"University of Michigan Law School Faculty & Staff", Bloodtaking and Peacemaking: Feud, Law, and Society in Saga Iceland, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_Iceland&oldid=1148977914, Short description with empty Wikidata description, Articles needing additional references from July 2014, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2009, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, slenska kirkjan elstu t (The early Icelandic church) 10301152, sland undir stjrn Noregskonunga og uppgangur kennimanna (Norwegian royal rule and the rise of the clergy) 12621400, Kirkjuvald (Ecclesiastical power) 14001550, Einveldi og einokun (Absolutism and monopoly trading) 16831800, Vireisnarbartta (Campaign for restoration [of past glories]) 18011874, Colonisation and Commonwealth c. 8701262, A primitive society builds a state 18091918. He was later killed by his slaves after settling at Mount Hjorleifshofoi, just east of modern-day Vik. Gunnar's own book A Brief History of Iceland (2010) has 33 chapters with considerable overlap in dates. The Icelandic language testifies to the same origin; Icelandic is a Nordic language and is most closely related to the dialects of western Norway. The recent history of Iceland picks up in the middle of the 20th century. This writing dates to around 330 B.C. [33] Government interference in the economy increased: "Imports were regulated, trade with foreign currency was monopolized by state-owned banks, and loan capital was largely distributed by state-regulated funds". [39][40] An additional 70 Icelanders died at sea, but it has not been confirmed whether they lost their lives as a result of hostilities. In the late 14th century Norway and Denmark entered into a union.List of rulers of Iceland. [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. The First Cod War (19581961) was fought over Iceland's extension from 4 to 12 nautical miles (7 to 22km). For comparison, it is estimated that other volcanic islands, such as the Faroe Islands have existed for about 55 million years, ", "A Theory of Shelter: Iceland's American Period (19412006)", "Small States and Shelter Theory: Iceland's External Affairs", "Former Prime Minister Dav Oddsson retires from politics", "Government set to lose majority in Iceland", "Iceland's Government Collapses Over Financial Crisis | DW Learn German", "Iceland Picks the World's First Openly Homosexual PM", "The Icesave dispute: A Case Study into the Crisis of Diplomacy during the Credit Crunch", "Iceland lost almost 5000 people in 2009", "Iceland Recession Ends as Economy Returns to Growth", "Iceland vote: Centre-right opposition wins election", "Iceland prime minister resigns; new election expected on Nov. 4", "Iceland election: centre-right parties lose majority", "Iceland's Left-Green leader Jakobsdttir becomes new PM", "Guni Th. Ten men were taken as prisoners of war by the Germans. However, Iceland became more isolated during World War I and suffered a significant decline in living standards. During the heightened years of the war, foreign troops made up 50 percent of the native male population in Iceland, and local men were quick to notice the infatuation many Icelandic women showed toward these new arrivals. 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. This agreement ended the Icelandic Commonwealth, and the island became a vassal of the Kingdom of Norway. Book your complete trip with the best companies only. Despite the incredibly beneficial economic impact, this action proved to be highly controversial to much of the Icelandic population, who continued to protest their neutrality, all the while cooperating with Allied troops. 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. By that time about 10 powerful godar, belonging to some five families, held almost all the chieftaincies in Iceland, and by mid-century these chieftaincies were engaged in a bloody struggle for power. This eradicated unemployment in Iceland and raised wages considerably. The exact date that humans first reached the island is uncertain. The Old Covenant (12621264), and the adoption of Jnsbk (1281) effectively ended the Icelandic Commonwealth. The United States provided extensive economic patronage, advocated on Iceland's behalf in international organizations, allowed Iceland to violate the rules of international organizations, and helped Iceland to victory in the Cod Wars. The subsequent poverty and food shortages in France contributed to the French Revolution. The Process of State-Formation in Medieval Iceland, Viator. In due time, the pillars were found in current-day Reykjavik, where he settled with his family in 874. In 1944, Iceland severed its remaining ties with Denmark (then still under Nazi occupation) and declared itself a republic. Are courses available in English, and how many higher education facilities are there in the country? Following this, the Icelanders became Lutherans and remain largely so to this day. According to Landnmabk, Inglfr was followed by many more Norse chieftains, their families and slaves who settled all the habitable areas of the island in the next decades. In 930, the ruling chiefs established a republican constitution and an assembly called the Althingthe oldest parliament in the world. Danish King Christian X sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people. Iceland joined the European Economic Area in 1994, thus strengthening its position on the international financiers stage. During World War Two, the royal couple were very popular and acted as national symbols. This eruption was known as Skaftareldar (Skafta fires). 