Brstjjy

Kingdom of Iceland Konungsríkið Ísland (in Icelandic) Kongeriget Island (in Danish)
1918–1944
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Lofsöngur (English: "Song of Praise")
The Kingdom of Iceland in 1942
Status	Personal union with Denmark
Capital	Reykjavík
Common 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[1]	125967
Currency	Króna
ISO 3166 code	IS
Preceded by Succeeded by Iceland under Danish rule Iceland

Part of a series on the
History of Iceland
Middle Ages
Settlement c. 870–930 Old Commonwealth c. 930–1262 Christianization c. 999–1118 Sturlung era c. 1180–1264 Old Covenant 1262 Norwegian rule 1262–1380 Danish rule 1380–1918 Reformation 1536–1627 Danish Trade Monopoly 1602–1874 Eruption of Laki 1783–1785
Modern era
Independence Movement 1809–1847 Home Rule / Independence 1885–1918 Act of Union 1918 Kingdom 1918–1944 World War II 1939–1944 Invasion Invader relationships 1940 1940–1945 Republic 1944–present Founding of the Republic 1944 Cold War 1947–1991 Cod Wars 1948–1976 Economic reform 1991–2008 Great Recession 2008–2011
Related topics
Nobility in Iceland
Timeline
Iceland portal
v t e

The Kingdom of Iceland (Icelandic: Konungsríkið Ísland; Danish: Kongeriget Island) was a constitutional monarchy, a sovereign and independent country that was established by 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

Christian X of Denmark

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. 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 while retaining full control over its foreign affairs and defence. Iceland opened its first Embassy in 1920. 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, British Occupation 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 lasted until 1941 when the Government of Iceland asked the United States to take over its defence. The defence of Iceland was the United States' first participation in World War II.

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, the Althingi adopted the 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 a republic on 17 June 1944. Many Danes felt offended at its timing, as Denmark was still occupied by Germany.^{[citation needed]} The king in Copenhagen, Christian X, nonetheless sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people.^[4]

Flags

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  Flag of Iceland (1915–1944)^[5]

  
  

  
  


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  State Flag of Iceland (1915–1944)^[5]

  
  

  
  


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  Royal Standard (1921–1944)^[6]

  
  

  
  


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  Standard of the Regent (1941–1944)^[6]

  
  

  
  

See also

• Nobility in Iceland


• Icelandic independence movement


• Danish realm


• Constitution of Denmark


• Greenlandic independence


• Faroese independence

References

Bibliography

• 
  "Iceland, Home Rule and Sovereignty (1904–44)" at Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 17 March 2014.