The first king of independent Norway was Christian Frederick, who was more like a placeholder until the real king arrived. Then came Charles III John, a Swedish prince who became the king of Norway and Sweden - talk about a conflict of interest! He was all about modernizing the country, but also loved to splash out on fancy buildings and roads.
Charles III John might have been a bit of a party animal, but he also established the University of Oslo, which is still one of the best universities in Norway today. His legacy is a mix of good and not-so-good, but hey, at least he tried! After his death, his son Oscar I took over and continued the modernization of Norway.
