Coat of arms of the King King Harald V and Queen Sonja The list of monarchs of Norway (Norwegian : kongerekken or kongerekka ) begins in 872: the traditional dating of the Battle of Hafrsfjord , after which victorious King Harald Fairhair merged several petty kingdoms into that of his father. Named after the homonymous geographical region , Harald's realm was later to be known as the Kingdom of Norway .
Traditionally established in 872 and existing continuously for over 1,100 years, the Kingdom of Norway is one of the oldest states of Europe : King Harald V , who has reigned since 1991, is the 64th monarch according to the official list. During interregna , Norway has been ruled by variously titled regents.
Several royal dynasties have possessed the Throne of the Kingdom of Norway: the more prominent include the Fairhair dynasty (872–970), the House of Sverre (1184–1319), the House of Oldenburg (1450–1481, 1483–1533, 1537–1818, and from 1905), including branches Holstein-Gottorp (1814–1818) and Glücksburg (from 1905), and the House of Bernadotte (1818–1905). During the civil war era (1130–1240), several pretenders fought each other, and as a consequence, some rulers from this era are not traditionally considered lawful kings and are usually omitted from lists of monarchs. Between 1319 and 1905, Norway was at times part of various unions with neighbouring countries, like The First Swedish–Norwegian union , The Kalmar Union , Denmark–Norway , and Sweden–Norway .
Kings of Norway used many additional titles between 1450 and 1905, such as King of the Wends , King of the Goths , Duke of Schleswig , Duke of Holstein , Prince of Rügen , and Count of Oldenburg . They called themselves Konge til Norge ("King of Norway"), usually with the style His Royal Majesty .[citation needed ] With the introduction of constitutional monarchy in 1814, the traditional style "by the Grace of God " was extended to "by the Grace of God and the Constitution of the Kingdom", but was only briefly in use.[citation needed ] The last king to use the by the grace of God style was Haakon VII , who died in 1957. The King's title today is formally Norges Konge ("Norway's King"), with the style "His Majesty".
Key For lists of the prehistoric kings of Norway see List of legendary kings of Norway
R Reign I Independent period D Union with Denmark (1537 – 1814 as Denmark–Norway ) S Union with Sweden (1814 – 1905 as Sweden–Norway ) DS Union with Denmark and Sweden (1397 – 1523 as Kalmar Union ) R Interregnum/Regency
Fairhair dynasty Besides becoming sole king after his father Harold's death, Eric Bloodaxe was king jointly with his father for three years before the latter's death. After Harald's death, Eric ruled as "overking" of his brothers, who also held status as kings and had control over certain regions. Harald Greycloak also ruled as "overking" of his brothers. All dates for the kings of the Fairhair dynasty are approximate and/or just scholarly estimates. Slight differences might therefore occur between different sources. The following table uses the dates given in Norsk biografisk leksikon Store norske leksikon
R Name Reign Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Issue Death I Harald I Halfdansson Harald Fairhair c. 872–932(Non-contemporary) c. 850/860 Son of Halfdan the Black and Ragnhild Various At least nine sonsc. 932 Rogaland Eric I Haraldsson Eric Bloodaxe c. 932–934c. 895 Son of Harald I and Ragnhild Eriksdotter Gunnhild Gormsdóttir Eight childrenc. 952/954 England Haakon I Haraldsson Haakon the Good c. 934–960(Non-contemporary) c. 915–920 Son of Harald I and Tora Mosterstong Never married c. 960/961 Håkonshella (near Bergen ) Harald II Ericsson Harald Greycloak c. 961–970(Non-contemporary) c. 935 Son of Eric I and Gunnhild Gormsdóttir Never married c. 970 Limfjord , Denmark
House of Gorm/Earl of Lade The Danish king Harald Bluetooth had himself hailed as king of Norway after the Battle of Fitjar (c. 961). Besides gaining direct control of Viken in south-eastern Norway, he let Harald Greycloak rule the rest of Norway as king, nominally under himself.[citation needed ] Harald Bluetooth later switched his support to Harald Greycloak's rival, Haakon Sigurdsson , Earl of Lade , who eventually captured Harald Greycloak's kingdom. Haakon thereafter ruled Norway (except Viken), at first nominally under Harald. All dates are estimates and subject to interpretation. Haakon is generally held as the ruler of Norway from 970 to 995.