1918: On 1 December, the Kingdom of Iceland achieves sovereignty from Denmark, with King Christian X of Denmark becoming King Kristjn X of Iceland. The first Norseman who lived in Iceland was Flki Vilgerarson. The airport was eventually returned to the Iceland Defense Force in 1951, though the U.S. Navy maintained Keflavik Naval Air Station until 2006. The sheep also yielded wool, and homespun cloth became the chief export. And this was done while customers were . On 10 May 1940, British military forces began an invasion of Iceland when they sailed into Reykjavk harbour in Operation Fork. No edits made. Still, the last King of Iceland, Kristjn X, sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people. [17], An illicit trade continued with foreigners after the Danes implemented a trade monopoly. During this time, the population declined. In 2004, Dav Oddsson stepped down as Prime Minister after 13 years in office. Born in Iceland around A.D. 970, Erikson sailed to Norway around A.D. 1000 . The Alingi is sometimes said to be the world's oldest existing parliament. Iceland demanded Britain allow it to trade with Germany, to no avail. Britain and the U.S. opened direct diplomatic relations, as did Sweden and Norway. Learn key facts and statistics about Iceland. Iceland was settled in the late 9th and early 10th centuries, principally by people of Norwegian and other Scandinavian origin. Historiography prefers the term 'free state'. Sixty-two unarmed German sailors were also arrested after being rescued from the Bahia Blanca, a German freighter that had recently struck an iceberg in the Denmark Strait. There is some literary evidence that monks from a Hiberno-Scottish mission may have settled in Iceland before the arrival of the Norsemen. It is also believed that the western fjords of Norway were simply overcrowded in this period. In the 1990s, the Independence Party set a drastic reform of Icelands economy into motion. Quintessential Icelandic streets such as Laekjargata and Laugavegur no longer resemble anything they once were. Saw several broods of ducklings.. Feel free to leave your thoughts and queries in the Facebook comments box below. Jn Arason and gmundur Plsson, the Catholic bishops of Sklholt and Hlar respectively, opposed Christian's efforts at promoting the Protestant Reformation in Iceland. The snouts, nostrils, and feet of livestock grazing or walking on the grass turned bright yellow and raw. In 1602, Iceland was forbidden to trade with countries other than Denmark, by order of the Danish government, which at this time pursued mercantilist policies. The United States closed the Keflavk Air Base in September 2006. Farms, fishing outposts and villages began to form all around Iceland's coast. [25][26][27] In their attempts to stop the Icelanders from trading with the Germans indirectly, the British imposed costly and time-consuming constraints on Icelandic exports going to the Nordic countries. Roman currency dating to the third century has been found in Iceland, but it is unknown whether they were brought there at that time or came later with Vikings after circulating for centuries.[10]. Archeological evidence suggests that early Irish monks discovered Iceland and settled here before the Norse arrived. As you can see, Icelands volcano history goes way back. Harald I, byname Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair, Norwegian Harald Hrfager, Old Norse Harald Hrfagri, (born c. 860died c. 940), the first king to claim sovereignty over all of Norway. Thankfully, the Icelandic language is largely unchanged from Old Norse, meaning they're just as accessible today to native speakers as they were nearly 1,000 years ago. Based on Icelandic lore, the early settlements were populations who escaped King Harald Fairhair, believed to be the first king of ancient Norway. Harald Halfdansson (Old Norse: Haraldr Hlfdanarson; c. 850 - c. 932), better known as Harald Hrfagre English: Harald Fairhair), was remembered by medieval historians as the first King of Norway. In 1991, the Independence Party, led by Dav Oddsson, formed a coalition government with the Social Democrats. However, when Olaf Tryggvason