600s and earlier: Norsemen, Northern Germanic tribes, establish a number of small kingdoms. Much of the early history of these kingdoms is based on sagas and not proven history. They form the basis of Viking expeditions around the North Sea and further. They colonize, raid and trade in all parts of Europe. Norwegian Viking explore Iceland by accident in the 9th century when heading for the Faroe Islands, and eventually came across Vinland, The Vikings from Norway were most active in the northern and western British Isles and eastern North America isles.
c. 872: Haraldr Hárfagri from Vestfold is considered the first king of Norway after he defeated local petty kings in Western Norway at the Battle of Hafrsfjord.
1000: King Sveinn Tjúguskegg of Denmark regains Norway.
1013: King Sveinn Tjúguskegg defeats after an invasion king Æðelred of England and becomes king of England.
1014: After five weeks Sveinn Tjúguskegg dies. Æðelred regains the throne of England. Harald II becomes king of Denmark and Norway regains independence with king Olaf II. He is the first king to rule entire Norway.
1028: King Knútr or Cnut of Denmark and England conquers Norway and becomes also king of Norway.
1047: After the death of Magnús Óláfsson, Denmark and Norway are separated. Harald III becomes king of Norway.
1048: King Harald III claims Denmark and invades in an attempt to restore the realm of king Magnús Óláfsson and embarks on what would turn into constant warfare against Svend Estridsen of Denmark.
1064: The two kings agree on an unconditional peace.
1319: Magnus Eriksson, three years old, is elected king of Sweden. The same year he is elected king of Norway.
1343: His minor son Håkon Magnusson becomes king of Norway, Magnus rules Norway as regent.
1300s: The area populated by the Sami is incorporated into Norway.
1355: The regency of Magnus of Sweden over Norway ends.
1380: King Olaf II of Denmark becomes king of Norway. Due to the personal union of Denmark and Norway, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland become joint Danish/Norwegian possessions.
1389: Queen regnant Margrete I of Denmark and Norway becomes queen of Sweden.
1397: She founds the Kalmar Union, a personal union of the three Scandinavian kingdoms until 1523 with some intervals.
1439: Both the Danish and Swedish nobility depose Erik VII. Erik remains king of Norway.
1443: Christoffer III becomes also count-palatinate of Neumarkt.
1448: After the death of Christoffer III, the personal union with Denmark and Neumarkt ends. Karl Knutsson Bonde becomes king Karl VII of Sweden and king of Norway.
1814: With the Treaty of KielDenmark has to cede Norway to Sweden. A constituent assembly in Norway elects Christian Frederik as king of Norway. In a short Swedish–Norwegian War Sweden forces Christian Frederik to abdicate and king Karl XIII of Sweden bedomes also king Karl II of Norway in a personal union. At the dissolution of the personal union of Denmark and Norway, Denmark acquires Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Norway becomes a constitutional monarchy with Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte as crown prince and regent. Norway gets a parliament elected on a limited suffrage.
1884: The government becomes responsible to the parliament which is elected in free elections.
1898: Norway introduces universal male suffrage.
1905: Parliament declares the union with Swedendissolved and dethrones king Oscar II of Sweden as king of Norway. After a referendum in which Norway schoes to remain a monarchy, parliament electes prince Carl of Denmark als king. He becomes king as Haakon VII. With this Norway achieves full independence, which is confirmed with the Convention of Karlstad.
1940: Nazi Germany invades and conquers as part of World War II Denmark and Norway. The fascist politician Vidkun Quisling attempts to overthrow the Norwegian government in response to the German invasion. Norway is ruled as the [Reichskommissariat Norwegen|Reich Commissariat of the Occupied Norwegian Territories]]. The government goes into exile.
