Norway and the United Kingdom Contents
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Norway and the United Kingdom Contents Introduction p. 3 History p. 5 Close ties between the Royal Families p. 9 Political cooperation p. 11 The economy p. 15 Energy cooperation p. 19 Shipping p. 21 Tourism p. 23 Cultural ties p. 27 English football p. 35 Useful addresses p. 37 Introduction Since the first millennium AD, Norwegian and Britain is Norway’s largest trading partner, with 3 British ships have been crossing paths on trade a two-way trade of around NOK 131 billion routes over the North Sea. During the 8th and (GBP 1.00 = approx. NOK 13, May 2001) in 2000 9th centuries the Vikings rampaged through the – an increase from 85 billion in 1999. The UK is British Isles, after which they began settling Norway’s single most important export market, down and imposing their own customs on the and is the third largest market for imports to indigenous British. After the Viking landings, Norway, after Sweden and Germany. Britain is the two countries began a fertile exchange of an important supplier of equipment and machin- language and traditions, which has continued ery to Norway. ever since. The British were among the first tourists to Norway and Britain have long shared a com- Norway, and continue to cross the North Sea to mon sea, and have taken to the waves to trade, enjoy the spectacular beauty of the fjords and explore and fight. The royal families of both the mountains, while the Norwegians travel to countries have a long history of intermarriage the British Isles in great numbers, many of and alliance. When Norway became indepen- them heading for London to savour the atmos- dent in 1905, and chose a Danish prince as king, phere of a large city. the first queen of independent Norway was his English wife, Maud. Over the centuries the Over the centuries, cultural influences have countries have forged many and diverse alli- crossed the ocean in both directions: from ances, both in peacetime and at times of national Henrik Ibsen, whose psychological dramas crisis. During the Second World War, Britain shocked and intrigued playgoers in 19th cen- was host to the Norwegian royal family and tury London, to the Beatles and the Rolling government, who fled across the sea after the Stones, who supplied the soundtrack for the Germans occupied Norway. youth of a whole generation of Norwegians. Norway is very keen to develop its cultural links Today, Norway and the UK are close political with Britain, and in 1999-2000 produced an allies, and cooperate in international organisa- extensive presentation of Norwegian culture in tions such as the United Nations, NATO and the a programme entitled “Visions of Norway”. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Despite having different forms The purpose of this brochure is to supply a brief of affiliation to the European Union, the two introduction to some of the most important countries share many priorities and principles. aspects of the relations between Norway and Both countries place great emphasis on en- the UK. The names and contact details of organi- suring that their close relations continue. sations and institutions which can supply fur- ther information about the links and agree- ments between Norway and the UK are given at the end. History Norway and Britain have been in regular con- The Viking chiefs were also influenced by Picture, left: The cathedral 5 tact for over a thousand years. Even before the their visits to British shores. One chief, Olaf in Stavanger, built Vikings sailed towards the west, Norwegians Tryggvason, was baptised in England in 991, with help from were crossing the North Sea on peaceful trad- and on his return to Norway began to British artisans. ing errands. The first Viking raids began on the Christianise the country. Later, Olaf II con- Photo credit: Halvard Alvik, east coast of Britain in the late 8th century, and tinued to spread Christianity. The two Olafs Scanpix. by the end of the 9th century Viking hordes had were assisted in their attempts to establish the overrun the kingdoms of East Anglia, power of the monarchy by bishops from the Northumbria and Mercia. Settlements grew up British Isles. In return, they placed estates they in the Orkneys, the Faroes, the Shetlands, the had confiscated from Viking chieftains in the Hebrides, and the Isle of Man. Ireland was also hands of the British church. In the 11th and attacked, and Viking kingdoms were estab- 12th centuries, the clergy of the Scottish isles lished in Dublin, Limerick, and Waterford. were brought under the dominion of the church of Norway. Ties were forged between individual Alfred the Great held out against the Viking British and Norwegian churches and often forces in Wessex, and nearly defeated them at resulted in practical exchanges of manpower the end of the 9th century. His son, Edward the and resources. British artisans helped