Traditionally the Norwegian kings had been elected by the several things held around the country. This practise often led to there being several kings at the same time. After the civil wars in the 12th century, Erling Skakke introduced a new law that there would be only one king, and that the oldest surviving son of the previous king should inherit the throne. At the same time, Erling introduced a system where the most powerful men in the country would meet with the power to veto a candidate if they found him to be unsuitable.
Erling's son Magnus V had no heirs.
1184–1204 Heir Status Relationship to monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason MonarchSigurd Lavard Heir apparent Son 15 June 1184 Father became king c. 1200 died SverreHåkon Heir apparent Son c.1200 Elder brother died 9 March 1202 Became king SverreGuttorm Heir presumptive Nephew 9 March 1202 Uncle became king 1 January 1204 Became king Håkon III
1204–1226 During the reign of Inge II there was never any clear heir, and after his death several relatives claimed the throne. At a church meeting in 1223 it was decided that the church was backing the candidacy of Håkon Håkonsson. There was no heir until his first son was born in 1226.
1226–1387 Heir Status Relationship to monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason MonarchOlav Heir apparent Son 1226 Born 1229 Died Håkon IVHåkon Heir apparent Son 19 November 1232 Born 5 May 1257 Died Håkon IVMagnus Heir apparent Son 5 May 1257 Older brother died 16 December 1263 Became king Håkon IVOlav Heir apparent Eldest son 1262 Born 1267 Died Magnus VIEric Heir apparent Son 1268 Born 9 May 1280 Became king Magnus VIHåkon Heir presumptive Younger brother 9 May 1280 Brother became king 15 July 1299 Became king Eric IIMagnus Heir presumptive Grandson 1316 Born 8 May 1319 Became king Håkon VErik Heir apparent Eldest son 1339 Born 15 August 1343 Treaty (brother became king) Magnus VIIOlav Heir apparent Only son 1370 Born 29 July 1380 Became king Håkon VI
1387–1665
Norway became an elected kingdom, and joined several unions with Sweden and Denmark. However, the tradition arose that during his own lifetime the King would choose an heir among his sons and have him hailed as such, strongly influencing the electing council's choice.
Heir Status Relationship to monarch Became heir Reason Ceased to be heir Reason Monarch Frederick Heir elect Son 1536 Elected 1 January 1559 Became king Christian IIIChristian Heir elect Son 1610 Elected 2 June 1647 Died Christian IV
Since 1665 +Heirs to the Norwegian throne In real union with the Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark–Norway); House of Oldenburg (1665–1814) Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(date; reason) Ceased to be heir(date; reason) Next in line of succession Frederik III Crown Prince Christian Son 14 November 1665King's Law established 9 February 1670Father died, became king Prince Jørgen, brotherChristian V Prince Jørgen Brother 9 February 1670Brother became king 2 October 1671Son born to king Anna Sophie, Hereditary Electress of Saxony, sisterCrown Prince FrederikSon2 October 1671Born25 August 1699Father died, became king Prince Jørgen, 1671–1672, uncle Prince Christian Vilhelm, 1672–1673, brother Prince Jørgen, 1673–1675, uncle Prince Christian, 1675–1695, brother Prince Carl, 1695–1697, brother Prince Christian, 1697–1698, son Prince Carl, 1698–1699, brotherFrederik IV Prince Carl Brother 25 August 1699Brother became king 10 December 1699Son born to king Prince Vilhelm, brotherCrown Prince ChristianSon10 December 1699Born12 October 1730Father died, became king Prince Carl, 1699–1701, uncle Prince Frederik Karl, 1701–1702, brother Prince Carl, 1702–1703, uncle Prince Jørgen, 1703–1704, brother Prince Carl, 1704–1723, uncle Prince Frederik, 1723–1730, sonChristian VICrown Prince FrederikSon12 October 1730Father became king6 August 1746Father died, became king Princess Louise, 1730–1745, sister Prince Christian, 1745–1746, sonFrederik V Crown Prince Christian Son 6 August 1746Father became king 3 June 1747Died Princess Sophie Magdalene, sisterPrincess Sophie MagdaleneDaughter3 June 1747Brother died29 January 1749Son born to king Princess Louise, 1747, aunt Princess Vilhelmine Karoline, 1747–1749, sisterCrown Prince ChristianSon29 January 1749Born14 January 1766Father died, became king Princess Sophie Magdalene, 1749–1753, sister Prince Frederik, 1753–1766, half-brotherChristian VII Hereditary Prince Frederik Half-brother 14 January 1766Half-brother became king 28 January 1768Son born to king Sophie Magdalene, Crown Princess of Sweden, half-sisterCrown Prince FrederikSon28 January 1768Born13 March 1808Father died, became king Prince Frederik, 1768–1791, uncle Prince Christian, 1791, son Prince Frederik, 1791–1797, uncle Prince Christian, 1797, son Prince Frederik, 1797–1805, uncle Prince Christian Frederik, 1805–1808, first cousinFrederik VIFirst cousin13 March 1808First cousin became king7 February 1814First cousin abdicated, real union dissolved and independence of Norway Prince Ferdinand, 1808, brother Prince Frederik, 1808–1814, son Kingdom of Norway (1814); House of Oldenburg (1814) Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(date; reason) Ceased to be heir(date; reason) Next in line of succession Prince Frederik of Denmark, 1814, son Son 17 May 1814Father elected as king 10 October 1814Father abdicated, personal union with Sweden established Prince Ferdinand of Denmark, uncle In personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden–Norway); House of Holstein-Gottorp (1751–1818) Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(date; reason) Ceased to be heir(date; reason) Next in line of succession Karl II Crown Prince Karl Johan Adopted son 4 November 1814 5 February 1818 Prince Oscar, Duke of Södermanland, son In personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden (Sweden–Norway); House of Bernadotte (1818–1905) Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(date; reason) Ceased to be heir(date; reason) Next in line of successionKarl III JohanSon5 February 1818Father became king8 March 1844Father died, became king None, 1818–1826 Prince Karl, Duke of Skåne, 1826–1844, sonOscar ICrown Prince Karl, Duke of SkåneSon8 March 1844Father became king8 July 1859Father died, became king Prince Gustaf, Duke of Uppland, 1844–1852, brother Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland, 1852, brother Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland, 1854–1859, brother Karl IV Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland Brother 8 July 1859Brother became king 13 September 1872 Prince Gustaf, Duke of Värmland, sonOscar IICrown Prince Gustaf, Duke of VärmlandSon13 September 1872Father became king7 June 1905Father deposed, personal union dissolved Prince Oscar, Duke of Gotland, 1872–1882, brother Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Skåne, 1882–1905, son After the personal union with Sweden; House of Glücksburg (since 1905) Monarch Heir Relationshipto monarch Became heir(date; reason) Ceased to be heir(date; reason) Next in line of successionHaakon VIICrown Prince OlavSon18 November 1905Father elected as king, confirmed by referendum21 September 1957Father died, became king None, 1905–1937 Prince Harald, 1937–1957, sonOlav VCrown Prince HaraldSon21 September 1957Father became king17 January 1991Father died, became king None, 1957–1973 Prince Haakon, 1973–1991, sonHarald VCrown Prince HaakonSon17 January 1991Father became king28 August 2026Father died, became king Princess Märtha Louise, 1991–2004, sister Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 2004–2026, daughterHaakon VIIICrown Princess Ingrid AlexandraDaughter28 August 2026Father became kingIncumbent Prince Sverre Magnus, brother