"Sønner av Norge" ('Sons of Norway') is the common title of the song "Norsk Nationalsang" ('Norwegian National Song'), which was the ''de facto'' national anthem of Norway from 1820 until the early 20th century. From the mid-1860s, "

Ja, vi elsker dette landet "" (; ) is the national anthem of Norway. Originally a patriotic song, it became commonly regarded as the ''de facto'' national anthem of Norway in the early 20th century after being used alongside "" since the 1860s. It was officially adopted in ...

" ('Yes, We Love This Land') gradually came to occupy the unofficial position as national anthem, but was used alongside "Sønner af Norge" until the early 20th century, with "Sønner af Norge" being preferred in official situations.

History

The lyrics were written by

Henrik Anker Bjerregaard Henrik Anker Bjerregaard (1 January 1792 – 7 April 1842) was a Norwegian poet, dramatist and judge. Born in Ringsaker to Mads Bjerregard and Alet Ørtlien, he grew up in Vågå from the age of eight. He studied at the University of Copenhagen, ...

(1792–1842) and the melody by Christian Blom (1782–1861), after the

Royal Norwegian Society for Development The Royal Norwegian Society for Development (, also known as ''Norges Vel'' 'Norwegian Development', originally called ''Selskabet for Norges Vel'' 'Norwegian Society for Development') is a general development organization established in 1809 that ...

had announced a competition to write a national anthem for Norway in 1819. "Norsk Nationalsang" ("Sønner af Norge") was announced as the winner.''Norsk litteraturkritikks historie 1770-1940, Bind 1'', Edvard Beyer og Morten Moi, 1990,

Lyrics

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sonner av Norge Historical national anthems Norwegian anthems National symbols of Norway 1820 songs