Union between Sweden and Norway
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Addded all kings of the union
{{Infobox Former Country
|native_name = ''Förenade konungarikena Sverige och Norge<br>De forenede Kongeriger Norge og Sverige''
|conventional_long_name = United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway
|common_name = Sweden and Norway
|continent = Europe | region = Scandinavia | country = [[Sweden]], [[Norway]]
|era = 19th century
|status = State union
|status_text = Personal union
|government_type = Constitutional monarchy
|event_start = [[Charles XIII of Sweden|Charles XIII]] elected king of Norway
|year_start = 1814
|date_start = November 4
|event_end = [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar II]] renounces claims to Norway
|year_end = 1905
|date_end = October 26
|event_pre = Treaty of Kiel
|date_pre = [[January 14]], [[1814]]
|event1 = [[Constitution of Norway]] amended
|date_event1 = [[November 4]], [[1814]]
|event2 = [[Scandinavian Monetary Union|Monetary union]]
|date_event2 = [[May 5]], [[1873]]-1875
|event3 = Declaration of independence
|date_event3 = [[June 7]], [[1905]]
|event4 = [[Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905|Norwegian plebiscite]]
|date_event4 = [[August 13]], [[1905]]
|p1 = Sweden
|flag_p1 = Naval Ensign of Sweden.svg
|p2 = Denmark–Norway
|flag_p2 = Flag of Norway 1814-1821.PNG
|s1 = Sweden
|flag_s1 = Flag of Sweden.svg
|s2 = Norway
|flag_s2 = Flag of Norway.svg
|image_flag = Unionsgjøs.png
|flag = Union badge of Norway and Sweden
|flag_type = Union jack and diplomatic flag
|image_coat = Unionsvåpen norsk kongeflagg.jpg
|image_map = LocationSverige-Norge1871.PNG
|image_map_caption = Map of Sweden and Norway, ca. 1871
|capital = [[Stockholm]] and [[Oslo|Christiania/Kristiania]]¹
|common_languages = [[Swedish language|Swedish]]<br/> [[Dano-Norwegian language|Dano-Norwegian]]<br/>[[Landsmål|Landsmål (Norwegian)]]
|religion = [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]
|leader1 = [[Charles XIII of Sweden|Charles XIII/II]]
|year_leader1 = 1814–1818
|leader2 = [[Charles XIV John of Sweden|Charles XIV/III John]]
|year_leader2 = 1818–1844
|leader3 = [[Oscar I of Sweden|Oscar I]]
|year_leader3 = 1844–1859
|leader4 = [[Charles XV of Sweden|Charles XV/IV]]
|year_leader4 = 1859–1872
|leader5 = [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar II]]
|year_leader5 = 1872–1905
|legislature = Legislatures²
|house1 = [[Riksdag of the Estates|Riksdag]]
|type_house1 = Diet of Sweden
|house2 = Storting
|type_house2 = Parliament of Norway
|currency = ''S'': [[Swedish riksdaler|Riksdaler]] <small>(until 1873)</small><br>''N'': [[Norwegian speciedaler|Speciedaler]] <small>(until 1875)</small><br> <br>''Monetary union <small>(at par)</small>'':<br>''S'': [[Swedish krona|Krona]] <small>(from 1873)</small><br>''N'': [[Norwegian krone|Krone]] <small>(from 1875)</small>
|footnotes = ¹ The king resided alternately in [[Stockholm]] (mostly) and [[Christiania]] (usually some months each year). He received ministers from both countries in Union ''council'', or separately in purely Swedish or Norwegian ''councils''. The majority of the Norwegian cabinet ministers convened in [[Oslo|Christiania]] when the king was absent.<br>² The Swedish Riksdag was a diet composed of four estates until 1866, when it was transformed into a [[History of the Riksdag|two chamber diet]]. The Norwegian Storting was a unicameral parliament, where the cabinet needed support from the majority.
