List of heads of government of Norway

Norway

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This is a list of heads of government of Norway, who held, inter alia, offices and titles such as steward (rigsstatholder), viceroy (vicekonge), first minister (førstestatsraad) and prime minister (statsminister).

Until 1873, the king of the personal union between Sweden and Norway governed Norway through two cabinets: one in Stockholm and another in Christiania (now Oslo). The newly created Stockholm cabinet consisted of a prime minister and two ministers, whose role was to convey the attitudes of the Christiania cabinet to the Swedish king.

The cabinet in Christiania was led by a steward (rigsstatholder). For brief periods, the incumbent crown prince was appointed Viceroy of Norway by the king, in which case the viceroy became the highest authority in Christiania.

Whenever the king was present in Christiania, however, he assumed the highest authority, thus putting the governor or viceroy temporarily out of charge. Likewise, when there was no governor, viceroy or king present in Christiania (which was not unusual), the cabinet was led by the first minister, who was the most prominent member of the cabinet.

In July 1873, the position of governor was abolished after being vacant since 1856. Simultaneously, the post of first minister in Christiania was upgraded to Prime Minister of Norway. Although the office of Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm still existed, the real power and influence over state affairs was moved to the prime minister in Christiania. When the union was dissolved in 1905, the prime minister in Stockholm simply ceased to function.

Stewards of Norway

The Steward of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish (riksstattholder in modern Norwegian spelling), meaning Lieutenant of the realm (see Steward (office)), was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch during the Dano-Norwegian personal union. As Norway was a separate kingdom, with its own laws and institutions, the position of steward of Norway was arguably the most influential position for a Danish-Norwegian nobleman or royal to hold, second to the King.

Stewards of Norway (1536–1814)

• Peder Hansen Litle (1536–1551)
• Jesper Friis (1551–1556)
• Christiern Munk (1556–1572)
• Pouel Ottesen Huitfeldt (1572–1577)
• Ludvig Ludvigsson Munk til Norlund (9 July 1577–1583)
• Ove Juel (1583–1588)
• Aksel Gyldenstjerne (1588–1601)
• Jørgen Friis til Krastrup (1601–1608)
• Enevold Kruse til Hjermislov (1608–1618)
• Jens Hermansson Juel (1618–1629)
• Christopher Knudsson Urne til Asmark (1629–1642)
• Hannibal Sehested (1642–24 June 1651)
• Gregers Krabbe (1651–20 December 1655)
• Nils Trolle til Trollesholm og Gavnø (1656–28 March 1661)
• Iver Tageson Krabbe (8 Oct 1661–1664)
• Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, greve til Laurvig og Tønsberg (Jan 1664–1699)
• Ove Juel (Vice Governor-general of Norway under Gyldenløve) (1669–5 June 1675)
• Jens Juel (Vice Governor-general of Norway under Gyldenløve) (5 June 1675–9 May 1682)
• Just Högh til Fultofte (Vice Governor-general of Norway under Gyldenløve) (9 May 1682–26 September 1694)
• Frederik Gabel (30 September 1699–1708)
• Johan Vibe (10 April 1708–22 Feb 1710)
• Ulrik Frederik Valdemar, baron Løvendal (1 Aug 1710–30 April 1712)
• Claus Henrik Vieregg (4 August 1712–14 July 1713)
• Frederik Krag (19 September 1713–1722)
• Ditlev Vibe (17 April 1722–5 October 1731)
• Patroclus Rømeling (acting) 1731–1733
• Christian greve Rantzau (1733–1739)
• Hans Jakob Arnold (acting) (1739–11 Sep 1750)
• Jacob von Benzon (11 September 1750–8 February 1771)
• Carl, Landgraf zu Hessen (4 July 1766–January 1768)(acting for Benzon)
• 8 Feb 1771–25 July 1809 Vacant
• Christian August von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg 25 July 1809–11 Jan 1810
• Friedrich Landgraf zu Hessen-Kassel 11 Jan 1810–11 May 1813
• Christian Frederik af Danmark (11 May 1813–16 Feb 1814)

