Danish–Icelandic Act of Union

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Middle Ages

Settlement	c. 870–930
Old Commonwealth	c. 930–1262
Christianization	c. 999–1118
Sturlung Era	c. 1180–1264
Old Covenant	1262
Norwegian rule	1262–1380
Danish rule	1380–1918
Reformation	1536–1627
Danish Trade Monopoly	1602–1874
Eruption of Laki	1783–1785

Modern era

Independence Movement	1809–1847
Home Rule / Independence	1885–1918
Act of Union	1918
Kingdom	1918–1944
World War II	1939–1944
Invasion Invader relationships	1940 1940–1945
Republic	1944–present
Founding of the Republic	1944
Cold War	1947–1991
Cod Wars	1948–1976
Economic reform	1991–2008
Great Recession	2008–2011

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Nobility in Iceland

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The Danish–Icelandic Act of Union, a December 1, 1918 agreement signed by Iceland and Denmark, recognized Iceland as a fully sovereign state – the Kingdom of Iceland – freely associated to Denmark in a personal union with the Danish king. Iceland established its own flag, declared its neutrality and asked Denmark to represent its foreign affairs and defense interests. The Act would be up for revision in 1940 and could be revoked three years later if agreement was not reached.

Historian Gunnar Karlsson argues that Denmark was willing to grant Iceland sovereignty for two reasons. First, the self-determination of peoples had grown in importance with the end of World War I. Second, Iceland had shown that it was capable of governing its own affairs (starting with Home Rule in 1904) and relations with other states (during World War I when Iceland was cut off from Denmark).^[1]

On June 17, 1944, during the occupation of Denmark by Nazi Germany, while itself occupied by the armed forces of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, Iceland severed the ties to the Danish king and declared itself a republic.

References

↑ Karlsson, Gunnar (2000). History of Iceland. pp. 283–284.

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