}}
The '''Union between Sweden and Norway''' ({{lang-sv|Unionen mellan Sverige och Norge}}, {{lang-no|Unionen mellom Norge og Sverige}}), was the union of the kingdoms of [[Sweden]] and [[Norway]] between 1814 and 1905, when they were united under one monarch in a [[personal union]], following the [[Treaty of Kiel]], the declaration of [[Norway in 1814|Norwegian independence]], a [[Swedish campaign against Norway (1814)|brief war with Sweden]], the [[Convention of Moss]], on [[August 14]], [[1814]], and the Norwegian constitutional revision of [[November 4]], [[1814]]. On the same day, the [[Stortinget|Norwegian parliament]] elected [[Charles XIII of Sweden|Charles XIII]] king of Norway.
==Key events==
<div style="float: left; width: 140px; margin-right: 2em;">
{{Scandinavia}}
{{History of Sweden}}
</div>
[[Image:Norge og Sverige 1847 copy.jpg|right|thumb|Norway and Sweden, 1847. Map by [[Peter Andreas Munch]]]]
[[Image:Schweden und Norwegen um 1888.jpg|right|thumb|Sweden and Norway, 1888]]
===Early history===
Sweden and Norway had previously been united under the same crown on two occasions, from 1319 to 1343, and briefly from 1449 to 1450 in opposition to [[Christian I of Denmark|Christian]] of [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]] who was elected king of the [[Kalmar Union]] by the [[Danes]].
===Act of Union===
The Act of Union, which was given [[royal assent]] on [[August 6]], [[1815]], was implemented differently in the two countries. In Norway it was a part of constitutional law known as ''Rigsakten'', and in Sweden it was a set of provisions under regular law and was known as ''Riksakten''. The [[Congress of Vienna]], which oversaw numerous territorial changes in post Napoleonic Europe, did not discuss the union of the Norwegian and Swedish crowns. The Norwegian possessions of the [[Faroe Islands]], [[Iceland]] and [[Greenland]] had remained with Denmark as a result of the [[Treaty of Kiel]].
===Norwegian discontent===
Norway was a reluctant member of the union. One manifestation of this was that Norwegian history and culture were glorified in the [[Norwegian literature|literature]] of the period. [[Norwegian farm culture]] served as a symbol and focus of nationalistic resistance to the forced union with Sweden. A growing sense of nationalism also influenced political affairs.<ref name="Derry1">{{cite book|author=Derry, T.K. |title=A History of Modern Norway; 1814–1972 |publisher=Clarendon Press, Oxford|year=1973|id=ISBN 0-19-822503-2 }}</ref>
One significant political step, the development of the Norwegian local self-government district known as the ''[[Formannskapsdistrikt]]'', was approved by Stortinget and signed into law by [[Charles XIV John of Sweden|Charles XIV of Sweden and Norway]] on [[January 14]], [[1837]].<ref name="Gjerset">{{cite book|author=Gjerset, Knut |title=History of the Norwegian People, Volumes II|publisher=The MacMillan Company|year=1915|id=ISBN none}}</ref> The law, required by the [[Constitution of Norway]], mandated that every parish (in Norwegian ''prestegjeld''<ref>Prestegjeld is a geographic and administrative district in the Norwegian State Church.</ref>) form a ''formannsskapsdistrikt''. In this manner the Norwegian State Church districts of the country became administrative districts as well, creating 373 ''formannsskapsdistrikt'' in 1837.<ref name="Derry2">{{cite book|author=Derry, T.K. |title=A Short History of Norway|publisher=George Allen & Unwin|year=1960|id=ISBN none}}</ref>
This introduction of self-government in rural districts was a major political watershed. The legislation of 1837 gave both the towns and the rural areas the same institutions; it represented a minor change for the town, but a major advance for the rural communities and an advance for Norwegian nationalism.<ref name="Derry1"/>
===Dissolution of the Union===
{{main|Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905}}
Following growing dissatisfaction with the union in Norway, the parliament unanimously [[unilateral declaration of independence|declared]] its dissolution on [[June 7]], [[1905]]. This unilateral action met with Swedish threats of war. A [[plebiscite]] on [[August 13]] confirmed the parliamentary decision by a majority of 368,208 to 184. Negotiations in [[Karlstad]] led to agreement with Sweden [[September 23]] and mutual demobilization. Both parliaments revoked the Act of Union [[October 16]], and the King [[Oscar II of Sweden]] renounced his claim to the Norwegian throne and recognized Norway as an independent kingdom on [[October 26]].
