This page was last edited on 9 April 2023, at 11:48. This government continued with free market policies, privatising two commercial banks and the state-owned telecom Landssminn. And this was done while customers were . In 930, the ruling chiefs established a republican constitution and an assembly called the Althingthe oldest parliament in the world. When Danish adventurer Jrgen Jrgensen declared himself King of Iceland for a few days in summer 1809 (the dog days), he posted an announcement on the streets . Iceland also traded significantly with the United Kingdom during the war, as Iceland found itself within its sphere of influence. But was Iceland ever at threat from the Axis powers in the first place? This five-part medieval manuscript tells the story of the Norsemen discovering and settling the country in the 9th and 10th centuries. Jon Sigurosson bravely led a group of Icelandic intellectuals towards an independence movement, recreating an autonomous Icelandic government. "[48][49] Iceland repeatedly threatened to leave NATO or cancel the US defence agreement during the Cold War, which is one reason why the United States went to great lengths to please the Icelanders. How do Icelanders treat the LGBTQ community? How Hard Is It To Speak The Icelandic Language? This became known as astandio, or Te Situation, where women found to be engaging sexually with foreign troops were accused of prostitution and treasonous activity. He was later killed by his slaves after settling at Mount Hjorleifshofoi, just east of modern-day Vik. Iceland became a charter member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on 30 March 1949, with the reservation that it would never take part in offensive action against another nation. Every day, it seems this city, country, and population are changing. [17], An illicit trade continued with foreigners after the Danes implemented a trade monopoly. By the end of the 10th century, the Norwegians were forced by their king, Olaf I Tryggvason, to accept Christianity. [34], The occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany began on 9 April 1940, severing communications between Iceland and Denmark. In the 13th century, a civil war known as the Age of the Sturlungs gripped Iceland. Within a century, it's thought that Iceland was entirely deforested. Iceland finally became a republic on June 17, 1944, when 97 percent of voting Icelanders opted in favor of independence from Denmark. 989 fought for Canada, whereas 256 fought for the United States. Of course, history from so long ago is far from exact. Two days after, Operation Valentine saw the British invade the neighboring Faroe Islands. Read on to find out all you n What's the gay scene like in Iceland? By A.D. 930, it's thought that all arable land in the country had been settled. This vote occurred only four years after Denmark had succumbed to the invading German army. British cleric, Gilbert White, wrote of the period: All the time, the heat was so intense that butchers meat could hardly be eaten on the day after it was killed, and the flies swarmed so in the lanes and hedges that they rendered the horses half frantic, and riding irksome. Saw several broods of ducklings.. Codification of the law was begun in 111718. [15] The end of the Icelandic Commonwealth is typically dated to the signing of the Old Covenant (12621264) or to the adoption of Jnsbk in 1281. Unlike many Nordic countries, there are no indigenous people of Iceland. Tourism has been the saving grace of the Icelandic economy, which was in freefall during the 2008-2011 banking crisis. From an 18th century manuscript of an Icelandic saga about King Gylfi. Although Iceland was neutral in the Second World War, the United Kingdom invaded and peacefully occupied it in 1940 to forestall a Nazi occupation, after Denmark was overrun by the German Wehrmacht. On the other hand, there was no central authority to ensure that the farmers would be able to exercise their right in a democratic way. This is just one example of the level of detail found in these medieval sources. During this time, the population declined. For example, the Icelandic flag was ratified by law in 1944. What once resembled an overgrown Scandinavian village has given way to the hurried construction of luxury hotels, visitor centers, and tourist stops. Upon arriving at the German consulate, British forces were relieved to find no resistance. History. [67] In September 2017, the 9-month-old center-right coalition of Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson, leader of the Independence Party, collapsed after one party, a small centrist Bright Future, left the government. Most of the settlers came from Norway, but some came from other Nordic countries and from the Norse Viking Age settlements in the British Isles. The Norwegian monarchy dates back more than one thousand years. [68] However, the ruling centre-right parties lost their majority after a tight 2017 election. After deliberating for one day and one night under a fur blanket, Thorgeir finally concluded that Iceland should adopt a new faith. Floods, ash, and fumes killed 9,000 people and 80% of the livestock. Iceland was settled in the late 9th and early 10th centuries, principally by people of