Norway under Danish Rule 3 1 1 



at all times to shake off the Danish yoke, and that if it 

 was necessary for her to be attached to either nation she 

 would have preferred that that nation should be Sweden. 

 For a period Sten Sture the Elder added the regency of 

 Norway to that of Sweden, but the country remained 

 Danish subsequent to the first defeat of Sten in 1497. 



Then arose in Denmark the remarkable Christian 11., 

 that wise ruler of his own country, and cruel oppressor 

 of the Swedes. How his horrible execution or massacre 

 of eighty-two of the heads of Swedish houses, known 

 in history as the 'Stockholm Blood-bath,' led to the 

 rise of a new dynasty in Sweden, the dynasty of 

 Gustavus Vasa, under which that country w^as to attain 

 the summit of its glory, is known probably to most 

 readers. At any rate, it is not a part of Norwegian 

 history. In 1523 Gustavus was crowned King of 

 Sweden, and the Union of Calmar was for ever dis- 

 solved. 



A play of Ibsen, Fru Inger til Osteraad (Lady luger 

 of Osteraad) gives a picture from Norse history at this 

 time. It shows a party in Norway longing after a re- 

 union with Sweden, or, at any rate, after a severance 

 from Denmark, a party which represents the scattered 

 remnant of the old aristocratic houses, and which has 

 also the sympathy of the more patriotic among the 

 peasants. We see also how an intrusive aristocracy of 

 Danes — resting upon the firm support of the court — 

 has made its way into Norway, and by marrying the 

 heiresses of Norwegian houses has settled itself upon 

 the soil, and grown to be the strongest support of Danish 

 rule in the dependent kingdom. Doubtless the pic- 

 ture presented to us is, in its main outlines, a true one : 



