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A Chronological History of Iceland
 874-930: Scandinavian, Irish & Scottish
immigrants establish
permanent settlements in Iceland.
930: The world's oldest existing parliament,
the Althingi is established. Beginning of the
Icelandic Commonwealth.
980 - 982: Erik "the Red" Thorvaldsson,
exiled from Iceland for manslaughter, discovers
and establishes settlements in Greenland.
1000: Christianity is peacefully adopted in
Iceland. Icelander Leifur Eriksson becomes the first
European to set foot in North America.
1003: Birth of Snorri Thorfinnsson, the first
person of European descent born on North American soil.
13th Century: The Golden Age when the Icelandic
Sagas are written in the ancient Viking language
(still spoken today).
1241: Snorri Sturluson, Iceland's most
celebrated writer and authour of many important
sagas, is assassinated.
1262: Civil war leads to Iceland joining under
Rule of Norway.
1380: Union of Norway and Denmark, resulting in
Iceland and Norway under Danish
Rule.
1402-1404: The Black Plague hits Iceland.
1537: Norway joins with Denmark;
Iceland falls under the jurisdiction of the King
of Denmark.
1540-1550: The Danish Reformation
Period.
1602: Danish Royal trade monopoly begins.
1783: The Lakagigar Volcano erupts.
1787: Icelandic trade is extended to
all Danish subjects.
1800: The Althingi is dissolved.
1814: The Treaty of Kiel between Norway and
Sweden;
Iceland becomes a Dominion of Denmark.
1818: The National Library is founded.
1843: The modern Althingi is re-established as an
advisory body to the Danish King.
1854: The Danish monopoly on foreign trade is
lifted, Iceland is opened to the world.
1863: The National Museum of Iceland is founded.
 1874: Millennium of the settlement of Iceland
is celebrated. A Constitution is
granted by the King of Denmark.
1904: Home Rule established, the first
Icelandic government minister, Hannes Hafstein,
appointed.
1911: The University of Iceland is founded.
1918: Iceland becomes an independent state, with the
King of Denmark as Head of State.
1920: The Icelandic Supreme Court is founded.
1930: Millennium of the establishment of the
Althingi is celebrated.
1940: Iceland occupied by Nazi Germany,
then by allied British forces.
1941: Iceland occupied by allied US
forces, who establish a base for defense.
1944: June 17. The Republic of Iceland is
established, following referendum. The Danish King
is no longer Head of State, by 97% vote. The first
Icelandic President Sveinn Björnsson is elected.
1946: Iceland joins the United Nations.
1947: Iceland becomes a founding member of the
OEEC.
1949: Iceland becomes charter member of NATO.
1950: Iceland joins the Council of Europe.
1951: Iceland signs a Treaty with US forces to
take responsibility of it's own defense.
1952: Iceland joins the Nordic Council.
1970: Iceland joins EFTA.
1973: Volcanic eruption in Heimaey.
1974: 1100th anniversary of the settlement of
Iceland.
1986: Reykjavik celebrates its bicentenary.
1994: 50th anniversary of the modern Icelandic
Republic.
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