# Christian Frederik's assembly of notables (16 February 1814)

URL: https://allhistories.com/norway/timeline/1814-christian-frederik-s-assembly-of-notables
Location: Eidsvoll, Akershus
Themes: Key Events

On 16 February 1814 Prince Christian Frederik, viceroy of Norway and heir to the Danish throne, met 21 leading Norwegians at Eidsvoll to discuss how to respond to the Treaty of Kiel. He planned to claim the throne by hereditary right, but the notables argued that sovereignty had returned to the people. They advised him to have a constituent assembly elected to decide the form of government. Christian Frederik accepted the advice. Returning to Christiania on 19 February, he took the title of regent and ordered elections, held in the churches from 25 February, with congregations swearing to defend Norway's independence. The assembly was summoned to meet at Eidsvoll on 10 April. Only two of the notables, Georg Sverdrup and Peder Anker, later sat in the assembly.

## Why it matters
The meeting turned a dynastic bid for the throne into a popular, constitutional project and opened the path to the Eidsvoll assembly.

Ruler at the Time: [Christian Frederick](https://allhistories.com/norway/rulers/christian-frederick)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Meeting of Notables](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meeting_of_Notables)
- [Wikipedia — Christian VIII](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_VIII)
- [Store norske leksikon — Stormannsmøtet](https://snl.no/stormannsmøtet)
- [Store norske leksikon — Christian Frederik](https://snl.no/Christian_Frederik)
- [Wikipedia — 1814 & the Union with Sweden (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_between_Sweden_and_Norway)