List of heirs to the Norwegian throne
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.
Erling's son Magnus V had no heirs.
1184-1204
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sigurd Lavard | Heir apparent | Son | 15 June 1184 | Father became king | c. 1200 | died | Sverre |
Håkon | Heir apparent | Son | c.1200 | Elder brother died | 9 March 1202 | Became king | Sverre |
Guttorm | Heir presumptive | Nephew | 9 March 1202 | Uncle became king | 1 January 1204 | Became king | Håkon III |
1204-1226
During the reign of Inge II there was never any clear heir, and after his death several relatives claime 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
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Olav | Heir apparent | Son | 1226 | Born | 1229 | Died | Håkon IV |
Håkon | Heir apparent | Son | 19 November 1232 | Born | 5 May 1257 | Died | Håkon IV |
Magnus | Heir apparent | Son | 5 May 1257 | Older brother died | 16 December 1263 | Became king | Håkon IV |
Olav | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 1262 | Born | 1267 | Died | Magnus VI |
Eric | Heir apparent | Son | 1268 | Born | 9 May 1280 | Became king | Magnus VI |
Håkon | Heir presumptive | Younger brother | 9 May 1280 | Brother became king | 15 July 1299 | Became king | Eric II |
Magnus | Heir presumptive | Grandson | 1316 | Born | 8 May 1319 | Became king | Håkon V |
Erik | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 1339 | Born | 15 August 1343 | Treaty (brother became king) | Magnus VII |
Olav | Heir apparent | Only son | 1370 | Born | 29 July 1380 | Became king | Håkon VI |
1387-1665
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.
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frederick | Heir elect | Son | 1536 | Elected | 1 January 1559 | Became king | Christian III |
Christian | Heir elect | Son | 1610 | Elected | 2 June 1642 | Died | Christian IV |
1665-1814
In 1665 Frederick III signed a new law, proclaiming the kingdom to be hereditary.
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chrsitian | Heir elect (from 1665 heir apparent) | Son | 1655 | Elected | 1670 | Became king | Frederick III |
Jørgen | Heir presumptive | Younger brother | 1670 | Brother became king | 1671 | Son born to king | Christian V |
Frederick | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 1671 | Born | 5 August 1699 | Became king | Christian V |
Karl | Heir presumptive | Younger brother | 25 August 1699 | Brother became king | 10 December 1699 | Son born to king | Frederick IV |
Christian | Heir apparent | Son | 10 December 1699 | Born | 12 October 1730 | Became king | Frederick IV |
Frederick | Heir apparent | Son | 12 October 1730 | Father became king | 6 August 1746 | Became king | Christian VI |
Christian | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 6 August 1746 | Father became king | 3 June 1747 | Died | Frederick V |
Christian | Heir apparent | Son | 29 January 1749 | Born | 14 January 1766 | Became king | Frederick V |
Frederick | Heir presumptive | Younger brother | 14 January 1766 | Brother became king | 28 January 1768 | Son born to king | Christian VII |
Frederick | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 28 January 1768 | Born | 13 March 1808 | Became king | Christian VII |
Christian | Heir presumptive | Cousin | 13 March 1808 | Cousin became king | 16 February 1814 | Became king | Frederick VI |
Frederick | Heir apparent | Son | 16 February 1814 | Father became king | 14 August 1814 | King abdicated | Christian Frederick |
1814-1905
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir | Reason | Ceased to be heir | Reason | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crown Prince Carl Johan | Heir elect | None | 14 August 1814 | Elected | 15 February 1818 | Became king | Carl II |
Crown Prince Oscar | Heir apparent | Son | 15 February 1818 | Father became king | 8 March 1844 | Became king | Carl III Johan |
Crown Prince Carl | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 8 March 1844 | Father became king | 8 July 1859 | Became king | Oscar I |
Prince Oscar | Heir presumptive | Younger brother | 8 July 1859 | Brother became king | 18 September 1872 | Became king | Carl IV |
Crown Prince Gustaf | Heir apparent | Eldest son | 18 September 1872 | Father became king | 7 June 1905 | King deposed | Oscar II |
1905-Present
Heir | Status | Relationship to Monarch | Became heir; Reason |
Ceased to be heir; Reason |
Next in succession | Monarch |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crown Prince Olav | Heir elect | Only son | 18 November 1905; Elected |
21 September 1957; Became king |
none (1905–1937) | Haakon VII |
Prince Harald, (1937–1957), son | ||||||
Crown Prince Harald | Heir apparent | Only son | 21 September 1957; Father became king |
17 January 1991; Became king |
none (1957–1973) | Olav V |
Prince Haakon, (1973–1991), son | ||||||
Crown Prince Haakon | Heir apparent | Only son | 17 January 1991; Father became king |
Incumbent | Princess Märtha Louise, (1991–2004), sister |
Harald V |
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, (2004–present), daughter |