Norwegian and other Scandinavian origin. Next, dive headfirst into the world of Norse mythology, where you'll get to know the likes of Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, and more. [15] In particular, it took stronger actions to stop the involvement of English traders with Iceland. This period is referred to therefore as the jveldisld or goaveldisld (National or Chieftain State) period by Icelandic authors, and the Old Commonwealth or Freestate by English ones. However, a new national consciousness was revived in Iceland, inspired by romantic nationalist ideas from continental Europe. The next decade of significant interest in Iceland is the 1980s. [17] The Germans did not engage in much fishing themselves, but they owned fishing boats, rented them to Icelanders and then bought the fish from Icelandic fishermen to export to the European Continent. Iceland's resultant poverty was aggravated by severe natural disasters like the Muharindin or "Mist Hardships". While Iceland was abundant with specific resources such as poultry, cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, and fish, the people still lacked many of lifes essentials and luxuries. The Royal Navy was sent to the contested waters in the last three Cod Wars, leading to highly publicized clashes. Norwegian chieftains followed Ingolfur en masse through the next few decades to escape the heavy-handed King Harald of Norway, and in about 60 years, Iceland was fully settled. Nonetheless, the Christian clergy had unique opportunities to accumulate wealth via the tithe, and power gradually shifted to ecclesiastical authorities as Iceland's two bishops in Sklholt and Hlar acquired land at the expense of the old chieftains. In 1874, a thousand years after the first acknowledged settlement, Denmark granted Iceland a constitution and home rule, which again was expanded in 1904. This agreement, signed on 5 May 1951, was the authority for the controversial U.S. military presence in Iceland, which remained until 2006. Icelanders began to trade for grain from continental Europe, which was an expensive proposition. Iceland continues to remain outside the European Union. Even though Iceland remained under Danish rule, the Icelandic 'Althing' was restored in 1845 as a national consultative assembly, and in 1874 the country obtained a constitution giving the Althing its own legislative power. While his uncle is more famed as a saga writer, Sturla would make a name for himself, aggressively warring with rival clans who refused to accept they were subject to the Norwegian monarch. Are you wondering how the country's geography, climate, and position in the world affected its development, and what were some of the most positive and negative chapters in Iceland's history? [15], English and German merchants became more prominent in Iceland at the start of the 15th century. By the tenth century, political pressure from Europe to convert to Christianity mounted. Some of the Irish and Scots were slaves and servants of the Norse chiefs, according to the sagas of Icelanders, the Landnmabk, and other documents. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Oxyman. On 31 December 1943, the Act of Union agreement expired after 25 years. This ultimately unsuccessful meeting of mindsthe issues would, thankfully be resolved in the next yeartook place at Hofoi House, marking a new era. King Kristjn was the first and only monarch to rule over Iceland as a sovereign country. Holidaymakers, business people, artists, musicians, students, job-seekersin recent decades, all types have found Iceland to be a land of plentiful opportunity. The son of Erik the Red, Leif Erikson is credited with being the first Viking to lead a group of warriors to the new world, specifically Newfoundland in Canada, at the start of the 10 th century. He then sailed along the coast until the pillars were found in the southwestern peninsula, now known as Reykjanesskagi. In 1220, Snorri Sturluson became a vassal of Haakon IV of Norway; his nephew Sturla Sighvatsson also became a vassal in 1235. According to stipulations in the 1918 DanishIcelandic Act of Union, the two countries would maintain strong ties, with Iceland still falling under the territorial dominion of the Danish Monarchy. [20] Iceland established its own flag. The United States closed the Keflavk Air Base in September 2006. This subjection to the monarchy was later abolished in the same year, and complete autonomy was granted, with Sveinn Bjornsson serving as the first President of the Republic of Iceland. By the end of the settlement period, a general Icelandic assembly, called the Althing, had been established and was held at midsummer on a site that came to be called Thingvellir. Iceland enjoyed a mostly uninterrupted period of growth in its commonwealth years. [43] Iceland became an independent republic on 17 June 1944, with Sveinn Bjrnsson as its first president. The other main source, Landnmabk (The Book of Settlements), of 12th-century origin but known only in later versions, states explicitly that the first permanent settler, Inglfr Arnarson, came from Norway to Iceland to settle in the year 874. Although U.S. forces no longer maintain a military presence in Iceland, the U.S. still