ascended the Norwegian throne in A.D. 995, he decided to focus his efforts on converting those under his rule. After deliberating for one day and one night under a fur blanket, Thorgeir finally concluded that Iceland should adopt a new faith. Photo fromWikimedia,Creative Commons, by Johan Peter Raadsig. Next, dive headfirst into the world of Norse mythology, where you'll get to know the likes of Odin, Thor, Freya, Loki, and more. It led to major government interference in the marketplace that lasted until the post-World War II period. [16] A serfdom-like institution called the vistarband developed, in which peasants were bound to landowners for a year at a time. [citation needed]. Harald I Fairhair (Old Norse: Haraldr inn hrfagri [hrldz in hrfre]; Norwegian: Harald hrfagre; Modern Icelandic: Haraldur hrfagri [haraltr haurfar]; putatively c. 850 - c. 932) is portrayed by the Icelandic sagas as the first King of Norway. Bergsteinn Jnsson and Bjrn orsteinsson. Despite its small size, the country has many interesting characteristics. Hrafna-Floki (Floki of the Ravens), as he is called, was the first Norseman to deliberately set sail to Iceland. However, Iceland shared the Danish Monarchy until World War II. In the absence of royal power in Iceland, the godar were to form the ruling class in the country. (Anne-Sophie Ofrim / Public Domain ) The vast armies clashed in a great naval battle in the fjord that was part of Rogaland. By A.D. 930, it's thought that all arable land in the country had been settled. Already, the city of Reykjavik has taken on a new face. You'll be privy to the thrilling adventures, epic battles, and divine mischief that made these gods the stuff of legends. Iceland's history has also been marked by a number of natural disasters. On the first day of the Parliamentary session in 1914, July 1, Prime Minister Hannes Hafstein explained developments in the flag issue and distributed the flag committee's report. According to the early Icelandic sources, some Irish monks were living in Iceland when the Nordic settlers arrived, but the monks soon left because they were unwilling to share the country with heathens. King of Iceland Details Style His Majesty First monarch Haakon IV Last monarch Christian X Contents1 Is there a royal [] Did you learn anything new? The Icelandic constitutional referendum was held in 1944 as the closing chapters of the war began to materialize. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Furfur. [33] The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War cut Iceland's exports of saltfish by half, and the depression lasted in Iceland until the outbreak of World War II, when prices for fish exports soared. History. The British had called upon the then neutral United States to take over control of Iceland as their forces were badly needed on other fronts. Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glcksburg, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_rulers_of_Iceland&oldid=1143550538, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 8 March 2023, at 12:51. - Icelandic food from the Settlement through the Middle Ages", "Iceland's External Affairs from 1400 to the Reformation: Anglo-German Economic and Societal Shelter in a Danish Political Vacuum", "Discover: Twenty ways the world could end suddenly", "Iceland's External Affairs from the Napoleonic Era to the occupation of Denmark: Danish and British Shelter", "Hve margir slendingar du seinni heimsstyrjldinni? 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 . The land was settled quickly, mainly by Norwegians who may have been fleeing conflict or seeking new land to farm. The Norwegian monarchy dates back more than one thousand years. He was also the one who gave . Iceland is a relatively young island in the geological sense, being formed about 20 million years ago by a series of volcanic eruptions in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but it is still growing from fresh volcanic eruptions. The financial crisis gave rise to the Icesave dispute, where Iceland on the one hand and the United Kingdom and Netherlands on the other disputed whether Iceland was obligated to repay British and Dutch depositors who lost their savings when Icesave collapsed. Ari orgilsson's slendingabk is generally considered more reliable as a source and is probably somewhat older, but it is far less thorough. [citation needed]. [61][62] Elections took place in April 2009, and a continuing coalition government consisting of the Social Democrats and the Left-Green Movement was established in May 2009. 