A lifelong lover of history, I have adored researching Norway’s past for Beneath the Earth and Woods. And considering how my book’s fictional Crown Prince is a major character in my series, the most significant topic to research was that of Norway’s monarchy. A subject that gave me quite a bit of wiggle room in terms of creativity, as Norway did not have its own monarchy for almost 400 years.

While an independent monarchy for centuries prior, in 1397 Norway joined into the Kalmar Union with Sweden and Denmark. The three nations remained under the union (and under the rule of one monarch) from 1397 until Sweden’s departure in 1523. Denmark and Norway proceeded to form a personal union, which officially developed into Denmark-Norway in 1537—with both countries being ruled by Danish royalty.

Three hundred years later, in 1814, the Napoleonic Wars raged across Europe. Upon Napoleon’s defeat, Denmark was forced to cede Norway to Sweden. This sparked a Norwegian independence movement, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Norway remained under Swedish rule until 1905, when they finally regained their independence and their own monarchy.

Considering all of this, I knew there was only one way I could set my fairy tale retelling in Norway and give Sigrid her Norwegian prince: I’d have to create an alternate timeline in history—one in which Norway has an independent monarchy by 1809.

An intimidating, but exciting, prospect for me. And one that I’ve been trying to handle with as much care and respect as possible. The easiest way I could think of giving Norway an independent monarchy was to push their 1814 fight for independence back a few hundred years, and turn it from a failure into a success.

The 1397 Kalmar Union was kept in place for my alternate history, as was the formation of Denmark-Norway in 1537. However, in the 1650s, I deviate from real history by having Norway ignite a war of independence against Denmark—one that they win. Leading the Norwegians in this alternate 1650s war of independence is the fictional Erling Sigurdsson.

Erling is connected to the Norwegian monarchy by being a descendent of a real Norwegian king: Haakon IV, who reigned from 1217 to 1263. This gives Erling a legitimate claim to the throne, which he ascends to after winning the war of independence. Erling’s descendants rule Norway for the following 150 years, and continue to sit on the throne during the events of Beneath the Earth and Woods, making the Crown Prince in my book a direct descendent of both Erling and Haakon IV.

With this alternate history set in place, Norway now has an independent monarchy in Beneath the Earth and Woods—giving our Crown Prince his Norwegian throne to ascend to.