assumes responsibility over the country's defense through NATO. You'll be privy to the thrilling adventures, epic battles, and divine mischief that made these gods the stuff of legends. England provided early Icelanders with wheat, tin, honey, and barley, while Russia and the East Baltic region offered up amber and slaves in equal measure. In Norway royal power gained strength in the early 13th century when the king set out to unite all Norwegian Viking Age settlements under his reign. [39][40], The occupation of Iceland by the British and the Americans proved to be an economic boom, as the occupiers injected money into the Icelandic economy and launched various projects. However, when Olaf Tryggvason ascended the Norwegian throne in A.D. 995, he decided to focus his efforts on converting those under his rule. Following the Second World War, Iceland was a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and joined the United Nations one year after its establishment. So too is the American influence that still lingers in Icelandeven now, it's clear that this is a country of hot dog lovers, cinephiles, rock n roll musicians, and revolutionaries. According to traditions current in Norway and Iceland in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, he reigned from c. 872 to 930 and was the first King of Norway. There was no king of Iceland at the time Leif went on his journey. What was it Dorothy said? [41] Despite this, the relationship with the United States was contentious in Icelandic domestic politics, leaving some scholars to describe Iceland as a "rebellious ally" and "reluctant ally. Though less consequential, there have been countless other eruptions and earthquakes over the years. This created a dramatic deficit in Iceland's trade. During the course of the 19th century, Icelanders strove for emancipation from Denmark, and gradually the country achieved greater independence. Born in Iceland around A.D. 970, Erikson sailed to Norway around A.D. 1000 . Iceland has also been utilizing its resources for green energy production and has built numerous geothermal power plants and dams for hydroelectric power stations. [22][23][24], Iceland was part of neutral Denmark during the war. With the introduction of absolute monarchy in DenmarkNorway in 1660 under Frederick III of Denmark, the Icelanders relinquished their autonomy to the crown, including the right to initiate and consent to legislation. Swedish sailor Garar Svavarsson also accidentally drifted to the coast of Iceland. The first Viking to visit Iceland was Gardar the Swede, who in c . Until the 14th century, traditional Viking longhouses were built by the first inhabitants of Iceland. This is in itself a strange dichotomy considering the eruption also resulted in the cancellation of 107,000 flights. Corporate income tax was reduced to 18% (from around 50% at the beginning of the decade), inheritance tax was greatly reduced, and the net wealth tax was abolished. There was little fear such an operation could fail. This government set in motion market liberalisation policies, privatising a number of state-owned companies. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. The last glacial period, commonly referred to as The Ice Age is thought to have begun about 110,000 years ago and ended about 10,000 years ago. Iceland, first discovered by Vikings ca. Literate Christian culture also transformed lay life. Iceland became a Christian nation in the year 1000 CE, when Christianity became the religion by law. [69] On 30 November 2017, Katrn Jakobsdttir became Iceland's new prime minister despite the fact her party, Left-Green Movement, came second in the election - behind the Independence Party. However, Iceland shared the Danish Monarchy until World War II. This should come as little surprise; after all, Icelandic society might be moving rapidly, but the countrys strategic positioning above the Atlantic is as important today as it ever has been. There was some agriculture, but grain was always imported. From around the year 793 to 1066, Norsemen used rivers and oceans to explore Europe for trading, raiding and conquest. Archaeological finds also support the documentary evidence and place Iceland among Norse Viking Age settlements of the late 9th or early 10th century. He chose as his homestead a site that he named Reykjavk, which he farmed with his wife, Hallveig Frdadttir. In October 1946, the Icelandic and United States governments agreed to terminate U.S. responsibility for the defense of Iceland, but the United States retained certain rights at Keflavk, such as the right to re-establish a military presence there, should war threaten. Opposition to the reformation ended in 1550 when Jn Arason was captured after being defeated in the Battle of Sauafell by loyalist forces under the leadership of Dai Gumundsson. Ari orgilsson's slendingabk is generally considered more reliable as a source and is probably somewhat older, but it is far less thorough. He set about conquering the various petty kingdoms in Norway throughout his early youth through a series of battles and was crowned King of Norway by the time he was 20. In 2016, it was reported that the United States was considering re-opening the base.