The History of Iceland
Iceland's history spans almost 1,200 years. It begins with the Norse settlement in the 9th century, takes in the golden age of the Commonwealth and centuries of foreign rule, and ends – for now – with a modern republic that is among the wealthiest in the world.
Periods of Icelandic history
| Period | Years | Main events |
|---|---|---|
| Settlement Age | c. 870–930 | Norsemen settle the land; Ingólfur Arnarson in Reykjavík |
| Commonwealth | 930–1262 | Althing founded, conversion, writing of the sagas |
| Age of the Sturlungs | c. 1220–1264 | Civil strife and power struggles between chieftain families |
| Norwegian period | 1262–1380 | Icelanders submit to the Norwegian king |
| Danish period | 1380–1918 | Kalmar Union, Reformation, trade monopoly |
| Independence movement | c. 1830–1918 | Althing restored, home rule and sovereignty |
| Sovereign kingdom | 1918–1944 | Kingdom in personal union with Denmark |
| The Republic | 1944– | Republic founded, NATO, Cod Wars, EEA |
From settlement to Commonwealth
According to Ari the Learned's Book of Icelanders and the Book of Settlements, Norsemen, mainly from Norway, settled the country between 870 and 930. They were accompanied by many Celts from the British Isles, both free people and slaves. In 930 the Althing was founded at Þingvellir, followed by the period known as the Commonwealth. Christianity was adopted by law at the Althing in 999 or 1000, and in the 12th and 13th centuries a flourishing literary culture produced the Sagas of Icelanders, the kings' sagas and the Eddas.
Under foreign rule
After fierce internal conflict during the Age of the Sturlungs, Icelanders submitted to the Norwegian king with the Old Covenant of 1262–1264. In 1380 Iceland, together with Norway, came under the Danish crown. The Reformation of 1550 strengthened royal power, and in 1602 the Danish trade monopoly began, lasting until 1787. In the 17th and 18th centuries the country suffered famine, epidemics and natural disasters. The smallpox epidemic of 1707–1709 and the Haze Famine of 1783–1785 cost tens of thousands of lives.
Independence and the republic
In the 19th century national awareness grew under the leadership of men such as the Fjölnir group and Jón Sigurðsson. The Althing was restored in 1845, the country received a constitution in 1874, home rule in 1904 and sovereignty on 1 December 1918. The republic was founded at Þingvellir on 17 June 1944. During the 20th century Iceland was transformed from a poor farming society into a modern welfare state, largely thanks to fishing, and the fishing limits were extended to 200 nautical miles after the Cod Wars.
Iceland in the 21st century
In the early years of the 21st century the banking sector grew rapidly, but in October 2008 the country's three largest banks collapsed. The crash caused a deep economic crisis and protests known as the Pots and Pans Revolution. The economy nevertheless recovered relatively quickly, not least thanks to the boom in tourism after 2010. In recent years eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula, climate change and a growing population of foreign origin have shaped public debate.
Frequently asked questions
When was Iceland settled?
Settlement began around 870, and according to tradition Ingólfur Arnarson settled in Reykjavík in 874.
When did Iceland become independent?
Iceland became a sovereign state on 1 December 1918 and a republic on 17 June 1944.
All articles in History
- The Settlement of IcelandThe settlement of Iceland: the papar, Hrafna-Flóki, Ingólfur Arnarson, the Book of Settlements, where the settlers came from and the settlement layer.
- The Commonwealth PeriodThe Icelandic Commonwealth 930–1262: chieftains and assemblies, the lawspeaker, Grágás, voyages to Greenland and Vinland, and the Old Covenant.
- The Althing and ÞingvellirThe Althing from its founding at Þingvellir in 930 to today: the Law Rock, the 1845 restoration, the Parliament House and Þingvellir National Park.
- The Conversion to Christianity in 1000Iceland's conversion to Christianity in 999 or 1000: the old religion, the missions, Þorgeir under his cloak, the compromise and the bishoprics.
- Iceland's Struggle for IndependenceIceland's struggle for independence: the Fjölnir group, Jón Sigurðsson, the 1851 National Assembly, home rule in 1904 and sovereignty in 1918.
- The Republic of IcelandThe Republic of Iceland: the wartime occupation, the founding at Þingvellir on 17 June 1944, the presidents, NATO and the banking crash.
- The Cod WarsThe Cod Wars between Iceland and Britain 1958–1976: fishing limits of 12, 50 and 200 nautical miles, the net cutters and the diplomatic break.