The dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905 marked a pivotal moment in Norwegian history, establishing the country as a fully independent nation after nearly a century of personal union under the Swedish crown. The union, formed in 1814, allowed Norway to retain significant autonomy, including its constitution, parliament, and judiciary, while sharing a monarch and foreign policy with Sweden. Over time, however, tensions grew due to differences in economic interests and political developments, with Norway's liberal politics and trade needs clashing with Sweden's more conservative approach.
The final rupture came over the "consul affair," where Norway demanded control over its own consular services abroad, reflecting its growing dissatisfaction with Swedish dominance in foreign policy. In 1905, after a standoff between the Norwegian government and King Oscar II, Norway's Storting declared the union dissolved on 7 June. This led to heightened tensions, but rather than escalating to war, the matter was resolved diplomatically.
Following a Norwegian plebiscite overwhelmingly supporting independence, negotiations in Karlstad led to Sweden formally recognizing Norway’s independence on 26 October 1905. King Oscar II renounced any claim to the Norwegian throne, and shortly afterward, Prince Carl of Denmark was invited to become Norway's new king, taking the name Haakon VII. The peaceful dissolution marked Norway's transition to full sovereignty, with the newly crowned King Haakon VII symbolizing Norway's new era as an independent constitutional monarchy.