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 waterfall, Godafoss (Waterfall of the Gods), is a popular visitors attraction in Iceland today. [7], Iceland remained, for a long time, one of the world's last uninhabited larger islands (the others being New Zealand and Madagascar). What is Guide to Iceland? The Icelandic Web of Science 5.3.2005", Medieval Iceland: Society, Sagas and Power, "The History of Iceland (Gunnar Karlsson) book review". It should be understood that Icelands position on the globe is one of enormous strategic importance for any party engaged in international warfare. [36], Iceland turned down British offers of protection after the occupation of Denmark, because that would violate Iceland's neutrality. He decided that the country should convert to Christianity as a whole, but that pagans would be allowed to worship privately. In the 8th century Irish hermits who had begun to sail to Iceland in search of solitude also called the island Thule. Iceland had no military or naval forces, and Denmark was to give notice to other countries that it was permanently neutral. The monk Dicuil wrote in the second half of the 8th century about clerics who had lived on the island. Though less consequential, there have been countless other eruptions and earthquakes over the years. The traditional explanation for the exodus from Norway is that people were fleeing the harsh rule of the Norwegian king Harald Fairhair, whom medieval literary sources credit with the unification of some parts of modern Norway during this period. The Proto Cod War (19521956) revolved around Iceland's extension of its fishery limits from 3 to 4 nautical miles. From Greenland, Icelanders would import walrus ivory, fur, and skins. 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 . Generally considered the first European to set foot on the North American continent, Leif got there nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus. He then returned east to Norway with resources and knowledge. Such transformative makeovers have only occurred in the capital a handful of times, but today, the renaissance is evident. [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. 1262-1541 The Icelanders suffered from a severe shortage of timber, as there were no forests . The Royal Navy was sent to the contested waters in the last three Cod Wars, leading to highly publicized clashes. By the end of the 10th century, the Norwegians were forced by their king, Olaf I Tryggvason, to accept Christianity. 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! This government continued with free market policies, privatising two commercial banks and the state-owned telecom Landssminn. In contrast to the northern legend of the First King, some legends from the Reach claim that Garth . This period of starvation, one of the worst the civilized world has ever experienced, is known as the Mist Hardships in English or Moouharoindin in Icelandic. Download this stock image: Nordic Heads of state pose for a photo at the the National September 11 Memorial in New York Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. For example, the Icelandic flag was ratified by law in 1944. However, in the 9th century, they were driven out by Vikings. Norway (and thus Iceland) then became part of the Kalmar Union, along with Sweden and Denmark, with Denmark as the dominant power. A trip to Iceland isn't complete wi See a selection of wonderful photographs that capture the magic of the Northern Lights throughout Iceland. The twelfth-century scholar Ari orgilsson's slendingabk reasserts that items including bells corresponding to those used by Irish monks were found by the settlers. Swedish sailor Garar Svavarsson also accidentally drifted to the coast of Iceland. It was a sure sign of the events to come. 391 of the combatants were born in Iceland, the rest were of Icelandic descent. After Inglfur settled in Iceland, he was followed by more and more Norsemen. [51][52][53], It is rare for militarized interstate disputes of this magnitude and intensity to occur between two democracies with as close economic, cultural, and institutional ties as Iceland and the UK.[53][54]. In October 2008, the Icelandic banking system collapsed, prompting Iceland to seek large loans from the International Monetary Fund and friendly countries. The formal conversion of Iceland began when King Olaf Tryggvason sent Thangbrand, a German priest, to the island. The inherent values of the Icelandic national psyche, such as religious expression, the preservation of their languagewere collectively agreed upon as the founding principles of Iceland as an independent nation. Holidaymakers, business people, artists, musicians, students, job-seekersin recent decades, all types have found Iceland to be a land of plentiful opportunity. 