View source for Governor-General of Norway

{{Short description|Norwegian head of state in absence of the monarch}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox official post
| post                    = Governor-general
| body                    = Norway
| native_name             = {{small|{{native name|da|Rigsstatholder}}<br />{{native name|sv|Riksståthållare}}}}
| insignia                = 
| insigniasize            = 
| insigniacaption         = 
| insigniaalt             =
| flag                    = 
| flagsize                = 
| flagalt                 =
| flagborder              = 
| flagcaption             = 
| image                   = Portrait of Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig (1638-1704).JPG
| imagesize               = 
| alt                     = 
| imagecaption            = '''Longest serving<br />[[Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve]]'''<br />1664–1699
| department              = 
| style                   = 
| type                    = 
| status                  = 
| abbreviation            = 
| member_of               = 
| reports_to              = 
| residence               = 
| seat                    = 
| nominator               = 
| appointer               = The King
| appointer_qualified     = 
| termlength              = At His Majesty's pleasure
| termlength_qualified    = 
| constituting_instrument = 
| precursor               = 
| formation               = 1556
| first                   = [[Christen Munk]]
| last                    = [[Severin Løvenskiold]]
| abolished               = 1873
| succession              = 
| unofficial_names        = 
| deputy                  = 
| salary                  = 
| website                 = 
| footnotes               =
}}
The '''governor-general of Norway''' ({{langx|da|Rigsstatholder}} or {{langx|sv|Riksståthållare}}, both meaning 'lieutenant of the realm' (see [[stadtholder]])), was the appointed head of the [[Norwegian Government]] in the absence of the monarch, during the [[Denmark-Norway|union with Denmark]] and [[Sweden-Norway|Sweden]].

== Etymology ==
({{langx|no|Stattholder}}) means "steward". Its component parts literally translate as "place holder," or as a direct cognate, "stead holder", it was a term for a "[[steward (office)|steward]]" or "[[Lord Lieutenant|lieutenant]]". However, this is not the word for the military rank of lieutenant, which is {{lang|no|løytnant}} in Norwegian.

==Governors-general (Denmark–Norway)==
{{see also|Denmark–Norway}}
The office of Governor-general of Norway was established in [[1556]] and was occupied with occasional interruptions until [[Kingdom of Norway (1814)|1814]].
The Governor-general was normally at the same time ''Lensherre'' (Governor) of [[Akershus len]] (after 1662; Akershus amt), and was the highest authority in the country.<ref name=arkivverket>Two sentences are quotes from the National Archives [https://web.archive.org/web/20070212044837/http://arkivverket.no/arkivverket/publikasjoner/nett/handbok- ra/sentralinst/statholderembetet.html Statholderembetet 1572-1771] from the National Archives/archived edition</ref>

