HISTORICAL DATES

c. 750        Small number of Irish monks believed to have settled in Iceland
874 Pagan Norsemen arrive seeking freedom from Norway's oppressive King Harold Fairhair
930 Althingi founded – the supreme general assembly, the oldest parliament in the world
1000 Christianity adopted
1262 Iceland becomes subject to Norwegian control
1380 Iceland becomes subject to Danish rule along with Norway
1874 Constitution approved
1918 Iceland becomes independent sovereign state in personal union with Denmark
1944   Republic of Iceland founded at Thingvellir on 17 June