Being the second child in a royal family can sometimes mean you’re free from the pressure of becoming a ruler. But history can surprise you, and that’s exactly what happened to King Haakon VII of Norway. He became one of the most respected kings of the 20th century, known for standing up against invaders and traitors.
When King Haakon was born, Norway was in a union with Sweden, sharing a king but having its own parliament. Haakon, originally a Danish prince named Carl, was born on August 3, 1872, near Copenhagen. He was the second son of Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Louise. His older brother would later become King Christian X of Denmark.
Carl started his naval training at 14 and worked hard to earn his rank as a sub-lieutenant. He later married his cousin, Princess Maud of the United Kingdom, in 1896. They had a son, Prince Alexander, who was born in England.
In 1905, Norway decided to end its union with Sweden, wanting its own king. They offered the throne to Carl, who agreed but only after a vote by the Norwegian people. The vote showed strong support for a monarchy, and Carl became King Haakon VII, with his son becoming Prince Olav.
King Haakon arrived in Norway in November 1905 and was crowned in 1906. He quickly became a king of the people, starting traditions like the annual children’s parade and supporting democratic values. He also helped introduce important changes, like allowing women to vote in 1913.
During World War I, Norway declared neutrality, trying to stay out of the conflict. However, it was tough to balance trade with Germany and pressure from the UK. The war made life hard for Norwegians, but King Haakon and Queen Maud helped by creating a fund for those in need.
After Queen Maud’s death in 1938, King Haakon faced the threat of a German invasion in 1940. He refused to cooperate with the Nazis, becoming a symbol of resistance. He broadcasted messages from London, encouraging Norwegians to stand strong.
After Germany surrendered in 1945, King Haakon returned to Norway, helping rebuild the nation. He continued to maintain strong ties with the UK until his death in 1957, leaving a legacy of courage and leadership.
King Haakon faced tough decisions during his reign. Would you have stayed in Norway under a collaborationist government, or fled to continue the fight from abroad? His story reminds us of the importance of standing up for what is right.
Research the key events in King Haakon VII’s life and create a timeline. Use online tools or poster paper to illustrate the timeline, highlighting major milestones such as his birth, marriage, becoming king, and his role during World War II. This will help you understand the sequence of events and their impact on Norway’s history.
Imagine you are part of the Norwegian parliament in 1905, deciding whether to invite Prince Carl to become King Haakon VII. Split into groups and debate the pros and cons of having a monarchy versus a republic. This activity will help you explore the political dynamics of the time.
Write a letter to King Haakon VII as if you were a Norwegian citizen during World War II. Express your thoughts and feelings about his decision to resist the German invasion. This will help you empathize with the people of Norway and understand the king’s influence.
Using a map of Europe, identify and mark key locations related to King Haakon VII’s life, such as Denmark, Norway, and the UK. Include significant events like his coronation and exile during World War II. This will enhance your geographical understanding of his journey.
Create a short story or comic strip about a day in the life of King Haakon VII. Incorporate historical facts and imagine how he might have felt during pivotal moments. This will allow you to creatively engage with historical events and develop a deeper connection to the material.
**Sanitized Transcript:**
Being the second-born child in a royal family can be a blessing in disguise. Nobody expects you to rule, so in a way, you are off the hook. But sometimes history gets in the way, and unexpected events can bring you into the limelight and on the throne. That throne and that crown may represent one of the youngest, smallest, and most peaceful nations in Europe, but that does not mean that trouble won’t get in your way. This is what happened to today’s protagonist, one of the longest-serving and most respected royals of the 20th century: King Haakon VII of Norway, the voice of dignity against traitors and invaders.
At the time of King Haakon’s birth, Norway was part of a union with Sweden. It had an independent cabinet of ministers and its own parliament, but the formal head of state was the King of Norway and Sweden: Carl IV, from the House of Bernadotte, based in Stockholm. Therefore, Norway did not have a ruling dynasty of its own. The man who would become the King of Norway was actually a Danish prince: born near Copenhagen on 3 August 1872, in Charlottenlund Palace, he was the second son of the Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Louise of Denmark. At birth, he was christened as Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel, known simply as ‘Carl’ by those with shortness of breath. His elder brother would also become king in the future, King Christian X of Denmark.
While growing up, Carl began his training as a naval officer at the age of just 14. He worked hard alongside the other cadets and was not accorded any special privilege. Carl graduated seven years later in 1893 with the rank of sub-lieutenant of the Royal Danish Navy and was later promoted to first lieutenant. With that, Carl ticked one of the boxes expected from a prince: a military career. The second box was finding a suitable match, in other words: meeting and marrying a girl preferably from another European ruling house. At that time, you could not throw a stone into a royal palace without hitting someone’s cousin, due to the tight network of familiar relationships among rulers. Carl did not stray from the norm and in 1896 married his cousin from the United Kingdom: Princess Maud, the daughter of King Edward VII and his Danish wife, Queen Alexandra.
Maud was born in London on the 26th of November 1869. Since her early years, Princess Maud regularly attended her mother’s family gatherings in Denmark. It was during one of these occasions that she came to know her cousin Carl. Their wedding was celebrated in Buckingham Palace on the 22nd of July 1896, and the princely couple settled in Copenhagen. However, Carl and Maud always kept strong ties with the UK, and in fact, their son and only child, Prince Alexander, was born at Appleton House in Norfolk, England, on the 2nd of July 1903. Little did the young family know that their lives were going to change drastically in just a couple of years.