R Name Reign Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Issue Death D Harald Bluetooth (Non-contemporary) c. 925/35[citation needed ] Son of Gorm the Old and Thyra [citation needed ]Tove of the Obotrites Four or six children 987 latest Jomsborg R Earl Haakon Sigurdsson (Non-contemporary) c. 935 Trondheim Son of Sigurd Haakonsson and Bergljot Toresdatter Tora Skagesdatter Nine children[citation needed ] 995 Rimul
Fairhair dynasty (restored) R Name Reign Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Issue Death I Olaf I Tryggvason 968 Son of Tryggve Olafsson and Astrid Eiriksdottir Various c. 1000 Svolder
House of Gorm/Earls of Lade (restored) After the Battle of Svolder , the Danes recaptured Norway under Sweyn Forkbeard. As before, the Danes controlled the petty kingdoms of Viken as vassals, while the two Earls of Lade, Eric Haakonsson and Sweyn Haakonsson, ruled Western Norway and Trøndelag, nominally as earls under Sweyn. Eric is generally held as the de facto ruler of Norway from 1000 to 1015, together with his brother Sweyn, a lesser known figure, with whom he shared his power.
R Name Reign Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Issue Death D Sweyn Forkbeard 17 April 963 Son of Harald Bluetooth and Tove of the Obotrites (1 & 2) Gunhild of Wenden or Sigrid the Haughty Eight or more children[citation needed ] 3 February 1014 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire R Earl Eric Haakonsson (Non-contemporary) c. 964 Son of Haakon Sigurdsson and Gunhild Mieszcosdatter Gytha Svendsdatter One son[citation needed ] c. 1024 England Earl Sweyn Haakonsson – c. 970 Son of Haakon Sigurdsson and Thora Skagesdatter Holmfrid Eriksdatter Two daughters[citation needed ] c. 1016 Russia
St. Olav dynasty R Name Reign Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Issue Death I Olav II Haraldsson Saint Olav (Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae c. 995 Ringerike Son of Harald Grenske and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter Astrid Olofsdotter One daughter29 July 1030 Stiklestad Aged 34–35
House of Gorm/Earl of Lade (restored, second time) R Name Reign Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Issue Death D Cnut the Great c. 995 Son of Sweyn Forkbeard (1) Ælfgifu of Northampton Two children (2) Emma of Normandy Two children 12 November 1035 Shaftesbury R Earl Haakon Ericsson c. 998 Son of Eric Haakonsson and Gytha Svendsdatter Gunhild One daughter[citation needed ] 1029 Pentland Firth D Sweyn Knutsson Ælfgifu c. 1015 Son of Cnut and Ælfgifu of Northampton Never married c. 1035
St. Olav dynasty (restored) R Name Reign Portrait Birth Marriage(s) Issue Death I Magnus I Olavsson Magnus the Good 1035–1047c. 1024 Illegitimate son of Olaf II and Alfhild Never married 25 October 1047 Zealand Aged 23 D
Hardrada dynasty R Name Reign Portrait Birth, parents Marriage(s) Issue Death I Harald III Sigurdsson Harald Hardrada 1046–1066c. 1015 Son of Sigurd Syr and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter (1) Elisiv of Kiev Two daughters (2) Tora Torbergsdatter (bigamously) Two sons 25 September 1066 Stamford Bridge , England Aged 50–51 Magnus II Haraldsson – c. 1049 Eldest son of Harald III and Tora Torbergsdatter Never married 28 April 1069 Nidaros Aged 19–20 Olav III Haraldsson Olaf Kyrre 1067–1093c. 1050 Youngest son of Harald III and Tora Torbergsdatter Ingerid of Denmark No issue22 September 1093 Haukbø, Rånrike (now Håkeby, Sweden ) Aged 42–43 Haakon (II) Magnusson Haakon Toresfostre 1093–1095– c. 1069 Illegitimate son of Magnus II Never married 1095 Dovrefjell Aged 25–26 Magnus III Olavsson Magnus Barefoot 1093–1103c. 1073 Illegitimate son of Olav III and unknown Margaret Fredkulla No issue24 August 1103 Ulster Aged 29–30 Olav (IV) Magnusson c. 1098 Illegitimate son of Magnus III and Sigrid Saxesdatter Never married 22 December 1115 Nidaros Aged 16–17 Eystein I Magnusson c. 1088 Illegitimate son of Magnus III Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter Two children[citation needed ]29 August 1123 Hustad , Romsdal Aged 34–35 Sigurd I Magnusson Sigurd the Crusader 1103–1130(Non-contemporary) c. 1089 Illegitimate son of Magnus III and Tora (1) Bjaðmunjo Mýrjartaksdóttir No issue (2) Malmfred of Kiev One daughter (3) Cecilia[dubious – discuss ] No issue 26 March 1130 Oslo Aged 40–41 Magnus IV Sigurdsson Magnus the Blind 1130–1135– c. 1115 Illegitimate son of Sigurd I and Borghild Olavsdatter Christina of Denmark c. 1133 No issue12 November 1139 Holmengrå Aged 23–23
