Kingdom of Iceland
Kingdom of Iceland | |||||||||
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| 1918–1944 | |||||||||
| Anthem: "Ó Guð vors lands" ("O, God of Our Land") | |||||||||
The Kingdom of Iceland in 1933 | |||||||||
| Status | Personal union with Denmark | ||||||||
| Capital | Reykjavík | ||||||||
| Common languages | Icelandic, Danish | ||||||||
| Religion | Church of Iceland (state religion) | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy | ||||||||
| King | |||||||||
• 1918–1944 | Kristján X | ||||||||
| Regent | |||||||||
• 1941–1944 | Sveinn Björnsson | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1918–1920 (first) | Jón Magnússon | ||||||||
• 1942–1944 (last) | Björn Þórðarson | ||||||||
| Legislature | Althing | ||||||||
| Historical era | Interwar period / WWII | ||||||||
| 1 December 1918 | |||||||||
| 9 April 1940 | |||||||||
| 10 May 1940 | |||||||||
| 20 May 1944 | |||||||||
| 17 June 1944 | |||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 1944 | 125,967 | ||||||||
| Currency | Króna | ||||||||
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| Monarchy of Iceland | |
|---|---|
Kristján X | |
| Details | |
| Style | His Majesty |
| First monarch | Kristján X |
| Last monarch | Kristján X |
| Formation | 1 December 1918 |
| Abolition | 17 June 1944 |
| Residence | Christiansborg Palace |
| Appointer | Hereditary |
| History of Iceland |
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The Kingdom of Iceland (Icelandic: Konungsríkið Ísland; Danish: Kongeriget Island) was a sovereign and independent country under a constitutional and hereditary monarchy that was established by the Act of Union with Denmark signed on 1 December 1918. It lasted until 17 June 1944 when a national referendum established the republic of Iceland in its place.
Under a personal union, due to the Act of Union, the monarch was simultaneously monarch of Denmark. The Parliament of Iceland asked that Denmark represent Iceland internationally, and day-to-day matters were delegated to a Danish plenipotentiary for Icelandic affairs based in Reykjavík, and – after the German invasion of Denmark in 1940 – a regent was appointed.