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 claimed 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 1647 | 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 | Ceased to be heir | Next in succession relation to heir, dates | Monarch | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Reason | Date | Reason | |||||
| Christian | heir apparent (previously heir elect from 1655) | son | 14 November 1665 | Hereditary succession established | 9 Feb 1670 | became king | George, brother | Frederick III |
| George | heir presumptive | brother | 9 Feb 1670 | brother became king | 11 Oct 1671 | son born to king | Anna Sophie, sister | Christian V |
| Crown Prince Frederick | heir apparent | son | 11 Oct 1671 | born | 25 Aug 1699 | became king | George, uncle, (1671–1672, 1673–1675) | |
| Christian William, brother, (1672–1673) | ||||||||
| Christian, brother, (1675–1695) | ||||||||
| Charles, brother, (1695–1697, 1698–1699) | ||||||||
| Christian, son, (1697–1698) | ||||||||
| Charles | heir presumptive | brother | 25 Aug 1699 | brother became king | 10 Dec 1699 | son born to king | William, brother | Frederick IV |
| Crown Prince Christian | heir apparent | son | 10 Dec 1699 | born | 12 Oct 1730 | became king | Charles, uncle, (1699–1701, 1702–1703, 1704–1723) | |
| Frederick, brother, (1701–1702) | ||||||||
| George, brother, (1703–1704) | ||||||||
| Frederick, son, (1723–1730) | ||||||||
| Crown Prince Frederick | heir apparent | son | 12 Oct 1730 | father became king | 6 Aug 1746 | became king | Louise, sister, (1730–1735) | Christian VI |
| Christian, son, (1745–1746) | ||||||||
| Crown Prince Christian | heir apparent | son | 6 Aug 1746 | father became king | 3 Jun 1747 | died | Sophia Magdalena, sister, | Frederick V |
| Sophia Magdalena | heir presumptive | daughter | 3 Jun 1747 | brother died | 29 Jan 1749 | son born to king | Wilhelmina Caroline, sister | |
| Crown Prince Christian | heir apparent | son | 29 Jan 1749 | born | 14 Jan 1766 | became king | Sophia Magdalena, sister, (1749–1753) | |
| Frederick, brother, (1753–1766) | ||||||||
| Frederick | heir presumptive | brother | 14 Jan 1766 | brother became king | 28 Jan 1768 | son born to king | Sophia Magdalena, sister | Christian VII |
| Crown Prince Frederick | heir apparent | son | 28 Jan 1768 | born | 13 Mar 1808 | became king | Frederick, uncle, (1768–1805) | |
| Christian, cousin, (1805–1808) | ||||||||
| Christian | heir presumptive | cousin | 13 Mar 1808 | cousin became king | 16 February 1814 | became king | Ferdinand, brother, (1808) | Frederick VI |
| Frederick, son, (1808–1839) | ||||||||
| Frederick | heir apparent | son | 16 February 1814 | father became king | 14 August 1814 | King abdicated | Ferdinand, uncle | 'Christian Frederick |
1814–present
| In personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden-Norway); House of Holstein-Gottorp (1751–1818) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch | Heir | Relationship to monarch |
Became heir (Date; Reason) |
Ceased to be heir (Date; Reason) |
Next in line of succession |
| Karl II | Crown Prince Karl Johan | Adopted son | 4 November 1814 Adoptive father elected as king |
5 February 1818 Adoptive father died, became king |
Prince Oscar, Duke of Södermanland, son |
| In personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden-Norway); House of Bernadotte (1818–1905) | |||||
| Monarch | Heir | Relationship to monarch |
Became heir (Date; Reason) |
Ceased to be heir (Date; Reason) |
Next in line of succession |
| Karl III Johan | Crown Prince Oscar, Duke of Södermanland | Son | 5 February 1818 Father became king |
8 March 1844 Father died, became king |
None, 1818–1826 |
| Prince Karl, Duke of Skåne, 1826–1844, son | |||||
| Oscar I | Crown Prince Karl, Duke of Skåne | Son | 8 March 1844 Father became king |
8 July 1859 Father died, became king |
Prince Gustaf, Duke of Uppland, 1844–1852, brother |
| Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland, 1852, brother | |||||
| Prince Carl Oscar, Duke of Södermanland, 1852–1854, son | |||||
| Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland, 1854–1859, brother | |||||
| Karl IV | Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland | Brother | 8 July 1859 Brother became king |
13 September 1872 Brother died, became king |
Prince Gustaf, Duke of Värmland, son |
| Oscar II | Crown Prince Gustaf, Duke of Värmland | Son | 13 September 1872 Father became king |
7 June 1905 Father deposed, personal union dissolved |
Prince Oscar, Duke of Gotland, 1872–1882, brother |
| Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Skåne, 1882–1905, son | |||||
| After the personal union with Sweden; House of Glücksburg (1905–present) | |||||
| Monarch | Heir | Relationship to monarch |
Became heir (Date; Reason) |
Ceased to be heir (Date; Reason) |
Next in line of succession |
| Haakon VII | Crown Prince Olav | Son | 18 November 1905 Father elected as king, confirmed by referendum |
21 September 1957 Father died, became king |
None, 1905–1937 |
| Prince Harald, 1937–1957, son | |||||
| Olav V | Crown Prince Harald | Son | 21 September 1957 Father became king |
17 January 1991 Father died, became king |
None, 1957–1973 |
| Prince Haakon, 1973–1991, son | |||||
| Harald V | Crown Prince Haakon | Son | 17 January 1991 Father became king |
Incumbent | Princess Märtha Louise, 1991–2004, sister |
| Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 2004–present, daughter | |||||
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