Timeline of Icelandic history - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

This is a timeline of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

ic history. To read about the background to these events, see History of Iceland

History of Iceland

-Early history:In geological terms, Iceland is a young island. It started to form about 20 million years ago from a series of volcanic eruptions on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge...

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This timeline is incomplete; some important events may be missing. Please help add to it.

9th century

Year	Date	Event
825	–	Dicuil Dicuil Dicuil, Irish monk and geographer, born in the second half of the 8th century.-Background:The exact dates of Dicuil's birth and death unknown... , an Irish Ireland Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth... monk Monk A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose... refers to fellow monks who spent the summer on an island which they referred to as Thule Thule Thule Greek: Θούλη, Thoulē), also spelled Thula, Thila, or Thyïlea, is, in classical European literature and maps, a region in the far north. Though often considered to be an island in antiquity, modern interpretations of what was meant by Thule often identify it as Norway. Other interpretations... , far to the north.
~860	–	Naddodd discovers Iceland. Was en route to the Faroe Islands Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland... but drifted off course and landed near Reyðarfjörður Reyðarfjörður Reyðarfjörður is a town in Iceland. It has a population of 1,102 and is one of the most populated villages that constitute the municipality of Fjarðabyggð.-History:... in Iceland. As he returned to his boat it started to snow and thereby he reputedly named the land Snæland Names of Iceland There are numerous different names for Iceland, which have over the years appeared in poetry or literature.- In Icelandic :Many names have been used to refer to Iceland in the Icelandic language. These names include colloquial, formal, and poetic forms:... (Snowland).
~860	–	Garðarr Svavarsson discovers Iceland. Blown from a storm near the Orkney Islands Orkney Islands Orkney also known as the Orkney Islands , is an archipelago in northern Scotland, situated north of the coast of Caithness... . He circumnavigated Iceland, thus the first to establish that the landmass was an island. He stayed for one winter in Skjálfandi Skjálfandi Skjálfandi, geologically more a bay than a fjord, is located in the North of Iceland. The word Skjálfandi literally translates to "trembling" which might refer to earthquakes which do occur quite frequently... . He praised the new land and called it Garðarshólmi Names of Iceland There are numerous different names for Iceland, which have over the years appeared in poetry or literature.- In Icelandic :Many names have been used to refer to Iceland in the Icelandic language. These names include colloquial, formal, and poetic forms:... (lit. Garðar's islet). The island was thereafter known so.
~865	–	Hrafna-Flóki becomes the first Scandinavian Scandinavians Scandinavians are a group of Germanic peoples, inhabiting Scandinavia and to a lesser extent countries associated with Scandinavia, and speaking Scandinavian languages. The group includes Danes, Norwegians and Swedes, and additionally the descendants of Scandinavian settlers such as the Icelandic... to deliberately sail to Iceland as news of a country in the west reached Norway. When Hrafna-Flóki climbed a mountain in Vatnsfjörður Vatnsfjörður Vatnsfjordur is a nature reserve located north-west of Breiðafjörður on the Hjarðarnes coast of north-western Iceland.Vatnsfjörður was legally declared a nature reserve in 1975 and is part of the land owned by the of the head estate Brjánslækur... he spotted drift ice in a fjord that inspired the name of the country, Ísland (Iceland).
874	–	Ingólfr Arnarson becomes the first permanent Nordic Norsemen Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people... settler of Iceland Iceland Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... . The settlement of Iceland Settlement of Iceland The settlement of Iceland is generally believed to have begun in the second half of the 9th century, when Norse settlers migrated across the North Atlantic. The reasons for the migration may be traced to a shortage of arable land in Scandinavia, and civil strife brought about by the ambitions of... begins.

10th century

Year	Date	Event
930		The Icelandic Commonwealth Icelandic Commonwealth The Icelandic Commonwealth, Icelandic Free State, or Republic of Iceland was the state existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king in 1262... is founded with the establishment of the Icelandic parliament Parliament A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which... (Althing Althing The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant... ), which had legislative Legislature A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and... and judiciary Judiciary The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes... power but no executive Executive (government) Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term... power.

