History Usefulnotes / Norway

Norway ('''Norwegian Bokmål:''' ''Norge'', '''Norwegian Nynorsk:''' ''Noreg'', '''Southern Sami:''' ''Nöörje'', '''Northern Sami:''' ''Norga'', '''Lule Sami:''' ''Vuodna'', '''Kven:''' ''Norja''), officially known as the Kingdom of Norway ('''Norwegian Bokmål:''' ''Kongeriket Norge'', '''Norwegian Nynorsk:''' ''Kongeriket Noreg'', '''Southern Sami:''' ''Nöörjen gånkarïjhke'', '''Northern Sami:''' ''Norgga gonagasriika'', '''Lule Sami:''' ''Vuona gånågisrijkka'', '''Kven:''' ''Norjan kuninkhaanvaltakunta''), is a Northern European country, the westernmost state of Scandinavia, and the northernmost country fully located within {{UsefulNotes/Europe}}. Once one of the lands of UsefulNotes/TheVikingAge, now the land of petroleum. And the Nobel Peace Prize. Norway is also the go-to place for tourists interested in fjords, the midnight sun, the aurora borealis, cartoon moose, troll figurines, mountains and fish. There are also actual live elks/moose and [[WhiteTailedReindeer reindeer]]. In fact, the road signs that warn against crossing elks (triangular with a black elk silhouette on white background with a red border) often get stolen by foreign tourists that for some reason are fascinated by the animals.

Norway ('''Norwegian Bokmål:''' ''Norge'', '''Norwegian Nynorsk:''' ''Noreg'', '''Southern Sami:''' ''Nöörje'', '''Northern Sami:''' ''Norga'', '''Lule Sami:''' ''Vuodna'', '''Kven:''' ''Norja''), officially known as the Kingdom of Norway ('''Norwegian Bokmål:''' ''Kongeriket Norge'', '''Norwegian Nynorsk:''' ''Kongeriket Noreg'', '''Southern Sami:''' ''Nöörjen gånkarïjhke'', '''Northern Sami:''' ''Norgga gonagasriika'', '''Lule Sami:''' ''Vuona gånågisrijkka'', '''Kven:''' ''Norjan kuninkhaanvaltakunta''), is a Northern European country, the westernmost state of Scandinavia, and the northernmost country fully located within {{UsefulNotes/Europe}}. Once one of lands of UsefulNotes/TheVikingAge, now the land of petroleum. And the Nobel Peace Prize. Norway is also the go-to place for tourists interested in fjords, the midnight sun, the aurora borealis, cartoon moose, troll figurines, mountains and fish. There are also actual live elks/moose and [[WhiteTailedReindeer reindeer]]. In fact, the road signs that warn against crossing elks (triangular with a black elk silhouette on white background with a red border) often get stolen by foreign tourists that for some reason are fascinated by the animals.

* '''Capital and largest city:''' Oslo

* Music/{{Immortal}}

Despite being a founding member of UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}, Norway turned down [[UsefulNotes/EuropeanUnion EEC/EU membership]] after two referendums, the first in 1972 and the second in 1994. In fact, the EU membership question is so divisive that none of the pro-membership parties actually dare to push for another referendum for fear of the turmoil it would bring. Norway is also (in)famous for being one of the only developed countries, along with {{UsefulNotes/Japan}}, not to have banned whaling.

[[caption-width-right:330: ''Ja, vi elsker dette landet...'']]

Some unusual cultural exports of recent years include music in the genre known as BlackMetal, the novel ''Literature/SophiesWorld'' by Creator/JosteinGaarder which became remarkably popular worldwide (published in 54 langugages and more than 30 million copies sold) and crime novels by authors like Karin Fossum translated into several languages as part of the vogue for Scandinavian detective fiction.

Probably the most famous Norwegian is the realist/modernist playwright Creator/HenrikIbsen. Other Norwegians with at least some international recognition include:
* Creator/HenrikWergeland, poet. Known abroad for his engagement in Jewish cause, as the Norwegian constitution at the time, though liberal, denied all jews access to the country. Wergeland's intervention changed this. A hero for Norwegian leftists.

* Fridtjof Nansen, polar explorer, biologist, oceanographer and diplomat. Travelled throughout the Arctic, including a failed attempt to reach the North Pole on skis in 1896. Later in life engaged in humanitarian work, like facilitating the Greek/Turkish population exchange, providing aid to Armenian refugees in the wake of the Turkish genocide against them, and providing relief during famine caused by the Russian Civil War.

* Music/AnimalAlpha

* The first two ''VideoGame/ClockTower'' games take place in Norway, the first near [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Romsdaaren]] (it should actually be Romsdalen) and the second in Oslo.

* Norwegians are a rarity in BeatEmUp games, despite the “world warrior” set up of many motable series. However, the VideoGame/SoulSeries seventh iteration (known as Soul Calibur VI) introduces Grøh, a young warrior who (despite the erroneous “h” at the end of his name) is the series’ first ever Norwegian (and Scandinavian, in fact) character.

