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Haakon VIIKing of Norway from 18 November 1905 to 21 September 1957
Date of Birth: 03.08.1872
Country:  Norway |
Content:
Biography of Haakon VII
Haakon VII was the King of Norway from November 18, 1905 to September 21, 1957. He was born as Prince Carl (Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel) of the House of Glücksburg and was the grandson of Christian IX. In 1906, his father became the King of Denmark as Frederick VIII, and his older brother succeeded him in 1912 as Christian X. Haakon VII was chosen as the Norwegian monarch by the parliament after Norway dissolved the dynastic union with Sweden and deposed King Oscar II. Through his mother, he was the grandson of Oscar's older brother, Charles XV, who did not have any sons, making Haakon VII the Norwegian heir in the female line. Upon arriving in Norway, he changed his name to the ancient Norwegian name Haakon, and his son was renamed from Alexander to Olav (later Olav V). He was married to his first cousin Maud of Great Britain, the daughter of Edward VII. Among his other cousins, who were grandchildren of Christian IX, were Nicholas II, George V, and Constantine I (King of Greece). In honor of Haakon and his family, Amundsen named a number of geographical features in Antarctica after them.
During World War II
During World War II, Norway was occupied by the Nazis, and a collaborationist regime led by Vidkun Quisling was established. Haakon VII and his family emigrated on April 9, 1940, and he became the head of the government in London. His cipher, H7, became a symbol of the Resistance in Norway. He enjoyed immense popularity among the Norwegians, and his 52-year reign was one of the longest in the twentieth century. He held ranks as an admiral in the Danish, British, and German navies.