11th century

Year	Date	Event
1000		The king of Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... pressures Icelanders to convert their religion thus initiating the christianisation of Iceland.
~1015		The Fifth Court is established.
1085		Ísleifur Gissurarson Ísleifur Gissurarson Ísleifur Gissurarson , an Icelandic clergyman, became the first bishop of Iceland, following the adoption of Christianity in 1000 AD.His parents were Gissur Teitsson and Þórdís Þóroddsdóttir... becomes the first bishop Bishop A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the... of Iceland.
~1096		A tithe Tithe A tithe is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash, cheques, or stocks, whereas historically tithes were required and paid in kind, such as agricultural products... is instigated by the church Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity... authorities.

12th century

Year	Date	Event
1104		An eruption Types of volcanic eruptions During a volcanic eruption, lava, tephra , and various gases are expelled from a volcanic vent or fissure. Several types of volcanic eruptions have been distinguished by volcanologists. These are often named after famous volcanoes where that type of behavior has been observed... of the volcano Hekla Hekla Hekla is a stratovolcano located in the south of Iceland with a height of . Hekla is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since 874. During the Middle Ages, Icelanders called the volcano the "Gateway to Hell."Hekla is part of a volcanic... destroys a settlement in Þjórsárdalur Þjórsárdalur Þjórsárdalur is a valley in Árnessýsla county in Iceland that lies between mount Búrfell alongside the river Þjórsá to the east and mount Skriðufell to the west... .
1106		Jón Ögmundsson Jón Ögmundsson Jón Ögmundsson , also known as John of Holar and Jon Helgi Ogmundarson, was an Icelandic bishop and local Icelandic saint. In 1106 he founded the episcopal see at Hólar in the north of Iceland and served as bishop there until his death.A religious purist, Jón made it his mission to uproot all... is made the second of bishop of Iceland, in Hólar Hólar Hólar is a small community located in the Skagafjörður district and situated in northern Iceland.-Location:Hólar is located in the Hjaltadalur valley, some from the national capital at Reykjavík. Hólar has a population of around 100... .
1122		A cloister Cloister A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth... is founded in Þingeyri Þingeyri Thingeyri is a settlement in the municipality of Ísafjarðarbær, Iceland.It is located on the coats of the fjord Dýrafjörður in the mountainous peninsula Westfjords... . Ari Þorgilsson Ari Þorgilsson Ari Þorgilsson was Iceland's most prominent medieval chronicler. He is the author of Íslendingabók, which details the histories of the various families who settled Iceland... writes Íslendingabók Íslendingabók Íslendingabók, Libellus Islandorum or The Book of Icelanders is an historical work dealing with early Icelandic history. The author was an Icelandic priest, Ari Þorgilsson, working in the early 12th century. The work originally existed in two different versions but only the younger one has come... .
1197		Jón Loftsson Jón Loftsson Jón Loftsson was chieftain at Oddi in the county of Rangá in the south part of Iceland, and of the Oddaverjar family clan. He was one of the most popular chieftains and politician of his age in the country. He participated in the so-called Staðarmál, in 1179, against the Roman-Catholic Church and... , the most powerful chieftain Chieftain Chieftain may refer to:The leader or head of a group:* a tribal chief or a village head.* a member of the 'House of chiefs'.* a captain, to which 'chieftain' is etymologically related.* Clan chief, the head of a Scottish clan.... in Iceland, dies.

