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Governor-general of Norway

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The governor-general of Norway (Danish: Rigsstatholder or Swedish: Riksståthållare, both meaning 'lieutenant of the realm' (see stadtholder)), was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the monarch, during the union with Denmark and Sweden.

Governor-general of Norway
Danish: Rigsstatholder
Swedish: Riksståthållare
Longest serving
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve
1664–1699
AppointerThe King
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation1556
First holderChristen Munk
Final holderSeverin Løvenskiold
Abolished1873

Etymology

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(Norwegian: Stattholder) means "steward". Its component parts literally translate as "place holder," or as a direct cognate, "stead holder", it was a term for a "steward" or "lieutenant". However, this is not the word for the military rank of lieutenant, which is løytnant in Norwegian.

Governors-general appointed by the kings of Norway and Denmark

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The office of Governor-general of Norway was established in 1556 and was occupied with occasional interruptions until 1814. The Governor-general was normally at the same time Lensherre (Governor) of Akershus len (after 1662; Akershus amt), and was the highest authority in the country.[1]

List of governors-general (Stattholdere) during the Union between Denmark and Norway

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No. Portrait Governors-general Took office Left office Time in office
-Munk, ChristenChristen Munk
(c. 1520–1579)
under King Christian III and Frederick II		1556157215–16 years
1Huitfeldt, PovelPouel Ottesen Huitfeldt
(c. 1529–1592)
under King Frederick II		157215774–5 years
2Munk, LudvigLudvig Munk
(c. 1532–1602)
under King Frederick II		9 July 157715835–6 years
3Gyldenstjerne, AxelAxel Gyldenstjerne
(c. 1537–1603)
under King Christian IV		1588160112–13 years
4Friis, JørgenJørgen Friis
(c. 1543–1616)
under King Christian IV		160116086–7 years
5Kruse, EnevoldEnevold Kruse
(c. 1554–1621)
under King Christian IV		160816189–10 years
6Juel, JensJens Hermansson Juel
(1580–1634)
under King Christian IV		1618162910–11 years
7Urne, ChristopherChristoffer Urne
(1593–1663)
under King Christian IV		1629164212–13 years
8Sehested, HannibalHannibal Sehested
(1609–1666)
under King Christian IV and Frederick III		164224 June 16518–9 years
9Krabbe, GregersGregers Krabbe
(1594–1655)
under King Frederick III		165120 December 16553–4 years
10Trolle, NielsNiels Trolle
(1599–1667)
under King Frederick III		165628 March 16614–5 years
11Krabbe, IverIver Krabbe
(1602–1666)
under King Frederick III		8 Oct 166116642–3 years
12Gyldenløve, UlrikUlrik Frederik Gyldenløve
(1638–1704)
under King Frederick III and Christian V		January 1664169934–35 years
13Gyldenløve, UlrikFrederik Gabel
(c. 1640–1708)
Vice Governor-general
under King Frederick IV		30 September 169917088–9 years
14Vibe, JohanJohan Vibe
(1634–1710)
Vice Governor-general
under King Frederick IV		10 April 170822 February 17101 year
15Gyldenløve, WoldemarWoldemar Løvendal
(1660–1740)
under King Frederick IV		1 August 171030 April 17121 year
16Vieregg, ClausClaus Henrik Vieregg
(1655–1713)
Vice Governor-general
under King Frederick IV		4 August 171214 July 17130 years
17Krag, FrederikFrederik Krag
(1655–1728)
Vice Governor-general
under King Frederick IV		19 September 171317228–9 years
18Vibe, DitlevDitlev Vibe
(1670–1731)
under King Frederick IV and Christian VI		17 April 17225 October 17319 years
19Rantzau, ChristianChristian Rantzau
(1684–1771)
under King Christian VI		173317397–8 years
Office vacant
(1739–1750)
20Benzon, JacobJacob Benzon
(1688–1775)
Vice Governor-general
(1750-1770)
Governor-general
(1770-1771)
under King Frederick V and Christian VII		11 September 17508 February 177120 years
-CharlesPrince Charles of Hesse-Kassel
(1744–1836)
Acting
under King Christian VII		4 July 1766January 17681 year
Office vacant
(8 February 1771 – 25 July 1809)
21August, CharlesCharles August, Crown Prince of Sweden
(1768–1810)
under King Frederick VI		25 July 180911 January 18100 years
22FrederikPrince Frederik of Hesse
(1771–1845)
under King Frederick VI		11 January 181011 May 18133 years
23Frederik, ChristianChristian Frederik af Danmark
(1786–1848)
under King Frederick VI		11 May 181316 February 18140 years

Governors-general appointed by the kings of Norway and Sweden

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The following describes the office of governor as it was from 1814 during the union with Sweden:

The office came into existence by the Norwegian Constitution, of 4 November 1814 where the paragraphs 12, 13 and 15 stipulated that a governor-general of Swedish or Norwegian nationality could be appointed. The governor-general resided in Christiania (today Oslo) and led the Government in the absence of the monarch, when he resided in his Swedish capital Stockholm. The Council was normally led by the governor-general, who had two votes, unless the Monarch was present, at which point he would lose his authority and merely become the first among equals, or prime minister of the council.

The post was held by Swedish appointees from 1814 until 1829, when it was vacated by natural causes. Protests left the position empty until 1836, when it was filled by a Norwegian appointee. He was succeeded in 1841 but the successor Severin Løvenskiold laid down his office in 1856, after which it would not be reinstated. The demand to abandon the office completely was ultimately granted in 1873 by King Oscar II.

List of governors-general (Stattholdere) during the Union between Sweden and Norway

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No. Portrait Governors-general Took office Left office Time in office
1von Essen, Hans HenricCount Hans Henric von Essen
(1755–1824)
under King Charles II of Norway		181418161–2 years
2Carlsson Mörner, CarlCount Carl Carlsson Mörner
(1755–1821)
under King Charles II of Norway		181618181–2 years
3Sandels, Johan AugustCount Johan August Sandels
(1764–1831)
under King Charles III of Norway		181818278–9 years
4von Platen, BaltzarCount Baltzar von Platen
(1766–1829)
under King Charles III of Norway		182718291–2 years
Office vacant
(1829 – 1836)
5Wedel-Jarlsberg, Johan Caspar HermanCount Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg
(1779–1840)
under King Charles III of Norway		183618403–4 years
Office vacant
(1840 – 1841)
6Løvenskiold, SeverinSeverin Løvenskiold
(1777–1856)
under King Charles III of Norway and Oscar I of Norway		1841185614–15 years
Office vacant
(1856 – 1873)
Then it was abolished

See also

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Sources and references

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References

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  1. ^ Two sentences are quotes from the National Archives ra/sentralinst/statholderembetet.html Statholderembetet 1572-1771 from the National Archives/archived edition
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