Oslo Historical info
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Oslo Historical info
Oslo was founded in 1048 by the king Herald Hardrade (also named the “hard ruler”, and considered as the last great Viking king of Norway). In 1314, under Hakon V, the city was elected capital of Norway, and remained such until 1536, when the country joined a union with Denmark and the Oslo lost its role as capital.
Over the centuries, the city was destroyed a few times by fires, but it was always rebuilt. In 1624, after a particularly devastating fire, the Danish monarch Christian IV decided to move the city to a new place, in the safest zone of Akershus, and name it Christiania. The severe anti-fire dispositions imposed by the king included the use of stones and bricks for the construction of all buildings, and the realization of wide roads, with intersections to avoid the fast propagation of fire.
I primi anni del XVIII secolo videro accrescere la prosperità di Christiania, che ebbe un forte incremento della popolazione e un grande sviluppo economico, grazie soprattutto all’esportazione del legno.
The early years of the XVIII century saw a period of prosperity for the city of Christiania, with a considerable demographic growth and a certain economic development, mostly due to the exportation of wood.
As a consequence of the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark lost Norway, and on 17th May 1814 Christiania became the nation’s capital.
During the course of the XIX century, thanks to a prosperous economic period, many public buildings such as the Royal Palace, the University, the Parliament and the National Theatre were raised. In 1925 the city was named Oslo again.
Places not to be missed in Oslo