Grunnloven og regionene : hegemoni, kontinuitet og brudd

Abstract

In this article, an argument is made for applying the term «region» as a technical term to the conterminous geographical area of the administrative jurisdictions of the diocese (stift) and the county governor (stiftamt, stiftamtmann) in Norwegian history in the period 1662-1814. These regions increased in importance through the 18th century at the expense of the national administrative level to the point that, at the turn of the century, there were very few national administrative functions left. As a consequence, the Norway which, as part of the Oldenburg monarchy, entered the Napoleonic wars in 1807 was a nation of strong regions.

In what way did these regions influence the course of events leading up to the dissolution of the union with Denmark in 1814, and how was the «Norway of regions» affected by the new Constitution?