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.
1996: Name Change to Ari Behn
In 1996, Ari Behn changed his name from Mikael Bjørshol to Ari Behn, 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.
1999: Publication of Trist som faen
In 1999, Ari Behn published his successful short story collection Trist som faen ("Sad as hell"), which received favorable reviews and sold over 100,000 copies.
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: Creative Projects Post-Marriage
In 2002, Ari Behn collaborated with his wife, Princess Märtha Louise, on a book about their wedding and engaged in various creative 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: Parents Remarry Each Other
In 2007, after divorcing their respective partners, Ari Behn's parents remarried each other.
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.
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: Active as a Visual Artist
From 2013 until his death, Ari Behn was active as a visual artist. His work, inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat, was widely 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: International Art Exhibitions
Since 2017, Ari Behn's artwork has been shown in over 60 international galleries, solidifying his status as an accomplished visual artist.
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.
2017: Divorce from Princess Märtha Louise
Ari Behn's marriage to Princess Märtha Louise ended in 2017. They had been married since 2002.
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.
December 2019: Death of Ari Behn
Ari Behn passed away on 25 December 2019, marking the end of his life and career as a Norwegian author, playwright, and visual artist.
2019: Ari Behn's Death
Ari Behn passed away in 2019, bringing an end to his multifaceted career as an author, playwright, and visual artist.
January 2020: Funeral at Oslo Cathedral
Ari Behn's funeral, attended by members of the royal family and the public, was held on January 3, 2020, at Oslo Cathedral.
2020: Sales of Trist som faen
By 2020, Ari Behn's book Trist som faen had sold nearly 100,000 copies since its publication in 1999, demonstrating its enduring popularity.