Mikael Shainkman
@shainkman.bsky.social
Historian, tour guide and coffee drinker. I host a podcast about Scandinavian history with the creative name the Scandinavian History Podcast.
The patriotic song "Norges skaal!" became popular in Norway, and the members of the assembly at Eidsvoll liked to sing it. It's a melody with a clear anthemy feel, but the lyrics focus on "booze and babes" a tad more than national anthems usually do.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Hl...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Hl...
January 24, 2026 at 6:21 PM
The patriotic song "Norges skaal!" became popular in Norway, and the members of the assembly at Eidsvoll liked to sing it. It's a melody with a clear anthemy feel, but the lyrics focus on "booze and babes" a tad more than national anthems usually do.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Hl...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=35Hl...
Have the last few weeks got you thinking about why Greenland belongs to Denmark? The Scandinavian History Podcast has all the answers. All the answers.
January 24, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Have the last few weeks got you thinking about why Greenland belongs to Denmark? The Scandinavian History Podcast has all the answers. All the answers.
The 1814 constitution banned Jews and Jesuits from Norway. Nicolai Wergeland pushed for this decision. Later in life, he changed his mind, and supported his son (Henrik), who worked to lift the ban. It succeeded in 1851. Jesuits had to wait until 1956 (!) before they were allowed in.
January 22, 2026 at 8:27 PM
The 1814 constitution banned Jews and Jesuits from Norway. Nicolai Wergeland pushed for this decision. Later in life, he changed his mind, and supported his son (Henrik), who worked to lift the ban. It succeeded in 1851. Jesuits had to wait until 1956 (!) before they were allowed in.
This is Christian Magnus Falsen, an important assembly member at Eidsvoll, and a leading voice in the Independence Party. He was close to the regent Christian Fredrik, and has been called his instrument at Eidsvoll. More flatteringly, he's also been called the Father of the Constitution.
January 20, 2026 at 6:03 PM
This is Christian Magnus Falsen, an important assembly member at Eidsvoll, and a leading voice in the Independence Party. He was close to the regent Christian Fredrik, and has been called his instrument at Eidsvoll. More flatteringly, he's also been called the Father of the Constitution.
The Norwegian constitution was signed on May 17, and so that date is now the National Day of Norway. It's a big deal, not least since Norwegian independence has been under threat in living memory. Lots of flags, people dressing in traditional costumes (bunader) and generally having a good time.
January 18, 2026 at 5:56 PM
The Norwegian constitution was signed on May 17, and so that date is now the National Day of Norway. It's a big deal, not least since Norwegian independence has been under threat in living memory. Lots of flags, people dressing in traditional costumes (bunader) and generally having a good time.
A new episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast has dropped! During a few intense weeks in 1814, 112 representatives of the Norwegian people convened at Eidsvoll to draw up a constitution. Preferrably before the Swedes would show up and ruin everything.
Links in the comments.
Links in the comments.
January 16, 2026 at 6:02 AM
A new episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast has dropped! During a few intense weeks in 1814, 112 representatives of the Norwegian people convened at Eidsvoll to draw up a constitution. Preferrably before the Swedes would show up and ruin everything.
Links in the comments.
Links in the comments.
In the unlikely event that you still haven't figured out exactly how king Frederik VI of Denmark and his heir Christian Fredrik were related, this chart should clear things up.
January 13, 2026 at 6:07 PM
In the unlikely event that you still haven't figured out exactly how king Frederik VI of Denmark and his heir Christian Fredrik were related, this chart should clear things up.
This jolly fellow is Carsten Anker, a wealthy Norwegian landowner, politician and a BFF of prince Christian Fredrik, governor of Norway. Anker kindled Christian Fredrik's interest in the place. The constitutional assembly that met in April 1814 did so at Anker's estate at Eidsvoll.
January 10, 2026 at 5:05 PM
This jolly fellow is Carsten Anker, a wealthy Norwegian landowner, politician and a BFF of prince Christian Fredrik, governor of Norway. Anker kindled Christian Fredrik's interest in the place. The constitutional assembly that met in April 1814 did so at Anker's estate at Eidsvoll.
