List of monarchs of Norway
The list of monarchs of Norway begins in 872: the traditional dating of the Battle of Hafrsfjord, after which victorious King Harald Fairhair merged several petty kingdoms into that of his father. Named after the homonymous geographical region, Harald's realm was later to be known as the Kingdom of Norway.
Traditionally established in 872 and existing continuously for over 1,100 years, the Kingdom of Norway is one of the oldest states of Europe: King Harald V, who has reigned since 1991, is the 64th monarch according to the official list. During interregna, Norway has been ruled by variously titled regents.
Several royal dynasties have possessed the Throne of the Kingdom of Norway: the more prominent include the Fairhair dynasty, the House of Sverre, the House of Oldenburg, including branches Holstein-Gottorp and Glücksburg, and the House of Bernadotte. During the civil war era, several pretenders fought each other, and as a consequence, some rulers from this era are not traditionally considered lawful kings and are usually omitted from lists of monarchs. Between 1319 and 1905, Norway was at times part of various unions with neighbouring countries, like The First Swedish–Norwegian union, The Kalmar Union, Denmark–Norway, and Sweden–Norway.
Kings of Norway used many additional titles between 1450 and 1905, such as King of the Wends, King of the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Duke of Holstein, Prince of Rügen, and Count of Oldenburg. They called themselves Konge til Norge, usually with the style His Royal Majesty. With the introduction of constitutional monarchy in 1814, the traditional style "by the Grace of God" was extended to "by the Grace of God and the Constitution of the Kingdom", but was only briefly in use. The last king to use the by the grace of God style was Haakon VII, who died in 1957. The King's title today is formally Norges Konge, with the style "His Majesty".
Key
For lists of the prehistoric kings of Norway see List of legendary kings of Norway| R | Reign |
| I | Independent period |
| D | Union with Denmark |
| S | Union with Sweden |
| DS | Union with Denmark and Sweden |
| R | Interregnum/Regency |
Fairhair dynasty
Besides becoming sole king after his father Harold's death, Eric Bloodaxe was king jointly with his father for three years before the latter's death. After Harald's death, Eric ruled as "overking" of his brothers, who also held status as kings and had control over certain regions. Harald Greycloak also ruled as "overking" of his brothers. All dates for the kings of the Fairhair dynasty are approximate and/or just scholarly estimates. Slight differences might therefore occur between different sources. The following table uses the dates given in Norsk biografisk leksikon/''Store norske leksikon.| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth | Marriage Issue | Death |
| I | Harald I Halfdansson Harald Fairhair 872–932 | ' | 850/860 Son of Halfdan the Black and Ragnhild | Various At least nine sons | 932 Rogaland |
| I | Eric I Haraldsson Eric Bloodaxe 932–934 | 895 Son of Harald I and Ragnhild Eriksdotter | Gunnhild Gormsdóttir Eight children | 952/954 England | |
| I | Haakon I Haraldsson Haakon the Good 934–960 | ' | 915–920 Son of Harald I and Tora Mosterstong | Never married | 960/961 Håkonshella |
| I | Harald II Ericsson Harald Greycloak 961–970 | '' | 935 Son of Eric I and Gunnhild Gormsdóttir | Never married | 970 Limfjord, Denmark |
House of Gorm/Earl of Lade
The Danish king Harald Bluetooth had himself hailed as king of Norway after the Battle of Fitjar. Besides gaining direct control of Viken in south-eastern Norway, he let Harald Greycloak rule the rest of Norway as king, nominally under himself. Harald Bluetooth later switched his support to Harald Greycloak's rival, Haakon Sigurdsson, Earl of Lade, who eventually captured Harald Greycloak's kingdom. Haakon thereafter ruled Norway, at first nominally under Harald. All dates are estimates and subject to interpretation. Haakon is generally held as the ruler of Norway from 970 to 995.| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth | Marriage Issue | Death |
| D | Harald Bluetooth 961 – 980 | ' | 925/35 Son of Gorm the Old and Thyra | Tove of the Obotrites Four or six children | 987 latest Jomsborg |
| R | Earl Haakon Sigurdsson 965/70–995 | ' | 935 Trondheim Son of Sigurd Haakonsson and Bergljot Toresdatter | Tora Skagesdatter Nine children | 995 Rimul |
House of Gorm/Earls of Lade (restored)
