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
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Christian VIII of Denmark
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Crown Prince
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Constitution of Norway
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King of Norway
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Norwegian Constituent Assembly
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Constitution of Norway
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Crown prince
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Christian VIII
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Monarchy of Norway
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Norwegian Constituent Assembly
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Royaume de Norvège (1814)
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Eidsvoll
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