Alt for Norge (once again)!

Day 5,370, 12:59 Published in Norway Norway by Zinitus

Some years ago I wrote an article about the former Norwegian king, Haakon VII, the first sole king in Norway, after over 500 years of unions with Sweden and Denmark. The occation for my article then was the 60th anniversary of his death in 1957.

Today I want to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth in 1872.



Born as Carl, a younger brother of the Danish hereditary prince, on the August 3rd 1872, none believed he would become king one day.


But because of political turmoil in Norway in 1905, which resulted the union with Sweden was brought to an end, a new Head of State was to be elected. The choice felt on prince Carl, paradoxically him to become king before his older brother and even before his father. He was not perhaps chosen because of his own statemanship (which was unknown by then), but because he was married to the daugther of then British king Edward VII. At that time, strong alliances was to be needed for the young reborn nation.


Later on through his life he show wisdom and great statemanship by himself, not only in internal politics, but specially under the WWII, where his judgement and firm resistance toward the german occupation gave profound respect. I shall not repeat so much from my first article. See the attached link to that.

https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/history-stories-alt-for-norge--2651357/1/20

King Haakons popularity was settled (and the Norwegian monarchy) after the war, and to his 75th anniversary in 1947 the Norwegian people collected money to give him an royal yacht, which was promised him already in 1905 (but not affordable for a poor nation at that time). This ship "Kongeskipet Norge" is still sailing and still in the family were it belongs today to the currrent King Harald. And by the way, these days the ship is travelling the coast of Nord-Norge.



So these year it`s a double anniverssary, 75 years for the boat and 150 years for the old king. And as you probably know, his motto was "Alt for Norge", which also is used by his son Olav V and grandson Harald V (and by the players in eNorway 🙂 )

My little contribution to celebrate a Great King......
Enjoy the evening and the history!





(Any ideas - what to write next......?)