The Norwegian parliament offered the vacant throne to [[Haakon VII of Norway|Prince Carl]] of [[Denmark]], who accepted after another plebiscite had confirmed the monarchy. He arrived in Norway on [[November 25]], [[1905]], taking the name Haakon VII.
{{clear}}
== A new dynasty ==
{{see also|Charles XIV John of Sweden}}
[[Charles XIII of Sweden|Charles XIII]] was both infirm and childless. To secure the succession to the throne, he adopted [[Charles August, Crown Prince of Sweden|Prince Christian August of Augustenborg]] as his heir. Christian August had been viceroy of [[Norway]] and commander-in-chief of the Norwegian army during its successful resistance against the Swedish invasion in 1808–09. His great popularity in Norway was considered an advantage to the Swedish plans for the acquisition of that country. In addition, he had demonstrated his interest in a rapprochement between the two countries by refraining from invading Sweden during the conflict with the [[Russian Empire]]. As crown prince of Sweden, he changed his name to [[Carl August of Sweden|Carl August of Augustenborg]]. After his mysterious death on [[May 28]], [[1810]], the French marshal [[Charles XIV John of Sweden|Bernadotte]] (later to become [[Charles XIV John of Sweden|Charles XIV John]]) was adopted by Charles XIII and received the homage of the [[estates of the realm|estates]] on [[November 5]], [[1810]].
The new crown prince was very soon the most popular and the most powerful man in [[Sweden]]. The infirmity of the old king, and the dissensions in the [[Privy Council of Sweden|Privy Council]], placed the government and especially the control of foreign affairs almost entirely in his hands. He boldly adopted a policy which was antagonistic indeed to the wishes and hopes of the old school of Swedish statesmen, but perhaps the best adapted to the circumstances.The [[Grand Duchy of Finland]] he at once gave up for lost; he knew that Russia would never voluntarily relinquish it while Sweden could not hope to retain it permanently, even if she reconquered it. But the acquisition of [[Norway]] might make up for the loss of Finland; and Bernadotte, now known as the crown prince [[Charles XIV John of Sweden|Charles John]] or "Karl Johan", argued that it might be an easy matter to persuade the anti-[[Napoleon]]ic powers to punish Denmark for her loyalty to the [[First French Empire]] by wrestling Norway from her.
[[Napoleon I of France]] he rightly distrusted, though at first he was obliged to submit to the emperor's dictation. Thus on [[November 13]], [[1810]] the Swedish government was forced to declare war against the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]], though the British government under [[Spencer Perceval]] was privately informed at the same time that Sweden was not a free agent and that the war would be a mere demonstration. But the pressure of Napoleon became more and more intolerable, culminating in the occupation of [[Pomerania]] by French troops in 1812. The Swedish government thereupon concluded a secret convention with Russia, the [[Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1812)|Treaty of Saint Petersburg]], [[April 5]], [[1812]] undertaking to send 30,000 men to operate against Napoleon in Germany in return for a promise from [[Alexander I of Russia]] guaranteeing to Sweden the possession of Norway. Too late Napoleon endeavoured to outbid Alexander by offering to Sweden [[Finland]], all [[Pomerania]] and [[Mecklenburg]], in return for Sweden's active co-operation against Russia.
The [[Örebro]] Riksdag (April-August, 1812), remarkable besides for its partial repudiation of Sweden's national debt and its reactionary press laws, introduced general conscription into Sweden, and thereby enabled the crown prince to carry out his ambitious policy. In May 1812 he mediated a peace between Russia and the [[Ottoman Empire]], so as to enable Russia to use all her forces against France (the [[Treaty of Bucharest, 1812|Treaty of Bucharest]]); and on [[July 18]], at Örebro, peace was also concluded between the United Kingdom on one side and Russia and Sweden on the other.
