Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Harold I

(Encyclopedia)Harold I or Harold Fairhair, Norse Harald Haarfager, c.850–c.933, first king of Norway, son of Halfdan the Black, king of Vestfold (SE Norway). After succeeding his father, Harold initiated a series...

Eidsvoll

(Encyclopedia)Eidsvoll or Eidsvold both: ātsˈvôl [key], town, Akershus co., SE Norway, near Lake Mj...

Olaf V

(Encyclopedia)Olaf V, 1903–91, king of Norway (1957–91), son and successor of Haakon VII. In 1929 he married Princess Martha of Sweden (d. 1954). Following the German invasion of Norway, Olaf took an active par...

Mjøsa

(Encyclopedia)Mjøsa myöˈsä [key], largest lake of Norway, 141 sq mi (365 sq km), and 1,453 ft (443 m) deep, on the Oppland-Hedmark border, SE Norway. It is fed by the Lågen River and is drained by the Vorma Ri...

Robin Hood

(Encyclopedia)Robin Hood, legendary hero of 12th-century England who robbed the rich to help the poor. Chivalrous, manly, fair, and always ready for a joke, Robin Hood reflected many of the ideals of the English ye...

Olaf I

(Encyclopedia)Olaf I (Olaf Tryggvason) ōˈläf trügˈväsōn [key], c.963–1000, king of Norway (995–1000), great-grandson of Harold I. His early life of exile and slavery is surrounded with romantic legend, a...

Glåma

(Encyclopedia)Glåma or Glomma both: glôˈmä [key], longest river of Norway, c.365 mi (590 km) long, rising in the highlands of Sør-Trøndelag co., SE Norway. It flows generally S past Sarpsborg (the head of nav...

Richmond and Lennox, Frances Teresa Stuart, duchess of

(Encyclopedia)Richmond and Lennox, Frances Teresa Stuart or Stewart, duchess of, 1647–1702, mistress of Charles II of England. The daughter of an exiled Scottish physician, she was educated in France and returned...

Scandinavia

(Encyclopedia)Scandinavia skănˌdĭnāˈvēə [key], region of N Europe. It consists of the kingdoms of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark; Finland and Iceland are usually considered part of Scandinavia. Physiographicall...

morris dance

(Encyclopedia)morris dance or morrice dance, rustic dance of the north of England that had its origin in country festivals, such as those of May Day and Whitsunday. Reference to it in English literature is made as ...

Browse by Subject