13th century

Year	Date	Event
1208		Kolbeinn Tumason Kolbeinn Tumason Kolbeinn Tumason was a member of the Ásbirningar family clan, and was one of the most powerful chieftains in Iceland around the turn of the 12th century. His power was probably at its height around 1200 AD. Kolbeinn used his influence to ensure that men in his favour received positions of power... dies at the hands of bishop Guðmundur Arason Guðmundur Arason Guðmundur Arason was an influential 12th and 13th century Icelandic saintly bishop who took part in increasing the powers of the Catholic Church in medieval Iceland. His story is recorded in several manuscripts, most notably Prestssaga Guðmundar góða... 's men in the Battle of Víðines Battle of Víðines The Battle of Víðines was a conflict that took place between secular and clerical forces in early 13th century Iceland.The Catholic bishop Guðmundur Arason had defended the exclusive judicial powers of the Church over its own members, the clergy, against the secular powers of the Icelandic goði... .
1220		Snorri Sturluson Snorri Sturluson Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing... becomes a vassal of King Hákon of Norway Haakon IV of Norway Haakon Haakonarson , also called Haakon the Old, was king of Norway from 1217 to 1263. Under his rule, medieval Norway reached its peak.... , kicking off the Sturlungaöld civil war.
1238		Battle of Örlygsstaðir Battle of Örlygsstaðir The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was a historic battle fought by the Sturlungar against Ásbirningar and the Haukdælir clans in northern Iceland. The battle was part of the civil war that was taking place in Iceland at the time between various powerful clans , and was the largest battle in the history of... .
1241		Snorri Sturluson Snorri Sturluson Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing... is murdered.
1244		Battle of the Gulf Battle of the Gulf The Flóabardagi was a naval battle on June 25, 1244 off the coast of Iceland, in Húnaflói Bay, during the Sturlungaöld civil war. The conflicting parties were the followers of Þórður kakali Sighvatsson and those of Kolbeinn ungi Arnórsson. Þórður's men were from the Westfjords of Iceland, while... - Iceland's largest domestic naval battle.
1253		The Flugumýri Arson, a failed attempt to murder Gissur Þorvaldsson Gissur Þorvaldsson Gissur Thorvaldsson was a medieval Icelandic chieftain or goði of the Haukdælir family clan, and great-grandson of Jón Loftsson.... , Jarl of Iceland.
1262		The signing of Old Covenant leads to Icelanders becoming subjects of the King of Norway.

14th century

Year	Date	Event
1308		The jarldom of Iceland is abolished.
1357		The first Icelandic bishop with Papal authority.
1361		Smiður Andrésson Smiður Andrésson Smiður Andrésson was governor in Iceland whose reputation for brutal methods in collecting taxes lead to an attack on him at Grund in Eyjafjörður where he fell along with Jón Skráveifa and 6 of his men.- References :... and Jón Skráveifa Jón Skráveifa Jón Guttormsson Skráveifa was an Icelandic man who was a governor of Iceland from 1357 to 1360 and then became a lögmaður .... killed in Grund.
1362		A volcanic eruption in Öræfajökull Öræfajökull Öræfajökull is an ice-covered volcano in south-east Iceland. It is the largest active volcano in the country, and on its north-western rim is Hvannadalshnúkur, the highest peak in Iceland... destroys Litlahérað.
1375		The Skálholt Agreement.

15th century

Year	Date	Event
1402		The Great Plague Black Death The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have... hits Iceland Iceland Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... .
1412		The English England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... start fishing near the coasts of Iceland.
1419		Icelanders demand that the king grant them freedom to engage in trade as they wish.
1433		Jöns Gerekesson Jöns Gerekesson Jöns Gerekesson was a controversial Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden 1408–1421, and of Iceland 1426–1433 until he was drowned... , bishop of Skálholt Skálholt Skálholt is an historical site situated in the south of Iceland at the river Hvítá.-History:Skálholt was, through eight centuries, one of the most important places in Iceland. From 1056 until 1785, it was one of Iceland's two episcopal sees, along with Hólar, making it a cultural and political... is drowned in Brúará Brúará The Brúará is a river of Iceland. It is fed by springs and discharges at the Rotarsandur Area and the Brúará Canyons.It shares a confluence with the Hvítá.... .
1446		Bishop Guðmundur Arason Guðmundur Arason Guðmundur Arason was an influential 12th and 13th century Icelandic saintly bishop who took part in increasing the powers of the Catholic Church in medieval Iceland. His story is recorded in several manuscripts, most notably Prestssaga Guðmundar góða... is stripped of his property and honour.
1450		Langaréttarbót.
1467		Björn Þorleifsson is murdered by the English England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental... in Rif Rif The Rif or Riff is a mainly mountainous region of northern Morocco, with some fertile plains, stretching from Cape Spartel and Tangier in the west to Ras Kebdana and the Melwiyya River in the east, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the north to the river of Wergha in the south.It is part of the... .
1474		Miklabæjarrán.
1491		Píningsdómur.
1494		A second plague hits Iceland.