Gille dynasty R Name Reign Portrait Birth, parents Marriage(s) Issue Death I Harald IV Magnusson Harald Gille 1130–1136– c. 1102 Ireland /Hebrides Alleged illegitimate son of Magnus III Ingrid of Sweden c. 1134 One son14 December 1136 Bergen Aged 32–33 Sigurd II Haraldsson Sigurd Munn 1136–1155– c. 1133 Illegitimate son of Harald IV and Thora Guttormsdatter Never married 10 June 1155 Bergen Aged 21–22 Inge I Haraldsson Inge the Hunchback 1136–1161– c. 1135 Only son of Harald IV and Ingrid of Sweden Never married 4 February 1161 Oslo Aged 25–26 Eystein II Haraldsson – c. 1125 Shetland /Orkney /Hebrides Illegitimate son of Harald IV and Biadoc Ragna Nikolasdatter No issue21 August 1157 Rånrike (now Bohuslän ) Aged 31–32 Magnus (V) Haraldsson – c. 1135 Illegitimate son of Harald IV Never married c. 1145 Norway Haakon II Sigurdsson Haakon the Broadshouldered 1157–1162– c. 1147 Illegitimate son of Sigurd II and Thora Never married 7 July 1162 Sekken , Romsdalen Aged 14–15
Hardrada dynasty (restored), cognatic branch R Name Reign Portrait Birth, parents Marriage(s) Issue Death I Magnus V Erlingsson – c. 1156 Son of Erling Skakke and Kristin Sigurdsdatter Estrid Bjørnsdotter (possible) Two daughters[citation needed ]15 June 1184 Fimreite Aged 27–28
Sverre dynasty R Name Reign Portrait Birth, parents Marriage Death I Sverre Sigurdsson c. 1151 Bergen Alleged illegitimate son of Sigurd II and Gunnhild Margaret of Sweden 1185 One daughter9 March 1202 Bergen Aged 50–51 Haakon III Sverresson – Before 1185 Illegitimate son of Sverre Never married 1 January 1204 Bergen Aged 20–21 Guttorm Sigurdsson – c. 1199 Illegitimate son of Sigurd Lavard Never married 11 August 1204 Nidaros Aged 4–5
House of Godwin (Gille dynasty, cognatic branch) R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death I Inge II Bårdsson c. 1185 Rissa Son of Bård Guttormsson and Cecilia Sigurdsdotter never married 23 April 1217 Nidaros Aged 31–32
Sverre dynasty (restored) R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death I Haakon IV Haakonsson c. 1204 Folkenborg Illegitimate son of Haakon III and Inga of Varteig Margaret Skulesdatter 25 May 1225 Bergen Four children16 December 1263 Kirkwall Aged 58–59 Haakon (V) Haakonsson 10 November 1232 Bergen Second son of Haakon IV and Margaret Skulesdatter Rikissa Birgersdotter c. 1251 Oslo One son5 May 1257 Tønsberg Aged 24 Magnus VI Haakonsson 1 May 1238 Tønsberg Third son of Haakon IV and Margaret Skulesdatter Ingeborg of Denmark 11 September 1261 Bergen Four sons9 May 1280 Bergen Aged 42 Eric II Magnusson Regent: Queen Mother Ingeborg (1280–1283) 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 Haakon V Magnusson 10 April 1270 Tønsberg Fourth son of Magnus VI and Ingeborg of Denmark (1) Isabelle de Joigny 1295 No issue (2) Euphemia of Rügen c. 1299 One daughter 8 May 1319 Tunsberg Aged 49 R Interregnum (8 May 1319 – August 1319) Ingeborg of Norway
House of Bjälbo R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death S Magnus VII Eriksson de facto ) (circa 24 years, 14 days, de jure ) Regents: Queen Mother Ingeborg (1319–1323) and Erling Vidkunsson (1323–1332) Non-contemporary c. 1316 Norway Only son of Duke Erik Magnusson and Ingeborg of Norway Blanche of Namur 5 November 1335 Bohus Castle Two sons1 December 1374 Lyngholmen Aged 58 Haakon VI Magnusson 15 August 1340 Sweden Second son of Magnus VII and Blanche of Namur Margaret of Denmark 9 April 1363 Church of Our Lady One son11 September 1380 Akershus Castle Aged 40 I D Olav IV Haakonsson Non-contemporary December 1370 Akershus Castle Only son of Haakon VI and Margaret I never married 23 August 1387 Falsterbo Castle Aged 16 R Interregnum (23 August 1387 – 2 February 1388) Margaret Estridsen
