Governor-general of Norway

The Governor-general of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish or Riksståthållare in Swedish, both meaning 'Lieutenant of the realm' (see Stadtholder), was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch.

Governors-general appointed by the Danish crown

The successive Statholder of Norway during its union with Denmark were:

№ Governors-generalTook officeLeft officeTime in office
-
Munk, ChristenChristen Munk
(c. 1520–1579)
was a precursor to the stewardship
that was created in 1572		1556157215–16 years
1
Huitfeldt, PovelPouel Ottesen Huitfeldt
(c. 1529–1592)		157215774–5 years
2
Munk, LudvigLudvig Munk
(c. 1532–1602)		9 July 157715835–6 years
3
Gyldenstjerne, AxelAxel Gyldenstjerne
(c. 1537–1603)		1588160112–13 years
4
Friis, JørgenJørgen Friis
(c. 1543–1616)		160116086–7 years
5
Kruse, EnevoldEnevold Kruse
(c. 1554–1621)		160816189–10 years
6
Juel, JensJens Hermansson Juel
(1580–1634)		1618162910–11 years
7
Urne, ChristopherChristoffer Urne
(1593–1663)		1629164212–13 years
8
Sehested, HannibalHannibal Sehested
(1609–1666)		164224 June 16518–9 years
9
Krabbe, GregersGregers Krabbe
(1594–1655)		165120 December 16558–9 years
10
Trolle, NielsNiels Trolle
(1599–1667)		165628 March 16614–5 years
11
Krabbe, IverIver Krabbe
(1602–1666)		8 Oct 166116642–3 years
12
Gyldenløve, UlrikUlrik Frederik Gyldenløve
(1638–1704)		January 1664169934–35 years
13
Gyldenløve, UlrikFrederik Gabel
(c. 1640–1708)
Vice Governor-general		30 September 169917088–9 years
14
Vibe, JohanJohan Vibe
(1634–1710)
Vice Governor-general		10 April 170822 February 17101 years
15
Gyldenløve, WoldemarWoldemar Løvendal
(1660–1740)		1 August 171030 April 17121 years
16
Vieregg, ClausClaus Henrik Vieregg
(1655–1713)
Vice Governor-general		4 August 171214 July 17130 years
17
Krag, FrederikFrederik Krag
(1655–1728)
Vice Governor-general		19 September 171317228–9 years
18
Vibe, DitlevDitlev Vibe
(1670–1731)		17 April 17225 October 17319 years
19
Rantzau, ChristianChristian Rantzau
(1684–1771)		173317397–8 years
Office vacant
(1739–1750)
20
Benzon, JacobJacob Benzon
(1688–1775)
Vice Governor-general		11 September 17508 February 177120 years
-
CharlesPrince Charles of Hesse-Kassel
(1744–1836)
Acting		4 July 1766January 17681 years
Office vacant
(8 February 1771 – 25 July 1809)
21
August, CharlesCharles August, Crown Prince of Sweden
(1768–1810)		25 July 180911 January 18100 years
22
FrederikPrince Frederik of Hesse
(1771–1845)		11 January 181011 May 18133 years
23
Frederik, ChristianChristian Frederik af Danmark
(1786–1848)		11 May 181316 February 18140 years

Governors-general appointed by the kings of Norway and Sweden

The following describes the office of governor as it was from 1814 during the personal 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 would however leave 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 during the Union between Sweden and Norway

From 1829 to 1836, the office was vacant.

From 1840 to 1841, the office was vacant.

From 1856 to 1873, the office was vacant, then it was abolished.

See also

Sources and references

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