16th century

Year	Date	Event
1501		English merchants plunder Bessastaðir Bessastaðir Bessastaðir is today the official residence of the President of Iceland and is situated on Álftanes, not far from the capital city, Reykjavík.- History :... .
1513		Leiðarhólmsskrá Leiðarhólmsskrá Leiðarhólmsskrá was an agreement and an open letter to the King, named officials and the whole public, signed by 26 Icelandic chieftains in 1513, protesting ecclesiastical encroachment... .
1522		Sveinsstaðafundur.
1539		Gissur Einarsson Gissur Einarsson Gissur Einarsson was a bishop in Skálholt from 1540 to his death, and the first Lutheran bishop in Iceland.Gissur was the son of Einar Sigvaldason on Hraun í Landbroti and of Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir. He attended Skálholt's school where he was instructed by bishop Ögmundur Pálsson and went to study... is made bishop
1541		The Skálholt Skálholt Skálholt is an historical site situated in the south of Iceland at the river Hvítá.-History:Skálholt was, through eight centuries, one of the most important places in Iceland. From 1056 until 1785, it was one of Iceland's two episcopal sees, along with Hólar, making it a cultural and political... see Episcopal See An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral... turns Lutheran Lutheranism Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation... .
1550		Bishop Jón Arason Jón Arason Jón Arason was an Icelandic Roman Catholic bishop and poet, who was executed in his struggle against the imposition of the Protestant Reform in Iceland.-Background:... and his sons are beheaded in Skálholt.
1551		The Hólar Hólar Hólar is a small community located in the Skagafjörður district and situated in northern Iceland.-Location:Hólar is located in the Hjaltadalur valley, some from the national capital at Reykjavík. Hólar has a population of around 100... see Episcopal See An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral... turns Lutheran.
1559		The English are driven from Vestmannaeyjar.
1571		Guðbrandur Þorláksson Guðbrandur Þorláksson Guðbrandur Þorláksson was an Icelandic mathematician, cartographer and clergyman.He studied at the cathedral school in Hólar and then at the University of Copenhagen. He and was successively rector of the school at Skálholt and minister at historic Breiðabólstaður in Vesturhóp... becomes bishop of Hólar.
1584		Guðbrandsbiblía Guðbrandsbiblía Guðbrand's Bible was the first Icelandic language translation of the Bible. The translation was completed in 1584 by Guðbrandur Þorláksson, bishop of Hólar.... , the first Icelandic Icelandic language Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the... bible Bible The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations... , is published.