House of Estridsen R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death DS Margaret Semiramis of the North 2 February 1388 – 28 October 1412 (24 years, 269 days) with Eric III (1389–1412) 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 son28 October 1412 Ship on Flensburg Fjord Aged 58–59
House of Griffin R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death DS Eric III Regents: Philippa of England (1423-1425) and Sigurd Jonsson (1439–1442) 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 issue3 May 1459 Rügenwalde Castle Aged 76–78 I
House of Palatinate-Neumarkt R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death DS Christopher 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 issue5 January 1448 Kärnan Castile Aged 31 R Interregnum (5 January 1448 – 20 November 1449) Sigurd Jonsson as regent
House of Bonde R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death S Charles I 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
House of Oldenburg R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death DS Christian I February 1426 Oldenburg Eldest son of Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg and Hedvig of Holstein Dorothea of Brandenburg 28 October 1449 Church of Our Lady Five children21 May 1481 Copenhagen Castle Aged 55 R Interregnum (21 May 1481 – 20 July 1483) Jon Svaleson Smør as regent DS John 2 February 1455 Aalborghus Castle Third son of Christian I and Dorothea of Brandenburg Christina of Saxony 6 September 1478 Copenhagen Five children20 February 1513 Aalborghus Castle Aged 58 R Interregnum (20 February 1513 – 22 July 1513) DS Christian II 1 July 1481 Nyborg Castle Second son of John and Christina of Saxony Isabella of Austria 12 August 1515 Copenhagen Six children25 January 1559 Kalundborg Castle Aged 77 D R Interregnum (20 January 1523 – 5 August 1524) D Frederick I 7 October 1471 Haderslevhus Castle Fourth son of Christian I and Dorothea of Brandenburg (1) Anna of Brandenburg 10 April 1502 Stendal Two children (2) Sophie of Pomerania 9 October 1518 Kiel Castle Six children 10 April 1533 Gottorp Castle Aged 61 R Interregnum (10 April 1533 – 1 April 1537) Olav Engelbrektsson as regent D Christian III 12 August 1503 Gottorp Castle Only son of Frederick I and Anna of Brandenburg Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg 29 October 1525 Lauenburg Castle Five children1 January 1559 Koldinghus Castle Aged 55 Frederick II 1 July 1534 Haderslevhus Castle Eldest son of Christian III and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 20 July 1572 Copenhagen Eight children4 April 1588 Antvorskov Castle Aged 53 Christian IV Regency Council led by: Niels Kaas (1588–1594) and Jørgen Rosenkrantz (1594–1596) 12 April 1577 Frederiksborg Palace Eldest son of Frederick II and Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (1) Anne Catherine of Brandenburg 27 November 1597 Haderslevhus Castle Seven children (2) Kirsten Munk 31 December 1615 Copenhagen Twelve children 28 February 1648 Rosenborg Castle Aged 70 R Interregnum (28 February 1648 – 6 July 1648) Hannibal Sehested as Governor-general D Frederick III 18 March 1609 Haderslevhus Castle Third son of Christian IV and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1 October 1643 Glücksburg Castle Eight children9 February 1670 Copenhagen Castle Aged 60 Christian V 15 April 1646 Duborg Castle Eldest son of Frederick III and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel 25 June 1667 Nykøbing Castle Eight children25 August 1699 Copenhagen Castle Aged 53 Frederick IV Regent: Queen Consort Louise (1708–1709) 11 October 1671 Copenhagen Castle Eldest son of Christian V and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1) Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 5 December 1695 Copenhagen Five children (2) Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg 6 September 1703 One son (3) Anne Sophie Reventlow 4 April 1721 Copenhagen Three children 12 October 1730 Odense Palace Aged 59 Christian VI 30 November 1699 Copenhagen