Coronations in Norway
Coronations were held in Norway from 1164 to 1906, mostly in the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Although a crowning ceremony was formerly mandated by the nation's constitution, this requirement was eliminated in 1908. However, Norwegian kings have since chosen voluntarily to take part in a ritual of "benediction" to mark their accession to the throne, during which the crown is present, but not physically bestowed upon the sovereign. The new ceremony retains some of the religious elements of earlier rites, while eliminating other features now considered to be "undemocratic". There is no law preventing a coronation from occurring so any future monarch of Norway can choose to have one. [1]
History
Early coronations
The first coronation in Norway—and in all of Scandinavia—took place in
Under the Danish union
In the late 14th century, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark were united in the
During the Swedish union
The current
In September 1818, Charles III John was crowned in the first Norwegian coronation since 1660, providing a set of
Independence restored
The Swedish union was abolished in 1905, at which time Norway elected Prince Carl of Denmark, who took the name
Although coronations are not expressly banned under current Norwegian legislation,[1] none have been held since 1906. Instead, the two sovereigns who followed Haakon VII have chosen to create a "benediction" ceremony to mark the beginning of their reigns. This new rite is held at Nidaros, and retains some of the religious elements of earlier coronation rituals while harking back to the old konungstekja rites held prior to the initial institution of coronations in the 12th century.[1] The crown jewels are displayed, but not bestowed, during this ceremony.
The Norwegian coronation ritual from 1818 to 1906
Entrance procession
From 1818 to 1906, the Norwegian coronation ritual commenced with the king and queen making a procession to the Nidaros Cathedral preceded by the Norwegian Regalia. Once there, they were greeted by the Bishops of Trondheim, Kristiania (now Oslo) and Bergen and their attendant clergy with the words: "The Lord bless your going out and your coming in now and forevermore". Entering the cathedral, the monarchs seated themselves upon two canopied thrones in the choir.
The ceremony begins
Once the king and queen were seated, the Bishop of Trondheim began the ceremony by intoning the first line of the
Anointing and crowning the king
After receiving his royal mantle, the king knelt before the altar as the Bishop of Trondheim anointed his right
Anointing and crowning the queen
Now the queen left her canopied throne in the choir and proceeded to her throne before the altar, as the choir sang the third part of the Anthem and part of yet another hymn. She was robed in the royal mantle and then knelt as the bishop of Trondheim anointed her on her right forearm and forehead. She then seated herself on her throne, and was in turned crowned and given her scepter and orb by the bishop using formulas appropriately modified from those used for the king. Afterwards, the fourth part of the anthem was sung by the choir, together with portions of another hymn. The bishop of Trondheim said a prayer for the queen and blessed her, using a form similar to those used for the king. The queen then returned to her throne in the choir bearing her regalia.
Conclusion
After the crowning of the queen, the
The modern "benediction" rite (after 1906)
At the beginning of the 20th century the act of coronation had become widely viewed as an anachronism by Norwegian politicians, and two years after King Haakon VII and Queen Maud were crowned the provision requiring a coronation was removed from the Constitution with only two votes against in the Parliament. When Olav V became king in 1957 he introduced a new tradition of benediction (or consecration) in the Nidaros Cathedral. He was followed in this by his son, Harald V, in 1991.
Olav V
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Images of Olav V's benediction may be viewed here |
When
Eternal, Almighty God, Heavenly Father, we thank thee whose grace in need has always gone over our land in woeful and good times to this day. Hear, today, our king's and our prayer. We pray thee, send thy grace to King Olav the Fifth, assist him by thy Spirit and give him wisdom and peace from thee that his reign be a benefit and a blessing on Norway's land and people. Deceitful and burdensome days will come; may truth and goodness from thee be his power and gladness. Eternal, powerful God, bless our king, be thou always his Lord and his King and grant his House all good days in time and eternity. Amen.[5]
Olav would later refer to this event as the high point of his life.[6]
Harald V
Upon Olav's death in 1991, his successor
| External image | |
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 A video of a portion of Harald V's benediction may be viewed here. |
On entering the cathedral the king and queen were met by bishops Wagle and Aarflot and Bishop Wagle greeted them with the words: "May the Lord bless your going in and your coming out now and for evermore." The king and queen proceeded through the nave and seated themselves on the 1818 coronation thrones. After scriptural readings and a sermon, King Harald came forward and knelt before the high altar, where Bishop Wagle put his right hand on his head and said the consecration prayer, including the petition, "Bless King Harald the Fifth, strengthen him and in the exercise of his solemn responsibilities." Queen Sonja then came forward and knelt beside the king and Bishop Wagle lay his right hand on her head and said a prayer asking God to help her use her talents to benefit the Norwegian people and land. The bishop then said a prayer over both the kneeling king and queen and turned and knelt at the high altar as the Royal Anthem was sung. He then rose and turned to pronounce a concluding blessing on the kneeling king and queen: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you. Amen." The Lord Chamberlain then came forward, as the king and queen rose and turned, and conducted them back to their coronation thrones.[7]
Historical list of coronations
The following is a list of royal coronations in Norway from the 12th century through the modern era. For kings reigning before the independent Norway of 1905 the modern Norwegian name forms are given in parentheses where relevant.
