Group

Denmark-Norway, Kingdom of

State Defunct 1536 CE – 1814 CE Capital Copenhagen > København Staden København Denmark

Denmark–Norway (Danish and Norwegian: Danmark–Norge) is a political entity consisting of the united kingdoms of Denmark and Norway, including overseas Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.Norway had been an influential kingdom of Europe until the mid-fourteenth century, when the Black Plague killed more than half the population, a worse case than the neighboring states of Sweden and Denmark.

This had forced Norway into a personal union with Denmark, which later formed the Kalmar Union with Sweden.

Following the departure of Sweden from the Kalmar Union and its dissolution, in 1524 Denmark and Norway enter into a personal union under Danish hegemony, due to Norway's weakened position after the Plague.

In 1536 the Kingdom of Norway is integrated into Denmark, and as a consequence its Council of the Realm is abolished.

However, Norway continues to have separate institutions and its own laws.

Much of the Norwegian population moves to find work in Copenhagen, attend the University, or join the Royal Fleet.

The union's most important political institutions and monumental palaces are built in Denmark, strategically in order to restrain Norway from rising to great power as possessed during the Viking Age.

Norway is reestablished as a kingdom in 1660 after the introduction of absolutism.The personal union of the two kingdoms lasts until 1814, when the victorious powers of the Napoleonic wars force the king of Denmark–Norway to cede Norway to Sweden; Norway however resists the attempt, but is forced to accept another personal union with Sweden on relatively equal terms after a short war with no winner.

The Dano-Norwegian union has a lasting impact on Norway, which maintains its cultural ties with Denmark.

Denmark had made Copenhagen the capital of the union in order to strengthen Denmark, and weaken Norway.

Upon dissolution of the union in 1814, Denmark holds onto Norway's medieval colonies.

Throughout its union with Sweden, Norway uses the Danish written language, which descends from Old East Norse instead of Classical Norwegian or Old West Norse.

The legacy of the latter is present through the Icelandic Sagas as one of the classical European languages and literary works along with Latin and Ancient Greek.

Old West Norse in a relatively well-preserved form is also the official language of the modern-day nations Iceland and the Faroe Islands.The corresponding adjective and demonym is "Dano-Norwegian".

Member Cities

Moran, J. (n.d.). Denmark-Norway, Kingdom of. History Atlas. Retrieved 5 November 2026, from https://www.historyatlas.com/groups/denmark-norway-kingdom-of/

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