17th century

Year	Date	Event
1602		The King of Denmark grants Danish Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... merchants monopoly Monopoly A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity... on trade with Iceland Iceland Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... .
1615		Spánverjavígin Spánverjavígin Spánverjavígin also known as the "Spanish Killings" or "Slaying of the Spaniards" was an Icelandic massacre. Some Spanish Basque whalers went on a whaling expedition to Iceland and were killed after conflict with the people of Iceland in 1615 in the region of the Westfjords.- Background and history... .
1625		The first person is burnt alive for witchcraft Witchcraft Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft... .
1627		Turkish Abductions Turkish Abductions The Turkish Abductions were a series of raids that took place in Iceland between July 4 – July 19, 1627. Both Austurland and Vestmannaeyjar were raided by Barbary pirates from the regency of Algiers.In 1627, Jan Janszoon hired a Danish “slave”... : several hundred Icelanders are kidnapped by Muslim Muslim A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable... raiders.
1639		Brynjólfur Sveinsson Brynjólfur Sveinsson Brynjólfur Sveinsson served as the Lutheran Bishop of the see of Skálholt in Iceland. His main influence has been on modern knowledge of Old Norse literature. He is currently pictured on the Icelandic 1000 krónur bill.... becomes bishop of Skálholt.
1656		Kirkjuból witch trial Kirkjuból witch trial The Kirkjuból witch trial was perhaps the best-known witch trial in Iceland. It took place in Kirkjuból 1656 in what is today Ísafjörður.The plaintiff in the trial was pastor Jón Magnússon, who had been suffering poor health since 1654... .
1656		The Flateyjarbók Flateyjarbók The Flatey Book, is an important medieval Icelandic manuscript. It is also known as GkS 1005 fol. and by the Latin name Codex Flateyensis.- Description :... manuscript is sent to Denmark.
1662		Icelanders are made to accept the absolute monarchy of the King of Denmark.
1666		The Passion Psalms are composed by Hallgrímur Pétursson Hallgrímur Pétursson Hallgrímur Pétursson was one of Iceland's most famous poets and a minister at Hvalneskirkja and Saurbær in Hvalfjörður. The Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík and the Hallgrímskirkja in Saurbær are named after him. He was one of the most influential pastors during the Age of Orthodoxy... .

18th century

Year	Date	Event
1703		First Icelandic census Census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common... .
1707		The Bubonic plague Bubonic plague Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death... spreads in Iceland. A quarter of the population dies.
1712		Jarðabók is completed.
1720		The manuscripts of Árni Magnússon Árni Magnússon Árni Magnússon was an Icelandic scholar and collector of manuscripts. He assembled the Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection.-Life:... are moved to Denmark.
1760		Icelanders start exporting salted fish to Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... .
1783		Móðuharðindin Móðuharðindin Móðuharðindin was a natural disaster which took place in Iceland in the years 1783–1785, following the volcanic eruption of Mount Laki.... - a volcanic eruption at Lakagígar destroys a great deal of the livestock in Iceland, causing famine and misery.
1787		Danish trade monopoly ceases.