These two treaties were, in effect, the cornerstones of a fresh coalition against Napoleon, and were confirmed on the outbreak of the Franco-Russian War by a conference between Alexander and [[Charles XIV John of Sweden|Charles John]] at [[Åbo]] on [[August 30]], [[1812]] when the tsar undertook to place an army corps of 35,000 men at the disposal of the Swedish crown prince for the conquest of [[Norway]].
== Personal union with Norway ==
[[Image:Charles XIII of Sweden.jpg|thumb|150px|King [[Charles XIII of Sweden|Charles XIII]]]]
The [[Treaty of Åbo]], and indeed the whole of Charles John's foreign policy in 1812, provoked violent and justifiable criticism among the better class of politicians in [[Sweden]]. The immorality of indemnifying Sweden at the expense of a weaker friendly power was obvious; and, while Finland was now definitively sacrificed, Norway had still to be won. Moreover, the United Kingdom and Russia very properly insisted that Charles John's first duty was to the anti-Napoleonic coalition, the former power vigorously objecting to the expenditure of her subsidies on the nefarious Norwegian adventure before the common enemy had been crushed. Only on his very ungracious compliance did the United Kingdom also promise to countenance the union of Norway and Sweden ([[Treaty of Stockholm]], [[March 3]], [[1813]]); and, on [[April 23]], Russia gave her guarantee to the same effect.
The Swedish crown prince rendered several important services to the allies during the campaign of 1813 but, after [[Battle of Leipzig (1813)|Leipzig]], he went his own way, determined at all hazards to cripple [[Denmark]] and secure [[Norway]]. The Norwegians themselves were opposed to this, and a short war broke out forcing the Swedish to settle for a personal union of two equal countries, rather than annexing Norway as originally intended. The terms were laid down at the [[Convention of Moss]]. On [[November 4]], [[1814]], the parliament of Norway revised the constitution and elected [[Charles XIII of Sweden]] as the new king of Norway.
== The royal house of Bernadotte ==
{{main|Bernadotte}}
[[Charles XIII of Sweden]] died on [[February 5]], [[1818]], and was succeeded by Bernadotte under the title of [[Charles XIV John of Sweden|Charles XIV John]]. The new king devoted himself to the promotion of the material development of the country, with the [[Göta Canal]] absorbing the greater portion of the twenty-four million the [[Riksdaler]] voted for the purpose. The external debt of Sweden was gradually extinguished, the [[internal debt]] considerably reduced, and the budget showed an average annual surplus of 700,000 Riksdaler. With returning prosperity the necessity for internal reform became urgent in Sweden.
The antiquated [[Riksdag of the Estates]], where the privileged estates predominated, while the cultivated middle class was practically unrepresented, had become an insuperable obstacle to all free development; but though the Riksdag of 1840 itself raised the question of reform, the king and the aristocracy refused to entertain it. Yet the reign of Charles XIV was, on the whole, most beneficial to Sweden; and if there was much just cause for complaint, his great services to his adopted country were generally acknowledged. Abroad he maintained a policy of peace based mainly on a good understanding with Russia.
== Oscar I ==
{{main|Oscar I of Sweden}}
[[Image:Crownprince Oscar of Sweden painted by Joseph Karl Stieler.jpg|thumb|150px|King [[Oscar I of Sweden|Oscar I]]]]
[[Charles XIV of Sweden|Charles XIV]]'s son and successor King [[Oscar I of Sweden|Oscar I]] was much more liberally inclined. Shortly after his accession on [[March 4]], [[1844]] he laid several projects of reform before the [[Riksdag of the Estates|Riksdag]], many of which had been prepared by the liberal jurist [[Johan Gabriel Richert]]. However, the [[estates of the realm|estates]] would do little more than abolish the obsolete marriage and inheritance laws and a few commercial monopolies. As the financial situation necessitated a large increase of taxation, there was much popular discontent, which culminated in riots in the streets of [[Stockholm]] March 1848. Yet, when fresh proposals for parliamentary reform were laid before the Riksdag in 1849, they were again rejected by three out of the four estates.
