History of Oslo

Founded in the 11th century by a Viking king, Oslo has seen its share of ups and downs. Throughout most of its 1,000 year history, this city has been tossed back and forth between Denmark and Sweden, only gaining full independence in 1905. The Black Death and fire ravaged the city several times during this period, but Oslo always came back, rebuilding itself to become stronger and more resilient each time.

The Middle Ages

In the early 1300s, King Haakon V established his capital at Oslo. When Duke Erik of Sweden married his daughter in 1319, Norway and Sweden joined together under one crown. When the Black Death arrived in 1349, it killed half the population of Oslo. Norway then fell under the rule of Denmark, and its king moved the capital to Copenhagen.  The country stayed this way throughout most of the 1400s and 1500s.

The problem with fire

Oslo seems to have been cursed by fire. In the course of its history, the city has burned to the ground several times. After fire destroyed everything in 1624, the master builder Christian IV, the king of Norway and Denmark, embarked on an ambitious rebuilding plan. He ordered the town to be rebuilt near the 13th century Akershus Castle in the new Renaissance style and renamed it Christiana after himself. To reduce the chances of another city-wide fire, he insisted that only brick buildings be allowed within the city borders.  

Foreign influences

During the 18th century, foreign influences shaped much of the everyday life of Christiana’s citizens. The city’s traders frequently went to Europe, where the Enlightenment was in full swing, and traded heavily with Great Britain and Holland. They returned to Christiana with their heads full of new ideas and their baggage full of exotic goods.

Sweden takes over

In 1716, King Karl XII of Sweden invaded Christiana without any resistance. The city was plundered, beginning a long period of instability, which was finally settled in 1814, when the king of Denmark gave up Norway to Sweden. Christiana was made the capital of the new union, which lasted until 1905.

Norway gains independence

In 1905, Norway separated from Sweden and made Christiana the capital of its new country. In 1925, the Parliament finally changed the city’s name back to Oslo, marking a new era. During the 1990s, Oslo grew from a Scandinavian backwater to one of the finest cities in Europe. A sense of Nordic pride and prosperity now permeates the city.

The city’s former lack of excellent restaurants, nightclubs and shops has come to an end and nowadays the city continues to grow, with new establishments opening with each passing year. Oslo continues to be influenced by new technologies, foreign cultures and international impulses, and its dynamic attitude has made it into a unique and engaging city that attracts visitors from all over the globe.