, the Constitution of Norway, was signed on 17 May 1814 at Eidsvoll. Inspired by American and French revolutionary ideals, as well as the Spanish Constitution of 1812, it established Norway as a constitutional monarchy. The constitution vested significant power in a newly created national assembly, the Storting. It included principles of popular sovereignty, separation of powers, and limited the monarchy's authority. On the same day, the assembly elected Christian Frederick as the King of Norway, formally creating an independent kingdom in defiance of both the Treaty of Kiel and Sweden.

The Swedish-Norwegian War (1814)

Charles XIII and the Crown Prince Charles John (formerly Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte) would not accept this defiance. In July 1814, Sweden launched a military campaign, the Swedish–Norwegian War. Swedish forces, led by Charles John, invaded across the border at Hvaler and Kongsvinger. Although Norwegian forces, commanded by General Johannes Klingenberg Sejersted, fought several engagements, including a stand at the Battle of Langnes, the militarily superior Swedish army soon threatened Christiania. The brief conflict highlighted Norway's precarious military position.

The Convention of Moss and Union with Sweden

Facing inevitable defeat, Norwegian and Swedish commanders negotiated the Convention of Moss in August 1814. This armistice agreement was crucial; instead of a surrender, it recognized the Constitution of Norway with only amendments required to facilitate a personal union with Sweden. Christian Frederick agreed to abdicate and call an extraordinary session of the Storting to implement the union. In November 1814, the Storting elected Charles XIII as King of Norway, creating the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. This arrangement preserved Norway's separate institutions, including its constitution, Storting, and legal system.

Legacy and historical significance

The year 1814 is considered the foundation of modern Norway as a constitutional state. The Constitution of 17 May remains the world's second-oldest single-document national constitution still in continuous operation, celebrated annually as Constitution Day. The events cemented a strong national identity and established the principle of popular sovereignty. The peaceful transition via the Convention of Moss and the preserved constitution provided a legal foundation for Norway's full independence, which was peacefully achieved in 1905 with the Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden.

Category:1814 in Norway Category:Former kingdoms Category:History of Norway