Kingdom of Iceland

Iceland, 1918–1944. Draft, not yet reviewed

The Kingdom of Iceland was an associated state of Denmark (prior to its invasion by Nazi Germany) and kingdom under a personal union that was established by the Act of Union signed on 1 December 1918. The Parliament of Iceland asked that Denmark represent Iceland internationally, and day-to-day matters were delegated to a Danish plenipotentiary for Icelandic affairs based in Reykjavík. On 1 December 1918, the Act of Union, an agreement with Denmark, recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state, an independent country in personal union with Denmark through a common monarch. Following a constitutional referendum in May 1944, Iceland formally became a republic on 17 June 1944.

Seat of power: Reykjavík

Rulers

Culture

• Because of the Kalmar Union, Iceland had been under the control of the Crown of Denmark since 1380, although formally it had been a Norwegian possession until 1814.
• In 1874, one thousand years after the first acknowledged settlement, Denmark granted Iceland home rule.
• The Kingdom of Iceland established its own flag and coat of arms and asked that Denmark represent its foreign affairs and defence interests on its behalf. Iceland opened its first embassy in 1920.
• On 15 May 1941, the Althing adopted a law creating the position of regent for Sveinn Björnsson in order to represent the monarchy.

Picture

Reykjavík is the capital and largest city of Iceland, and the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state.

Image: Olga Ernst, CC BY-SA 4.0, file

Sources

• Kingdom of Iceland (Wikipedia)
• Kingdom of Iceland (Wikidata)
• About the picture (Wikipedia)

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.