===List of officeholders===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name<br />{{small|(born–died)}}
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| [[List of Danish monarchs|Monarch(s)]]
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|Ref.|Refences}}
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
{{Officeholder table
| order             = -
| image             = Christen Munks liksten i Roskild Domkirke - Norsk portrettarkiv - Riksantikvaren - M000497.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Christen Munk]]
| officeholder_sort = Munk, Christen
| born_year         = {{circa}} 1520
| died_year         = 1579
| term_start        = 1556
| term_end          = 1572
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1556|1572}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian III of Denmark|Christian III]]<br />[[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = Poul Huitfeldts gravsten - Norsk portrettarkiv - Riksantikvaren - H000994.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Povel Huitfeldt|Pouel Ottesen Huitfeldt]]
| officeholder_sort = Huitfeldt, Povel
| born_year         = {{circa}} 1529
| died_year         = 1592
| term_start        = 1572
| term_end          = 1577
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1572|1577}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Ludvig Munk til Nørlund.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Ludvig Munk]]
| officeholder_sort = Munk, Ludvig
| born_year         = {{circa|1532}}
| died_year         = 1602
| term_start        = 9 July 1577
| term_end          = 1583
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1577|1583}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = 
| officeholder      = [[Axel Gyldenstjerne]]
| officeholder_sort = Gyldenstjerne, Axel
| born_year         = {{circa|1542}}
| died_year         = 1603
| term_start        = 1588
| term_end          = 1601
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1588|1601}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = Coatofarms-Friis-af-Haraldskjaer.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Jørgen Friis]]
| officeholder_sort = Friis, Jørgen
| born_year         = {{circa|1543}}
| died_year         = 1616
| term_start        = 1601
| term_end          = 1608
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1601|1608}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = 
| officeholder      = [[Enevold Kruse]]
| officeholder_sort = Kruse, Enevold
| born_year         = {{circa|1554}}
| died_year         = 1621
| term_start        = 1608
| term_end          = 1618
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1608|1618}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 6
| image             = Jens Juel - Norsk portrettarkiv - Riksantikvaren - J000152.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Jens Hermansson Juel]]
| officeholder_sort = Juel, Jens
| born_year         = 1580
| died_year         = 1634
| term_start        = 1618
| term_end          = 1629
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1618|1629}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 7
| image             = Christoffer Urne till Årsmarke, 1650-tal - Skoklosters slott - 99588.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Christoffer Urne]]
| officeholder_sort = Urne, Christopher
| born_year         = 1593
| died_year         = 1663
| term_start        = 1629
| term_end          = 1642
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1629|1642}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 8
| image             = Hannibal Sehested.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Hannibal Sehested (governor)|Hannibal Sehested]]
| officeholder_sort = Sehested, Hannibal
| born_year         = 1609
| died_year         = 1666
| term_start        = 1642
| term_end          = 24 June 1651
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1642|1651}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]]<br />[[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 9
| image             = Gregers Krabbe mp000535.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Gregers Krabbe]]
| officeholder_sort = Krabbe, Gregers
| born_year         = 1594
| died_year         = 1655
| term_start        = 1651
| term_end          = 20 December 1655
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1651|1655}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 10
| image             = Porträtt av Niels Trolle till Trolholm, 1650-tal - Skoklosters slott - 99573.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Niels Trolle]]
| officeholder_sort = Trolle, Niels
| born_year         = 1599
| died_year         = 1667
| term_start        = 1656
| term_end          = 28 March 1661
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1656|1661}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 11
| image             = Iver Krabbe.JPG
| officeholder      = [[Iver Krabbe]]
| officeholder_sort = Krabbe, Iver
| born_year         = 1602
| died_year         = 1666
| term_start        = 8 October 1661
| term_end          = 1664
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1661|1664}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 12
| image             = Portrait of Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig (1638-1704).JPG
| officeholder      = [[Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve]]
| officeholder_sort = Gyldenløve, Ulrik
| born_year         = 1638
| died_year         = 1704
| term_start        = January 1664
| term_end          = 1699
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1664|1699}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]]<br />[[Christian V of Denmark|Christian V]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 13
| image             = Coatofarms-Gabel.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Frederik Gabel]]
| officeholder_sort = Gyldenløve, Ulrik