After the Battle of Svolder, the Danes recaptured Norway under Sweyn Forkbeard. As before, the Danes controlled the petty kingdoms of Viken as vassals, while the two Earls of Lade, Eric Haakonsson and Sweyn Haakonsson, ruled Western Norway and Trøndelag, nominally as earls under Sweyn. Eric is generally held as the de facto ruler of Norway from 1000 to 1015, together with his brother Sweyn, a lesser known figure, with whom he shared his power.| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth | Marriage Issue | Death |
| D | Sweyn Forkbeard 1000–1013 | 17 April 963 Son of Harald Bluetooth and Tove of the Obotrites | Gunhild of Wenden or Sigrid the Haughty Eight or more children | 3 February 1014 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire | |
| R | Earl Eric Haakonsson 1000–1015 | ' | 964 Son of Haakon Sigurdsson and Gunhild Mieszcosdatter | Gytha Svendsdatter One son | 1024 England |
| R | Earl Sweyn Haakonsson''' 1000–1015 | – | 970 Son of Haakon Sigurdsson and Thora Skagesdatter | Holmfrid Eriksdatter Two daughters | 1016 Russia |
St. Olav dynasty
| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth | Marriage Issue | Death |
| I | Olav II Haraldsson Saint Olav 1015–1028 | 995 Ringerike Son of Harald Grenske and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter | Astrid Olofsdotter One daughter | 29 July 1030 Stiklestad Aged 34–35 |
House of Gorm/Earl of Lade (restored, second time)
| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth | Marriage Issue | Death |
| D | Cnut the Great 1028–1035 | 995 Son of Sweyn Forkbeard | Ælfgifu of Northampton Two children Emma of Normandy Two children | 12 November 1035 Shaftesbury | |
| R | Earl Haakon Ericsson 1028–1029 | 998 Son of Eric Haakonsson and Gytha Svendsdatter | Gunhild One daughter | 1029 Pentland Firth | |
| D | Sweyn Knutsson 1030–1035 | 1015 Son of Cnut and Ælfgifu of Northampton | Never married | 1035 |
St. Olav dynasty (restored)
| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth | Marriage Issue | Death |
| I | Magnus I Olavsson Magnus the Good 1035–1047 | 1024 Illegitimate son of Olaf II and Alfhild | Never married | 25 October 1047 Zealand Aged 23 | |
| D | Magnus I Olavsson Magnus the Good 1035–1047 | 1024 Illegitimate son of Olaf II and Alfhild | Never married | 25 October 1047 Zealand Aged 23 |
Hardrada dynasty
| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth, parents | Marriage Issue | Death |
| I | Harald III Sigurdsson Harald Hardrada 1046–1066 | 1015 Son of Sigurd Syr and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter | Elisiv of Kiev Two daughters Tora Torbergsdatter Two sons | 25 September 1066 Stamford Bridge, England Aged 50–51 | |
| I | Magnus II Haraldsson 1066–1069 | – | 1049 Eldest son of Harald III and Tora Torbergsdatter | Never married | 28 April 1069 Nidaros Aged 19–20 |
| I | Olav III Haraldsson Olaf Kyrre 1067–1093 | 1050 Youngest son of Harald III and Tora Torbergsdatter | Ingerid of Denmark No issue | 22 September 1093 Haukbø, Rånrike Aged 42–43 | |
| I | Haakon (II) Magnusson Haakon Toresfostre 1093–1095 | – | 1069 Illegitimate son of Magnus II | Never married | 1095 Dovrefjell Aged 25–26 |
| I | Magnus III Olavsson Magnus Barefoot 1093–1103 | 1073 Illegitimate son of Olav III and unknown | Margaret Fredkulla No issue | 24 August 1103 Ulster Aged 29–30 | |
| I | Olav (IV) Magnusson 1103–1115 | 1098 Illegitimate son of Magnus III and Sigrid Saxesdatter | Never married | 22 December 1115 Nidaros Aged 16–17 | |
| I | Eystein I Magnusson 1103–1123 | 1088 Illegitimate son of Magnus III | Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter Two children | 29 August 1123 Hustad, Romsdal Aged 34–35 | |
| I | Sigurd I Magnusson Sigurd the Crusader 1103–1130 | ' | 1089 Illegitimate son of Magnus III and Tora | Bjaðmunjo Mýrjartaksdóttir No issue Malmfred of Kiev One daughter Cecilia No issue | 26 March 1130 Oslo Aged 40–41 |
| I | Magnus IV Sigurdsson' Magnus the Blind'' 1130–1135 | – | 1115 Illegitimate son of Sigurd I and Borghild Olavsdatter | Christina of Denmark 1133 No issue | 12 November 1139 Holmengrå Aged 23–23 |
Gille dynasty
| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth, parents | Marriage Issue | Death |
| I | Harald IV Magnusson Harald Gille 1130–1136 | – | 1102 Ireland/Hebrides Alleged illegitimate son of Magnus III | Ingrid of Sweden 1134 One son | 14 December 1136 Bergen Aged 32–33 |
| I | Sigurd II Haraldsson Sigurd Munn 1136–1155 | – | 1133 Illegitimate son of Harald IV and Thora Guttormsdatter | Never married | 10 June 1155 Bergen Aged 21–22 |
| I | Inge I Haraldsson Inge the Hunchback 1136–1161 | – | 1135 Only son of Harald IV and Ingrid of Sweden | Never married | 4 February 1161 Oslo Aged 25–26 |
