List of heirs to the Norwegian throne

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Traditionally the Norwegian kings had been elected by the several things held around the country. This practise often led to there being several kings at the same time. After the civil wars in the 12th century, Erling Skakke introduced a new law that there would be only one king, and that the oldest surviving son of the previous king should inherit the throne. At the same time, Erling introduced a system where the most powerful men in the country would meet with the power to veto a candidate if they found him to be unsuitable.

Contents

Erling's son Magnus V had no heirs.

1184-1204

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonMonarch
Sigurd Lavard Heir apparentSon15 June 1184Father became kingc. 1200died Sverre
Håkon Heir apparentSonc.1200Elder brother died9 March 1202Became king Sverre
Guttorm Heir presumptiveNephew9 March 1202Uncle became king1 January 1204Became king Håkon III

1204-1226

During the reign of Inge II there was never any clear heir, and after his death several relatives claimed the throne. At a church meeting in 1223 it was decided that the church was backing the candidacy of Håkon Håkonsson. There was no heir until his first son was born in 1226.

1226-1387

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonMonarch
OlavHeir apparentSon1226Born1229Died Håkon IV
Håkon Heir apparentSon19 November 1232Born5 May 1257Died Håkon IV
Magnus Heir apparentSon5 May 1257Older brother died16 December 1263Became king Håkon IV
OlavHeir apparentEldest son1262Born1267Died Magnus VI
Eric Heir apparentSon1268Born9 May 1280Became king Magnus VI
Håkon Heir presumptiveYounger brother9 May 1280Brother became king15 July 1299Became king Eric II
Magnus Heir presumptiveGrandson1316Born8 May 1319Became king Håkon V
Erik Heir apparentEldest son1339Born15 August 1343Treaty (brother became king) Magnus VII
Olav Heir apparentOnly son1370Born29 July 1380Became king Håkon VI

1387-1665

Hereditary Kingdom of Norway#Unions with Denmark and Sweden

Norway became an elected kingdom, and joined several unions with Sweden and Denmark. However, the tradition arose that during his own lifetime the King would choose an heir among his sons and have him hailed as such, strongly influencing the electing council's choice.

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirReasonCeased to be heirReasonMonarch
Frederick Heir electSon1536Elected1 January 1559Became king Christian III
Christian Heir electSon1610Elected2 June 1647Died Christian IV

1665-1814

In 1665 Frederick III signed a new law, proclaiming the kingdom to be hereditary.

HeirStatusRelationship to MonarchBecame heirCeased to be heirNext in succession
relation to heir, dates
Monarch
DateReasonDateReason
Christian heir apparent (previously heir elect from 1655)son14 November 1665Hereditary succession established9 Feb 1670became king George,
brother
Frederick III
George heir presumptivebrother9 Feb 1670brother became king11 Oct 1671son born to king Anna Sophie,
sister
Christian V
Crown Prince Frederick heir apparentson11 Oct 1671born25 Aug 1699became king George,
uncle, (1671–1672, 1673–1675)
Christian William,
brother, (1672–1673)
Christian,
brother, (1675–1695)
Charles,
brother, (1695–1697, 1698–1699)
Christian,
son, (1697–1698)
Charles heir presumptivebrother25 Aug 1699brother became king10 Dec 1699son born to king William,
brother
Frederick IV
Crown Prince Christian heir apparentson10 Dec 1699born12 Oct 1730became king Charles,
uncle, (1699–1701, 1702–1703, 1704–1723)
Frederick,
brother, (1701–1702)
George,
brother, (1703–1704)
Frederick,
son, (1723–1730)
Crown Prince Frederick heir apparentson12 Oct 1730father became king6 Aug 1746became king Louise,
sister, (1730–1735)
Christian VI
Christian,
son, (1745–1746)
Crown Prince Christianheir apparentson6 Aug 1746father became king3 Jun 1747died Sophia Magdalena,
sister,
Frederick V
Sophia Magdalena heir presumptivedaughter3 Jun 1747brother died29 Jan 1749son born to king Wilhelmina Caroline,
sister
Crown Prince Christian heir apparentson29 Jan 1749born14 Jan 1766became king Sophia Magdalena,
sister, (1749–1753)
Frederick,
brother, (1753–1766)
Frederick heir presumptivebrother14 Jan 1766brother became king28 Jan 1768son born to king Sophia Magdalena,
sister
Christian VII
Crown Prince Frederick heir apparentson28 Jan 1768born13 Mar 1808became king Frederick,
uncle, (1768–1805)
Christian ,
cousin, (1805–1808)
Christian heir presumptivecousin13 Mar 1808cousin became king16 February 1814became king Ferdinand,
brother, (1808)
Frederick VI
Frederick ,
son, (1808–1839)
Frederick heir apparentson16 February 1814father became king14 August 1814King abdicated Ferdinand,
uncle
'Christian Frederick

1814–present

Heirs to the Norwegian throne
In personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden-Norway); House of Holstein-Gottorp (1751–1818)
MonarchHeirRelationship
to monarch
Became heir
(Date; Reason)
Ceased to be heir
(Date; Reason)
Next in line of succession
Karl II Crown Prince Karl Johan Adopted son4 November 1814
Adoptive father elected as king
5 February 1818
Adoptive father died,
became king
Prince Oscar, Duke of Södermanland , son
In personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden-Norway); House of Bernadotte (1818–1905)
MonarchHeirRelationship
to monarch
Became heir
(Date; Reason)
Ceased to be heir
(Date; Reason)
Next in line of succession
Karl III Johan Crown Prince Oscar, Duke of Södermanland Son5 February 1818
Father became king
8 March 1844
Father died, became king
None, 1818–1826
Prince Karl, Duke of Skåne , 1826–1844, son
Oscar I Crown Prince Karl, Duke of Skåne Son8 March 1844
Father became king
8 July 1859
Father died, became king
Prince Gustaf, Duke of Uppland, 1844–1852, brother
Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland , 1852, brother
Prince Carl Oscar, Duke of Södermanland, 1852–1854, son
Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland , 1854–1859, brother
Karl IV Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland Brother8 July 1859
Brother became king
13 September 1872
Brother died, became king
Prince Gustaf, Duke of Värmland, son
Oscar II Crown Prince Gustaf, Duke of Värmland Son13 September 1872
Father became king
7 June 1905
Father deposed,
personal union dissolved
Prince Oscar, Duke of Gotland, 1872–1882, brother
Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Skåne, 1882–1905, son
After the personal union with Sweden; House of Glücksburg (1905–present)
MonarchHeirRelationship
to monarch
Became heir
(Date; Reason)
Ceased to be heir
(Date; Reason)
Next in line of succession
Haakon VII Crown Prince Olav Son18 November 1905
Father elected as king,
confirmed by referendum
21 September 1957
Father died, became king
None, 1905–1937
Prince Harald , 1937–1957, son
Olav V Crown Prince Harald Son21 September 1957
Father became king
17 January 1991
Father died, became king
None, 1957–1973
Prince Haakon, 1973–1991, son
Harald V Crown Prince Haakon Son17 January 1991
Father became king
Incumbent Princess Märtha Louise, 1991–2004, sister
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 2004–present, daughter

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