Early Norwegian Independence and the Foundation of National Identity, 1814-1905

Abstract

This work uses a combination of scholarly and primary sources which discuss Norway during its early independence from 1814-1905 in order to support the argument that there exists an “imagined past” which falsely represents a fraction of Norwegian cultural history as representative of the nation as a whole. The region of Sogn, a small portion of the western fjord country, is a rare example of the shared past which was largely fictionalized in order to fuel unity and nationalism and strengthen resistance to Swedish control during the period of early independence. The multifaceted relationships between Sogn and the urban centers of Norway are placed within the wider context of the period and analyzed to reveal the roots of this inaccurate popular re construction of Norwegian history.