[58]. The country proved to be well suited for sheep and cattle, and both were raised for meat and milk. Ingolfur Arnarson is credited as Icelands first permanent settler, though he also arrived at the island with his brother-in-law, Hjorleifr Hroomarsson. The history of Iceland is rich with legend and lore, ranging from the first settlement that was established here over a thousand years ago to the prosperous, liberal, and modern Scandinavian nation that it is today. In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, the First King is said to have led the First Men across the Arm of Dorne in their . I have first-hand experience and comprehensive insight into the contemporary challenges of healthcare provision within the UK and overseas (USA, Iceland, Denmark and Haiti). Only a few decades before that, it had become subject to the modernism that followed World War IIthe theaters, the restaurants, the museums, and the bars. [71], After the 2021 parliamentary election, the new government was, just like the previous government, a tri-party coalition of the Independence Party, the Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement, headed by Prime Minister Katrn Jakobsdttir.[72]. Following him, a Swede named Gardar Svavarsson . The incorporation of Iceland into the Norwegian Realm", "Politics and Courtly Culture in Iceland, 12001700", "What Did They Eat? [17] The trade has been credited with raising Icelandic living standards. The First King was a legendary figure who lived during the Dawn Age. As legend has it, Ingolfur threw overboard two carved pillars and pledged to settle wherever they landed. As of 2017, it's again the intention of the U.S. military to build a modern airbase on the Reykjanes Peninsula. After the end of the Kalmar Union, the royal government asserted greater control of Iceland. This magma pocket is known as the Iceland Plume. Jhannesson Reelected President", "Gunnar Karlsson. According to the Landnmabk, the first settler in Iceland was Naddodd the Viking (c. 830 CE) who discovered Iceland when he was blown off course en route to the Faeroe Islands. [30][31] It has been argued that the thirst for news of the war helped Morgunblai to gain a dominant position among Icelandic newspapers. Widespread protests in late 2008 and early 2009 resulted in the resignation of the Haarde government,[60] which was replaced on 1 February 2009 by a coalition government led by the Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Green Movement. Jn J. Ails' 1915 text, slandssaga (A History of Iceland) uses ten periods: In another of Gunnar's books, Iceland's 1100 Years (2000), Icelandic history is divided into four periods: These are based mainly on forms of government, except for the last which reflects mechanisation of the fishing industry.[73]. Queen. Sverrir Jakobsson. Danish King Christian X sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people. Did you learn anything new? Gissur did much to push the Kings efforts, and finally, in 1262, the Gamli Sattmali or Old Covenant was signed. Though he was not the first Viking to set foot on the land. On May 6, British prime minister Winston Churchill made a case to the war cabinet that building military bases in Iceland was essential in preemptively denying the country to Axis forces. Parodying the evil character in the 'It' movie, the campaign urged McDonald's customers to escape the chain's clown mascot, Ronald McDonald. According to the Landnmabk, he threw two carved pillars (ndvegisslur) overboard as he neared land, vowing to settle wherever they landed. Much of the information on Inglfr comes from the Landnmabk, written some three centuries after the settlement. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Furfur. Which mountainsare the most beautiful mountains in Iceland, where are they located and what kind of mountains can you find in Iceland? The only European of his time whose achievements in discovery match his, is his father, Erik the Red . However, Iceland became more isolated during World War I and suffered a significant decline in living standards. Sverre Bagge, Michael H. Gelting, Frode Hervik, Thomas Lindkvist & Bjrn Poulsen (Oslo 2012), 10118. Social Democrat minister Jhanna Sigurardttir was appointed Prime Minister, becoming the world's first openly homosexual head of government of the modern era. Iceland joined the European Economic Area in 1994, thus strengthening its position on the international financiers stage. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for The English Dane: From King of Iceland to Tasmanian Convict: A S at the best online prices at eBay! As a dependency of Norway, Iceland came under the Danish-Norwegian Crown in 1380 and was in reality a Danish dependency from 1660. According to the same account, the Irish monks abandoned the country when the Norse arrived or had left prior to their arrival. Before the long period of growth, Iceland would soon experience, the settlement had grown so large that a new legislative body was in order; the ruling chiefs, therefore, established the Althingi, which is believed by many to be the worlds oldest nation-wide parliament. Snorri Sturluson was the chieftain of the Sturlung clan and a vassal of the Norwegian king, as was Snorris nephew, Sturla Sighvatsson. Flki settled for one winter at Barastrnd. Home rule was introduced in 1904, and in 1918 Iceland became an independent and sovereign state in personal union with Denmark. The Book of Settlements then enumerates more than 400 settlers who sailed with their families, servants, and slaves to Iceland to stake claims to land. Following a constitutional referendum between 20 and 23 May 1944, Iceland formally became an independent republic on 17 June 1944. But who were the first Icelanders and where did they from? Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by army.mil. Beginning on 20 May 1944, Icelanders voted in a four-day plebiscite on whether to terminate the personal union with the King of Denmark and establish a republic. The sheep also yielded wool, and homespun cloth became the chief export. The vote was 97% in favour of ending the union and 95% in favour of the new republican constitution. Learn about the most famous waterfalls in Iceland, the best waterfalls to visit, and the stories behind them. From left, Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark; Finland president Tarja Halonen; King Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden; Queen Sonja and King Harald of Norway; and First Lady of Iceland Dorrit Mousaieff and president of Iceland . One theory suggests that those monks were members of a Hiberno-Scottish mission, Irish and Scottish monks who spread Christianity during the Middle Ages. The first people to settle in Iceland were probably Irish monks who came in the 8th century. Britain and the U.S. opened direct diplomatic relations, as did Sweden and Norway. A large magma pocket sits beneath the island and is thought to have been the catalyst that started this process. In the years preceding and immediately after independence, a wave of Icelandic nationalism had begun to find its footing in the Icelandic psyche, a cultural invention rooted mainly in the sagas. Gunnar's own book A Brief History of Iceland (2010) has 33 chapters with considerable overlap in dates. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by USMC Archives. Following rapid financial growth, the 200811 Icelandic financial crisis occurred. This past week, and the two prior to it, more poison fell from the sky than words can describe: ash, volcanic hairs, rain full of sulfur and saltpeter, all of it mixed with sand. Leif the Lucky, born c. 970 AD, was one of Iceland's most incredible explorers. 860 set out on a voyage from Denmark, where he had made his home, to the Hebrides, to claim some land his wife had inherited. It has been suggested that the land called Thule by the Greek geographer Pytheas (fourth century BC) was actually Iceland, although it seems highly unlikely considering Pytheas' description of it as an agricultural country with plenty of milk, honey, and fruit:[8] The name is more likely to have referred to Norway, or possibly the Faroe Islands or Shetland. [22][23] The treasury became highly indebted, and there was a shortage of food and fears over an imminent famine. In the 9th century, Norsemen went to live in Iceland. The . Given that Nazi Germany still occupied Denmark in 1944, many Danes felt it inappropriate to hold such an election. Greek and Roman literature mentions the land of Thule, and some have speculated this may have referred to Iceland. Its origins are thought to lie over 6,500 feet (2,000 meters) inside the Earths mantle. The Old Covenant (12621264), and the adoption of Jnsbk (1281) effectively ended the Icelandic Commonwealth. No edits made. By the 1930s the consensus in Iceland was to seek complete independence by 1944 at the latest. Quintessential Icelandic streets such as Laekjargata and Laugavegur no longer resemble anything they once were. In 1843, a new Althing was founded as a consultative assembly. The monk Dicuil wrote in the second half of the 8th century about clerics who had lived on the island. Harald Fairhair, regarded as the first Norwegian king, united the petty kingships of Norway into a single realm in about 885. Settlements from that era have been found in southwest Greenland and eastern Canada, and sagas such as Saga of Erik the Red and Greenland saga speak of the settlers' exploits. Was there a particular chapter in history you'd like to know more about? Given its staggering age, the Landnamabok provides incredible detail regarding this period, presenting over 1,400 settlements and 3,000 characters, anecdotal tales, family trees, and stories of the Norse Pantheon. In any case, no trace of democratic practice reached farther down the social scale than to the heads of farming households; women and workers (free or enslaved) had no role in the political system. After the cold winter passed, the summer came and the whole island became green, which stunned Flki. Once the church garnered complete control in Iceland, these practices were quickly banned. After the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, and pursuant to the request of NATO military authorities, the United States and Iceland agreed that the United States should again take responsibility for Iceland's defense. Thomas Lindkvist & Bjrn Poulsen ( Oslo 2012 ), 10118 poverty aggravated. 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