19th century

Year	Date	Event
1800	June 6	The Althing Althing The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant... is abolished.
1801		The bishoprics of Skálholt and Hólar are united, located in Reykjavík Reykjavík Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay... .
1805		The Bessastaðaskóli Bessastaðir Bessastaðir is today the official residence of the President of Iceland and is situated on Álftanes, not far from the capital city, Reykjavík.- History :... (now Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík is the oldest gymnasium in Reykjavík, Iceland.... ) is founded.
1807		Trade with Iceland all but disappears due to the Napoleonic Wars Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to... .
1809		Jørgen Jørgensen Jørgen Jørgensen Jørgen Jørgensen was a Danish adventurer during the Age of Revolution. During the Action of 2 March 1808 his ship was captured by the British. In 1809 he sailed to Iceland, declared the country independent from Denmark and pronounced himself its ruler... seizes power in Iceland and declares independence, but is deposed by the Danes shortly afterwards.
1811	June 17	Jón Sigurðsson Jón Sigurðsson Jón Sigurðsson was the leader of the 19th century Icelandic independence movement.Born at Hrafnseyri, near Arnarfjörður in the Westfjords area of Iceland, he was the son of a pastor, Sigurður Jónsson. He moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1833 to study grammar and history at the university there... is born.
1835		The first copy of Fjölnir Fjölnir (journal) Fjölnir is an Icelandic journal which was first published in Copenhagen in 1835. The journal was used by Jónas Hallgrímsson and other Icelandic romantic nationalist poets to invoke nationalism in the hearts of the Icelandic people in the hopes of raising support for Icelandic independence.... is published.
1841		Jón Sigurðsson starts publishing New Associated Writings.
1843	March 8	The King of Denmark orders the Althing to be resurrected.
1845	July 1, May 26	The Althing is resurrected, and the house of the Menntaskóli í Reykjavík Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík is the oldest gymnasium in Reykjavík, Iceland.... is opened. Jónas Hallgrímsson Jónas Hallgrímsson Jónas Hallgrímsson was an Icelandic poet, author and naturalist. He was one of the founders of the Icelandic journal Fjölnir, which was first published in Copenhagen in 1835... dies.
1851		National Assembly National Assembly (Iceland) - National Assembly of 1851 :The National Assembly of 1851 was a constitutional convention called to decide the political status of Iceland. The assembly was called in 1848, in the liberal atmosphere following the Spring of Nations... .
1855		The Danes grant Icelanders free trade.
1871		The Danish Parliament Folketing The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen.... passes the Stöðulög Stöðulög Stöðulögin were laws passed by Denmark in 1871, determining the standing of Iceland in relation to the Danish state... laws.
1874		The King of Denmark visits Iceland and grants Icelanders a constitution. 1000 years of settlement celebrated throughout the country.
1875		First session of the restored Althing which has the power to pass laws. The Askja Askja Askja is a stratovolcano situated in a remote part of the central highlands of Iceland. The name Askja refers to a complex of nested calderas within the surrounding Dyngjufjöll mountains, which rise to , askja meaning box or caldera in Icelandic-Location:The region is only accessible for a few... volcano erupts.
1879	December 7	Jón Sigurðsson dies.
1880		The climate grows much colder, driving many Icelanders to emigrate to the New World New World The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle... .
1885		Icelanders start demanding a review of the constitution from the Danes.