* ''Film/{{Elling}}'' (2001) is a film about a man trying to overcome his social anxiety, based on the novel ''Brødre i blodet'' (''Blood brothers'', translated in English as ''Literature/BeyondTheGreatIndoors'') by Ingvar Ambjørnsen. It was nominated for an [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]] for Best Foreign Film.

Following its independence, Norway pursued a policy of neutrality and managed to stay out of the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI First World War]]. However, despite maintaining its neutrality at the onset of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Norway was forcibly plunged into the war when it was invaded by UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1940. Though the Norwegian military fought fiercely in defense of the country with Allied help, the Norwegians ultimately lost after two months, which led to the country being occupied and the Norwegian royal family and government being forced into exile in {{UsefulNotes/London}}. Despite this, King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were able to rally much of the Norwegian merchant fleet to the Allied cause, providing vital cargo capacity for the various convoys. In addition, several units of the Royal Norwegian Navy and Air Force managed to escape the occupation and fought as part of the Allied military forces. On the other hand, most of the Norwegian Army was captured following Norway's capitulation, with only a few managing to escape and join the Allies. Some of the soldiers who stayed behind managed to escape captivity and would go on to help form the Norwegian resistance movement. This occupation of Norway also saw the rise of the infamous Vidkun Quisling [[note]]the TropeNamer for TheQuisling[[/note]], who led the collaborationist government that aided the Germans. The Norwegian people absolutely hated Quisling for his actions during the occupation, so much so that after the war, the Norwegian government reinstated the death penalty specifically to execute him.

Norway pursued a policy of neutrality following its independence, managing to stay out of the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI First World War]]. However, despite maintaining its neutrality at the onset of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Norway was forcibly plunged into the war when it was invaded by UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1940. Though the Norwegian Army fought fiercely in defense of the country with Allied help, the Norwegians ultimately lost after two months, which led to the country being occupied and the Norwegian royal family and government being forced into exile in {{UsefulNotes/London}}. Despite this, King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were able to rally much of the Norwegian merchant fleet to the Allied cause, providing vital cargo capacity for the various convoys. In addition, several units of the Royal Norwegian Navy and Air Force managed to escape the occupation and fought as part of the Allied military forces. On the other hand, most of the Norwegian Army was captured following Norway's capitulation, with only a few managing to escape and join the Allies. Some of the soldiers who stayed behind managed to escape captivity and would go on to help form the Norwegian resistance movement. This period also saw the rise of the infamous Vidkun Quisling[[note]]the TropeNamer for TheQuisling[[/note]] who oversaw the collaborationsit government that aided the Germans during the occupation. Quisling was absolutely reviled by the Norwegian people for his role in the occupation, so much so that after the war, the Norwegian government reinstated the death penalty specifically to execute him.

Norway pursued a policy of neutrality following its independence, managing to stay out of the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI First World War]]. However, despite maintaining its neutrality at the onset of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, Norway was forcibly plunged into the war when it was invaded by UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1940. Though the Norwegian Army fought fiercely in defense of the country with Allied help, the Norwegians ultimately lost after two months, which led to the country being occupied and the Norwegian royal family and government being forced into exile in {{UsefulNotes/London}}. Despite this, King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were able to rally much of the Norwegian merchant fleet to the Allied cause, providing vital cargo capacity for the various convoys. In addition, several Norwegian sailors and pilots fought in the war as part of the British military. A resistance movement was also formed in occupied Norway to oppose the German occupation force and the collaborationist government led by the infamous Vidkun Quisling. [[note]]the TropeNamer for TheQuisling[[/note]] Quisling was absolutely reviled by the Norwegian people for his role in the occupation, so much so that after the war, the Norwegian government reinstated the death penalty specifically to execute him.

Norway pursued a policy of neutrality following its independence, managing to stay out of the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI First World War]]. Unfortunately, despite maintaining its neutrality, Norway was unable to avoid UsefulNotes/WorldWarII when it was invaded by UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1940. Though the Norwegian Army fought fiercely in defense of the country with Allied help, the Norwegians ultimately lost after two months, which led to the country being occupied and the Norwegian royal family and government being forced into exile in {{UsefulNotes/London}}. King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were able to rally much of the Norwegian merchant fleet to the Allied cause, providing vital cargo capacity for the various convoys. In addition, several Norwegian sailors and pilots fought in the war as part of the British military. A resistance movement was also formed in occupied Norway to fight against both the German occupation force and the collaborationist government led by Vidkun Quisling, the TropeNamer for TheQuisling. Quisling was absolutely reviled by the Norwegian people for his role in the occupation, so much so that after the war, the Norwegian government reinstated the death penalty specifically to execute him.

Norway pursued a policy of neutrality following its independence, managing to stay out of the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI First World War]]. Unfortunately, Norway was unable to avoid UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, as the country was invaded by UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1940. Though the Norwegian Army fought fiercely in defense of the country with Allied help, the Norwegians ultimately lost after two months, which led to the country being occupied and the Norwegian royal family and government being forced into exile in {{UsefulNotes/London}}. King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were able to rally much of the Norwegian merchant fleet to the Allied cause, providing vital cargo capacity for the various convoys. There were also several Norwegian-crewed vessels and air force squadrons fighting under the British. In occupied Norway, a resistance movement was formed to fight against both the German occupation force and the collaborationist government led by Vidkun Quisling, the TropeNamer for TheQuisling. Quisling was so hated by the Norwegian people for his role in the occupation that after the war, the Norwegian government reinstated the death penalty specifically to execute him.

