Norway-Denmark: Map & History
Denmark–Norway was a 16th-to-19th-century multi-national and multi-lingual real union consisting of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, the Duchy of Schleswig, and the Duchy of Holstein.
Wikipedia Encyclopedic Compendium
Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
Denmark–Norway was a 16th-to-19th-century multi-national and multi-lingual real union consisting of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, the Duchy of Schleswig, and the Duchy of Holstein. The state also claimed sovereignty over three historical peoples: Frisians, Gutes and Wends. Denmark–Norway had several colonies, namely the Danish Gold Coast, Danish India, and the Danish West Indies.
Modern Countries Once Part of Norway-Denmark
At its mapped extent, Norway-Denmark covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Denmark1046–1055 CE · most
- Norway1046–1055 CE · most
- Faroe Islands1046–1055 CE · a large part
- Sweden1046–1055 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Norway-Denmark's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Norway-Denmark in Depth
History
The three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden united in the Kalmar Union in 1397. Sweden broke out of this union and re-entered it several times, until 1521, when Sweden finally left the Union, leaving Denmark–Norway (including overseas possessions in the North Atlantic and the island of Saaremaa in modern Estonia). During the Count's Feud, where the Danish crown was contested between Protestant Oldenburg King Christian III and Catholic King Christian II, the relatively Catholic realm of Norway also wished to leave the union in the 1530s, but was unable to do so due to Denmark's superior military might. Following this, King Christian III completely united the two kingdoms to reduce the chances of further uprisings, and made Lutheranism the state religion in both kingdoms.
Culture
After 1660, Denmark–Norway consisted of five formally separate parts (the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, the Duchy of Holstein, the Duchy of Schleswig and the County of Oldenburg). Norway had its separate laws and some institutions, and separate coinage and army. Culturally and politically, Denmark became dominant. While Denmark remained a largely agricultural society, Norway was industrialized from the 16th century and had a highly export-driven economy; Norway's shipping, timber and mining industries made Norway "the developed and industrialized part of Denmark–Norway" and an economic equal of Denmark.
Legacy
Although the Dano–Norwegian union was generally viewed favourably in Denmark and Norway at the time of its dissolution in 1814, some 19th-century Norwegian writers disparaged the union as a "400-year night". Some modern historians describe the idea of a "400-year night" as a myth that was created as a rhetorical device in the struggle against the Swedish–Norwegian union, inspired by 19th-century national-romanticist ideas.
Since the late 19th century the Danish–Norwegian union was increasingly viewed in a more nuanced and favourable light in Norway with a stronger focus on empirical research, and historians have highlighted that the Norwegian economy thrived and that Norway was one of the world's wealthiest countries during the entire period of union with Denmark.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Denmark–Norway (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Norway-Denmark Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 379,163 km² in 1050 CE.
Norway-Denmark: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Norway-Denmark exist?
Norway-Denmark is dated to 1046 CE – 1055 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Norway-Denmark?
The capital of Norway-Denmark was Copenhagen.
How large was Norway-Denmark at its peak?
At its peak in 1050 AD Norway-Denmark covered about 379,163 km².
Other Sovereign Realms
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Avarga
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Thanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Cusco
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Niani, Kangaba