History of Ari Behn in Timeline

Ari Mikael Behn was a Norwegian author, playwright, and visual artist. He was married to Princess Märtha Louise of Norway from 2002 to 2017, but held no royal title and remained a private citizen. He was known for his literary and artistic works rather than his royal connections.

1933: Birth of Terje Erling Ingebrigtsen

Terje Erling Ingebrigtsen, Ari Behn's biological grandfather, was born in 1933.

1952: Birth of Olav Bjørshol

Olav Bjørshol, Ari Behn's father, was born in 1952.

1953: Birth of Marianne Rafaela Solberg

Marianne Rafaela Solberg, Ari Behn's mother, was born in 1953.

1971: Birth of Princess Märtha Louise

Princess Märtha Louise, Ari Behn's future wife, was born in 1971. She is the eldest child of Harald V of Norway.

September 1972: Birth of Ari Behn

Ari Mikael Behn was born in Aarhus, Denmark, in September 1972. He was originally named Ari Mikael Bjørshol.

1972: Birth of Ari Behn

Ari Mikael Behn was born in 1972 in Aarhus, Denmark, to Norwegian parents Olav Bjørshol and Marianne Rafaela Solberg.

1973: Marriage of Behn's Parents

In 1973, Olav Bjørshol and Marianne Rafaela Solberg, Ari Behn's parents, got married.

1977: Family Moves to Tennevoll

In 1977, Ari Behn's family moved to Tennevoll in Northern Norway, where his mother worked as a teacher.

1978: Family Settles in Moss

In 1978, Ari Behn's family settled in Moss, South Norway, after moving from Tennevoll.

1979: Attended Waldorf School

In 1979, Ari Behn attended the Waldorf School in Moss, continuing the family's connection to Waldorf education.

1983: Parents' Divorce

In 1983, Ari Behn's parents divorced and subsequently married a couple who had been among their friends, Jan Pahle and Tone Bjerke.

1990: Change in Norwegian Succession Law

In 1990, Norway changed its agnatic primogeniture succession law, allowing Princess Märtha Louise to be second in line to the throne after her younger brother.

1993: Founding of Den Nye Vinen

In 1993, Ari Behn co-founded Den Nye Vinen ("The New Wine"), an anarchist artist collective in Oslo.

1996: Name Change to Ari Behn

In 1996, Ari Behn changed his name from Mikael Bjørshol to Ari Behn by adopting his maternal grandmother's maiden name.

1999: Publication of Trist som faen

Ari Behn achieved literary success with his short story collection Trist som faen ("Sad as hell") in 1999. The book received favorable reviews and remains his best-known work.

2001: Public Challenge to a Duel

In 2001, Ari Behn challenged critic Kjetil Rolness to a duel using either a pistol or a sword, garnering significant attention.

May 2002: Marriage to Princess Märtha Louise

On 24 May 2002, Ari Behn married Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, who led an alternative therapy center known as the 'angel school.'

2002: Creative Projects Post-Marriage

After marrying Princess Märtha Louise in 2002, Ari Behn wrote several novels and short stories and was involved in various artistic projects, including designing a china set named "Peacock."

2002: Public Ridicule and Criticism

In 2002, Ari Behn continued to face public ridicule, with figures like Ole Paus using derogatory nicknames for him. He was often criticized for his behavior and public feuds.

2002: TV Documentary on Afghanistan War

In 2002, Ari Behn made a critical documentary on the Afghanistan War titled Øst for krigen – invitert av Taliban ("East of the war – invited by the Taliban").

2002: Marriage to Princess Märtha Louise

In 2002, Ari Behn married Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, which brought him into the public eye. Despite the royal connection, he held no title or special status.

2003: Birth of Maud Angelica Behn

In 2003, Ari Behn and Princess Märtha Louise had their first daughter, Maud Angelica Behn.

