Had to spend a bit of time re-writing some of these as they just weren’t connecting. Was asking myself, “What’s this question about?”, and the material is difficult enough without having to deal with such self-inflicted obstacles.
Questions
Not to be confused with one of the dwarf brothers that killed Kvasir, which red rooster heralds the start of Ragnarok, one portrayal being in the “Völuspá”, a poem in the “Poetic Edda”?
FJALAR
Also featured in the “Völuspá” poem from the “Poetic Edda”, who is the herder of the giantesses that lives in Jarnvidr, who probably raised Loko’s wife Angrboda?
EGGÞÉR / EGGTHÉR
Aiming to ‘bind the different parts of the music community together’, which free Nordic music magazine released monthly has an awards ceremony and local editions in Denmark, Sweden and Norway?
GAFFA (The name comes from ‘gaffer tape’)
Awarded to Norwegian musicians and taking their name from the Bokmål for a fiddler or folk musician, what are the Norwegian Grammy Awards called?
SPELLEMANNPRISEN
Played by Peter Dinklage in “Infinity War”, who is the brother of Brokkr, with the pair making fantastic creations together? This mythological figure is also known as Sindri, but not in “Infinity War”.
EITRI
Which sci-fi/fantasy work was the only novel written by Ludvig Holberg, who also gives his name to a prize administered by the University of Bergen?
NIELS KLIM’S UNDERGROUND TRAVELS
Which comic series by Lewis Trondheim follows a shy and easy-going rabbit?
THE SPIFFY ADVENTURES OF MCCONEY / LES FORMIDABLES AVENTURES DE LAPINOT
Who are the “Ultimate Obliterators” in a comic by Lewis Trondheim? In 2002 they got their own 26 episode TV series.
KAPUT AND ZOSKY
Along with Queen Maud Land, which other territory does Norway lay claim to in Antarctica that is not named for somebody from the country and has its high point at Lars Christensen Peak?
PETER I ISLAND
Meaning ‘King’s song’, what is the Norwegian title of their royal anthem?
KONGESANGEN
Previously spending seven years as Minister of Foreign Affairs in a Jens Stoltenberg government, who became Norwegian Prime Minister in October 2021, ousting Erna Solberg?
JONAS GAHR STØRE
In what year was the kingdom of Norway established following Harald Fairhair’s victory at the battle of Hafrsfjord?
872
In what year of the 14th century did the Kalmar Union begin that saw a union of the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark and Sweden?
1397
In what year did the Kalmar Union end following successful incursions into Swedish lands by Gustav Vasa, who organised a rebellion against Christian II in the aftermath of the Stockholm Bloodbath?
1524
In what year was the dissolution between Norway and Sweden, seeing Norway become independent for the first time since the beginning of the Kalmar Union, except for a brief interlude in 1814?
1905
Portrayed by Ray Stevenson in “Vikings”, whose other roles include The Punisher and Porthos, which Norwegian seafarer is known only from an account that he gave to Alfred the Great?
OHTHERE (OF HALOGALAND)
Known as ‘Norge’ in Bokmål, how is Norway known in Nynorsk?
NOREG
His works including an account of the travels of Ohthere and a collaborator on Augustine of Hippo’s “City of God”, who wrote the “Seven books of history against the pagans”, a book which had a significant impact on historiography between antiquity and the Middle Ages?
(PAULUS) OROSIUS
Offering stunning views, Ånderdalen National Park is situated on which second largest island of Norway outside of Svalbard that? It sits at the north-east of the Vesterålen archipelago.
SENJA
Active during the Younger Dryas, which upper palaeolithic culture takes its name from a village near a tunnel valley 25km north-east of Hamburg in Schleswig-Holstein?
AHRENSBURG
Taking its name from the German word for the Vistula, what was the last glaciation over the area of Scandinavia?
WEICHSELIAN
Which northernmost county of Norway was disestablished in 2019, merging with Troms? The merged county is the largest in Norway, though there are talks about splitting them again.
FINNMARK
The centre of the Norwegian petroleum industry, which county in the far south-west of Norway has Stavanger as its administrative centre?
ROGALAND
Which Mesolithic culture of hunter gatherers takes its name from a Mount in the community of Alta, Finnmark?
KOMSA
Which town is the administrative centre of the county Trøndelag, instead of as might be expected the larger city of Trondheim? It was populated in the bronze age and one of the strongest powerbases during the early Viking age.
STEINKJER
What is the oldest find of a wooden plank ship in Scandinavia? It was excavated from a bog on Als in Denmark, and is on display at the National Museum of Denmark.
HJORTSPRING BOAT
Hordaland merged with Sogn og Fjordane county in 2020 to form which new county, making it much easier to guess where it may be on the map?
VESTLAND
If you visit one expect to find a heap of stones. What term was used for an open-air sanctuary at a ‘thing’ meeting place?
HÖRGR
Also finding use for neopagan purposes, what alliterative two-word term is used for a German paganic temple that would usually make up part of a ‘thing’ meeting place?
