20 | Viking Explorer Society News
May 17, 1814
Norway adopts
the Norwegian
Constitution at
Eidsvoll, formalizing
the nation's
independence after
a 434-year union
with Denmark.
1826
Artist Johan
Christian Dahl
(1788–1857)
makes his
first return
trip to
Norway.
1830
Violin virtuoso Ole Bull
(1810–1880) writes
his first compositions,
inspired by poems
by his friend Henrik
Wergeland.
1842–1873
Nynorsk ("New
Norwegian") emerges
as one of two official
Norwegian languages.
1819
Painter Johannes
Flintoe (1787–1870)
takes a teaching
position at the newly
founded National
Academy of Craft
and Art Industry.
1829
Henrik Wergeland
(1808–1845)
publishes Digte:
Første Ring (Poems:
First Circle).
1841
Authors Peter Christen
Asbjørnsen (1812–1885)
and Jørgen Moe
(1813–1882) publish
Norske Folkeeventyr.
N O RW E G I A N N AT I O N A L
RO M A N T I C I S M
From 1537 to 1814, Norway was the lesser
partner in a dynastic union with Denmark.
This period of time saw Norway's cultural
and political influence erode as artists and
intellectuals continually emigrated to
Copenhagen, the seat of power to the south.
Danish became the shared language
between the two nations and the majority of
political decisions invariably favoured the
crown over its more far-flung constituents.
Things changed, however, toward the end of
the Napoleonic Wars, during which Denmark
was forced to cede Norway to the king of
Sweden—paving the way for Norway's
independence. Following the signing of the
nation's democratic constitution on May 17,
1814 at Eidsvoll, Norway gained control of its
domestic affairs, while foreign affairs were
controlled by Sweden under a shared
monarch, King Oscar II.
Forging a National Identity.
