1814 The Norwegian War of Independence

The Norwegian War of Independence 1814

Historical Background:
The war between Norway and Sweden in 1814 was primarily a conflict born out of the political upheaval following the Napoleonic Wars. In January 1814, the Treaty of Kiel was signed, which mandated that Denmark, having sided with Napoleon, relinquish Norway to Sweden as a part of the peace settlement following the end of the Napoleonic Wars.

This treaty aimed to redraw territorial boundaries in Northern Europe. The transfer of Norway to Swedish control was deeply unpopular among Norwegians. There was a strong desire for independence, spurred by nationalistic sentiments and influenced by the liberal ideas of the time. In April 1814, a constitutional assembly convened at Eidsvold, where delegates drafted a constitution for an independent Norway. On May 17, the constitution was adopted, declaring Norway a constitutional monarchy. Christian Frederik, a Danish prince, was proclaimed king. Sweden rejected the notion of Norwegian independence and prepared to assert its claim over Norway through military action. In July 1814, Swedish forces, led by Crown Prince Karl Johan (Jean Baptiste Bernadotte), invaded Norway. Despite initially being unprepared, the Norwegian forces organised a defence, relying primarily on their knowledge of the terrain.

The conflict featured several minor battles, but these were relatively small compared to what had been seen on the European continent during the Napoleonic wars. The Swedish forces had a numerical and qualitative advantage and gradually pushed deeper into Norwegian territory despite fierce resistance. As the war unfolded, both sides struggled to supply their armies, and the Swedes faced a difficult crossing of the Glomma river - the main Norwegian defensive line. Both sides recognised the need for a resolution. Norwegian defences held out longer than expected, mainly due to their knowledge of the terrain, but knew that the Swedish forces were superior in numbers and quality and would eventually likely win a protracted conflict.By early August 1814, after several months of fighting, the armistice was agreed upon. The Convention of Moss was signed in August 1814, formally ending hostilities The agreement recognized Norway's new constitution but stipulated a personal union with Sweden, allowing Norway some degree of autonomy. The terms allowed Norway to maintain its constitution while submitting to a Swedish king.The political union established in 1814 lasted until 1905. Norway retained significant autonomy, managing its own domestic affairs, although foreign policy matters were mostly in Swedish hands. The events of 1814 played a crucial role in the development of Norwegian national identity and nationalism. The drafting of the constitution and the resistance against Swedish control laid the groundwork for Norway's eventual independence.

1814: The Norwegian War of Independence is a low-complexity war game covering the Swedish invasion of Norway in 1814, using the "Scandinavian Wars" system developed by Pantero Games. The game uses a point-to-point movement system, and counters represent individual officers, battalions of infantry, squadrons of cavalry and batteries of artillery. There are also some optional Naval units in the game for use with the advanced rules. The game allows players to recreate the historical conflict as it unfolded but also gives the players enough freedom of choice to develop their own strategies. The Norwegian player aims to defend against the Swedish invasion as long as possible, to force a favourable result at the negotiating table, whereas the Swedish player seeks to conquer Norway by capturing Victory point areas (cities and fortresses).The two mounted map boards represent the terrain in the borderlands between Norway and Sweden, covering the area from Strömstad in the south to Verdal in the North.