Castle Second son of Frederick IV and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach 7 August 1721 Pretzsch Castle Three children6 August 1746 Hirschholm Palace Aged 46 Frederick V 31 March 1723 Copenhagen Castle Only son of Christian VI and Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (1) Louise of Great Britain 11 December 1743 Altona Five children (2) Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 8 July 1752 Frederiksborg Palace One son 14 January 1766 Christiansborg Palace Aged 42 Christian VII Regents: Hereditary Prince Frederick (1772–1784) and Crown Prince Frederick (1784–1808) 29 January 1749 Christiansborg Palace Second son of Frederick V and Louise of Great Britain Caroline Matilda of Great Britain 8 November 1766 Christiansborg Palace Two children13 March 1808 Rendsburg Aged 59 Frederick VI 28 January 1768 Christiansborg Palace Only son of Christian VII and Caroline Matilda of Great Britain Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel 31 July 1790 Gottorp Castle Eight children3 December 1839 Amalienborg Palace Aged 71 R Interregnum (7 February 1814 – 17 May 1814) Hereditary Prince Christian Frederick as regent I Christian Frederick 18 September 1786 Christiansborg Palace Eldest son of Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark and Norway and Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1) Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 21 June 1806 Ludwigslust Castle Two sons (2) Caroline Amalie of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg 22 May 1815 Augustenborg Palace No issue 20 January 1848 Amalienborg Palace Aged 61 R Interregnum (10 October 1814 – 4 November 1814) Marcus Gjøe Rosenkrantz as Prime Minister
House of Holstein-Gottorp House of Bernadotte R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death S Charles III John 26 January 1763 Pau Son of Jean Henri Bernadotte and Jeanne de Saint Vincent; Adopted by Charles II on 21 August 1810 Désirée Clary 17 August 1798 Sceaux One son8 March 1844 Stockholm Palace Aged 81 Oscar I Regent: Crown Prince Charles (1857–1859) 4 July 1799 Paris Only son of Charles III John and Désirée Clary Josephine of Leuchtenberg 19 June 1823 Stockholm Cathedral Five children8 July 1859 Stockholm Palace Aged 60 Charles IV 3 May 1826 Stockholm Palace Eldest son of Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg Louise of the Netherlands 19 June 1850 Stockholm Cathedral Two children18 September 1872 Malmö Aged 46 Oscar II 21 January 1829 Stockholm Palace Third son of Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg Sophia of Nassau 6 June 1857 Biebrich Palace Four children8 December 1907 Stockholm Palace Aged 78 R Dissolution of the Union (7 June 1905 – 26 October 1905) Interregnum (26 October 1905 – 18 November 1905) Christian Michelsen as Prime Minister
House of Glücksburg Carl of Denmark was approved in a referendum as King of Norway on 13 November 1905 and then elected by the Storting on 18 November 1905. He took the regnal name Haakon VII. With him the House of Oldenburg , in the form of its junior branch , resumed occupancy of the throne of Norway.[citation needed ]
R Name Portrait Birth Marriages Death I Haakon VII Regent: Crown Prince Olav (1955 – 1957) 3 August 1872 Charlottenlund , Denmark Second son of Frederik VIII of Denmark and Louise of Sweden Maud of Wales 22 July 1896 1 son21 September 1957 Oslo (85 years, 49 days) Olav V Regent: Crown Prince Harald (1958, 1990 – 1991) 2 July 1903 Norfolk , England Only child of Haakon VII and Maud of Wales Märtha of Sweden 21 March 1929 3 children17 January 1991 Oslo (87 years, 199 days) Harald V Present (35 years, 92 days) Regent: Crown Prince Haakon Magnus (2003 – 2004, 2005, 2020, 2024) 21 February 1937 Asker Only son of Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden Sonja Haraldsen 29 August 1968 2 childrenAlive (89 years, 57 days)
See also Works cited (in Norwegian). The Royal Court. Further reading Carlyle, Thomas (1875). . Chapman and Hall. ISBN 978-1-4068-4287-6. OL . {{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)External links 
