Kingdom of Iceland: Map & History
The Kingdom of Iceland was an associated state of Denmark and kingdom under a personal union that was established by the Act of Union signed on 1 December 1918.
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The Kingdom of Iceland was an associated state of Denmark and kingdom under a personal union that was established by the Act of Union signed on 1 December 1918. It lasted until 17 June 1944 when a national referendum established the republic of Iceland in its place. 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, and – after the German invasion of Denmark in 1940 – a regent was appointed.
Modern Countries Once Part of Kingdom of Iceland
At its mapped extent, Kingdom of Iceland covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Kingdom of Iceland's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Kingdom of Iceland in Depth
History
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 constitution, written the same year, was revised in 1903 and the extent of Iceland's home rule increased in 1904.
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. Iceland opened its first embassy in 1920.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Kingdom of Iceland (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Kingdom of Iceland: Key Facts
| Capital | Reykjavík |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Icelandic, Danish |
| Form of government | constitutional monarchy |
| Founded | 1 December 1918 |
| Dissolved | 17 June 1944 |
Preceded by
- Iceland under home rule
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q62567 (CC0).
Interactive map
Kingdom of Iceland on the World War I map →
See Kingdom of Iceland on the day-by-day map of World War I.
Kingdom of Iceland: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Kingdom of Iceland exist?
The Kingdom of Iceland is dated to 1918 CE – 1939 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of the Kingdom of Iceland?
The capital of the Kingdom of Iceland was Reykjavík.
How large was the Kingdom of Iceland at its peak?
At its peak in 1939 the Kingdom of Iceland covered about 112,115 km².
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