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Frederick thereupon released the Norwegians from their allegiance
to biin, and the union of Norway with Denmark, which had
subsisted for more than four centuries, was thus dissolved.
The Literature of Norway from the Reformation to the end of
the union is inseparable from that of Denmark. As translators
of old northern laws and sagas may be mentioned L. Hanssen
(d. 1596) and Pl C. Friis (d. 1614), of whom the latter also wrote
interesting works on Norwegian topography and natural history in
his native dialect. A. Pedersen (d. 1574), of Bergen , was the
author of a description of Norway and of the ‘Chapter-book of
Bergen’. The historian and topographer J. Ramus (å. 1718) and
the poet Peter Pass (d. 1708), the still popular author of
‘Nordlands Trompet’, were also natives of Norway, while T. Torfceus
(d. 1719), a famous historian of Norway, was an Icelander. By
far the most important author of this period was Ludvig Holberg
of Bergen (d. 1754), the poet and historian, whose ‘Peder l’aars’,
the ‘Subterranean Journey of Nils Klim’, and comedies have gained
him a European reputation. Among later poets and authors C. B.
Tallin (d. 1765), J. II. Vessel (d. 1785), C. Fasting (d. 1791),
E. Storm (d. 1794), T. de Stockfleth (d. 1808), J. A. Bntn (d. 1816),
J. Zetlitz (d. 1821), and C. Friman (d. 1829) are noted for the
national character and individuality of their writings , which are
uninfluenced by the French and German taste then prevalent in
Denmark. This national school was partly indebted for its origin
to the foundation of the ‘Norske Selskab’ at Copenhagen in 1772,
while the ‘Lærde Selskab’ of Throndhjem . founded by Gunnerus,
the naturalist (d. 1773), and Schening, the historian (d. 1780),
promoted scientific research. On the whole, notwithstanding
the want of good national schools, the Norwegian literature of this
period ranks at least as high as the Danish.
Union of Sweden and Norway.
After the Peace of Jönköping in 1809 Norway was governed by
Prince Frederick of Hessen and afterwards by Christian Frederick,
cousin of King Frederick and heir to his throne. Christian was a
popular prince, and even after the terms of the Peace of Kiel had
been adjusted he made an effort to secure the sovereignty of the
country for himself. He summoned an assembly ef notables to
Eidsvold (Feb. 1814), stated the terms of the Peace of Kiel, which
had not yet been published, and declared that he would asserthis
claim in spite of it. ’The assembly denied the right of the king
of Denmark to hand over Norway to Sweden , but also declined to
recognise the prince’s hereditary claim. They, however, appointed
him regent until a national diet should be summoned to consider
the state of affairs. The king of Sweden promised the Norwegians
a liberal constitution if they would submit to his authority; but
his offer met with no response, the country eagerly prepared to
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