20th century

Year	Date	Event
1915		Universal suffrage Universal suffrage Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens... .
1916		The political parties Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party (Iceland) The Social Democratic Party was an Icelandic Political Party based on social-democratic ideas. It was founded in 1916 as the political representation of the trade unions of Iceland.... and Progressive Party Progressive Party (Iceland) The Progressive Party is an agrarian, liberal and centrist party in Iceland. The party is a member of the Liberal International. Current chairman of the party is Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson. He was elected on January 18, 2009. His predecessor was Valgerður Sverrisdóttir, who only served as... are founded.
1918	December 1	Iceland becomes a sovereign, independent nation. The Danish King remains head of state.
1922		Jarðræktarlögin.
1929		The Icelandic Independence Party Independence Party (Iceland) The Independence Party is a centre-right political party in Iceland. Liberal conservative and Eurosceptic, it is the second-largest party in the Althing, with sixteen seats. The chairman of the party is Bjarni Benediktsson and vice chairman is Ólöf Nordal.... is founded.
1930	December 20	The Icelandic Communist Party Communist Party of Iceland The Communist Party of Iceland was a political party in Iceland from 1930 to 1938.-History:In the early 1920s a group of young militants of the Social Democratic Party came into contact with the international communist movement. Their ideology and that of their party leader, was quickly growing... is founded. The Icelandic State Radio RÚV Ríkisútvarpið is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.Operating from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country, the service broadcasts a variety of general programming to a wide audience across the whole country via radio... begins broadcasting.
1939		Following the occupation Occupation of Denmark Nazi Germany's occupation of Denmark began with Operation Weserübung on 9 April 1940, and lasted until German forces withdrew at the end of World War II following their surrender to the Allies on 5 May 1945. Contrary to the situation in other countries under German occupation, most Danish... of Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... by Nazi Germany Nazi Germany Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by... , a national emergency government is formed under Sveinn Björnsson Sveinn Björnsson Sveinn Björnsson , son of Björn Jónsson and Elísabet Sveinsdóttir, was the first President of the Republic of Iceland.He became a member of Reykjavík town council in 1912 and was its president during 1918–1920.... .
1940	May 10	The British United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... invade Invasion of Iceland The invasion of Iceland, codenamed Operation Fork, was a British military operation conducted by the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and a small Canadian task force during World War II.... , violating Icelandic neutrality.
1941	July 7	The United States Army United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... , still officially neutral, replaces the British occupation force.
1944	June 17	Iceland becomes an independent republic Republic A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of... , severing the last political ties to Denmark. Sveinn Björnsson Sveinn Björnsson Sveinn Björnsson , son of Björn Jónsson and Elísabet Sveinsdóttir, was the first President of the Republic of Iceland.He became a member of Reykjavík town council in 1912 and was its president during 1918–1920.... becomes president.
1946		The Keflavik Agreement Keflavik Agreement The Keflavík Agreement was an agreement made in 1946 between the government of the United States and the newly established Republic of Iceland, following the conclusion of World War II. This agreement stipulated that the American army would leave the country within six months and that the... .
1948		Iceland receives Marshall Aid from the United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... .
1949	April 4, March 30	Iceland joins the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Riots 1949 anti-NATO riot in Iceland The Icelandic NATO riot of March 30, 1949 is arguably the most famous riot in Icelandic history. It was prompted by the decision of Althingi, the Icelandic parliament, to join the newly formed NATO, thereby involving Iceland directly in the Cold War, opposing the Soviet Union and re-militarizing... break out on Austurvöllur Austurvöllur Austurvöllur is a public square in Reykjavik, Iceland. The square is a popular gathering place for the citizens of Reykjavik, and especially so during good weather due to the prevalence of cafés on Vallarstræti and Pósthússtræti... .
1951		The United States Army establishes a base in Keflavík Keflavík Keflavík is a town in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland. In 2009 its population was of 8,169.In 1995 it merged with Njarðvík and Hafnir to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 13,971 .- History :... .
1952	August 1	Fishing limits extended to 4 miles. Ásgeir Ásgeirsson Ásgeir Ásgeirsson Ásgeir Ásgeirsson was the second President of Iceland, from 1952 to 1968.Educated as a theologian, Ásgeir graduated with honours from the University of Iceland in Reykjavík in 1915, but was considered too young to be ordained as a minister. He married Dóra Þórhallsdóttir in 1917. Dóra was the... becomes president.
1958		Fishing limits extended to 12 miles.
1963	November 14	Volcanic eruption forms Surtsey Surtsey Surtsey is a volcanic island off the southern coast of Iceland. At it is also the southernmost point of Iceland. It was formed in a volcanic eruption which began 130 metres below sea level, and reached the surface on 15 November 1963. The eruption lasted until 5 June 1967, when the island... .
1966	September 30	The Icelandic State Television begins its first broadcasts.
1968	August 1	Kristján Eldjárn Kristján Eldjárn Dr. Kristján Eldjárn was the third President of Iceland, from 1968 to 1980.His parents were Þórarinn Kr. Eldjárn, a teacher in Tjörn, and Sigrún Sigurhjartardóttir. He graduated in archaeology from the University of Copenhagen and taught at the University of Iceland... becomes president. Collapse in the fishing industry.
1970	January 1	Iceland joins the European Free Trade Association European Free Trade Association The European Free Trade Association or EFTA is a free trade organisation between four European countries that operates parallel to, and is linked to, the European Union . EFTA was established on 3 May 1960 as a trade bloc-alternative for European states who were either unable to, or chose not to,... .
1972		Fishing limits extended to 50 miles.
1973	January 23	Volcanic eruption in the Westman Islands.
1975		Fishing limits extended to 200 miles.
1980	August 1	Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is an Icelandic politician who served as the fourth President of Iceland from 1980 to 1996. In addition to being both Iceland's and Europe's first female president, she was the world's first democratically elected female head of state... becomes president of Iceland, the first woman in the world to become elected head of state.
1994	January 1	Iceland joins the European Economic Area European Economic Area The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal... .
1996	August 1	Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth and current President of Iceland. He has served as President since 1996; he was unopposed in 2000, re-elected for a third term in 2004, and re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2008. He is the longest-serving left-wing president in the history of... becomes president.