| I | Eystein II Haraldsson 1142–1157 | – | 1125 Shetland/Orkney/Hebrides Illegitimate son of Harald IV and Biadoc | Ragna Nikolasdatter No issue | 21 August 1157 Rånrike Aged 31–32 |
| I | Magnus (V) Haraldsson 1142–1145 | – | 1135 Illegitimate son of Harald IV | Never married | 1145 Norway |
| I | Haakon II Sigurdsson Haakon the Broadshouldered 1157–1162 | – | 1147 Illegitimate son of Sigurd II and Thora | Never married | 7 July 1162 Sekken, Romsdalen Aged 14–15 |
Hardrada dynasty (restored), cognatic branch
| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth, parents | Marriage Issue | Death |
| I | Magnus V Erlingsson 1161–1184 | – | 1156 Son of Erling Skakke and Kristin Sigurdsdatter | Estrid Bjørnsdotter Two daughters | 15 June 1184 Fimreite Aged 27–28 |
Sverre dynasty
| R | Name Reign | Portrait | Birth, parents | Marriage | Death |
| I | Sverre Sigurdsson 1184–1202 | 1151 Bergen Alleged illegitimate son of Sigurd II and Gunnhild | Margaret of Sweden 1185 One daughter | 9 March 1202 Bergen Aged 50–51 | |
| I | Haakon III Sverresson 1202–1204 | – | Before 1185 Illegitimate son of Sverre | Never married | 1 January 1204 Bergen Aged 20–21 |
| I | Guttorm Sigurdsson 1204 | – | 1199 Illegitimate son of Sigurd Lavard | Never married | 11 August 1204 Nidaros Aged 4–5 |
House of Godwin (Gille dynasty, cognatic branch)
| R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
| I | Inge II Bårdsson 1204–1217 | 1185 Rissa Son of Bård Guttormsson and Cecilia Sigurdsdotter | never married | 23 April 1217 Nidaros Aged 31–32 |
House of Estridsen
| R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
| DS | Margaret 2 February 1388 – 28 October 1412 | c. 1353 Vordingborg Castle youngest daughter of Valdemar IV and Helvig of Schleswig | Haakon VI of Norway 9 April 1363 Church of Our Lady One son | 28 October 1412 Ship on Flensburg Fjord Aged 58–59 |
House of Griffin
| R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
| DS | Eric III 8 September 1389 – 4 June 1442 | 1381/82 Rügenwalde Castle Only son of Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania and Mary of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Philippa of England 26 October 1406 Lund Cathedral No issue | 3 May 1459 Rügenwalde Castle Aged 76–78 | |
| I | Eric III 8 September 1389 – 4 June 1442 | 1381/82 Rügenwalde Castle Only son of Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania and Mary of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Philippa of England 26 October 1406 Lund Cathedral No issue | 3 May 1459 Rügenwalde Castle Aged 76–78 | |
| - | Eric III 8 September 1389 – 4 June 1442 | 1381/82 Rügenwalde Castle Only son of Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania and Mary of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Philippa of England 26 October 1406 Lund Cathedral No issue | 3 May 1459 Rügenwalde Castle Aged 76–78 |
House of Bonde
| R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
| S | Charles I 20 November 1449 – 13 May 1450 | 5 October 1409 Ekholmen Castle Only son of Knut Tordsson Bonde and Margareta Karlsdotter Sparre | Birgitta Bielke before 1 March 1429 Two children Katarina Gumsehuvud 5 October 1438 Stockholm Nine children Christina Abrahamsdotter 1470 Stockholm Castle Two children | 14 May 1470 Stockholm Castle Aged 60 |
House of Holstein-Gottorp
| R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
| S | Charles II 4 November 1814 – 5 February 1818 | 7 October 1748 Stockholm Palace Second son of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia | Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp 7 July 1774 Stockholm Cathedral Two children | 5 February 1818 Stockholm Palace Aged 69 |
House of Glücksburg
Carl of Denmark was approved in a referendum as King of Norway on 13 November 1905 and then elected by the Storting on 18 November 1905. He took the regnal name Haakon VII. With him the House of Oldenburg, in the form of its junior branch, resumed occupancy of the throne of Norway.| R | Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
| I | Haakon VII 18 November 1905 – 21 September 1957 | 3 August 1872 Charlottenlund, Denmark Second son of Frederik VIII of Denmark and Louise of Sweden | Maud of Wales 22 July 1896 1 son | 21 September 1957 Oslo | |
| I | Olav V 21 September 1957 – 17 January 1991 | 2 July 1903 Norfolk, England Only child of Haakon VII and Maud of Wales | Märtha of Sweden 21 March 1929 3 children | 17 January 1991 Oslo | |
| I | Harald V 17 January 1991 – Present | 21 February 1937 Asker Only son of Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden | Sonja Haraldsen 29 August 1968 2 children | Alive |