Norway Signs Its Constitution: Independence Day
The fastest constitution ever written took just five weeks—112 men locked themselves in a manor house outside Eidsvoll and hammered out Norway's founding document while Sweden's army massed at the border. Crown Prince Christian Frederick knew he'd be king for maybe four months. He was right. By October, Norway had to accept Swedish rule anyway. But here's what stuck: those 112 men refused to just hand over sovereignty, so Sweden had to let them keep their constitution. Sometimes losing slowly beats losing fast.
May 17, 1814
212 years ago
Key Figures & Places
Denmark
Wikipedia
Christian VIII of Denmark
Wikipedia
Crown Prince
Wikipedia
Constitution of Norway
Wikipedia
King of Norway
Wikipedia
Norwegian Constituent Assembly
Wikipedia
Christian VIII
Wikipedia
Monarchy of Norway
Wikipedia
Constitution of Norway
Wikipedia
Crown prince
Wikipedia
Norwegian Constituent Assembly
Wikipedia
Royaume de Norvège (1814)
Wikipedia
Eidsvoll
Wikipedia
What Else Happened on May 17
élection du pape Libère.
en Córdoba (España), tras la muerte de Al Hakam I, inicia su reinado Abderramán II, durante el cual los cordobeses adoptaron la moda de Bagdad, introducida por …
Adrien III devient le 109e pape.
Bei Ramla gelingt es einem ägyptischen Heer in der zweiten Schlacht gegen das Königreich Jerusalem, eine zahlenmäßig unterlegene Kreuzrittertruppe zu zerschlage…
Mircea the Elder’s Wallachian forces ambushed the Ottoman army at the Battle of Rovine, repelling Sultan Bayezid I’s superior numbers through clever use of terr…
Das Abendländische Schisma erreicht einen neuen Höhepunkt: Johannes XXIII. wird als Nachfolger von Alexander V. als zweiter Gegenpapst zu Gregor XII. in Rom und…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.