On 7 June 1905, the Norwegian parliament, known as the ‘Storting,’ passed a resolution to dissolve the union with Sweden. This momentous event was born from a conflict over the question of a separate Norwegian consular service. Norway and Sweden had their own cabinets and parliaments but shared a single head of state, King Oscar II. However, Norwegians always felt like the lesser party in the union. A new sense of national identity was brewing in Norway, and the Storting adopted a decision to establish an independent Norwegian consular service. King Oscar II refused to sanction the Storting’s decision, leading to a crisis that rendered the union ineffective.
On the 7th of June 1905, the Storting assembly unilaterally voted for the dissolution of the union. The Storting extended an offer to King Oscar II to appoint a prince from his own House of Bernadotte as the new King of Norway. King Oscar formally declined the offer, prompting the Storting to seek another candidate. They turned to Prince Carl of Denmark, who clearly fit the job description. The offer was extended to Carl in Autumn of that year. The Danish Prince was not a power grabber and had great consideration for the will of the people. He insisted that before accepting the crown, he should listen to the opinion of the Norwegian people, leading to a referendum on Norway’s future form of government.
The referendum was held on the 12th and 13th of November 1905, resulting in almost 260,000 votes in favor of a monarchy versus nearly 70,000 for a republic. This gave Prince Carl a clear popular mandate. On the 18th of November, he received a telegram from the President of the Storting, formally offering him the Norwegian throne. Prince Carl happily accepted the offer, announcing that he would change his name to Haakon, while his son Alexander would be known as Olav. The King’s choice of name was significant: in Old Norse, it translates as ‘High Son’ or ‘Chosen Son,’ and it had been used by Norwegian kings centuries earlier.
On the 25th of November 1905, Norway’s new royal family sailed into the capital Christiania – later Oslo – on the naval vessel Heimdal. Prime Minister Michelsen welcomed the new king, emphasizing the significance of having a king of their own after nearly 600 years. On the 27th, King Haakon swore an oath of allegiance to the constitution. On 22 June 1906, King Haakon and Queen Maud were crowned in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Haakon showed to be a king of the people, opting for a subdued ceremony that respected the sentiments of many citizens.
Immediately after the coronation, King Haakon immersed himself in Norwegian politics and culture. He started new traditions, such as the much-loved annual children’s parade, while maintaining a modest lifestyle in line with Norwegian tradition. He was wary of respecting the Norwegian constitution and believed that political power should be in the hands of democratically elected representatives. During his first years on the throne, Haakon oversaw important reforms, such as the institution of universal female suffrage in 1913.
In the years preceding World War I, Haakon’s Foreign Minister outlined Norwegian foreign policy along two directives: neutrality and an active trade policy. Norway issued a declaration of neutrality when Germany declared war on Russia. The government expected the British Empire to defend Norway in case of foreign aggression. However, Norway faced challenges balancing trade with Germany and the UK’s pressure to join the economic blockade against Germany.
As the war progressed, life became difficult for Norwegians. The Royal Couple established a fund to assist citizens in need. Fortunately, a deal was reached between the Norwegian and British governments in February 1917, allowing Norway to supply the Entente while maintaining a semblance of neutrality. However, ordinary citizens continued to struggle with a rising cost of living, leading to demonstrations against the lack of food and money.
After the war, Haakon faced pressures regarding the political landscape in Norway. He appointed the leader of the Labour Party as Prime Minister, respecting the party’s majority. However, tensions grew with the rise of Vidkun Quisling, who would later become a collaborator with the Nazis during World War II.
On 20 November 1938, Queen Maud passed away, leaving Haakon to face the challenges of the impending German invasion. When German troops invaded Norway on 9 April 1940, they aimed to arrest the King and compel Norway to capitulate. However, the Norwegian forces managed to delay the German advance, allowing the Royal Family and government to escape to safety.
King Haakon refused to comply with German demands to appoint Quisling as Prime Minister, stating he would rather abdicate. This decision influenced his ministers to reject Quisling. As the war progressed, Haakon became a symbol of resistance for the Norwegian people, broadcasting messages of defiance from London.
Germany capitulated on 8 May 1945, and King Haakon returned home on 7 June, the fifth anniversary of his escape to London. He toured the country to encourage rebuilding efforts after the war. King Haakon continued to maintain strong ties with the UK and passed away on 21 September 1957, buried alongside Queen Maud.
As a final thought, consider Haakon’s dilemma: would you have stayed in Norway, risking legitimacy for a collaborationist government, or would you have fled the country? Thank you for watching!
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Example sentence: In history class, we learned about the American Revolution and its impact on the world.
Government – The governing body of a nation, state, or community. – Example sentence: The government passed a new law to improve education for all students.
Monarchy – A form of government with a monarch at the head. – Example sentence: The United Kingdom is an example of a constitutional monarchy, where the king or queen has limited powers.
Norway – A country in Northern Europe known for its fjords and history of Viking explorers. – Example sentence: Norway has a rich history of seafaring and exploration dating back to the Viking Age.
King – A male monarch who is the head of a kingdom. – Example sentence: King Louis XIV of France was known as the “Sun King” and ruled for over 70 years.
People – Human beings making up a group or assembly or linked by a common interest. – Example sentence: The people of the country gathered to celebrate their independence day with parades and fireworks.
Vote – A formal indication of a choice between two or more candidates or courses of action. – Example sentence: In a democracy, every citizen has the right to vote and have their voice heard in elections.
Democracy – A system of government by the whole population, typically through elected representatives. – Example sentence: Ancient Athens is often credited as the birthplace of democracy, where citizens could participate in decision-making.
Resistance – The refusal to accept or comply with something; the attempt to prevent something by action or argument. – Example sentence: During World War II, many people in occupied countries formed resistance movements to fight against the invaders.
Legacy – Something handed down by a predecessor, such as traditions, achievements, or values. – Example sentence: The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. includes his contributions to the civil rights movement and his dream of equality for all.