Claus Pavels, priest in the Norwegian capital, called 1814 an “annus Mirabilis”, or "a year of wonders". Like most other years, it had 365 days, but centuries had passed when less happened than in this one year. That may be a spoiler for the next episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast.
January 8, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Claus Pavels, priest in the Norwegian capital, called 1814 an “annus Mirabilis”, or "a year of wonders". Like most other years, it had 365 days, but centuries had passed when less happened than in this one year. That may be a spoiler for the next episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast.
This dashing fellow is none other than Christian Fredrik, painted by Johan Ludvig Lund in 1813. In other words, this is what Christian Fredrik looked like when he was governor of Norway in the latest episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast.
January 6, 2026 at 6:25 PM
This dashing fellow is none other than Christian Fredrik, painted by Johan Ludvig Lund in 1813. In other words, this is what Christian Fredrik looked like when he was governor of Norway in the latest episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast.
If you're sitting at home thinking that you'd have enjoyed the latest episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast so much more if you had a clue about Norwegian geography, this post is for you. Here's a map helpfully pointing out places of interest in episode 124, "Crisis Means Opportunity".
January 4, 2026 at 7:04 PM
If you're sitting at home thinking that you'd have enjoyed the latest episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast so much more if you had a clue about Norwegian geography, this post is for you. Here's a map helpfully pointing out places of interest in episode 124, "Crisis Means Opportunity".
Let's kick off 2026 with a new episode! As you may remember from episode 119, the Napoleonic Wars strained the Danish-Norwegian union. Even worse, now Sweden exploited the fact that Copenhagen had sided with the losing French, and wanted king Frederik VI to hand over Norway to Sweden.
January 2, 2026 at 7:12 AM
Let's kick off 2026 with a new episode! As you may remember from episode 119, the Napoleonic Wars strained the Danish-Norwegian union. Even worse, now Sweden exploited the fact that Copenhagen had sided with the losing French, and wanted king Frederik VI to hand over Norway to Sweden.
Everyone here at the Scandinavian History Podcast HQ wishes you a Happy New Year!
December 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Everyone here at the Scandinavian History Podcast HQ wishes you a Happy New Year!
Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was married to Désirée Clary. She hated Sweden, much preferring France. In these two portraits, it shows. In the first, she's living her best life in Parisian high society. In the second, she's queen of Sweden. You can almost see the desperation in her eyes.
December 31, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was married to Désirée Clary. She hated Sweden, much preferring France. In these two portraits, it shows. In the first, she's living her best life in Parisian high society. In the second, she's queen of Sweden. You can almost see the desperation in her eyes.
In 1806, France conquered Pontecorvo. Napoleon made Bernadotte prince of it, and this was his coat of arms: the imperial eagle & the curved bridge. When Bernadotte became king of Sweden, he put the symbol on his royal coat of arms, and that's why you can still find it in the coat of arms of Sweden.
December 29, 2025 at 6:14 PM
In 1806, France conquered Pontecorvo. Napoleon made Bernadotte prince of it, and this was his coat of arms: the imperial eagle & the curved bridge. When Bernadotte became king of Sweden, he put the symbol on his royal coat of arms, and that's why you can still find it in the coat of arms of Sweden.
This is Carl Otto Mörner, a.k.a. the Ultimate King Maker, the man who offered the Swedish crown to Bernadotte. Mörner hoped that a marshal of France would help Sweden reconquer Finland. But his hopes were crushed. The man he helped onto the throne didn't even try to get Finland back.
December 29, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This is Carl Otto Mörner, a.k.a. the Ultimate King Maker, the man who offered the Swedish crown to Bernadotte. Mörner hoped that a marshal of France would help Sweden reconquer Finland. But his hopes were crushed. The man he helped onto the throne didn't even try to get Finland back.
When you watched king Carl XVI Gustaf's traditional Christmas address today, I hope you noticed the bust on the desk. It's the king's ancestor, Karl Johan Bernadotte, who was elected crown prince in the latest episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast.
December 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
When you watched king Carl XVI Gustaf's traditional Christmas address today, I hope you noticed the bust on the desk. It's the king's ancestor, Karl Johan Bernadotte, who was elected crown prince in the latest episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast.
