Historical background
The EU2 description:
The kingdom of Norway, united in the Viking era, reached its greatest strength in the 13th century, when Iceland and several islands in the North Sea were still under Norwegian rule. However, after the ravages of the Black Plague in 1349 and 1350, the population in Norway was greatly reduced. The Norwegian nobility was greatly weakened by the catastrophe, and became international rather than national in its orientation. In 1397 Norway entered the Union of Kalmar as Queen Margrete became queen of Norway following the death of the last Norwegian king Olav IV. Together with the other two nations, Norway was at war with the Hansa in the 1420s and gradually succumbed to Danish influence and rule as the taxes from Norway were spent abroad. The Norwegian 'Riksraad' continued to elect foreign princes as kings including Christopher of Bavaria and finally Christian II of Denmark. By this time, the Union of Kalmar was just an empty name and Norway had become an integral part of Denmark
I can add something..
Norway was during the Viking Age (about 750 to 1030/66) divided into small kingdoms and chiefdoms. Harald Hårfagre (hår fagre = beautiful hair), gathered large parts of what is now southern Norway under himself about year 870. The following decades different small kings and chiefs fought for control over resources. The Norse also set sail to far coasts, ravaging England, Ireland and northern France (Normandie). The Danish kings were always a threath to the Norwegians, and large parts of the southeast was often under Danish "jurisdiction"..
Olav Tryggvasson (son of Tryggve) established Trondheim (then named Kaupang and later Nidaros) in 997 and made it a head quarter. His sucessor Olav den Hellige (the Holy) attacked Norway and tried to christianize it about 1030. He was killed by pagans from Trøndelag (EU-province 258) in 1030. After that several kings had limited power. Harald Hardråde (the hard ruler) attempted to conquer England in 1066, but lost to Harold, who was promptly defeated by William the Conqueror only days later..
Until 1130 things were quite relaxed, but then the period of civil wars came... the archbisop-seat was established in 1153, giving some prestige to the nation.. The man Sverre Sigurdson and his descendants fought against the church and their candidates until the early 13th century, when the seed of Sverre established the new royal dynasty, that was going to establish the Wealth of Norway. His grandson Håkon Håkonson reigned as king for 40 years, and during his time Norway was secure, wealthy, populous and strong.
His son Magnus Lagabøte (the Lawgiver) made the Country-law in 1274. At his time Norway consisted of modern Norway, Swedish Bohuslen, Halland, Jemtland, Herjedalen, Idre/Serna, and also of Iceland, Greenland, Faroe-islands, Shetlands, Orkneys, Hebrides, and the Isle of Man. It was quite big, and stronger than Sweden (which at the same time was expanding in the east).
Here is a picture, showing both the landborders toward Sweden and the "imagined" seaborders that goes besides Scotland and Ireland. The area inside the green lines is the Sami/Lap tax-land, where Norway, Sweden and Novogorod contested the rights to take tax (mainly furs) from the Sami natives living there.
Later, in 1349 the Black plague arrived, and about 2/3-3/4 of the population was wiped out.. The population of 1348 might have been about 500 000.. the lowest point was reached at the middle of the 15th century (when EU2 starts), and it might have been about 150 000.
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