21st century

Year	Date	Event
2000	June 17 June 21	Southern Iceland gets hit by two earthquakes 2000 Iceland earthquakes The 2000 Iceland earthquakes struck southern Iceland on June 17 and 21, 2000. There were no fatalities but a few people were injured and there was some considerable damage to infrastructure.- External links :*... , the prior 6.6 M_L Richter magnitude scale The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake.... and the latter 6.5 M_L Richter magnitude scale The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake.... . There were no fatalities but a few people were injured and there was some considerable damage to infrastructure.
2004	June 2	The president of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth and current President of Iceland. He has served as President since 1996; he was unopposed in 2000, re-elected for a third term in 2004, and re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2008. He is the longest-serving left-wing president in the history of... , refuses to sign a bill from the parliament Althing The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant... for the first time in the nation's history.
2005	March 23	Bobby Fischer Bobby Fischer Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author... moves to Iceland after having been granted an Icelandic passport and full citizenship.
2006	September 30	The United States Army United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... abandons the military base in Keflavík Keflavík Keflavík is a town in the Reykjanes region in southwest Iceland. In 2009 its population was of 8,169.In 1995 it merged with Njarðvík and Hafnir to form a municipality called Reykjanesbær with a population of 13,971 .- History :... , thus ending a 55-year U.S. military presence in Iceland.
2008	Late September	Iceland faces financial crisis following the collapse of the country's 3 major commercial bank Commercial bank After the implementation of the Glass–Steagall Act, the U.S. Congress required that banks engage only in banking activities, whereas investment banks were limited to capital market activities. As the two no longer have to be under separate ownership under U.S... s.
2009	January 26	After months of rallies outside the parliament building the Icelandic government resigns.
	February 1	After the collapse of the Icelandic government, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir , , is the Prime Minister of Iceland. Many years a politician, she was previously Iceland's Minister of Social Affairs and Social Security from 1987–1994 and 2007–2009. She has been a member of the Althing for Reykjavík constituencies since 1978, winning re-election on eight... becomes the first female prime minister of Iceland Prime Minister of Iceland The Prime Minister of Iceland is Iceland's head of government. The prime minister is appointed formally by the President and exercises executive authority along with the cabinet subject to parliamentary support.... and the world's first openly gay head of government of the modern era.
	July 16	The parliament narrowly passes a bill authorising the government to apply for EU membership.
2010	January 5	The president of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, refuses to sign a bill from the parliament Althing The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant... for the second time in the nation's history.
2010	March 20	Volcanic eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull Eyjafjallajökull Eyjafjallajökull is one of the smaller ice caps of Iceland, situated to the north of Skógar and to the west of Mýrdalsjökull. The ice cap covers the caldera of a volcano with a summit elevation of . The volcano has erupted relatively frequently since the last glacial period, most recently in... .
2011	February 20	The president of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, refuses to sign a bill Icelandic loan guarantees referendum, 2011 A referendum on the loan guarantees repayment by Iceland to the governments of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for their loan guarantees to the Depositors' and Investors' Guarantee Fund of Iceland over the failure of the Icesave bank was held in Iceland on 9 April 2011... from the parliament Althing The Alþingi, anglicised variously as Althing or Althingi, is the national parliament of Iceland. The Althingi is the oldest parliamentary institution in the world still extant... for the third time in the nation's history.
2011	May 21	Volcanic eruption of the Grímsvötn Grímsvötn The Grímsvötn sub-glacial lakes and the volcano of the same name are in South-East Iceland. They are in the highlands of Iceland at the northwestern side of the Vatnajökull ice-cap. The lakes are at , at an elevation of... .

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