Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XVIII. Reign of Chales XIII, 1809–1818 - C. Administration of Charles John as Crown Prince
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322 A History of Sweden
1814, by which the king ceded Norway to Sweden in
exchange for Swedish Pomerania.
Norwegian opposition to the Treaty. The Norwe-
gians would not consent to have their fate decided by
foreign princes. They claimed the right to "set their
own house in order." Times had changed since the
fifteenth century, when Norway was united with Den-
mark. It then needed foreign support. During the long
years of peace Norway had become prosperous through
a flourishing trade with England. With the growth of
prosperity there had also developed a strong spirit of
nationalism. Their poets praised the "Norwegian
mountain folk," and sang of this "land of ours" so
glorious in both winter and summer.
The year 1807 had been an unfortunate one for the
Norwegians. The English fleet had cut off their com-
munication with Denmark from which they were wont
to import their needed grain. Some bold adventurers
would now and then succeed in carrying home some
cargoes of this precious food, but most of them lost
both ship and cargo and even life. The little that was
thus smuggled in did ’not suffice. Many had to eat
bark-bread, and many died of hunger. But the national
spirit lived on. The thought grew apace that Norway’s
union with another land was a great danger. It was
such a union that had dragged Norway without her
consent into a state of war. Thus the national spirit
developed into one of independence, which grew
stronger from year to year. A fruit of this was the
University of Christiania, founded with great national
rejoicing in 1811. Such a country could not be given
away by one king to another.
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