Time line about Iceland

874 - 930

Settlement of Iceland, mainly from the West coast of Norway and the Viking settlements in Ireland and Scotland.

930

Establishment of Althingi - the world's oldest existing parliament - at Thingvellir.

985 - 986

Discovery and colonization of Greenland from Iceland by Eiríkur the Red, father of Leifur (the Lucky) Eiríksson.

1000

Time line about Iceland: Icelander Leifur Eiríksson ( Leif Erickson ), ecomes the first European to set foot in America.
Christianity is adopted peacefully by the Althingi at Thingvellir.

1022

Treaty between the Athingi and King Olafur Haraldsson (St Olaf) of Norway concerning equal rights of Icelanders and Norwegians.

1056

Isleifur Gissurarson ( Leif Erickson ), first bishop of Iceland at Skalholt.

1106

Founding of the episcopal seat of Holar for the northern region of Iceland.

1133

First monastery in Iceland founded at Thingeyrar. Monasteries became centres of learning and literature.

13th Century

Saga Era, the golden age of Saga writing. The Sagas include some of the classics of medieval literature, written in Icelandic, the ancient language of the Vikings which is still spoken in Iceland today.

1178 - 1241

Snorri Sturluson, chieftain and historian. Author of "Heimskringla", history of the Kings of Norway.

1220 -1262

Age of the Sturlungs, a period of civil war between the leading chieftain families that vied for power in Iceland.

1262/1264

The "Old Covenant" adopted between Icelandic chieftains and King Hakon the Old of Norway. Iceland comes under the rule of the Norwegian Crown, but the Althingi retains its legislative powers.

1281

New law code, Jónsbók, presented by the King og Norway, accepted by the Althingi.

1380

Union of the Danish and Norwegian kingdom. Iceland and Norway come under Denmark.

1402

Time line about Iceland: The Black Death reaches Iceland.

15th Century

The English Century. Close contact between Iceland and England. The English regularly sail to Iceland for fishing and trade.

1530s

Printing introduced in Iceland by Jón Arason Bishop of Hólar.

1537

Norway is dissolved as a state (until 1814) and becomes part of Denmark. Iceland comes directly under Danish crown.

1540

Publication of the New Testament in Icelandic.

1550

The Reformation. After strong opposition Lutheranism becomes the state religion. Danish royal power is strengthened in Iceland.

1602

The Danish trade monopoly is introduced.

1627

Time line about Iceland: Pirates from North Africa raid certain coastal areas ("Turkish raid").

1662

Absolutism is introduced in Iceland. Danish monarchs become hereditary rulers of Iceland. Legislative powers of the Althingi greatly reduced.

1783 - 1785

Volcanic eruption (Skaftáreldar) causes widespread devastation in Iceland.

1787

Trade monopoly abolished, but the right to trade in Iceland is still limited to Danish subjects.

1800

The Althingi is abolished.

1801

The episcopal seats of Skálholt and Hólar are abolished. One bishop, based in Reykjavík, administers the whole country.

1809

Danish adventurer Jörgen Jörgensen takes power in Iceland, declares Iceland's independence. His rule lasts two months.

1818

The National Library is founded.

1835

Publication of the periodical Fjölnir, rallying point of the patriotic movement.

1811 - 1879

Jón Sigurðsson leader of the struggle for Iceland' independence.

1843

Althingi re-established in Reykjavik.

1854

Time line about Iceland: Free trade re-established.

1874

Millennial anniversary of the settlement of Iceland celebrated at Thingvellir. A constitution is adopted giving legislative powers to the Althingi and granting limited self-government in domestic affairs.

1904

Home rule. Appointment of the first Icelandic government minister resident in Iceland and responsible to the Althingi.

1911

University of Iceland founded.

1915

Iceland unilaterally bans whaling (ban effective until 1935).

1918

Act of Union. Iceland becomes a sovereign and independent state, the Kingdom of Iceland. It shares the same monarch with Denmark. For the most part foreign affairs continued to be handled by the Danish foreign service, as decided by Iceland. Iceland declares perpetual neutrality.

1920

Time line about Iceland: The Supreme Court is founded.

1930

Millennial celebration of the establishment of the Althingi at Thingvellir.

1940

Icelandic Foreign Service established.

1940

British forces occupy Iceland.

1941

By agreement US troops arrive in Iceland (six months before Pearl Harbour), replacing British forces. US forces remain until the end of World War II.

1944

The modern Republic of Iceland is established at Thingvellir on 17 June, birthday of Jón Sigurðsson.

1945

The first international flight by an Icelandic aircraft.

1946

Time line about Iceland: Iceland joins the United Nations.

1947

Iceland becomes a founding member of the OEEC (forerunner of the OECD).

1948 - 1953

Strong "Marshall Plan" support for Iceland.

1949

Iceland becomes a founding member of NATO.

1950

Iceland joins the Council of Europe. National Theatre and Symphony Orchestra founded.

1951

Iceland and the United States conclude a bilateral defence agreement. US troops return to Iceland.

1952

Fisheries jurisdiction extended from 3 to 4 miles.

1952

Iceland becomes a founding member of the Nordic Council.

1955

Icelander Halldór Laxness receives Nobel Prize for literature.

1958

Fishing limit extended to 12 miles. "Cod War" with the United Kingdom.

1963

Volcanic eruption in ocean south of Iceland creates a new island, Surtsey.

1965

Danish Parliament decides to return ancient Saga manuscripts to Iceland.

1968

Time line about Iceland: Iceland joins GATT.

1970

Iceland joins European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

1971

Denmark begins to return ancient Saga manuscripts to Iceland.

1972

Fishing limit extended to 50 miles, "Cod War" with the UK.

1972

Free trade agreement with the EEC (later EU).

1973

Volcanic eruption in Heimaey, the only inhabited island of the Westman Islands group off the south coast of Iceland. Five thousand inhabitants are relocated to the mainland of Iceland.

1974

1100th anniversary of the settlement of Iceland celebrated at Thingvellir.

1975

Fishing limit extended to 200 miles, "Cod War" with the UK.

1980

Ms. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is elected President, the first woman in the world to be elected as a head of state.

1986

Meeting of Reagan and Gorbachev in Reykjavik marks the beginning of the end of the Cold War. Reykjavik celebrates its bicentenary.

1992

EFTA countries and the European Union establish the European Economic Area (EEA). Iceland becomes part of the EU´s single market.

1994

EEA Agreement comes into effect.

1994

50th anniversary of the founding of the Icelandic Republic.

2000

1000 years of Christianity in Iceland celebrated.