Christ Church (Old Cathedral), Bergen
The first coronation in Norway, and Scandinavia, took place in Bergen in 1163 or 1164. The Christ Church (Old Cathedral) in Bergen remained the place of coronations in Norway until the capital was moved to Oslo with King Haakon V.
| Coronation | Picture | Name | Reign | Other regnal titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1163/1164 |  |
Magnus V | 1161 - June 15, 1184 | |
| June 29, 1194 | .jpg) |
Sverre Sigurdsson | 1184 - March 9, 1202 | |
| July 29, 1247 |  |
Haakon IV with Margaret Skulesdatter |
1217 - December 16, 1263 | |
| September 14, 1261 |  |
Magnus VI (Magnus VI Lagabøte) with Ingeborg of Denmark |
December 16, 1263 - May 9, 1280 | |
| 1280 | .jpg) |
Eric II | May 9, 1280 – 1299 | |
| 1281 | Margaret of Scotland (consort of Eric II Magnusson) |
Oslo
When King Haakon V succeeded his brother, the capital of Norway was moved from Bergen to Oslo, where it has remained. The other coronations in Oslo took place during the Kalmar Union (note the overlap with Trondheim).
| Coronation | Picture | Name | Reign | Other regnal titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1299 |  |
Haakon V with Euphemia of Rügen |
November 1, 1299 - May 8, 1319 | |
| July 2, 1442 |  |
Christopher of Bavaria | 1442 - January 5, 1448 | King of Denmark King of Sweden |
| July 29, 1514 |  |
Christian II | July 22, 1513 - January 20, 1523 | King of Denmark King of Sweden |
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim
With King Charles I in 1449 the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim became the place of coronations in Norway, and, with the exception of King Christian II, has remained so. The first three took place during the Kalmar Union, and later the tradition was re-established with the Constitution of Norway of 1814 and the Union between Sweden and Norway. In the intermediate period, during the time of the double monarchy of Denmark–Norway, a joint coronation was held in Copenhagen with both a Norwegian and a Danish bishop present.
| Coronation | Picture | Name | Reign | Other regnal titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 20, 1449 |  |
Charles I | November 20, 1449 - June, 1450 | King of Sweden |
| August 2, 1450 |  |
Christian I | 1450 - May 21, 1481 | King of Denmark King of Sweden |
| July 20, 1483 |  |
John | 1483 - July 22, 1513 | King of Denmark King of Sweden |
| September 7, 1818 |  |
Charles III John |
February 5, 1818 - March 8, 1844 | King of Sweden |
| August 5, 1860 |  |
Charles IV with Louise of the Netherlands |
July 8, 1859 - September 18, 1872 | King of Sweden |
| July 18, 1873 |  |
Sofia of Nassau |
September 18, 1872 - October 26, 1905 | King of Sweden |
| June 22, 1906 |  |
Haakon VII with Maud of Wales |
November 18, 1905 - September 21, 1957 |
List of benedictions
| Benediction | Picture | Name | Reign | Other regnal titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 22, 1958 |  |
Olav V |
September 21, 1957 - January 17, 1991 | |
| June 23, 1991 |  |
Harald V with Sonja Haraldsen |
January 17, 1991–present |
See also
- Norwegian monarchy
- List of Norwegian monarchs
- Throne Chairs of Norway
- Throne Chair of Denmark
- Norwegian Royal Regalia
References
- ^ a b c d e Consecration, from the Official Website of the Norwegian Royal Family. Retrieved on 2009-09-16.
- ^ Hoffman, Erich (1990). "Coronation and Coronation Ordines in Medieval Scandinavia". In Bak, János M (ed.). Coronations: Medieval and Early Modern Monarchic Ritual. Berkeley: University of California Press. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
- ^ Bak, János M., ed. (1990). Coronations: Medieval and Early Modern Monarchic Ritual. Berkeley: University of California Press.
- ^
1. God bless our dear Fatherland and let it like a garden blossom. Let the light of thy peace shine from mountain to beach and the intelligent fire the coming spring sun. Let people live together as brothers, as Christians who could be themselves.
2. Our homeland long laid in darkness and ignorance hid the light. But God, thou in mercy to us sang, thy love for us was not forgotten. Thou sent thy word to Norway's mountains and light streamed over the land.
- ^ This was immediately followed by the assembled congregation's singing of the Royal Anthem.
1. God bless our good king. Bless him with strength and courage, bless home and castle. Enlighten him with thy
Spirit, Tie with thy strong hand the holy bond of fidelity between people and sovereign.
2. Loudly swears the man of Norway, each in his calling, his station, faithfulness to his sovereign. Faithful in life and death, brave in war and need, Norway's lot was always, God and his sovereign.
- ^ The Consecration of King Olav V, from the Official Website of the Norwegian Royal Family. Retrieved on 2009-09-15.
- ^ a b The Consecration of King Harald and Queen Sonya, from the Official Website of the Norwegian Royal Family. Retrieved on 2009-09-15.
Sources and external links
- Riksregaliene: Kroninger og signinger (in Norwegian)
- Histos forlag: Historical Bergen
- Norwegian Coronations
- NRK Trøndelag: Kroninger i Nidarosdomen (in Norwegian)
- Consecration of Harald, 1991. NRK.
- Aftenposten: Første folkekonge, siste kroning (in Norwegian)
- Kongehuset: Dagens monarki - Signing (in Norwegian)