2004: Appearance in Comedy Films

In 2004, Ari Behn appeared in the comedy film Team Antonsen, showcasing his versatility as an artist.

2005: Birth of Leah Isadora Behn

In 2005, Ari Behn and Princess Märtha Louise had their second daughter, Leah Isadora Behn.

2006: Appearance in Comedy Films

In 2006, Ari Behn appeared in the comedy film Long Flat Balls, furthering his involvement in the entertainment industry.

2006: Political Views Spark Controversy

In 2006, Behn's revelation that he supported the Norwegian Labour Party led to public criticism, particularly his friendship with Labour leader Trond Giske.

2007: Alleged Incident with Kevin Spacey

Behn revealed that in 2007, during an afterparty for the Nobel Peace Prize concert, he experienced an unwanted encounter with actor Kevin Spacey. He described the incident publicly later, although not characterizing it as assault.

2007: Parents Remarry Each Other

In 2007, after divorcing their respective partners, Ari Behn's parents remarried each other.

2008: Birth of Emma Tallulah Behn

In 2008, Ari Behn and Princess Märtha Louise had their third daughter, Emma Tallulah Behn.

January 2009: Public Dispute with Former Palace Official

In January 2009, Behn engaged in a very public disagreement with Carl-Erik Grimstad, a former palace official, accusing him of spreading rumors about Behn and his family. This sparked significant media coverage.

2009: Publicly Discusses Mental Health

In 2009, Behn gave an interview where he spoke candidly about experiencing chronic depression and loneliness.

2009: Discovery of Biological Grandfather

In 2009, it was revealed that Ari Behn's de jure paternal grandfather was not his biological grandfather. Behn's father met his biological father, Terje Erling Ingebrigtsen, who passed away the same year.

2011: Co-hosted TV Series Ari og Per

In 2011, Ari Behn co-hosted the award-winning TV series Ari og Per on NRK with his friend Per Heimly. The show was noted for their authentic and vulnerable participation.

2011: Debut of First Play

In 2011, Ari Behn debuted his first play, Treningstimen ("The Training Hour"). The play received mixed reviews but was noted for a standing ovation on opening night.

2013: Active as a Visual Artist

From 2013 until his death in 2019, Ari Behn was active as a visual artist, inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat. His work achieved commercial success and was exhibited internationally.

2013: TV Program with Per Heimly

In 2013, Ari Behn and Per Heimly appeared together on the TV program 'Ari and Per Solve World Problems' on TVNorge.

August 2016: Divorce Proceedings Announcement

In August 2016, the Royal Court announced that Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn had started divorce proceedings and planned to share custody of their three daughters.

December 2017: Public Statement About Kevin Spacey Incident

In December 2017, Behn publicly shared an incident where actor Kevin Spacey allegedly touched him inappropriately at a Nobel Peace Prize event in 2007. However, Behn stated he didn't consider it harassment and saw it as a compliment.

2017: Divorce from Princess Märtha Louise

Ari Behn and Princess Märtha Louise were divorced in 2017.

2017: International Art Exhibitions

In 2017, Ari Behn's artwork was exhibited internationally. His neo-expressionist paintings received mixed reactions but found commercial success.

2018: Publication of Inferno

In 2018, Ari Behn published Inferno, a book detailing the aftermath of his divorce and his struggles with mental health.

2018: Commercial Success as a Painter

In 2018, Ari Behn sold paintings worth 5.7 million NOK. He also exhibited his work at Gabba Gallery's exhibit Borderless: Scandinavia in Los Angeles.

2018: Controversial Documentary Series Airs

In 2018, TV3 aired a three-part documentary series titled "Ari Behn og halve kongeriket" about Ari Behn, despite his and his family's disapproval and requests to stop its release. The series focused on a challenging period in his life.

December 2019: Death by Suicide

Ari Behn died by suicide at his home in Lommedalen on December 25, 2019. He had been open about his struggles with mental health, including depression, and alcoholism.