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Do you agree with theStorting's authorization to the government to invite Prince Carl of Denmark to become King of Norway? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Yes 50%-60% 60%-70% 70%-80% 80%-90% >90%
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| Constitution |
 Norway portal |
A referendum regarding the choice of the new monarch was held inNorway on 12 and 13 November 1905.[1] Voters were asked whether they approved of theStorting's decision to authorise thegovernment to make the offer of the throne of the newly self-ruling country. The Storting had wanted to offer the throne toPrince Carl of Denmark, but the prince insisted that the Norwegian people had a chance to decide if they wanted him to be the future King or not.[2]
The proposal was approved by 79% of voters.[3] Following the referendum, the Storting formally offered the throne to Carl on 18 November; Carl accepted, assuming the throne as King Haakon VII. The new royal family arrived in Norway on 25 November. King Haakon andQueen Maud were crowned in a ceremony inNidaros Cathedral inTrondheim on 22 June 1906.[4] Haakon became Norway's first separate monarch in 518 years.
On 7 June 1905 the Storting approved thedissolution of theunion with Sweden; as a result,Swedish KingOscar II abdicated asKing of Norway. He refused the reconciliation offer to allow aSwedish prince to take the Norwegian throne.[2]
The Storting thus turned to theDanish Prince Carl. In addition to the positive personal qualities, it was pointed out that he wasScandinavian and would understand theNorwegian language andculture.
He was the second son ofCrown Prince Frederik andLouise of Sweden, the only surviving child of Oscar's older brotherCharles XV and, before the birth of Oscar's sons, a serious contender as heir to the dissolved union. Frederick's brother had also been similarly invited to become a monarch of another nation asGeorge I of Greece.
Carl's wife Princess Maud wasEdward VII's daughter, so he had close ties to theUnited Kingdom and theBritish royal family, and an heir-apparent to the throne was already guaranteed through his son, the two-year-oldPrince Alexander.[2]
In Norway, it was debated whether the country should remain a monarchy or become a republic. Prince Carl demanded that the issue should be submitted to a referendum, as he wanted an assurance that a majority of the population wanted Norway to remain as a monarchy.[2]
The question posed was:[citation needed]
Enig i Stortingets bemyndigelse til regjeringen om at opfordre prins Carl af Danmark til at lade sig vælge til Norges konge?
(Do you agree with the Storting's authorization to the government to invite Prince Carl of Denmark to become King of Norway?)
A majority voted in favour of monarchy, and on 18 November the Parliament formally elected Prince Carl as king. The Speaker of Parliament sent him atelegram offering him the throne of Norway.[2]
The prince accepted the election, and on 25 November 1905 the newNorwegian royal family landed atVippetangen inChristiania (Oslo). He took the name Haakon and gave his son Alexander the name Olav, names that linked the new royal house to theNorwegian kings from theMiddle Ages. SpecificallyHaakon VI andOlaf IV were the last monarchs before theKalmar Union. On 22 June 1906, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud were crowned inNidaros Cathedral inTrondheim.[2]
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 259,563 | 78.94 | |
| Against | 69,264 | 21.06 | |
| Total | 328,827 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 328,827 | 99.27 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 2,403 | 0.73 | |
| Total votes | 331,230 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 439,748 | 75.32 | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |||
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| Referendums | |
