Saga - 1999, Page 140

138
ANNA AGNARSDÓTTIR
Summary
The article discusses whether the „Icelandic Revolution" of 1809 deserves
being termed a „revolution". During the Napoleonic Wars Denmark and
Great Britain were at war. A British trading expedition, led by a British
soap merchant, Samuel Phelps of Lambeth, was granted a licence to trade
in Iceland and a letter-of-marque by the British authorities. However, the
govemor of Iceland Count Trampe, citing the prohibition on trade in force
in the country, banned the Icelanders from trading with the British on
pain of death. Phelps felt he had no choice but to arrest the governor and
placed his Danish interpreter, Jörgen Jörgensen, in charge of the govern-
ment of Iceland. The arrest took place on June 25,h and the following day
radical proclamations were issued. „The Icelandic Revolution" as it
quickly came to be called was in full swing.
A model of revolution with the following characteristics is defined.
There must be radical change either in the political and/or social sphere;
ideology is a necessity (the revolutionaries must have certain aims in
opposition to those in power); violence is more or less mandatory
(revolutions are supposed to be bloody); there must be an element of
speed (a revolution is not gradual change); it must have a beginning and
an end; the majority of the people must at least silently approve the
goings-on, and last but certainly not least the revolution must achieve
something tangible. Does the Icelandic Revolution fit this model?
When examined it comes a long way to fulfilling the criteria. Thus
instead of the absolute mle of the Danish monarch Iceland was declared
a free and independent country, at peace with all nations and under the
protection of Great Britain. This is certainly a radical political change. The
symbol of independence - a flag - featured three white codfish on a dark-
blue background, an eight strong militia mounted on horseback and Fort
Phelps was hastily erected to defend the young republic. Proclamations
were issued, heavily influenced by the revolutionary democratic ideology
of the time. The aim was „nothing but the true welfare of the country" in
order „to insure a peace and happiness litttle known to the inhabitants
in the past. For instance it was pronounced that the „poor and the
common,, had the same rights as „the rich and powerful". An assembly
of elected representatives would meet the following year to decide on the
manner of government. In the meantime Jörgensen would govern as
„Protector". Thus the aim was a democratically governed country with
universal male suffrage (without any property qualifications), a radical
social change indeed.
This bloodless revolution had its violent moments. Jörgensen declared
that if the Icelanders violated articles of the proclamations they would be