NORWAY
119
NORWAY
Christopher's early death (1448) the union was vir-
tually dissolved: the Swedes chose Karl Knutsson as
king, and the Danes called Count Christian of Old-
enburg to the throne. At first Norway wavered
between the two, but Christian was able to retain
control.
Of Christian's two sons Hans was at first only ruler of Denmark and Norway, but, by an agreement made at Calmar, he was able to gain Sweden also. Yet it was only after defeating Sten Sture that his position in Sweden was secure. King Hans I was succeeded (1.513) in Denmark and Norway by his son. Christian II. Christian's cruelty to the conquered Swedes pre- pared the way for the defection of that country to Gustavus Vasa; consequently, he was indirectly re- sponsible for the withdrawal of Sweden from Catholic
last Bishop of Holum in Iceland, Jon Arason, died a
martyr. The king and the nobility seized the lands
of the Church. The chief nobles acquired inordinate
influence, and the landed proprietors, once so proud
of their independence, fell under the control of foreign
tyrants.
As regards territorial development in the Middle Ages, Norway had a number of tributary provinces — in the north, Finmark, inhabited by heathen Lapps; various groups of islands south-west of Norway as: the Farve Islands, the Orkneys, the Shetlands, and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, to which were added later Iceland and Greenland. During the period of the union, Norway also included Bohuslan, Hiirjedalen, Jeratland, and some smaller districts, all now belong- ing to Sweden. With these islands and outlying ter-
unity. Christian .soon aroused dissatisfaction in his
own country. Undue preference granted to the lower
classes turned the nobility against him, and his un-
disguised ctlorts to open the way for the teachings of
Luther repelled loyal Catholics. Serious disorders
followed in Jutland, and Christian, losing courage,
sought to save himself by flight. With the aid of the
Hanseatic League his uncle, Duke Frederick of Schles-
wig-Holstein, soon acquired possession of his king-
doms. The new king and his son. Christian III, were
fanatical adherents of the new doctrine, and by craft
and force brought about its victory in Denmark
(15.39). In Norway Archbishop Olaf of Trondhjem
laboured in vain for the maintenance of Catholicism
and the establishment of national independence.
The majority of the peasants were indifferent and the
impoverished nobility, who hoped to benefit by the
introduction of the "pure Go.spel", urged Christian
on. After the departure of the church dignitaries
Christian acquired the mastery of the country (1.537).
Norway now ceased to be an independent state.
While retaining the name of kingdom it was for nearly
three hundred years (until 1814) only a Danish prov-
ince, administered by Danish oflieials and at times out-
rageously plundered. Here, as in Sweden and Den-
mark, people were gradually and systematically turned
away from the Catholic Faith, though it was long be-
fore Catholicism was completely extinguished. The
ritories the monarchy comprised about 7000 square
miles. The Scotch islands were lost towards the end
of the fifteenth century, and at a later period the col-
onies in Greenland were totally neglected. Originally
the kingdom had consisted of four provinces, each
with its own laws, but when a system of law for the
entire country was introduced, it was divided into
eleven judicial districts. The most closely settled
districts were the fertile lowlands on the inlets of
the sea, now Christiania and Trondhjem fiords. The
waterway from Trondhjem to Oslo, near the present
Christiania, was the most important route for traflic.
There was also much intercourse by water between
Oslo and Bergen. Through the mountain districts
huts for the convenience of travellers (Spdlashigor)
were erected, and developed later into inns and tav-
erns. The country was unprepared for war. The
topography and economic conditions made it difficult
to mobilize the land forces. The soldiers were not
paid, but only fed. The chief state officials lived in
Bohus, Akershus, Tunsberg, and the royal fortified
castles on the harbours of Bergen and Trondhjem.
Ecclesiastically, Norway was at first under the direc-
tion of the Archbishop" of Lund (1103); later (11.52)
under the Archbishop of Trondhjem, who had juris-
diction over the Bishops of Bergen, Stavanger, Oslo,
Hamar, Farve, Kirkwall (Orkney Islands), Skalholt
and Holar (Holum) in Iceland, and Gardar (Garde) iu
