Norway's Council of State during Union with Sweden

4 November 1814 - 7 June 1905

On 4 November 1814 the Norwegian Storting, in an extraordinary session in Christiania (Oslo), accepted the union with Sweden that had been dictated by the Treaty of Kiel on 14 January that year.

In the meantime the Danish Prince Christian Frederik had convened the National Assembly at Eidsvold, which in May had passed the Constitution and elected the Prince as King of Norway.

Following Prussia's, Russia's, Austria's and Great Britain's refusal to accept this attempt by Norway to become an independent state, and following Sweden's victory in a minor military conflict in July-August 1814, the Storting had accepted an armistice in Moss on 14 August. Hre, the Storting had accepted to enter union negotiations with Sweden, while Sweden had accepted to respect Norway's Constitution - with necessary changes. 

In Moss King Christian Frederik had committed himself to renounce all claims to Norway's throne and leave the country. He did this on 10 October 1814, three days after the Storting had assembled.

After the Storting on 4 November had accepted the union with Sweden, and the Constitution had been revised accordingly, Count Hans Henrik von Essen was on 11 November appointed Governor-General by the Swedish Viceroy in Norway, Crown Prince Carl Johan. Count Essen had formally held the office since the Treaty of Kiel.

At the same time, the members of the Council of State had their offices confirmed. On 18 November 1814 the Prime Minister and the other new members of the Council were appointed by Crown Prince Carl Johan. On 27 November 1814, the day after the dissolution of the extraordinary session of the Storting, they took their seats in the Council of State which had been appointed by Prince Christian Frederik on 2 March 1814.