| officeholder_note = {{small|Vice governor-general}}
| born_year         = {{circa|1640}}
| died_year         = 1708
| term_start        = 30 September 1699
| term_end          = 1708
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1699|1708}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 14
| image             = General Johan Wibe (1637 - 1710).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Johan Vibe]]
| officeholder_sort = Vibe, Johan
| officeholder_note = {{small|Vice governor-general}}
| born_year         = 1634
| died_year         = 1710
| term_start        = 10 April 1708
| term_end          = 22 February 1710
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1708|04|10|1710|02|22}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 15
| image             = Loewendahl.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Woldemar Løvendal]]
| officeholder_sort = Gyldenløve, Woldemar
| born_year         = 1660
| died_year         = 1740
| term_start        = 1 August 1710
| term_end          = 30 April 1712
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1710|08|01|1712|04|30}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 16
| image             = Wappen Vieregg.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Claus Henrik Vieregg]]
| officeholder_sort = Vieregg, Claus
| officeholder_note = {{small|Vice Governor-general}}
| born_year         = 1655
| died_year         = 1713
| term_start        = 4 August 1712
| term_end          = 14 July 1713
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1712|08|04|1713|07|14}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 17
| image             = Frederik Krag til Steensballegaard - oljemaleri - Norsk portrettarkiv - Riksantikvaren - K000360.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Frederik Krag]]
| officeholder_sort = Krag, Frederik
| officeholder_note = {{small|Vice governor-general}}
| born_year         = 1655
| died_year         = 1728
| term_start        = 19 September 1713
| term_end          = 1722 
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1713|1722}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 18
| image             = Ditlev Vibe.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Ditlev Vibe]]
| officeholder_sort = Vibe, Ditlev
| born_year         = 1670
| died_year         = 1731
| term_start        = 17 April 1722
| term_end          = 5 October 1731
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1722|04|17|1731|10|05}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]<br />[[Christian VI of Denmark|Christian VI]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 19
| image             = Christian Rantzau (1684-1771).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Christian Rantzau]]
| officeholder_sort = Rantzau, Christian
| born_year         = 1684
| died_year         = 1771
| term_start        = 1733
| term_end          = 1739
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1731|1739}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian VI of Denmark|Christian VI]]
| ref = 
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=8|'''Office vacant'''<br>(1739–1750)
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 20
| image             = Jacob Benzon statholder.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Jacob Benzon]]
| officeholder_sort = Benzon, Jacob 
| officeholder_note = {{small|Vice Governor-general <br>(1750-1770)<br>Governor-general <br>(1770-1771)}}
| born_year         = 1688
| died_year         = 1775
| term_start        = 11 September 1750
| term_end          = 8 February 1771
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1750|09|11|1771|02|08}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick V of Denmark|Frederick V]]<br />[[Christian VII of Denmark|Christian VII]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = -
| image             = Tischbein Carl von Hessen.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel]]
| officeholder_sort = Charles 
| born_year         = 1744
| died_year         = 1836
| term_start        = 4 July 1766
| term_end          = January 1768
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1766|07|04|1768|01|1}} year
| acting            = y
| alt_officeholder = [[Christian VII of Denmark|Christian VII]]
| ref = 
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=8|'''Office vacant'''<br>(8 February 1771 – 25 July 1809)
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 21
| image             = Karl August, 1768-1810, Duke of Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, Crown Prince of Sweden - Nationalmuseum - 39744.tif
| officeholder      = [[Charles August, Crown Prince of Sweden]]
| officeholder_sort = August, Charles
| born_year         = 1768
| died_year         = 1810
| term_start        = 25 July 1809
| term_end          = 11 January 1810
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1809|07|25|1810|01|11}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 22
| image             = Prins Frederik av Hessen, stattholder i Norge 1810-13 - Norsk Folkemuseum - NF.1915-0227 - bilde 1.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Prince Frederik of Hesse]]
| officeholder_sort = Frederik 
| born_year         = 1771
| died_year         = 1845
| term_start        = 11 January 1810
| term_end          = 11 May 1813
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1810|01|11|1813|05|11}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 23
| image             = Christianviiidenmark.jpg
| officeholder      = [[Christian VIII of Denmark|Christian Frederik af Danmark]]
| officeholder_sort = Frederik, Christian
| born_year         = 1786
| died_year         = 1848
| term_start        = 11 May 1813
| term_end          = 16 February 1814 
| timeinoffice      = {{ayd|1813|05|11|1814|02|16}}
| alt_officeholder = [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]]
| ref = 
}}
|}

