Lögberg-Heimskringla - 06.05.1994, Side 4

4 • Lögberg-Heimskringla • Föstudagur 6. maí 1994
Iceland may have been settled
by some Christian monks from
Ireland already in 700 A.D. The
first Icelandic settler is said to be
the Norwegian, Ingólfur Amarson,
who came to the country in 874. He
resided where the capital is now,
and gave it the name Reykjavík.
Half a century later, or in 930, the
Icelandic parliament, “Alþingi” was
founded, which is considered the
oldest parliament in the world.
The Norwegian people who set-
tled in Iceland were heathen. In the
year 1000, through peaceful means
by an act of law, Christianity was
adopted. Such an event has not
happened in any other country in
the world.
Late in the 14th century the
Danish King came to power in
Iceland. The Icelanders coúld never
submit to the Danish authority and
struggled fírmly to regain their inde-
111 pendence.
That struggle was long and final-
ly bore fruit on June 17, 1944.
Along the way toward that goal are
dates of importance:
1874 In the year of millennium
celebration- of the settle-
ment, the King of Denmark ffg
visited Iceland for the first
time, and a new constitu-
tion came in effect.
1904 Iceland gets Home Rule,
and first Icelandic minister
sitting in Iceland.
1918 The Act of Union gives full 11
recognition to Iceland as
an independent nation,
though with the Danish
King as a head of state.
1944 Iceland breaks all ties to
Denmark. At a meeting of
Alþingi, June 16, it is de-
cided that a new constitu-
tion will take effect when
the Speaker declares so
from Lögberg at Þingvellir
the following day, June 17, ;
and by that the “Lýðveldið
ísland” (The Republic of
Iceland) is founded.
The pictures give some idea of |||
what took place June 17 and 18,

Independence Day
Alþingi — June 16, 1944.
PHOTO / UÓSM ÓÞEKKTUR / UNKNOWN / EINKASAFN / PRIVATE COLLECTION
The crowds numbered in tens of thousands and did not let the cold
and rain dampen their spirits at this historic moment.
PHOTO / UÓSM ÓÞEKKTUR / UNKNOWN / EINKASAFN / PRIVATE COLLECTION
^ 4
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lilpliásiiill*
;

-■:
Then Regent, Sveinn Björnsson, laid a wreath at the statue of Jón Sigurösson in the
early hours of June 17, before leaving for Þingvellir.
PHOTO / UÓSM SKAFTI GUÐJÓNSSON / UOSM SAFN RUK BORGAR
THE REYKJAVÍK MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPHY