Oslo

The capital of Norway, sits on the country’s southern coast at the head of the Oslofjord. It’s known for its green spaces and museums. Many of these are on the Bygdoy Prninsula, including the waterside Norwegian Maritime Museum and the Viking Ship Museum, with Viking ships from the 9th century. The Holemenkollbakken is a ski-jumping hill with panoramic views of the fjord. It also has a ski museum. During the Viking Age, the area was part of Viken. Oslo was founded as a city at the end of the Viking Age in 1040 under the name Anslo, and established as a kaupstad or trading place in 1048 by Harald Hardrada. The city was elevated to a bishopric in 1070 and a capital under Haakon V of Norway around 1300. Personal unions with Denmark from 1397 to 1523 and again from 1536 to 1814 reduced its influence. After being destroyed by a fire in 1624, during the reign of King Christian IV, a new city was built closer to Akershus Fortress and named Christiania in honour of the king. It became a municipality (formannskapsdistrikt) on 1 January 1838. The city functioned as the capital of Norway during the 1814-1905 union between Sweden anmd Norway. from 1877, the city’s name was spelled Kristiania in government usage, a spelling that was adopted by the municipal authorities in 1897. in 1925, the city, after incorporating the village retaining its former name, was renamed Oslo. In 1948 Oslo merged with Aker, a municipality which surrounded the capital and which was 27 times larger, thus creating the modern, much larger Oslo municipality.

Oslo is the economic and governmental centre of Norway. The city is also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking , industry and shipping. It is an important centre for maritime industries and maritime trade in Europe. The city is home to many companies within the maritime sector, some of which are among the world’s largest shipping companies, shipbrokers and maritime insurance brokers. Oslo is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the European Commission intercultural cities programme.

Oslo is considered a global city and was ranked “Beta World City” in studies carried out by the Globalization and World Cities Study Group and Network in 2008. The urban area extends beyond the boundaries of the municipality into the surrounding country of Viken (municipalities of Asker, Baerum, Lillestrom, Enebakk, Raelingen, Lorenskog, Nittedal, Gjerdrum, Nordre follo); the total population of this agglomeration was 1,064,235 in 2022. The city centre is situated at the end of the Oslofjord, from which point the city sprawls out in three distinct “corridors”- inland north-eastwards, and southwards along both sides of the fjord- which gives the urbanized area a shape reminiscent of an upside-down reclining “y”(on maps, satellite pictures, or from high above the city).

To the north and east, wide forested hills (Marka) rise above the city giving the location the shape of a gaint amphitheatre. The urban municipality (bykommune) of Oslo the only city in Norway where two administrative levels are integrated. of Oslo’s total area, 130km2(50sqmi)is built -up and 9.6km2(3.7sqmi) is agricultureal. The open areas within the built-up zone amount to 22km2(8.5sq mi). The city of Oslo was established as a municipality on 3 january 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt).It was seprarated from the country of Akershus to become a county of its own in 1842. The rural municipality of Aker was merged with Oslo on 1 January 1948 (and simultaneouly transferred from Akershus county to Oslo county). Furthermore, Oslo shares several important functions with Akershus county. In addition is Marka (1,610 residents, 301.1 km2), that is administered by several broughs; and Sentrum (1,471 residents, 1.8 km2) that is partially administered by St. Hanshaugen, and in part directly by the city council . As of 27 February 2020 , there were 2,386 residents who were not allocated to a borough. During the Viking Age, the area that includes modern Oslo was located in Viken, the northernmost province of Denmark. Control over the area shifted between Danish and Norwegian kings in the Middle Ages, and Denmark continued to claim the area until 1241. After being destroyed byba fore in 1624, during the regin of King Christian IV, a new city was built closer to Akershus Fortress and named Christiania in the king’s honour. The old site east of the Aker river was not abandoned, however, and the village of Oslo remained as a suburb outside the city gates. The suburb called Oslo was eventually included in the city proper. In 1925 the name of the suburb was transferred to the whole city, [why?] while the suburb was renamed ” Gamlebyen”, literally “the Old town”, to avoid confusion . [30] [31] [32] The Old Town is an area within the administrative district Gamle Oslo. The previous names are reflected in street names like Oslo gate(Oslo Street)and Oslo hospital. The origin of the name Oslo has been the subject of much debated. It is nigh- certainly derived from Old Norse and was-in all probability – originally the name of a large farm at Bjorvika, while themeaning of that name is disputed. Modern linguosts generally interpret the original Oslo, Aslo or Anslo as either”meadow at the foot of a hill “or “meadow consecrated to the Gods”, with both considered equally likely. The origin of the name Oslo has been the subject of much debate. It is nigh -certainly derived from Old Norse and was- in all probability- originally the name of a large farm at bjorvika, while the meaning of that name is disputed. Modern linguists generally interpret the original Osla, Aslo or Anslo as either “meadow at the foot of a hill” or ” meadow consecrated to the Gods”, with both considered equally likely. During the middle Ages, Oslo reached new height during the reign of Haakon V of Norway(1299-1319) . He was the first king to reside permanently in the city , and it has been regarded as the capital city of Norway since his reign. He also started the construction of the Akershus Fortress and the Oslo Kongsgard.

The Black Death came to Norway in 1349 and , like other cities in Europe, the city suffered greatly. The churches ‘ earning from their land dropped so much that the Hanseatic traders dominated the city’s foreign trade in the 15th century.

In 1380, Norway was the weaker part in a personal union with Denmark, and Oslo’s role was reduced to that of provincial administrative centre, with the monarchs residing in Copenhagen. Over the years, fires destroyed significant parts of the city multiple times, as many of the city’s building were built entirely of wood. After the fourteenth calamity, in 1624, which lasted for three days, Christian IV of Denmark decided that the old city should not be rebuilt again. His men built a network of roads across the bay in Akershagen near Akershus Castle. He demanded that all citizens move their shops and workplaces to the newly built city of “Christiania”, named in his honor.In1814 the former provincial town of Christiania became the capital of the independent Kingdom of Norway, when the union with Denmark was dissolved and replaced by a personal union with Sweden. Several state needed building for its expanding administration and institutions. Several important buildings and landmarks were erected in the 19th century, including the Royal place (1825-1848), the Bank of Norway(1828), the Storting (1861-1866), the University , the National Theatre and the Stock Exchange. Among the world-famous artists who lived here during this period were Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun (the latter was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature). The municipality developed new areas such as UIIeval garden city(1918-1926) and Torshov(1917-1925). City Hall was constructed in the former slum area of Vika from1931to 1950. The municipality of Aker was incorporated into Oslo in 1948, and suburbs were developed, such as Lambertseter(from 1951). Akers Mekaniske Verksted, from 1982 to 1998. Norway was invaded by Germany on 9bApril 1940. Efforts to stop the invasion, most notably the sinking of Blucher, delayed the occupation of Osla for a few hours which allowed King Haakon to escape the city. Oslo remained occupied throughout the war until Germany capitulated in 1945. During this , the occupying troops were harried by saboteurs in acts of resistance. On 31 December 1944, allied bombers miised their intended target and hit a tram, resulting in 79 civilian deaths.