As regards foreign politics, Oscar I was strongly anti-German. On the outbreak of the Dano-Prussian War of 1848-1849, Sweden sympathized warmly with [[Denmark]]. Hundreds of Swedish volunteers hastened to [[Schleswig-Holstein]]. The Riksdag voted 2,000,000 [[Riksdaler]] for additional armaments. It was Sweden, too, who mediated the [[Truce of Malmö]] on [[August 26]], [[1848]] which helped Denmark out of her difficulties. During the [[Crimean War]] Sweden remained neutral, although public opinion was decidedly anti-Russian, and sundry politicians regarded the conjuncture as favourable for regaining Finland.
== Charles XV ==
{{main|Charles XV of Sweden}}
[[Oscar I of Sweden|Oscar I]] was succeeded on [[July 8]], [[1859]] by his son, [[Charles XV of Sweden|Charles XV]], who had already acted as regent during his father's illnesses. He succeeded, with the invaluable assistance of the minister of justice, Baron [[Louis De Geer (1818-1896)|Louis De Geer]], in at last accomplishing the much-needed reform of the constitution. The way had been prepared in 1860 by a sweeping measure of municipal reform; and, in January 1863, the government brought in a reform bill by the terms of which the [[Riksdag]] was henceforth to consist of two chambers, the Upper House being a sort of aristocratic senate, while the members of the Lower House were to be elected triennially by popular suffrage.
The new constitution was accepted by all four estates in 1865 and promulgated on [[January 22]], [[1866]]. On [[September 1]], [[1866]], the first elections under the new system were held; and on [[January 19]], [[1867]], the new [[Riksdag]] met for the first time. With this one great reform Charles XV had to be content; in all other directions he was hampered, more or less, by his own creation. The Riksdag refused to sanction his favourite project of a reform of the [[Swedish army]] on the [[Prussia]]n model, for which he laboured all his life, partly from motives of economy, partly from an apprehension of the king's martial tendencies.
In 1864 Charles XV had endeavoured to form an anti-Prussian league with Denmark; and after the defeat of Denmark he projected a [[Scandinavia|Scandinavian Union]], in order, with the help of France, to oppose Prussian predominance in the north - a policy which naturally collapsed with the overthrow of the French Empire in 1870. He died on [[September 18]], [[1872]] and was succeeded by his brother, the duke of [[Östergötland]], who reigned as [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar II]].
== State of the Union ==
[[Image:Unionsorlogsflagg 1815.png|thumb|War flag of Sweden and Norway, 1815–1844]]
[[Image:Svensk handelsflagg 1844-1905.png|thumb|Flag of Sweden, 1844–1905]]
[[Image:Norge-Unionsflagg-1844.svg|thumb|Flag of Norway, 1844–98]]
{{main|Flag of Sweden}}
The relations with [[Norway]] during King [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar]]'s reign had great influence on political life in [[Sweden]], and more than once it seemed as if the union between the two countries was on the point of being wrecked. The dissensions chiefly had their origin in the demand by Norway for separate consuls and eventually a separate foreign service. Norway had, according to the constitution of 1814, the right to separate consular offices, but had not exercised that right partly for financial reasons, partly because the consuls appointed by the Swedish foreign office generally did a satisfactory job of representing Norway.
At last, after vain negotiations and discussions, the Swedish government in 1895 gave notice to Norway that the commercial treaty which until then had existed between the two countries would lapse in July 1897 and would, according to a decision in the [[Riksdag]], cease, and as Norway at the time had raised the customs duties, a considerable diminution in the exports of Sweden to Norway took place. Count Lewenhaupt, the Swedish minister of foreign affairs, who was considered to be too friendly towards the Norwegians, resigned and was replaced by Count [[Ludvig Douglas]], who represented the opinion of the majority in the First Chamber. However, when the Norwegian [[Storting]], for the third time, passed a bill for a national or "pure" flag, which King Oscar eventually sanctioned, Count Douglas resigned in his turn and was succeeded by the Swedish minister at [[Berlin]], Lagerheim, who managed to pilot the questions of the union into more quiet waters.
