The Power of Presence: Crafting a Norwegian Identity for the Bernadotte Heirs

Abstract

From 1814 to 1905, Sweden and Norway formed a personal union in which both kingdoms maintained their independence. The only shared institutions were the king and the foreign service. While the royal family were primarily Swedish and resided mostly in Sweden, the union’s nature meant that the royals needed to acquire a Norwegian identity besides their Swedish identity. The viceroyalty, which enabled the heir to carry out the monarch’s functions while residing in Norway, was at first viewed as an ideal way for him to become acquainted with the Norwegian people and Norwegian affairs. Education, language skills and presence in Norway were other means to winning the people’s trust and affection, but in the end these endeavours were not enough to prevent the breakup of the union.