< WHKMLA : History of Iceland, 870-1262









Viking State



Iceland, first discovered by Vikings ca. 860, was settled by Norwegian Vikings in the years 870-930. Irish monks inhabiting the island have either been expelled or enslaved. The process of settlement was recorded in the LANDNAMABOK.
In 930 the Icelanders established a constitution, with the ALTHINGI, a combination of high court and parliament, meeting annually at Thingvellir, under open sky. The Icelandic SAGAS, recorded in the 13th century, are a rich and unique source on Viking era history. The country accepted christianity peacefully, by a resolution of Althingi, around 1000 A.D., bishoprics established at SKALHOLT in 1056 and at HOLAR in 1106. In 1263, Iceland had to acknowledge Norwegian sovereignty.






EXTERNAL
FILES
A Brief History of Iceland, from Iceland.org
Christianisation of Iceland, from Kristni
History of Althingi, by Althingi
REFERENCE The North Atlantic Saga, in : Historical Atlas of the Vikings, by John Haywood, London : Penguins 1995, pp.86-99, illustrated, concise, scholarly


This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2000, last revised on November 8th 2004

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