He succeeded all the better as the new elections to the Riksdag of 1900 showed clearly that the Swedish people were not inclined to follow the ultraconservative or so-called "patriotic" party, which resulted in the resignation of the two leaders of that party, Professor [[Oscar Alin]] and Count Marshall [[Patrick Reutersvärd]] as members of the First Chamber. On the other hand, ex-Professor E. Carlson, of the [[Gothenburg University]], succeeded in forming a party of Liberals and Radicals to the number of about 90 members, who besides being in favour of the extension of the franchise, advocated the full equality of Norway with Sweden in the management of foreign affairs.
The state of quietude which for some time prevailed with regard to the relations with Norway was not, however, to be of long duration. The question of separate consuls for Norway soon came up again. In 1902 the Swedish government proposed that negotiations in this matter should be opened with the Norwegian government, and that a joint committee, consisting of representatives from both countries, should be appointed to consider the question of a separate consular service without in any way interfering with the existing administration of the diplomatic affairs of the two countries.
The result of the negotiations was published in a so-called "communiqué", dated [[March 24]], [[1903]] in which, among other things, it was proposed that the relations of the separate consuls to the joint ministry of foreign affairs and the embassies should be arranged by identical laws, which could not be altered or repealed without the consent of the governments of both countries. The proposal for these identical laws, which the Norwegian government in May 1904 submitted, did not meet with the approval of the Swedish government. The latter in their reply proposed that the Swedish foreign minister should have such control over the Norwegian consuls as to prevent the latter from exceeding their authority.
However, the Norwegian government found this proposal unacceptable, and explained that, if such control were insisted upon, all further negotiations would be purposeless. They maintained that the Swedish demands were incompatible with the sovereignty of Norway, as the foreign minister was a Swede and the proposed Norwegian consular service, as a Norwegian institution, could not be placed under a foreign authority. A new proposal by the Swedish government was likewise rejected, and in February 1905 the Norwegians broke off the negotiations. Notwithstanding this an agreement did not appear to be out of the question. All efforts to solve the consular question by itself had failed, but it was considered that an attempt might be made to establish separate consuls in combination with a joint administration of diplomatic affairs on a full unionistic basis.
Crown Prince [[Gustav V of Sweden|Gustaf]], who during the illness of King [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar]] was appointed [[regent]], took the initiative of renewing the negotiations between the two countries, and on [[April 5]] in a combined Swedish and Norwegian [[Privy Council of Sweden|Council of State]] made a proposal for a reform both of the administration of diplomatic affairs and of the consular service on the basis of full equality between the two kingdoms, with the express reservation, however, of a joint foreign minister — Swedish or Norwegian — as a condition for the existence of the union. This proposal was approved of by the Swedish [[Riksdag]] on [[May 3]], [[1905]]. In order that no obstacles should be placed in the way for renewed negotiations, [[Erik Gustaf Boström]], the [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]], resigned and was succeeded by [[Johan Ramstedt]]. The proposed negotiations were not, however, renewed.
== Dissolution of the Union ==
[[Image:Peace monument karlstad.JPG|thumb|The peace monument of [[Karlstad]] was erected on the city square in 1955, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the dissolution of the union]]
[[Image:Flaggsirkulære 1899.jpg|thumb|Swedish and Norwegian flags in 1899, after the removal of the union badge from the merchant flag of Norway]]
{{main|Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905}}
On [[May 23]], the Norwegian [[Storting]] passed the government's proposal for the establishment of separate Norwegian consuls, and as King [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar]], who again had resumed the reins of government, made use of his constitutional right to veto the bill, the Norwegian ministry tendered their resignation. The king, however, declared he could not now accept their resignation, whereupon the ministry at a sitting of the Norwegian Storting on [[June 7]] placed their resignation in its hands.
The Storting thereupon unanimously adopted a resolution stating that, as the king had declared himself unable to form a government, the constitutional royal power "ceased to be operative", whereupon the ministers were requested, until further instructions, to exercise the power vested in the king, and as King Oscar thus had ceased to act as "the king of Norway", the union with Sweden was in consequence dissolved.
