The Kingdom would regain its independence at the turn of the 20th century and would regain its former prosperity becoming one of the most successful economies today - owing largely to the fact of its independence from the European Union and its exorbitant natural oil reserves. Its dominance would be short-lived, however, as Norway would be devastated by the Bubonic Plague and then the rise of the Hanseatic League, and would spend the next seven centuries under the sovereignty of Denmark and then Sweden. As audacious Vikings and explorers, and then hardened Christian warriors and traders, Norway rose to prominence in the 13th century, colonizing as far as Greenland and Iceland, and bringing inspiration to her nordic brothers.
Amongst the great powers of Scandinavia, Norway was decisively the first.
