Kingdom of Iceland | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1918–1944 | |||||||||
| Anthem: "Ó Guð vors lands" ("O, God of Our Land") | |||||||||
.svg) The Kingdom of Iceland in 1933 | |||||||||
| Status | Personal union withDenmark | ||||||||
| Capital | Reykjavík | ||||||||
| Common languages | Icelandic,Danish | ||||||||
| Religion | Church of Iceland (state religion) | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary parliamentaryconstitutional monarchy | ||||||||
| King | |||||||||
• 1918–1944 | Kristján X | ||||||||
| Regent | |||||||||
• 1941–1944 | Sveinn Björnsson | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1918–1920 (first) | Jón Magnússon | ||||||||
• 1942–1944 (last) | Björn Þórðarson | ||||||||
| Legislature | Althing | ||||||||
| Historical era | Interwar period /WWII | ||||||||
| 1 December 1918 | |||||||||
| 9 April 1940 | |||||||||
| 10 May 1940 | |||||||||
| 20 May 1944 | |||||||||
| 17 June 1944 | |||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1944[1] | 125,967 | ||||||||
| Currency | Króna | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Monarchy ofIceland | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Kristján X | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty |
| First monarch | Kristján X |
| Last monarch | Kristján X |
| Formation | 1 December 1918 |
| Abolition | 17 June 1944 |
| Residence | Christiansborg Palace |
| Appointer | Hereditary |
Part ofa series on the |
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| History ofIceland |
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Middle ages
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Modern era
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TheKingdom of Iceland (Icelandic:Konungsríkið Ísland;Danish:Kongeriget Island) was a sovereign and independent country under aconstitutional andhereditary monarchy that was established by theAct of Union withDenmark signed on 1 December 1918.[2] It lasted until 17 June 1944 when anational referendum established the republic of Iceland in its place.[3]
Under apersonal union, due to theAct of Union, the monarch was simultaneouslymonarch of Denmark.[2] TheParliament of Iceland asked that Denmark represent Iceland internationally, and day-to-day matters were delegated to a Danishplenipotentiary for Icelandic affairs based inReykjavík, and – after theGerman invasion of Denmark in 1940 – aregent was appointed.[2]
Because of theKalmar Union, Iceland had been under the control of theCrown of Denmark since 1380,[4] although formally it had been aNorwegian possession until 1814.[5] In 1874, one thousand years after the firstacknowledged settlement, Denmark granted Icelandhome rule. The constitution, written the same year, was revised in 1903 and the extent of Iceland's home rule increased in 1904.[6]
On 1 December 1918, theAct of Union, an agreement with Denmark, recognized Iceland as a fullysovereign state, an independent country inpersonal union with Denmark through a commonmonarch. The Kingdom of Iceland established itsown flag andcoat 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.[7]
During the first year ofWorld War II, Iceland strictly enforced a position ofneutrality and took action against bothBritish andGerman forces that violated it. The Germaninvasion of Denmark on 9 April 1940 and subsequent occupation severed communications between Iceland and Denmark.[2] As a result, on 10 April, theAlthing passed tworesolutions investing the Icelandic cabinet with the power ofhead of state and declaring that the Kingdom of Iceland would accept full responsibility for bothforeign policy and coastal surveillance. On 10 May 1940,Operation Fork was launched by theUnited 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 MinisterHermann Jónasson read a radio announcement instructing Icelanders to treat the British troops as guests. On 15 May 1941, theAlthing adopted a law creating the position ofregent forSveinn Björnsson in order to represent the monarchy.[2]
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, theAlthingi adopted theAmerican–Icelandic defence agreement, passing responsibility for Iceland's defence to theUnited States.[2]
Following aconstitutional referendum in May 1944, Iceland formally became arepublic on 17 June 1944.King Christian X sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people.[8]
![Flag of Iceland (1915–1944)[9]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aFlag_of_Iceland_(1918%25E2%2580%25931944).svg)
![State Flag of Iceland (1915–1944)[9]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aState_flag_of_Iceland_(1918%25E2%2580%25931944).svg)
![Royal Standard (1921–1944)[10]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aRoyal_Standard_of_Iceland_(1921-1944).svg)
![Standard of the Regent (1941–1944)[10]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aStandard_of_the_Regent_of_Iceland_(1941%25E2%2580%25931944).svg)
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