In the latest episode, we met 3 candidates in the 1810 Swedish crown prince election. The establishment candidate was the Danish prince Fredrik Christian, but some wanted ex-king Gustav Adolf's son Gustav. The third candidate was an unlikely outsider, the marshal of France Jean Baptiste Bernadotte.
December 23, 2025 at 7:22 PM
In the latest episode, we met 3 candidates in the 1810 Swedish crown prince election. The establishment candidate was the Danish prince Fredrik Christian, but some wanted ex-king Gustav Adolf's son Gustav. The third candidate was an unlikely outsider, the marshal of France Jean Baptiste Bernadotte.
The world's preparing for the Christmas break, but at Scandinavian History Podcast HQ we work as usual. To prove it, here's a new episode for you to enjoy while decking the halls:
After the death of Karl August, the Swedes needed to find yet another crown prince.
Links in the comments.
After the death of Karl August, the Swedes needed to find yet another crown prince.
Links in the comments.
December 19, 2025 at 6:46 AM
The world's preparing for the Christmas break, but at Scandinavian History Podcast HQ we work as usual. To prove it, here's a new episode for you to enjoy while decking the halls:
After the death of Karl August, the Swedes needed to find yet another crown prince.
Links in the comments.
After the death of Karl August, the Swedes needed to find yet another crown prince.
Links in the comments.
In the latest episode, I talked about "the rock bottom of Swedish dishonor", namely the lynching of the marshal of the realm, Axel von Fersen, by an angry mob. This depiction is from the 1840s.
December 18, 2025 at 8:25 PM
In the latest episode, I talked about "the rock bottom of Swedish dishonor", namely the lynching of the marshal of the realm, Axel von Fersen, by an angry mob. This depiction is from the 1840s.
I bet you've been losing sleep wondering where the three towns named after ex-queen Fredrika are located. Here's a helpful map so you'll be able to find your way to Fredrika (177 inhabitants), Dorotea (1208 inhabitants) and Vilhelmina (6,188 inhabitants).
December 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I bet you've been losing sleep wondering where the three towns named after ex-queen Fredrika are located. Here's a helpful map so you'll be able to find your way to Fredrika (177 inhabitants), Dorotea (1208 inhabitants) and Vilhelmina (6,188 inhabitants).
In the latest episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast, I talked about the coup against Gustav IV Adolf and his life as ex-king in exile. In these portraits you can follow his downward trajectory: 1) as king. 2) as count of Gottorp (1811). 3) as colonel Gustavsson (1830s).
December 13, 2025 at 5:14 AM
In the latest episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast, I talked about the coup against Gustav IV Adolf and his life as ex-king in exile. In these portraits you can follow his downward trajectory: 1) as king. 2) as count of Gottorp (1811). 3) as colonel Gustavsson (1830s).
On this day, December 10, but in 1896, the Swedish engineer and inventor Alfred Nobel drew his last breath. That's why the world famous prize in his memory is handed out on this day every year.
December 10, 2025 at 9:48 AM
On this day, December 10, but in 1896, the Swedish engineer and inventor Alfred Nobel drew his last breath. That's why the world famous prize in his memory is handed out on this day every year.
In the latest episode of the SHP, crown prince Karl August died while inspecting troops.
In 1826, a memorial was erected on the site.
On 23 June 2025, large parts of the monument were destroyed in a lightning strike. When the lightning struck, parts of the monument flew as far as 30 meters.
In 1826, a memorial was erected on the site.
On 23 June 2025, large parts of the monument were destroyed in a lightning strike. When the lightning struck, parts of the monument flew as far as 30 meters.
December 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
In the latest episode of the SHP, crown prince Karl August died while inspecting troops.
In 1826, a memorial was erected on the site.
On 23 June 2025, large parts of the monument were destroyed in a lightning strike. When the lightning struck, parts of the monument flew as far as 30 meters.
In 1826, a memorial was erected on the site.
On 23 June 2025, large parts of the monument were destroyed in a lightning strike. When the lightning struck, parts of the monument flew as far as 30 meters.