APRIL 2022 | SCANDINAVIAN MONTHLY
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Come Celebrate the Norwegian Constitution Text Tor Kjolberg
Eidsvoll House (Eidsvollsbygningen) is a house full of exciting history! For Norwegians it is one of the most important national symbols, inextricably tied to the constitution, independence and the dramatic events of 1814, which are celebrated on the 17th of May every year. This is why Eidsvoll House became Norway’s first national monument in 1837. Numerous extensive restoration operations have all been directed towards recreating the historic site of the birth of the modern Norwegian state. However, Eidsvoll House is more than just a monument to politics. An
ironworks was situated here since the early 1600s, and a works owner residence dating from approximately 1770 constitutes part of the main building. When Carsten Anker created his luxurious residence around the turn of the 19th century, it became one of the country’s most modern private residences and was modelled on French and Danish ideals. Anker’s passionate attention to detail and sure sense of style is reflected in everything from the neo-classicist architectural main features down to the details of the interior. 1814 – The Year of Miracles At the start of 1814 Norway was part of the absolute monarchy Denmark-
Norway. By the end of the year the country had entered into a personal union with Sweden. In between, Norwegians had mobilised, drawn up the world’s most democratic constitution and elected their own king. It was hailed as ‘the year of miracles’ and the year of the Norwegian constitution. The union between Denmark and Norway had begun 434 years before. In the years up to 1814 DenmarkNorway had allied itself with Napoleon Bonaparte in the French emperor’s wars with the other major European powers. Following Bonaparte’s defeat at a crucial battle near Leipzig in the autumn of 1813 , peace negotiations