to build Elder, continued the reconquest of England and the cathedral in Stavanger and the Lyse monas- before his death in 924 had regained Mercian tery in Bergen, while the St Magnus Cathedral and East Anglian territory. However, the in Kirkwall, on the Orkney Islands, was built by Vikings renewed their attacks on England in Norwegian earls. Many of the same artisans, 980, and the country came under the rule of artists and engineers worked on the cathedrals King Canute of Denmark and, for a short time, in Trondheim, Norway and Lincoln, England. Norway. By the 11th century, the Vikings had The cathedrals share many similar architectural either been driven out or had become integrat- features, most noticeably the twin column struc- ed into the British population, and the hostilities ture. ceased. The Scandinavian conquests in England greatly affected the country, leaving traces of Viking dialects, place-names, personal names and social organisation. The Vikings were astute tradesmen, and developed townships such as York (Jorvik). A variant of Norwegian, called Norn, was spoken on the Orkney Islands until the 1700s. 6 As late as the 14th century, the inhabitants of During the 19th century, relations between the Shetland Islands were paying an annual Norway and Britain continued to develop. In tithe to Bergen. In the 15th and 16th centuries the mid-1800s, an Englishman called Thomas English and Scottish merchants competed with Bennett settled in Christiania - which was the a declining Hanseatic League for trade privile- name given to Oslo by King Christian IV, who ges in the Norwegian towns. Many Britons sett- rebuilt the town after it was razed by fire in led in Norway. After the Great Fire of London, 1624. In 1850, Bennett began to organise tours in 1666, there was a huge demand in Britain for of the Norwegian mountains for curious and timber for repairs and reconstruction. Timber adventurous Britons. Norwegians also travelled was brought over from Norway, and ships to Britain, including the poet Åsmund Olavsson returned to Norway laden with foodstuffs, Vinje, who recorded his impressions in tobacco and cheap goods. In the 18th century A Norseman’s View of Britain and the British the English style came into fashion in Norway, (1863). The eccentric tales of three English and wealthy Norwegian shipowners in the fishermen who roamed Norway in search of coastal towns acquired luxury goods from perfect fishing appeared in a humorous book Britain: furniture, silver, glass and ceramics. called Three in Norway by Two of Them (1882), the anonymous authors in fact being J.A. Lees When the Napoleonic Wars began, Norway was and W.J. Clutterbuck. The English visitors under Danish rule, and suffered from the naval particularly applauded the fine coffee they were actions the English took against the Danish fleet. served in the huts of even the poorest peasants. The continental blockade of England caused great poverty in Norway, and led to national In 1905, Norway petitioned for independence, bankruptcy. The sufferings endured at this time and Britain took a sympathetic view of are vividly described in Henrik Ibsen’s poem Norway's case. The Norwegian parliament, the about Terje Vigen. Eventually, Karl Johan of Storting, chose Prince Carl, the second son of Sweden defeated Denmark, and a condition of Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, to be the peace was that Denmark transferred all its their king. Prince Carl was elected by referend- rights in Norway to Sweden. However, the um in November 1905, and was crowned King Norwegian people resented the agreement, and Haakon VII on 22 June 1906, in Nidaros the Swedes compromised. In 1815, Norway was Cathedral in Trondheim. His wife, Princess declared “a free, independent, indivisible, and Maud Alexandria, the youngest daughter of inalienable kingdom united with Sweden under Edward VII of England, became Queen. one king”. The union with Sweden lasted until 1905, and was a union of monarchy alone: in matters of government, finance, the economy, defence and law the two countries acted as separate entities. The Norwegian polar explorer and scientist, On 9 April 1940 the Germans attacked Norway, 7 Fridtjof Nansen, had been sent to Britain in and presented a series of demands to the 1905 to petition for support for Norwegian inde- Norwegian government, including that the pendence, and became Norwegian Ambassador government should ask the population and to Britain in 1906. Nansen was a confirmed army to submit to the German troops. Norway anglophile, and was readily adopted by British refused to concede, and fought the Germans society, charming those he met with his brood- with British and French assistance. After fight- ing Viking looks and courteous intelligence. ing began on the Western Front, the British He was welcomed at Court, and became a close were forced to withdraw their forces from north- associate of King Edward VII.