Fritz Wedel Jarlsberg
Fredrik "Fritz" Hartvig Herman (Baron ) Wedel Jarlsberg (* July 7, 1855 in Kristiania, † July 27, 1942 in Lisbon ) was a Norwegian jurist and diplomat. Wedel Jarlsberg began his career during the Swedish - Norwegian union, which resolution in 1905, he played a key role. He is regarded as Norway's most important diplomat in the first third of the 20th century; among other things, he was offered three times the post of foreign minister.
Life
Jarlsberg was the son of Lord Chamberlain, Lord Chamberlain and Baron Frederik (Fritz) Joachim Wedel Jarlsberg ( 1819-1880 ) and the Grand Mistress Baroness Juliane Wilhelmine Katharina Wedel Jarlsberg ( 1818-1872 ). Like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he was baptized in the name of Fredrik, but called Fritz. The title of baron of his family had been abolished in Norway before he was born, but not in Denmark; Wedel Jarlsberg therefore led him on. He married on February 1, 1883 Alice Louise Thekla von Wagner ( 1861-1913 ) and after the death of his first wife in 1916 Baroness Mary André, born Palmer ( 1859-1941 ).
After studying law, he in 1879 as cand jur. completed, followed by a long career in the diplomatic service Sweden Norway and later in Norway. Wedel Jarlsberg 1879 embassy attaché in Madrid, worked from 1882 to 1884 as Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, in 1885, secretary of legation in Vienna and the following year in London, where he was appointed in 1889 to the charge d'affaires. From 1891 to 1897 he was ambassador in Madrid, from 1902 in Lisbon and in 1905 in Copenhagen. After dissolution of the Union, he was in 1906 the first Norwegian ambassador in Madrid and Lisbon ( until 1921 ) and Paris ( until 1930).
On the occasion of the wedding of the then Crown Prince and later King Olav V in 1929, Wedel Jarlsberg gave him his property Skaugum. After a long time it was assumed that it was a wedding gift, 2009, it was announced that the then King Haakon VII had paid 120,000 crowns for the estate. However, it had an estimated value of 550,000 crowns ..
Dissolution of the Swedish - Norwegian Union
After the declaration of independence of Norway on June 7, 1905 Wedel Jarlsberg retired from the diplomatic service of Sweden and turned the government of Christian Michelsen available, which sent him to Copenhagen. During the negotiations on the Treaty of Karlstad, he worked on the intervention of the Great Powers towards the event that the negotiations should fail. Wedel Jarlsberg also played a key role in the negotiations with Prince Carl of Denmark, who should ascend the Norwegian throne, and used, without official diplomatic status, his international contacts to provide the independent Norway recognition.
Spitsbergen Treaty
Wedel Jarlsberg was chief negotiator in the drafting of the Spitsbergen Treaty in Paris in 1920. This contract was awarded Norway sovereignty over the Svalbard Islands. Wedel Jarlsberg Land, southwest of the island of Spitsbergen is therefore named after him.
Awards
Wedel Jarlsberg in 1892 Knight of the Order of St. Olav, 1896 Commander 1st class and 1904 was awarded the Grand Cross. In 1925 it was the highest level, the Grand Cross with chain of orders awarded. He was the owner of the King Medal of 1906 and the " Kong Haakon VII's jubileumsmedalje 1905-1930 ".
He also received a number of foreign orders:
- Grand Cross of the Danish Dannebrogordens
- Knight 1st Class of the Order of the Lion Zähringerplatz
- Grand Cross of the French Legion of Honour
- Grand Cross of the Portuguese Order of Our Lady of Villa Viçosa
- Grand Cross of the Portuguese Order of Christ
- Grand Cross with Star of the Portuguese Tower and Sword Order
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Order of Charles III.
- Grand Cross of the Spanish Isabella the Catholic
- Commander 1st Class of the Swedish Order of the North Star
- Right knight of the Prussian Order of St. John
- Austrian Order of the Iron Crown, 3rd Class