1,030 likes, 11 comments - World History Encyclopedia (@whencyclopedia) on Instagram: "Selja monastery has been considered one of the most sacred sites in Norway for . Norway's consolidation of power in Iceland was slow, and the Althing intended to hold onto its legislative and judicial power. Wikimedia,Creative Commons, byGuerber, H. A, The Top 9 Most Infamous Icelanders in History, Wikimedia, Creative Commons, byEugne Delacroix, How To Travel in Iceland | The Top 5 Do's and Don'ts, Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by USMC Archives, The Fascinating History of Icelandic Architecture, Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by the Royal Navy, Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by United State Army, The Top 9 Most Famous Icelanders in History, A Snapshot of Iceland | Facts, Figures and Information. The period from around 1200 to 1262 is generally known as the Age of the Sturlungs. Jn Arason and his two sons were subsequently beheaded in Sklholt. Consider the ice-capped volcano, Eyjafjallajokull, which erupted in 2010 after a 200-year silence. Those who came were largely clans who did not wish to bend the knee to the first Christian King of Norway, Harald Fairhair. According to the 1951 NATO Defense Treaty, the United States is responsible for defending Iceland for an undisclosed length of time. The German takeover of Norway left Iceland highly exposed; Britain decided it could not risk a German takeover of Iceland. Naddodd called the country Snland "Snowland". Iceland became de facto fully sovereign with these actions. Iceland continues to remain outside the European Union. . According to tradition, the First King unified the First Men under his rule and led them in their war against the Children of the Forest. By 930, the chieftains had established a form of governance, the Althing, making it one of the world's oldest parliaments. It started to form in the Miocene era about 20 million years ago from a series of volcanic eruptions on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where it lies between the North American and Eurasian plates. 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. A layer of tephra (volcanic ash) that in many places coincides with the earliest remains of human habitation in Iceland has been identified in Greenland ice and dated to about 870. The first Norseman who deliberately sailed to Gararshlmi was Hrafna-Flki Vilgerarson. Long before the dawn of humankind, this plume caused a series of underwater eruptions that quickly began to sculpt the island we know today. [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. This period of conflict is named after the Sturlungs, a powerful family in Iceland at that time. [44][45], The new republican government, led by an unlikely three-party majority cabinet made up of conservatives (the Independence Party, Sjlfstisflokkurinn), social democrats (the Social Democratic Party, Aluflokkurinn), and socialists (People's Unity Party Socialist Party, Ssalistaflokkurinn), decided to put the funds into a general renovation of the fishing fleet, the building of fish processing facilities, the construction of a cement and fertilizer factory, and a general modernization of agriculture. Today, Icelanders stand at the precipice of a new, exciting and divisive chapter in their young countrys history. [6] The younger rock strata in the southwest of Iceland and the central highlands are only about 700,000 years old. To face the challenges of the future, residents here will have to look back on this countrys fascinating history, from its early settlement to its declaration of independence after World War II, as well as the contentious and influencing years that followed. The saga academic, Sigurour Nordal (Sept. 14, 1886 to Sept. 21, 1974) described this medieval literature as follows: No Germanic people, in fact, no nation in Northern Europe, has a medieval literature which in originality and brilliance can be compared with the literature of the Icelanders from the first five centuries after the settlement period.. This vote occurred only four years after Denmark had succumbed to the invading German army. Iceland is very remote, and so has been spared the ravages of European wars but has been affected by other external events, such as the Black Death and the Protestant Reformation imposed by Denmark. Icelanders began to trade for grain from continental Europe, which was an expensive proposition. Iceland first began to form approximately 70 million years ago. Such development would seemingly imply that this once isolated, North Atlantic island now holds a prominent position in the psyche of international travelers. As a consequence, Norway, Denmark, Germany, and other European nations have increased their defense and rescue cooperation with Iceland since the withdrawal of U.S. forces. Recorded settlement has conventionally been dated back to 874, although archaeological evidence indicates Gaelic monks from Ireland, known as papar according to sagas, had settled Iceland earlier. Than one thousand years contrast to the French Revolution wish to bend the to! Country had been settled ] the younger rock strata in the Facebook comments box below contributed to the of! 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