HEATHEN HOF
Now commemorated by a monument that was built to celebrate 1,000 years of its existence, which ‘thing’ had its meeting place by Sognefjord, and may have been the centre of an aristocratic confederation around the western fjords?
GULATING
What four-word nickname does Sognefjord have, the largest and deepest fjord in the country?
KING OF THE FJORDS
Which third longest fjord of Norway at 130km in length is situated in the county of Trøndelag?
TRONDHEIMFJORD
Including governors of Norway under the rule of Svein Forkbeard and Canute the Great, which earls were a dynasty that ruled parts of Trøndelag and Hålogaland from the 9th to 11th century?
EARLS OF LADE
The Oseberg Ship is situated in the Viking Ship Museum on which peninsula on the western side of Oslo? It shares its name with the Royal Estate that is the official summer Residence of the King of Norway.
BYGDØY
Currently found in the University of Oslo, what name is given to an extremely rare find of a complete Viking helmet, this being found in nine fragments that have since been reconstructed?
GJERMUNDBU
Buskerud merged with Akershus and Østfold to controversially form which new county in 2020? It is in a process of disestablishment and is down to cease its existence in 2024.
VIKEN
Taking place near Stavanger, after which battle did Harald Fairhair become the first king of United Norway in 872?
HAFRSFJORD (Were you paying more attention than me?)
The son of Harald Fairhair and thus one of the names he’s known as is Haraldsson, which king from 934 to 961 was noted for his attempt to introduce Christianity to Norway, though unsuccessful?
HAAKON (I) THE GOOD / HARALD ADALSTEINFOSTRE
On which island was the first church in Norway built by Olaf I, the founder of Trondheim?
MOSTER
Having a base at Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland, which guild of privateers turned pirates sacked Bergen three times in the 13th/14th century?
VICTUAL BROTHERS
Still extant with the current head being the Prince of Schleswig-Holstein, which dynasty was established in 1448 when Christian I came to the throne of Denmark?
OLDENBURG
Mentioned in the Henrik Ibsen play “Lady Inger of Ostrat”, who led a rebellion against King Hans in 1501? He met his death a year later when under ‘safe conduct’, a court deeming the behaviour of his captors to have been just.
KNUT ALVSSON
Inheriting both thrones as the measly age of three, under a king with which regnal name were Norway and Sweden united in the early 14th century? Given the regnal number VII in Norway and IV in Sweden, he was the longest reigning Swedish king until Carl XVI Gustaf overtook him in 2018.
MAGNUS
Like his great-grandfather a son of a king named Magnus with them being distinguished by the use of the term ‘younger’, which king married Margaret in 1363, the daughter of Danish king Valdemar IV who became the founder of the Kalmar Union?
HAAKON VI
Although known by various confusing regnal numbers, this pejorative title is highly suggestive that he was not from Scandinavia. What three-word term is often used for the first king under the Kalmar Union, found by Margaret I to be a unifying figure?
ERIC OF POMERANIA
Part of the Second Northern War, at which 1658 naval battle did the Dutch defeat Sweden to try to prevent them from gaining control of Copenhagen?
BATTLE OF THE SOUND
Named for a medieval Norwegian castle, which province that now makes up a part of Götaland, was lost to Sweden in the 17th century?
BÅHUSLEN
Östersund is the only city in which historical province that was lost by Norway to Sweden in the 17th century?
JÄMTLAND
Located in the Norwegian parliament and for a time featured on 100 kroner notes, the historical painting “The Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll” is a work by which Oslo-born painter? His sister was the first woman to earn a doctoral degree in Norway.
OSCAR WERGELAND
Becoming king of Norway during its brief period of independence in 1814, who later became king of Denmark from 1839 to 1848 in a Frederick sandwich, as his period in charge lay between the reigns of numbers VI and VII?
CHRISTIAN FREDERICK (OF NORWAY) / CHRISTIAN VIII (OF DENMARK)
Also referred to as Constitution Day, which official public holiday celebrates Christian Frederick becoming king of Norway in 1814? It is notable for its children’s parades, with the popularity of these being credited to poet Henrik Wergeland.
SYTTENDE MAI (17 May)
Named for a coastal town in the soon to be disestablished county of Viken, which Convention of 1814 formed the de facto peace agreement following a brief Swedish-Norwegian War?
CONVENTION OF MOSS
Succeeding Gustav IV Adolf as king of Sweden, who also became king of Norway in 1814 following Christian Frederick’s abdication? The second king of Sweden-Norway carried the same regnal name from the period 1818 to 1844, obviously adding one to the number.
CHARLES XIII OF SWEDEN / CHARLES II OF NORWAY
His plays including the “Sigurd Slembe” trilogy about a 12th century Norwegian pretender to the throne, which Norwegian writer won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1903? He also wrote the lyrics to the Norwegian national anthem “Ja, vi elsker dette landet”.
BJØRNSTJERNE BJØRNSON
Which writer of Norwegian fairy tales is commonly mentioned as a partnership with Jørgen Engebretsen Moe? A theme park dedicated to their works featured in the TV series “Lilyhammer”.
