Kingdom of Iceland

Kingdom of Iceland
Konungsríkið Ísland
Personal union with Denmark
←
1918–1944 →
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem
Lofsöngur
"Song of Praise"
The Kingdom of Iceland in 1942.
Capital Reykjavík
Languages Icelandic, Danish
Religion Church of Iceland
Government Constitutional monarchy
King
 •  1918–1944 Kristján X
Regent
 • 1941–1944 Sveinn Björnsson
Prime Minister
 • 1918–1920 Jón Magnússon (first)
 • 1942–1944 Björn Þórðarson (last)
Legislature Althing
Historical era Interwar period / WWII
 •  Act of Union 1 December 1918
 • Fall of Denmark 9 April 1940
 • Operation Fork 10 May 1940
 • National referendum 20 May 1944
 •  Republic proclaimed 17 June 1944
Area
 •  1944 103,125 km² (39,817 sq mi)
Population
 •  1944 est.[1] 125,967 
     Density 1.2 /km²  (3.2 /sq mi)
Currency Króna

The Kingdom of Iceland (Icelandic: Konungsríkið Ísland; Danish: Kongeriget Island) was a constitutional monarchy that existed through the Act of Union with Denmark signed on 1 December 1918.[2] It lasted until 17 June 1944 when a national referendum established the Republic of Iceland in its place.[3]

Origins of Danish rule

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 constitution, written the same year, was revised in 1903 and the extent of Iceland's home rule increased in 1904. A minister for Icelandic affairs, residing in Reykjavík, was made responsible to the Althing, the Icelandic parliament.

Establishment of the Kingdom

On 1 December 1918, the Act of Union, an agreement with Denmark, recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state in personal union with Denmark through a common monarch. The Kingdom of Iceland established its own flag and coat of arms and asked that Denmark represent its foreign affairs and defence interests. The Act would be reviewed in 1940 and could be revoked three years later if agreement to continue it could not be reached.

World War II and the establishment of the Republic

The German occupation of Denmark on 9 April 1940 severed communications between Iceland and Denmark.[2] As a result, on 10 April, the Althing passed two resolutions investing the Icelandic cabinet with the power of head of state and declaring that Iceland would accept full responsibility for both foreign policy and coastal surveillance. A year later, on 15 May 1941 the Althing adopted a law creating the position of regent for Sveinn Björnsson in order to represent the monarchy.[2] During the first year of World War II, Iceland strictly enforced a position of neutrality and took action against both British and German forces that violated it. On 10 May 1940, Operation "Fork" was launched by the United Kingdom when military forces sailed into Reykjavík harbour and began an invasion of Iceland.[2] The government of Iceland issued a protest against what it called a "flagrant violation" of Icelandic neutrality. On the day of the invasion, Prime Minister Hermann Jónasson read a radio announcement instructing Icelanders to treat the British troops as guests. The Allied occupation of Iceland would last throughout the war.

At its peak, Britain had approximately 25,000 troops stationed in Iceland, all but eliminating unemployment in Reykjavík and other strategically important places. In July 1941, it coerced the Althing into accepting an American–Icelandic defence agreement, passing responsibility for Iceland's defence to the United States.[2] As many as 40,000 American soldiers were then stationed on the island, outnumbering the native population of adult men. (Iceland's total native population during the war was approximately 120,000.)

Following a constitutional referendum in May 1944, Iceland formally became an independent republic on 17 June 1944. Many Danes felt offended at its timing, as Denmark was still occupied by Germany. The deposed king in Copenhagen, Christian X, nonetheless sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people.[4]

Flags

  1. ^ a b Iceland – Flag History at Flags of the World. Retrieved on 18 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b Iceland – Royal Standard at Flags of the World. Retrieved on 18 March 2014.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Statistics of Iceland. Retrieved on 18 March 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Halfdanarson, Gudmundur Halfdanarson (2010). The A to Z of Iceland. Scarecrow Press. pp. 23–25. ISBN 0810872080.
  3. ↑ Van Cleaf, Kristin Van Cleaf (2007). Iceland. ABDO. p. 7. ISBN 1599287846.
  4. ↑ Hardarson, Solrun B. Jensdottir (October 1974). "The 'Republic of Iceland' 1940-44: Anglo-American Attitudes and Influences". Journal of Contemporary History 9 (4): 27-56. Retrieved 19 February 2016.

Bibliography

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