Stewards, Viceroys, and First Ministers (1814–1873)

Stewards of Norway (1814–1856)

1. Count Hans Henrik von Essen (1814–1816)
2. Count Carl Carlsson Mörner (1816–1818)
3. Count Johan August Sandels (1818–1827)
4. Count Baltzar von Platen (1827–1829)
5. Count Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg (1836–1840)
6. Severin Løvenskiold (1841–1856)

Viceroys of Norway (periodically 1814–1857)

1. Crown Prince Carl Johan (9 November–17 November 1814)
2. Crown Prince Carl Johan (10 June–16 July 1816)
3. Crown Prince Oscar (11 April–1 November 1824)
4. Crown Prince Oscar (17 June–3 December 1833)
5. Crown Prince Carl (17 June 1856–22 June 1857)

First Ministers of Norway (1814–1873)

1. Frederik Gottschalck von Haxthausen (1814)
2. Marcus Gjøe Rosenkrantz (1814–1815)
3. Mathias Sommerhielm (1815–1822)
4. Jonas Collett (1822–1836)
5. Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog (1836–1855)
6. Jørgen Herman Vogt (1855–1858)
7. Hans Christian Petersen (1858–1861)
8. Frederik Stang (1861–1873); continued as Prime Minister until 1880

In 1873, the position of First Minister was upgraded to Prime Minister.

Prime Ministers of Norway (1814–1905)

Prime Ministers (1814–1873)

In 1873 the office of the Prime Minister moved from Stockholm to Christiania.

Prior to 1884, there were no organised political parties in Norway, and the Prime Ministers were considered senior civil servants (Embedsmenn). They were appointed by the King and were not subject to legislative confirmation. All Prime Ministers before 1884 opposed the constitutional reforms proposed by the parliamentary opposition, and was in their time viewed as conservatives.

#	Name	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political Party	Term
1	Peder Anker		1814	1822	N/A	1
2	Mathias Sommerhielm		1822	1827	N/A	2
3	Severin Løvenskiold		1828	1841	N/A	3
4	Frederik Due		1841	1858	N/A	4
5	Georg Sibbern		1858	1871	N/A	5
6	Otto Richard Kierulf		1871	1873	N/A	6

Split Prime Ministership (1873–1905)

      Liberal Party of Norway (Venstre)       Conservative Party (Høyre)       Coalition Party (Samlingspartiet)

Prime Minister in Stockholm				Prime Minister in Christiania				Term of office		Cabinet
#	Name	Picture	Political Party	#	Name	Picture	Political Party
1	Otto Richard Kierulf		N/A	1	Frederik Stang		N/A	1873	1880	F.Stang
				2	Christian August Selmer		Conservative Party	1880	1884	Selmer
-	Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner (acting)		N/A					1884	1884
2	Carl Otto Løvenskiold		N/A	3	Christian Homann Schweigaard		Conservative Party	1884	1884	Schweigaard
3	Ole Jørgen Richter		Liberal Party	4	Johan Sverdrup		Liberal Party	1884	1888	Sverdrup V
4	Hans Georg Jacob Stang		Liberal Party					1888	1889
5	Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram		Conservative Party	5	Emil Stang		Conservative Party	1889	1891	Stang I H
6	Otto Albert Blehr		Liberal Party	6	Johannes Steen		Liberal Party	1891	1893	Steen I V
(5)	Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram		Conservative Party	(5)	Emil Stang		Conservative Party	1893	1895	Stang II H
				7	Francis Hagerup		Conservative Party	1895	1898	Hagerup I H–MV–V
(6)	Otto Albert Blehr		Liberal Party	(6)	Johannes Steen		Liberal Party	1898	1902	Steen II V
7	Ole Anton Qvam		Liberal Party	8	Otto Blehr		Liberal Party	1902	1903	Blehr I V
8	Sigurd Ibsen		Liberal Party	(7)	Francis Hagerup		Coalition Party	1903	1905	Hagerup II H–V
9	Jørgen Løvland		Liberal Party	9	Christian Michelsen		Liberal Party	1905	1905	Michelsen V–H–MV

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–present)

In 1905, the union between Sweden and Norway was dissolved. Since then the office of the Prime Minister of Norway has been in Oslo, except for the years of Nazi-German occupation during World War II when the Norwegian government was in exile in London.