Norwegians display striking amounts of mostly harmless nationalism, which likely grew from the fact that Norway during TheLateMiddleAges and the [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance early modern period]] was always under the thumb of one of its Scandinavian neighbors. It began in 1380 when King Olaf II of Denmark also ascended the throne of Norway, and it was ratified in 1397 with the advent of the Kalmar Union, which united the vast majority of Scandinavia under the Danish crown. After {{UsefulNotes/Sweden}} broke away in 1523, officially ending the Kalmar Union, Norway would remain in a personal union under {{UsefulNotes/Denmark}} as a part of the realm Denmark-Norway until 1814.

Norwegians display striking amounts of mostly harmless nationalism, which likely grew from the fact that Norway during TheLateMiddleAges and the [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance early modern period]] was always under the thumb of one of its Scandinavian neighbor-countries. It began in 1380 when King Olaf II of Denmark also ascended the throne of Norway, and it was ratified in 1397 with the advent of the Kalmar Union which united the vast majority of Scandinavia under the Danish crown. After {{UsefulNotes/Sweden}} broke away from the Kalmar Union in 1523 and thereby ended it, Norway would remain in a personal union under {{UsefulNotes/Denmark}} as a part of the realm Denmark-Norway until 1814.

As a consequence of allying itself with Napoleonic France, Denmark was forced to give up the entire territory of Norway in the aftermath of UsefulNotes/TheNapoleonicWars, signing a treaty with the victorious coalition that formally ceded Norway to Sweden. The Norwegians were not happy when they learned of the arrangement and thus tried to declare independence instead, drafting a constitution and installing a king of their own, Christian Frederick (who would later ascend to the Danish throne as Christian VIII), while also trying to garner enough international support to recognize their new country, but it never came to fruition. In the summer of 1814, the Swedish arrived to claim their new territory, but the Norwegians resisted. The two sides fought fiercely for two weeks before Sweden managed to convince the Norwegians to join a union voluntarily in exchange for greater autonomy to govern themselves within said union, which the Norwegians ultimately agreed to. Although the Swedes did acknowledge the Norwegian constitution as a part of the peace deal, they forced the recently crowned king to abdicate and renounce all claims to the Norwegian throne. Norway would finally achieve true independence as a constitutional monarchy in 1905, following a peaceful separation deal with Sweden, after which the Norwegians [[UsefulNotes/OtherRoyalFamilies once again adopted a Danish prince as their king, Prince Carl, who was given a more Norwegian name and crowned King Haakon VII]].

A founding member of UsefulNotes/{{NATO}}, Norway turned down [[UsefulNotes/EuropeanUnion EEC/EU membership]] after two referendums, the first in 1972, the second in 1994. In fact, the EU membership question is so divisive that none of the pro-membership parties actually dare to push for another application for fear of the turmoil it would bring. Norway is also (in)famous for being one of the only developed countries, along with {{UsefulNotes/Japan}}, not to have banned whaling.

Norway pursued a policy of neutrality following its independence, managing to stay out of the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI First World War]]. Unfortunately, Norway was unable to avoid UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, as the country was invaded by UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1940. Though the Norwegian Army fought fiercely in defense of the country with Allied help, the Norwegians ultimately lost after two months of fighting, which led to the country being occupied and the Norwegian royal family and government being forced into exile in {{UsefulNotes/London}}. King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were able to rally much of the Norwegian merchant fleet to the Allied cause, providing vital cargo capacity for the various convoys. There were also several Norwegian-crewed vessels and air force squadrons fighting under the British. In occupied Norway, a resistance movement was formed to fight against both the German occupation force and the collaborationist government led by Vidkun Quisling, the TropeNamer for TheQuisling. Quisling was so hated by the Norwegian people for his role in the occupation that after the war, the Norwegian government reinstated the death penalty specifically to execute him.

Norway pursued a policy of neutrality following its independence, managing to stay out of the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarI First World War]]. Unfortunately, despite its neutrality, Norway was unable to avoid UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, as the country was invaded by UsefulNotes/NaziGermany in 1940. Though the Norwegian Army fought fiercely in defense of the country with Allied help, the Norwegians ultimately lost after two months of fighting,[[note]]This was still the longest that any nation invaded by the Germans lasted, aside from the [[UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]].[[/note]] which led to the country being occupied and the Norwegian royal family and government being forced into exile in {{UsefulNotes/London}}. King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were able to rally much of the Norwegian merchant fleet to the Allied cause, providing vital cargo capacity for the various convoys. There were also a number of Norwegian-crewed vessels and air force squadrons fighting under the British. There was also a resistance movement in occupied Norway fighting against both the German occupation force, and the collaborationist government led by Vidkun Quisling, the TropeNamer for TheQuisling. Quisling was so hated by the Norwegian people and government that after the war, the Norwegian Government reinstated the death penalty specifically to execute him.