==Governors-general (Sweden–Norway)==
{{see also|Union between Sweden and Norway}}
''The following describes the office of governor as it was from 1814 during the union with Sweden:''

The office came into existence by the [[Norwegian Constitution]], of 4 November 1814 where the paragraphs 12, 13 and 15 stipulated that a governor-general of [[Sweden|Swedish]] or [[Norway|Norwegian]] nationality could be appointed. The governor-general resided in Christiania (today [[Oslo]]) and led the Government in the absence of the monarch, when he resided in his Swedish capital [[Stockholm]]. The [[Privy Council of Norway|Council]] was normally led by the governor-general, who had two votes, unless the Monarch was present, at which point he would lose his authority and merely become the first among equals, or [[Prime Minister of Norway|prime minister]] of the council.

The post was held by Swedish appointees from 1814 until 1829, when it was vacated by natural causes. Protests left the position empty until 1836, when it was filled by a Norwegian appointee. He was succeeded in 1841 but the successor [[Severin Løvenskiold]] laid down his office in 1856, after which it would not be reinstated. The demand to abandon the office completely was ultimately granted in 1873 by King [[Oscar II]].

===List of officeholders===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan=2| Portrait
! rowspan=2| Name<br />{{small|(born–died)}}
! colspan=3| Term of office
! rowspan=2| [[List of Swedish monarchs#House of Bernadotte (1818–present)|Monarch(s)]]
! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|Ref.|Refences}}
|-
! Took office
! Left office
! Time in office
|-
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 1
| image             = HansHenrikEssen.jpg
| officeholder      = Count [[Hans Henric von Essen]]
| officeholder_sort = von Essen, Hans Henric
| born_year         = 1755
| died_year         = 1824
| term_start        = 1814
| term_end          = 1816
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1814|1816}} years
| alt_officeholder = [[Charles XIII|Charles XIII & II]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 2
| image             = Carl Carlsson Mörner af Tuna.jpg
| officeholder      = Count [[Carl Carlsson Mörner]]
| officeholder_sort = Carlsson Mörner, Carl
| born_year         = 1755
| died_year         = 1821
| term_start        = 1816
| term_end          = 1818
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1816|1818}} years 
| alt_officeholder = [[Charles XIII|Charles XIII & II]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 3
| image             = Johan August Sandels av Per Krafft den yngre.jpg
| officeholder      = Count [[Johan August Sandels]]
| officeholder_sort = Sandels, Johan August
| born_year         = 1764
| died_year         = 1831
| term_start        = 1818
| term_end          = 1827
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1818|1827}} years 
| alt_officeholder = [[Charles XIV John|Charles XIV & III John]]
| ref = 
}}
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 4
| image             = Baltzar Bogislaus von Platen, 1766-1829 (Johan Gustaf Sandberg) - Nationalmuseum - 40325.tif
| officeholder      = [[Baltzar von Platen (1766-1829)|Count Baltzar von Platen]]
| officeholder_sort = von Platen, Baltzar
| born_year         = 1766
| died_year         = 1829
| term_start        = 1827
| term_end          = 1829
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1827|1829}} years 
| alt_officeholder = [[Charles XIV John|Charles XIV & III John]]
| ref = 
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=8|'''Office vacant'''<br>(1829 – 1836)
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 5
| image             = Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg.jpg
| officeholder      = Count [[Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg]]
| officeholder_sort = Wedel-Jarlsberg, Johan Caspar Herman
| born_year         = 1779
| died_year         = 1840
| term_start        = 1836
| term_end          = 1840
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1836|1840}} years 
| alt_officeholder = [[Charles XIV John|Charles XIV & III John]]
| ref = 
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=8|'''Office vacant'''<br>(1840 – 1841)
{{Officeholder table
| order             = 6
| image             = Severin Løvenskiold (by Berglien).jpg
| officeholder      = [[Severin Løvenskiold]]
| officeholder_sort = Løvenskiold, Severin
| born_year         = 1777
| died_year         = 1856
| term_start        = 1841
| term_end          = 1856
| timeinoffice      = {{age in years|1841|1856}} years 
| alt_officeholder = [[Charles XIV John|Charles XIV & III John]]<br />[[Oscar I of Sweden|Oscar I]]
| ref = 
}}
|-style="text-align:center;"
!colspan=8|'''Office vacant'''<br>(1856 – 1873)<br>Then it was abolished
{{Officeholder table end}}

==See also==
*[[List of Norwegian monarchs]]
*[[List of Norwegian Prime Ministers]]
*[[Union between Sweden and Norway]]

==Sources and references==
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Norway.htm WorldStatesmen – Norway]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070212044837/http://arkivverket.no/arkivverket/publikasjoner/nett/handbok-ra/sentralinst/statholderembetet.html Statholderembetet 1572–1771]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Governors-general of Norway}}

[[Category:Monarchy of Norway]]
[[Category:Governors-general of Norway| ]]
[[Category:Denmark–Norway]]
[[Category:Union between Sweden and Norway]]
[[Category:Gubernatorial titles]]
[[Category:Political history of Norway]]
[[Category:1556 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:16th-century establishments in Norway]]