PETER CHRISTEN ASBJØRNSEN
Which Norwegian romantic nationalist painter painted “Bridal procession on the Hardanger” in collaboration with Hans Gude? Gude painted the landscapes, with the older artist having done the bridal party.
ADOLPH TIDEMAND
What umbrella term covers traditional Norwegian clothes and folk costumes, which often contain the national flag colours of red, white and blue?
BUNAD
Starting in 1848, who led the first labour movement in Norway? He tried to revive the movement unsuccessfully following his release from jail.
MARCUS THRANE
Which battle of 1940 ended the ‘Phoney War’, with Germany beginning their invasion of Norway? The Germans were delayed just long enough for Haakon VII and his court to escape the country.
BATTLE OF DRØBAK SOUND
Named for a town found in Nordland county, the Norwegian armed forces launched which battles in 1940 before being forced to surrender?
BATTLES OF NARVIK
Committing suicide on Victory in Europe Day by blowing up the bunker he was in with dynamite, who was the Reichskommissar for the Norwegian occupation during World War II?
JOSEF TERBOVEN
Crippling the German nuclear programme during World War II, where did the Norwegian resistance destroy Norse Hydro’s Heavy Water plant?
VEMORK
Set up in 1940 to administer the Norwegian merchant fleet outside of German controlled waters, what is the short name of the Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission that made a significant contribution to the allied war effort? Nobel Peace Price winner and Olympian Philip Noel-Baker claimed that without its assistance the Allies would have lost the war.
NORTRASHIP
Referred to as ‘father of the nation’, which Prime Minister served 17 years in the role over three spells? He was the first individual to hold that position following the Second World War.
EINAR GERHARDSEN
Which conservative Prime Minister led the country from 1981 to 1986? World Health Organisation director-general Gro Harlem Brundtland sandwiched this person’s term in office during her spells as PM.
KÅRE WILLOCH
Based on its German title presumably evoking a feeling of spring, for which lyrical work for piano is Christian Sinding best known?
FRÜHLINGSRAUSCHEN
Their name being taken from a track on Iggy Pop’s “The Idiot”, an album produced by David Bowie, which Norwegian rock band includes a type of bullet in their name?
DUMDUM BOYS
Notorious for their live performances which sometimes included them having animal heads impaled on stakes, which Norwegian black metal band’s tragic history includes their vocalist ‘Dead’ committing suicide and their guitarist ‘Euronymous’ murdered by a fellow band member?
MAYHEM
Their single “10,000 Lovers (In One)” reaching number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100, which Norwegian heavy metal band share their name with an explosive?
TNT
First reaching the top of their native country’s album chart with “Scandinavian Leather”, which Norwegian rock band play ‘fast’ and ‘dark’ and if you want to paint your car black they claim this is the blackest colour of all?
TURBONEGRO
Later marrying Mike Oldfield, what is the surname of Norwegian child star Anita, who had a significant hit in the 1970s with “Schön ist es auf der Welt zu sein”?
HEGERLAND
His real name being Gerhard Höllerich, with which German schlager singer did Anita sing “Schön ist es auf der Welt zu sein”?
ROY BLACK
What is the nickname of golfer Suzann Pettersen, the only Norwegian golfer of either gender to win a major, doing so twice? She was called this by friends and family.
TUTTA
The Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland remained Danish when Norway was passed to Sweden under what 1814 treaty?
TREATY OF KIEL
Originally belonging to Norway, the historical province of Härjedalen was ceded to Sweden in what 1645 treaty, named for a location near Karlskrona that at the time was part of Denmark? This was actually the second treaty by this name, with other locations also being ceded.
BRÖMSEBRO
Under the terms of what 1266 treaty, named for a place in Scotland, did Norway lose the territories of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man?
PERTH
Found in Troms og Finnmark county, which easternmost town in Norway lies further east than St. Petersburg and Istanbul?
VARDØ
Having its high point at Galdhøppigen, what is the alternative name for the Scandinavian Mountains, the main mountain range that runs through the Scandinavian peninsula?
SCANDES
Situated in Møre og Romsdal, what is the deepest lake in all of Europe, though only the twelfth in the entire world?
HORNINDALSVATNET
What is Norway’s largest plateau, making up approximately 36% of Finnmark?
FINNMARKSVIDDA
Situated in the south-east of Viken county, what is Norway’s largest lake by area, though only its fourth deepest and trailing Røssvatnet in the volume stakes?
MJØSA
One of Norway’s five terrestrial ecoregions is mixed forests named for what area that covered parts of Scythia and corresponds to parts of modern day Ukraine, Russia and Moldova?
SARMATIA (Sarmatic mixed forests)
What is the Latin name for the arctic fox, the second part coming from the similarity of the hair on its feet to those of cold-climate hares?
VULPES LAGOPUS
Named for its presumed preference of residence, what type of frog in the family Ranidae carries the latin name Pelophylax lessonae, after Italian amphibian specialist Michele Lessona?
POOL FROG
Which animal is known for its strength and called in Norway skogens konge, meaning ‘king of the forest’?
ELK / MOOSE
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