# Union between Sweden and Norway

| United Kingdoms of Sweden and NorwayFörenade konungarikena Sverige och Norge De forenede Kongeriger Norge og Sverige |
| --- |
| 1814–1905 |
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Union mark and diplomatic flag 1844–1905

Coat of arms

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| Sweden and Norway in 1905 |
| Status | Personal union |
| Capital | Stockholm & Christiania[a] |
| Common languages | Swedish, Danish, Norwegian[b], Western Sami languages |
| Religion  | Protestant (Lutheran) Christianity |
| Government | Constitutional monarchies |
| King |   |
|  |
| • 1814–1818  | Charles XIII/II |
| • 1818–1844  | Charles XIV/III John |
| • 1844–1859  | Oscar I |
| • 1859–1872  | Charles XV/IV |
| • 1872–1905  | Oscar II |
|  |
| Legislature | **Legislatures:**[d] |
| • Swedish legislature | Swedish Parliament |
| • Norwegian legislature | Parliament of Norway |
| Historical era | 19th century |
|  |
| • Treaty of Kiel  | 14 January 1814 |
| • Charles XIII elected king of Norway  | 4 November 1814 |
| • Constitution of Norway amended  | 4 November 1814 |
| • Monetary union  | 16 October 1875 |
| • Norway declares independence  | 7 June 1905 |
| • Union dissolved  | 13 August 1905 |
| • Oscar II renounces claims to Norway  | 26 October 1905 |
|  |
| Area |
| 1905 | 774,184 km2 (298,914 sq mi) |
| Population |
|  |
| • 1820  | 3550000[c] |
| • 1905  | 7560000[c] |
|  |
| Currency | **Sweden:** Riksdaler, (1814–1873) Krona (1873–1905) **Norway:** Speciedaler, (1814–1875) Krone (1875–1905) |
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| **Preceded by** | **Succeeded by** |
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| --- | --- |
|  | History of Sweden (1772–1809) |
|  | Kingdom of Norway (1814) |

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| Sweden |  |
| Norway |  |

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| a. **^** The king resided alternately in Stockholm (mostly) and Christiania (usually some months of each year). He received ministers from both Sweden and Norway in Union *council*, or separately in only Swedish or Norwegian *councils*. The majority of the Norwegian cabinet ministers convened in Christiania when the king was absent. b. **^** The written Norwegian language ceased to exist in the first half of the 16th century and was replaced by Danish. Written Danish was still used during the union with Sweden, but was slightly norwegianized in the latter half of the 19th century. In 1885, the Parliament of Norway accepted Landsmål as an official written language at par with Danish. c. **^** 1820: 2,585,000 in Sweden, and 970,000 in Norway. 1905: 5,260,000 in Sweden, and 2,300,000 in Norway. d. **^** The Swedish Parliament was a diet composed of four estates until 1866. That year it became into a bicameral legislature. The Parliament of Norway was a unicameral legislature. In the Norwegian parliament the cabinet needed support from the majority. |

The **Union of Sweden and Norway** (Swedish: *Svensk-norska unionen*; Norwegian: *Den svensk-norske union*), officially the **United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway**, was a personal union. It consisted of the separate kingdoms of Sweden and Norway under the same monarch. It lasted from 1814 to 1905. In 1905 Sweden accepted Norway leaving the union. Both states kept their separate constitutions, laws, legislatures, administrations, state churches, armed forces, and currencies. However the kings mostly resided in Stockholm. Stockholm was also the town where foreign diplomatic representations were located.