      Liberal Party of Norway (Venstre)       Conservative Party (Høyre)       Centre Party (Senterpartiet)       Norwegian Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)       Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti)       Liberal Left Party (Frisinnede Venstre)

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–1945)

#	Name	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political Party	Cabinet
1	Christian Michelsen		01905-03-11 11 March 1905	01907-10-23 23 October 1907	Liberal Party	Michelsen V–H–MV
2	Jørgen Løvland		01907-10-23 23 October 1907	01908-03-19 19 March 1908	Liberal Party	Løvland V–FV–MV
3	Gunnar Knudsen		01908-03-19 19 March 1908	01910-02-02 2 February 1910	Liberal Party	Knudsen I V
4	Wollert Konow		01910-02-02 2 February 1910	01912-02-20 20 February 1912	Liberal Left Party	Konow H–FV
5	Jens Bratlie		01912-02-20 20 February 1912	01913-01-31 31 January 1913	Conservative Party	Bratlie H–FV
(3)	Gunnar Knudsen		01913-01-31 31 January 1913	01920-06-21 21 June 1920	Liberal Party	Knudsen II V
6	Otto Bahr Halvorsen		01920-06-21 21 June 1920	01921-06-22 22 June 1921	Conservative Party	Bahr Halvorsen I H–FV
7	Otto Albert Blehr		01921-06-22 22 June 1921	01923-03-23 23 March 1923	Liberal Party	Blehr II V
(6)	Otto Bahr Halvorsen		01923-03-23 23 March 1923	01923-05-30 30 May 1923	Conservative Party	Bahr Halvorsen II H–FV
8	Abraham Berge		01923-05-30 30 May 1923	01924-07-25 25 July 1924	Liberal Left Party	Berge H–FV
9	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel		01924-07-25 25 July 1924	01926-03-05 5 March 1926	Liberal Party	Mowinckel I V
10	Ivar Lykke		01926-03-05 5 March 1926	01928-01-28 28 January 1928	Conservative Party	Lykke H–FV
11	Christopher Hornsrud		01928-01-28 28 January 1928	01928-02-15 15 February 1928	Labour Party	Hornsrud Ap
(9)	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel		01928-02-15 15 February 1928	01931-05-12 12 May 1931	Liberal Party	Mowinckel II V
12	Peder Kolstad		01931-05-21 21 May 1931	01932-03-05 5 March 1932	Agrarian Party	Kolstad B
13	Jens Hundseid		01932-03-14 14 March 1932	01933-03-03 3 March 1933	Agrarian Party	Hundseid B
(9)	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel		01933-03-03 3 March 1933	01935-03-20 20 March 1935	Liberal Party	Mowinckel III V
14	Johan Nygaardsvold		01935-03-20 20 March 1935	01945-06-25 25 June 1945	Labour Party	Nygaardsvold Ap

De facto heads of government during World War II

During the German occupation of Norway during World War II there were four cabinets, that ruled as part of Josef Terboven's administration of Norway. These Governments were the de facto ruling body of Norway during the war, though Johan Nygaardsvold was still the de jure prime minister, in exile in London, United Kingdom.

