Det Norske Riket

General Alexander Abrahamsen had seen more than 30 years of service, and he had lived to see his country liberated from tyranny. In the year of our Lord 1814, after many years of arduous and unrelenting struggle, Norway had gained its independence.

When in that momentous year the perfidious Swedes came traipsing through these holy lands, Alexander Abrahamsen knew that the only logical thing to do was to take up his musket, call for what volunteers he could and do his best to drive out the Swedish menace.

Thousands upon thousands of men swelled the ranks of the charismatic patriot-general. He told them his dream of a free Norway, unsullied by the boots of foreign forces, free from political interference and in the hands of its own people. He spoke of a constitution, rule of law and the dignity of every Norwegian. His radical ideas and his fierce, freedom-loving spirit drew more and more recruits.

After the Danish Crown Prince fled Norway with his tail between his legs, abandoning the noble fight for independence, it fell on the Norwegian people themselves to exert every bit of their strength in expelling the evil invader, and under the glorious leadership of Alexander Abrahamsen, they did just that. A man whose origins could be traced back to the wretched, rural peasantry of a remote corner of Scandinavia, he was now the most admired man in the country. In battle after battle, his forces defeated the foe time and time again.

Finally, the King of Sweden sued for peace, recognising the dignity and independence of Norway. All of Europe was in awe at this magnificent feat on the part of this brave and heroic Scandinavian nation, only a few months' ago written off as doomed. But things would not go back to the same way as before. Entering into Christiania and acclaimed by cheering crowds, the general proclaimed himself Dictator of Norway, and solemnly renamed the city Oslo, after its previous Norwegian name.

Now, Norway would follow a new, liberal path. A new king had to be found, but one who would respect the new, constitutional system drawn up by General Abrahamsen and an assembly of the land. A parliamentary system, free courts and a constitution would guarantee the people of Norway their freedom. Now it was up to them to be worthy of the freedoms granted them.