List of heirs to the Norwegian throne
Introduction Traditionally the Norwegian kings had been elected by the several things held around the country. This practise often led to there being several kings at the same time. After the civil wars in the 12th century, Erling Skakke introduced a new law that there would be only one king, and that the oldest surviving son of the previous king should inherit the throne. At the same time, Erling introduced a system where the most powerful men in the country would meet with the power to veto a candidate if they found him to be unsuitable.Erling's son Magnus V had no heirs.
1184-1204 Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Reason  Ceased to be heir  Reason  MonarchSigurd Lavard  Heir apparent Son  15 June 1184  Father became king  c. 1200  died  Sverre'''Håkon'''  Heir apparent  Son  c.1200  Elder brother died  9 March 1202  Became king  Sverre'''Guttorm'''  Heir presumptive  Nephew  9 March 1202  Uncle became king  1 January 1204  Became king  Håkon III
1204-1226 During the reign of Inge II there was never any clear heir, and after his death several relatives claimed the throne. At a church meeting in 1223 it was decided that the church was backing the candidacy of Håkon Håkonsson. There was no heir until his first son was born in 1226.
1226-1387 Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Reason  Ceased to be heir  Reason  MonarchOlav  Heir apparent Son  1226  Born  1229  Died  Håkon IVHåkon  Heir apparent  Son  19 November 1232  Born  5 May 1257  Died  Håkon IV'''Magnus'''  Heir apparent  Son  5 May 1257  Older brother died  16 December 1263  Became king  Håkon IVOlav  Heir apparent Eldest son  1262  Born  1267  Died  Magnus VI'''Eric'''  Heir apparent Son  1268  Born  9 May 1280  Became king  Magnus VI'''Håkon'''  Heir presumptive  Younger brother  9 May 1280  Brother became king  15 July 1299  Became king  Eric II'''Magnus'''  Heir presumptive  Grandson  1316  Born  8 May 1319  Became king  Håkon VErik  Heir apparent  Eldest son  1339  Born  15 August 1343  Treaty (brother became king)  Magnus VII'''Olav'''  Heir apparent  Only son  1370  Born  29 July 1380  Became king  Håkon VI
1387-1665 :''Hereditary Kingdom of Norway#Unions with Denmark and Sweden''Norway became an elected kingdom, and joined several unions with Sweden and Denmark. However, the tradition arose that during his own lifetime the King would choose an heir among his sons and have him hailed as such, strongly influencing the electing council's choice.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Reason  Ceased to be heir  Reason  Monarch '''Frederick'''  Heir elect  Son  1536  Elected  1 January 1559  Became king  Christian IIIChristian  Heir elect  Son  1610  Elected  2 June 1647  Died  Christian IV
1665-1814 In 1665 Frederick III signed a new law, proclaiming the kingdom to be hereditary.Heir  Status  Relationship to Monarch  Became heir  Ceased to be heir  Next in successionrelation to heir, dates  MonarchDate  Reason  Date  Reason '''Christian'''  heir apparent (previously heir elect from 1655)  son  14 November 1665  Hereditary succession established  9 Feb 1670  became king  George, brother  Frederick III George  heir presumptive  brother  9 Feb 1670  brother became king  11 Oct 1671  son born to king  Anna Sophie, sister  Christian V '''Crown Prince Frederick'''  heir apparent  son  11 Oct 1671  born  25 Aug 1699  became king  George, uncle, (1671–1672, 1673–1675) Christian William, brother, (1672–1673) Christian,  brother, (1675–1695) Charles, brother, (1695–1697, 1698–1699) Christian, son, (1697–1698) Charles  heir presumptive  brother  25 Aug 1699  brother became king  10 Dec 1699  son born to king  William, brother  Frederick IV '''Crown Prince Christian'''  heir apparent  son  10 Dec 1699  born  12 Oct 1730  became king  Charles, uncle, (1699–1701, 1702–1703, 1704–1723) Frederick, brother, (1701–1702) George, brother, (1703–1704) '''Frederick,''' son, (1723–1730) '''Crown Prince Frederick'''  heir apparent  son  12 Oct 1730  father became king  6 Aug 1746  became king  Louise, sister, (1730–1735) Christian VI Christian, son, (1745–1746) Crown Prince Christian  heir apparent  son  6 Aug 1746  father became king  3 Jun 1747  died  Sophia Magdalena, sister,  Frederick V Sophia Magdalena  heir presumptive  daughter  3 Jun 1747  brother died  29 Jan 1749  son born to king  Wilhelmina Caroline, sister '''Crown Prince Christian'''  heir apparent  son  29 Jan 1749  born  14 Jan 1766  became king  Sophia Magdalena, sister, (1749–1753) Frederick, brother, (1753–1766) Frederick  heir presumptive  brother  14 Jan 1766  brother became king  28 Jan 1768  son born to king  Sophia Magdalena, sister  Christian VII '''Crown Prince Frederick'''  heir apparent  son  28 Jan 1768  born  13 Mar 1808  became king  Frederick, uncle, (1768–1805) '''Christian''', cousin, (1805–1808) '''Christian'''  heir presumptive  cousin  13 Mar 1808  cousin became king  16 February 1814  became king  Ferdinand, brother, (1808)  Frederick VI '''Frederick''', son, (1808–1839) Frederick  heir apparent  son  16 February 1814  father became king  14 August 1814  King abdicated  Ferdinand, uncle  'Christian Frederick
1814–present +Heirs to the Norwegian throne In personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden-Norway); House of Holstein-Gottorp (1751–1818) Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(Date; Reason) Ceased to be heir(Date; Reason) Next in line of succession Karl II '''Crown Prince Karl Johan''' Adopted son 4 November 1814Adoptive father elected as king 5 February 1818Adoptive father died,became king '''Prince Oscar, Duke of Södermanland''', son In personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden-Norway); House of Bernadotte (1818–1905) Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(Date; Reason) Ceased to be heir(Date; Reason) Next in line of succession''''''Son5 February 1818Father became king8 March 1844Father died, became king None, 1818–1826 '''Prince Karl, Duke of Skåne''', 1826–1844, sonOscar I'''Crown Prince Karl, Duke of Skåne'''Son8 March 1844Father became king8 July 1859Father died, became king Prince Gustaf, Duke of Uppland, 1844–1852, brother '''Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland''', 1852, brother  '''Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland''', 1854–1859, brother Karl IV '''Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland''' Brother 8 July 1859Brother became king 13 September 1872 Prince Gustaf, Duke of Värmland, sonOscar IICrown Prince Gustaf, Duke of VärmlandSon13 September 1872Father became king7 June 1905Father deposed,personal union dissolved Prince Oscar, Duke of Gotland, 1872–1882, brother Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Skåne, 1882–1905, son After the personal union with Sweden; House of Glücksburg (1905–present) Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(Date; Reason) Ceased to be heir(Date; Reason) Next in line of successionHaakon VII'''Crown Prince Olav'''Son18 November 1905Father elected as king,21 September 1957Father died, became king None, 1905–1937 '''Prince Harald''', 1937–1957, sonOlav V'''Crown Prince Harald'''Son21 September 1957Father became king17 January 1991Father died, became king None, 1957–1973 Prince Haakon, 1973–1991, sonHarald VCrown Prince HaakonSon17 January 1991Father became king''Incumbent'' Princess Märtha Louise, 1991–2004, sister Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 2004–present, daughter