CHRISTIANIA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 155, 29 December 1924, Page 7

CHRISTIANIA

NAME REVERTS TO OSLO

STORY OF NORWAY'S CAPITAL.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

(ACSTEALUN-NEW ZEALAND CAELI ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 26th December.

From Ist January tho name x>f the capital of Norway (Christiania) will ie~ vert to the ancient- name Oslo.

According to tradition, which, however, historians do not accept, King Harold, founded in 1048 a town on the eastern part of the present city of Ohristiania to which he gave the name of Oslo—a name never satisfactorily explained. It is probable, however, that the town had its origin long before the eleventh century. Fo"r the first two centuries of the official existence it was under the sway of the clergy, and on the decline of their power it developed a considerable timber trade. The union of Denmark and Norway was effected in 1397. In 1,536 Lutheranism was officially introduced, and with it began the decline of the glories of Oslo. In 1567 it was burned by the Swedes during :the Seven Years' War between Sweden and the Danish-Norwegian States. It .Was again burned in 1624. Its citizens were then_ removed to the other side of tho Bjoriken, on which a town was built by King Christian IV., who called it Christiania in a Royal letter bearing date 28th September, 1624. The citizens of Oslo, however, retained their ancient privileges and their ancient coat of arms. In J. 857, when the boun-daries-of Christiania were enlarged, the old Oslo was incorporated in the 'city. The old Oslo had-never been altogether piven up, and since 1890 there has been the Oslo Court of Assizes, and since 1920 the Bishopric of Oslo.