17 juni 1944: onafhankelijkheid Ijsland

Noot LT: te checken onder welke omstandigheden

In 930 Althingi (Parliament) was established at Thingvellir. Its formation inaugurated the Icelandic Commonwealth, a form of republic which lasted until 1262, when Iceland came under the rule of the Norwegian crown. In 1383, both Norway and Iceland came under the Danish crown. After the collapse of the Icelandic Commonwealth, conditions in Iceland gradually deteriorated due to harsher climate, natural disasters and disruptions in trade. Christianity was adopted in Iceland at Althingi in the year 1000. The Reformation was imposed by the Danish king and Catholicism effectively came to an end in 1550. All church property reverted to the king, who greatly increased his power and in 1602 imposed a Danish trade monopoly. In 1662, absolute monarchy was established, and by the end of the 18th century Althingi had been dissolved. In the 19th century, conditions began to improve and the political movement for greater autonomy grew stronger. In 1874 Iceland received its own constitution and control of its finances. In 1904 Iceland won home rule and in 1918 it became independent, although the king of Denmark remained as sovereign. The Republic of Iceland was formally proclaimed at Thingvellir on 17 June, 1944. (bron: www.iceland.org/be)