New monarch in Norway with a very historic name

Norway’s new monarch, Haakon VIII, has now taken the throne with a very historic name.

Haakon means “high son” in Old Norse, and the first monarch to carry the name was King Haakon the Good, who reigned from 934 to 961 and was known for trying to bring Christianity into Norway.

King Haakon II the Broadshouldered ruled Norway from 1157–1162, and King Haakon III Sverrsson sat on the throne from 1202–1204. Haakon IV Haakonsson (the Old) was the next Haakon to sit on the throne from 1217 to 1263, and his son Haakon the Younger co-ruled with him from 1240 to 1257 until the latter died. The father-son duo reigned during a time of civil war and expanded Norwegian influence.

Haakon V Magnusson (ruling from 1299–1319) is known for bringing the capital to Oslo and building the famous Akershus Fortress. A few decades later, King Haakon VI Magnusson (1355–1880) took the throne, reigning alongside his father, Magnus VII. This monarch brought Norway into the Kalmar Union in Scandinavia, where a single monarch led Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

Norway wouldn’t have its own monarch for centuries until the Sweden-Norway union was dissolved in 1905. Norway became independent in October of that year, and the government began looking at other royal houses to find a king. They decided on Prince Carl of Denmark, who had married Princess Maud of Wales in 1896. After a referendum, he took the throne, changing his name to Haakon VII.

Haakon VII led Norway through World War II and led the government in exile from the United Kingdom, refusing to abdicate. The beloved monarch led until he died in 1957. His only child, Olav, took the throne, and he was succeeded by his only son, Harald.

Now, the newest Haakon sits on the throne, decades after his famous grandfather. He will one day be succeeded by his elder child, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.