#	Name	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political Party	Cabinet
—	Vidkun Quisling		01940-04-09 9 April 1940	01940-04-15 15 April 1940	Nasjonal Samling	Quisling I NS
—	Ingolf Elster Christensen as Chairman of the Administrative Council		01940-04-15 15 April 1940	01940-09-25 25 September 1940	Non-party	Administrative Council
—	Josef Terboven as Reichskommissar		01940-09-25 25 September 1940	01942-02-01 1 February 1942	National Socialist German Workers' Party	Reichskommissariat NSDAP
—	Vidkun Quisling as Minister President		01942-02-01 1 February 1942	01945-05-09 9 May 1945	Nasjonal Samling	Quisling II NS

Prime Ministers of Norway (1945–present)

#	Name	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political Party	Elected	Cabinet(s)
15	Einar Gerhardsen		01945-06-25 25 June 1945	01951-11-09 9 November 1951	Labour Party	—	Gerhardsen I Ap–H–Sp–V–NKP
						1945 1949	Gerhardsen II Ap
16	Oscar Torp		01951-11-09 9 November 1951	01955-01-22 22 January 1955	Labour Party	1953	Torp Ap
(15)	Einar Gerhardsen		01955-01-22 22 January 1955	01963-08-28 28 August 1963	Labour Party	1957 1961	Gerhardsen III Ap
17	John Lyng		01963-08-28 28 August 1963	01963-09-25 25 September 1963	Conservative Party	—	Lyng H–Sp–KrF–V
(15)	Einar Gerhardsen		01963-09-25 25 September 1963	01965-10-12 12 October 1965	Labour Party	—	Gerhardsen IV Ap
18	Per Borten		01965-10-12 12 October 1965	01971-03-17 17 March 1971	Centre Party	1965 1969	Borten Sp–H–KrF–V
19	Trygve Bratteli		01971-03-17 17 March 1971	01972-10-17 17 October 1972	Labour Party	—	Bratteli I Ap
20	Lars Korvald		01972-10-17 17 October 1972	01973-10-12 12 October 1973	Christian Democratic Party	—	Korvald KrF–Sp–V
(19)	Trygve Bratteli		01973-10-12 12 October 1973	01976-01-15 15 January 1976	Labour Party	1973	Bratteli II Ap
21	Odvar Nordli		01976-01-15 15 January 1976	01981-02-04 4 February 1981	Labour Party	1977	Nordli Ap
22	Gro Harlem Brundtland		01981-02-04 4 February 1981	01981-10-14 14 October 1981	Labour Party	—	Brundtland I Ap
23	Kåre Willoch		01981-10-14 14 October 1981	01986-05-09 9 May 1986	Conservative Party	1981	Willoch I H
						1985	Willoch II H–KrF–Sp
(22)	Gro Harlem Brundtland		01986-05-09 9 May 1986	01989-10-16 16 October 1989	Labour Party	—	Brundtland II Ap
24	Jan P. Syse		01989-10-16 16 October 1989	01990-11-03 3 November 1990	Conservative Party	1989	Syse H–KrF–Sp
(22)	Gro Harlem Brundtland		01990-11-03 3 November 1990	01996-10-25 25 October 1996	Labour Party	1993	Brundtland III Ap
25	Thorbjørn Jagland		01996-10-25 25 October 1996	01997-10-17 17 October 1997	Labour Party	—	Jagland Ap
26	Kjell Magne Bondevik		01997-10-17 17 October 1997	02000-03-17 17 March 2000	Christian Democratic Party	1997	Bondevik I KrF–Sp–V
27	Jens Stoltenberg		02000-03-17 17 March 2000	02001-10-19 19 October 2001	Labour Party	—	Stoltenberg I Ap
(26)	Kjell Magne Bondevik		02001-10-19 19 October 2001	02005-10-17 17 October 2005	Christian Democratic Party	2001	Bondevik II KrF–H–V
(27)	Jens Stoltenberg		02005-10-17 17 October 2005	Incumbent	Labour Party	2005 2009	Stoltenberg II Ap–SV–Sp

See also

• List of Norwegian monarchs
• List of Norwegian governments

External links

• Norway's Prime Ministers — A pictorial with portraits of Norway's Prime Ministers (Aftenposten)