In Sweden, where they were least of all prepared for the turn things had taken, the action of the Storting created the greatest surprise and resentment. The king solemnly protested against what had taken place and summoned an extraordinary session of the Riksdag for [[June 20]] to consider what measures should be taken, with regard to the question of the union, which had arisen suddenly through the revolt of the Norwegians on [[June 7]].
The Riksdag declared that it was not opposed to negotiations being entered upon regarding the conditions for the dissolution of the union if the Norwegian Storting, after a new election, made a proposal for the repeal of the Act of Union between the two countries, or if a proposal to this effect was made by Norway after the Norwegian people, through a [[plebiscite]], had declared in favour of the dissolution of the union. The Riksdag further resolved that 100 million [[Swedish krona|kronor]] should be held in readiness and be available as the Riksdag might decide. On the resignation of the [[Johan Ramstedt|Ramstedt]] ministry Mr. [[Christian Lundeberg|Lundeberg]] formed a coalition ministry consisting of members of the various parties in the Riksdag, after which the Riksdag was prorogued on [[August 3]].
After the plebiscite in [[Norway]] on the [[August 13]] had decided in favour of the dissolution of the union with 368,392 votes against 184 votes, and after the Storting had requested the Swedish government to co-operate with it for the repeal of the Act of Union, a conference of delegates from both countries was convened at [[Karlstad]] on [[August 31]]. On [[September 23]] the delegates came to an agreement, the principal points of which were: that such disputes between the two countries which could not be settled by direct diplomatic negotiations, and which did not affect the vital interests of either country, should be referred to the permanent court of arbitration at [[The Hague]], that on either side of the southern frontier a neutral zone of about fifteen kilometres width should be established, and that within eight months the fortifications within the Norwegian part of the zone should be destroyed.
Other clauses dealt with the rights of the [[Sami people|Laplanders]] to graze their reindeer alternatively in either country, and with the question of transport of goods across the frontier by rail or other means of communication, so that the traffic should not be hampered by any import or export prohibitions or otherwise.
From [[October 2]] to [[October 19]], the extraordinary Riksdag was again assembled, and eventually approved of the arrangement come to by the delegates at [[Karlstad]] with regard to the dissolution of the union as well ordinary as the government proposal for the repeal of the Act of Union and the recognition of [[Norway]] as an independent state. An alteration in the [[Flag of Sweden|Swedish flag]] was also decided upon, by which the mark of union was to be replaced by an azure-blue square.
An offer from the Norwegian Storting to elect a prince of the [[Bernadotte|Swedish royal house]] as king in Norway was declined by King [[Oscar II of Sweden|Oscar]], who now on behalf of himself and his successors renounced the right to the Norwegian crown. Mr Lundeberg, who had accepted office only to settle the question of the dissolution of the union, now resigned and was succeeded by a Liberal government with Mr [[Karl Staaff]] as prime minister.
== See also ==
*[[Union Dissolution Day]]
*[[History of Norway]]
*[[History of Denmark]]
*[[History of Sweden]]
*[[History of Scandinavia]]
*[[Union badge of Norway and Sweden]]
*[[Kalmar Union]]
*[[Denmark-Norway]]
== Notes ==
{{reflist}}
:{{1911}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweden–Norway}}
[[Category:Political history of Norway]]
[[Category:Political history of Sweden]]
[[Category:Scandinavian history]]
[[Category:19th century in Sweden]]
[[da:Den svensk-norske union]]
[[es:Unión entre Suecia y Noruega]]
[[eo:Svedio-Norvegio]]
[[fr:Suède-Norvège]]
[[ko:스웨덴-노르웨이]]
[[id:Swedia-Norwegia]]
[[it:Svezia-Norvegia]]
[[he:האיחוד השבדי-נורבגי]]
[[nl:Verenigde Koninkrijken van Zweden en Noorwegen]]
[[ja:スウェーデン=ノルウェー]]
[[no:Unionen mellom Sverige og Norge]]
[[pl:Unia szwedzko-norweska]]
[[pt:Reino da Suécia e Noruega]]
[[ru:Шведско-норвежская уния]]
[[fi:Ruotsi-Norja]]
[[sv:Svensk-norska unionen]]
[[zh:瑞典-挪威联合]]