master-builders of Norway and those of England and France. Under Haakon Haakonsgn (1217-1263) Norway stood at the height of her political and cultural power. In 1319 the male line of the Haarfagre dynasty, which had reigned for nearly 450 years, became extinct; and in the years that followed the royal — authority was weakened to some extent. The Hanseatic League gained considerable power in the 14th and 15th centuries, and in great measure ruined the activities of the Norwegian trading community. In 1380 Norway glided into the fateful union with Denmark, which was to last for 434 years. It came to pass in the following manner: The Norwegian king, Haakon VI Magnuss¢n, was married to the Danish Princess Margareta, the daughter of King Valdemar Atterdag. Valdemar died in 1375 without male issue. Denmark thereupon elected Olav, the son of Haakon VI and Margareta, as king of Denmark. In 1380 Haakon VI died, and Olav inherited Norway and became king of both Norway and Denmark. The personal union thus established between the two kingdoms was converted in 1450 into a treaty union. Irrespective of the changes in the royal prerogative and in the social and economic conditions during the prolonged union, Norway upheld during the whole of this period her posi- tion as a separate kingdom within the union. The union between Norway and Denmark was 10