The Chancellor of Norway (modern Norwegian: Norges rikes kansler, "Chancellor of Norway's Realm") was the most important aide of the King of Norway during the Middle Ages, and during the Union with Denmark. He issued laws and regulations, and was responsible for day-to-day administration of the kingdom. From 1270, the Chancellor resided in Bergen. Haakon V of Norway moved the Chancellor's residence to Oslo; on 31 August 1314 the provost of St Mary's Church became Chancellor on a permanent basis. He was given the Great Seal of the Realm "for eternity." The Chancellors were originally chosen from the clergy but after 1542 the position was given to people from the nobility. The position lost its importance after Jens Bjelke's tenure, and was abolished in 1679.
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Chancellors of Norway
Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)
Askatin, 1266–??
Torer Håkonsson, until 1276
Orm Merkesmann, 1276–1280
Bjarne Lodinsson, 1280–99?
Bård Bartholomoeus Serksson, 1299?–1305?
Åke chancellor, 1299?–1314
Ivar Olavsson, 1314–19
Pål Bårdsson, 1327−1333
Arne Aslaksson, 1344–??
Peter Eiriksson, 1351?−1370
Pål Eriksson,
Henrik Henriksson, 1382−1388
Henrik Vinaldsson, late 14th century
Kalmar Union
Arne Sigurdsson, 1389−1402
Jakob Knutson, 1407−1420
Jens Jakobssøn Blik, 1420–1439
Andres Laurensson Mus, 1439−?
Sigurd Bjørnsson, 1441
Gunnar Holk, 1439?–48
Ivar Vikingsson, 1453–85
Bo Pederson Fleming 1485–1491
Erik Walkendorf, 1505-10
Mattis Hvørf, 1520–21
Hans Olsson, 1522–23
Mattis Hvørf, 1524–32
Denmark-Norway
Morten Krabbe (Nilsson), 1532–42
Peder Huitfeldt, 1547–65
Oluf Kalips (Pedersson), 1565–67
Johan Venstermand, 1567–72
Hans Pederssøn Litle (Basse), 23 June 1592 – 1602
Anders Lauritsson Green (Anders Lauritsson of Sundsby), 24 July 1604 – 1614
Jens Bjelke, 1614–59
Ove Bjelke, 8 December 1660–74
Johan Frederik von Marschalck, 1674–1679