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Lists of heads of state of Iceland facts for kids

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See also: History of Iceland
Quick facts for kids
King of Iceland
Konungur Íslands
Kingdom of Iceland Coat of Arms.svg
Kristian IV av Danmark, malning av Pieter Isaacsz 1611-1616.jpg
Longest reigning
Christian IV
4 April 1588–28 February 1648
Details
Style His Majesty
First monarch Haakon IV
Last monarch Kristján X
Formation 1262
Abolition 17 June 1944

This article lists the heads of state of Iceland. A head of state is the top leader of a country. They represent the nation. Iceland has had different types of leaders throughout its history. This includes kings and, more recently, presidents.

Iceland's Journey to Independence

Iceland was first settled by people from Norway and other Scandinavian countries. This happened in the late 800s and early 900s. Around the year 930, the leaders of Iceland created a special government. They set up a constitution and an assembly called the Althing. This Althing is the oldest parliament in the world.

For many years, Iceland was an independent country. But in 1262, it signed a treaty and joined with the Norwegian monarchy. This meant the King of Norway also became the King of Iceland.

Later, in the late 1300s, Norway and Denmark also joined together. So, Iceland became part of a union with both Norway and Denmark. This union lasted for a very long time, until 1814. In 1814, Norway became independent for a short time. Iceland then became a direct part of Denmark.

Becoming a Sovereign State

Iceland stayed closely connected to Denmark until 1918. On December 1, 1918, Iceland became a fully sovereign state. This means it was an independent country. However, it still shared the same king with Denmark. This arrangement is called a personal union.

Finally, between May 20 and 23, 1944, Iceland held a special vote. After this vote, Iceland officially became an independent republic. This happened on June 17, 1944. At this time, Denmark was occupied by Germany during World War II. Some people in Denmark were upset that Iceland became fully independent then. But the last King of Iceland, Kristján X, still sent his congratulations to the people of Iceland.

Kings of Norway (1262–1814)

After 1262, the kings of Norway also ruled Iceland. Here are the kings who held power during this long period.

Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image
Haakon IV
  • the Old
 (1204-04-01)1 April 1204 – 16 December 1263(1263-12-16) (aged 59) 1262 16 December 1263 Son of Haakon III Fairhair Haakon IV of Norway
Magnus VI
  • the Law-mender
 (1238-05-01)1 May 1238 – 9 May 1280(1280-05-09) (aged 42) 16 December 1263 9 May 1280 Son of Haakon IV Fairhair Magnus VI of Norway
Eric II 1268 – (1299-07-15)15 July 1299 9 May 1280 15 July 1299 Son of Magnus VI Fairhair Eric II of Norway
Haakon V 1270 – (1319-05-08)8 May 1319 15 July 1299 8 May 1319 Son of Magnus VI Fairhair Haakon V of Norway
Magnus VII 1316 – (1374-12-01)1 December 1374 1319 1 December 1374 Grandson of Haakon V Bjelbo Magnus VII of Norway
Haakon VI 1340 – (1380-09-11)11 September 1380 15 August 1343 11 September 1380 Son of Magnus VII Bjelbo Haakon VI of Norway
Olaf IV 1370 – (1387-08-03)3 August 1387 29 July 1380 3 August 1387 Son of Haakon VI Bjelbo Olaf IV of Norway
Margaret I c. 1353 – (1412-10-28)28 October 1412 2 February 1388 28 October 1412 Mother of Olaf IV Estridsen Margaret I of Norway
Eric III c. 1381 – (1459-05-03)3 May 1459 28 October 1412 1442 Son of Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania Griffins Eric III of Norway
Christopher I (1416-02-26)26 February 1416 – 5 January 1448(1448-01-05) (aged 31) 1442 5 January 1448 Son of John, Count Palatine of Neumarkt Palatinate-Neumarkt Christopher I of Norway
Charles I (1409-10-05)5 October 1409 – 14 May 1470(1470-05-14) (aged 60) 20 November 1449 1450 Son of Knut Tordsson Bonde Bonde Charles I of Norway
Christian I 1426 – (1481-05-21)21 May 1481 1450 21 May 1481 Son of Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg Oldenburg Christian I of Norway
John I (1455-02-02)2 February 1455 – 20 February 1513(1513-02-20) (aged 58) 1483 20 February 1513 Son of Christian I Oldenburg John I of Norway
Christian II (1481-07-01)1 July 1481 – 25 January 1559(1559-01-25) (aged 77) 22 July 1513 20 January 1523 Son of John I Oldenburg Christian II of Norway
Frederick I (1471-10-07)7 October 1471 – 10 April 1533(1533-04-10) (aged 61) 1523 10 April 1533 Son of Christian I Oldenburg Frederick I of Norway
Christian III (1503-08-12)12 August 1503 – 1 January 1559(1559-01-01) (aged 55) 1537 1 January 1559 Son of Frederick I Oldenburg Christian III of Norway
Frederick II (1534-07-01)1 July 1534 – 4 April 1588(1588-04-04) (aged 53) 1 January 1559 4 April 1588 Son of Christian III Oldenburg Frederick II of Norway
Christian IV (1577-04-12)12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648(1648-02-28) (aged 70) 4 April 1588 28 February 1648 Son of Frederick II Oldenburg Christian IV of Norway
Frederick III (1609-03-18)18 March 1609 – 9 February 1670(1670-02-09) (aged 60) 6 July 1648 9 February 1670 Son of Christian IV Oldenburg Frederick III of Norway
Christian V (1646-04-15)15 April 1646 – 25 August 1699(1699-08-25) (aged 53) 9 February 1670 25 August 1699 Son of Frederick III Oldenburg Christian V of Norway
Frederick IV (1671-10-11)11 October 1671 – 12 October 1730(1730-10-12) (aged 59) 25 August 1699 12 October 1730 Son of Christian V Oldenburg Frederick IV of Norway
Christian VI (1699-11-30)30 November 1699 – 6 August 1746(1746-08-06) (aged 46) 12 October 1730 6 August 1746 Son of Frederick IV Oldenburg Christian VI of Norway
Frederick V (1723-03-31)31 March 1723 – 14 January 1766(1766-01-14) (aged 42) 6 August 1746 14 January 1766 Son of Christian VI Oldenburg Frederick V of Norway
Christian VII (1749-01-29)29 January 1749 – 13 March 1808(1808-03-13) (aged 59) 14 January 1766 13 March 1808 Son of Frederick V Oldenburg Christian VII of Norway
Frederick VI (1768-01-28)28 January 1768 – 3 December 1839(1839-12-03) (aged 71) 13 March 1808 7 February 1814 Son of Christian VII Oldenburg Frederick VI of Norway

Kings of Denmark (1814–1918)

After Norway gained independence in 1814, Iceland remained under the rule of the Danish kings. These kings were also the heads of state for Iceland during this period.

Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image
Frederick VI (1768-01-28)28 January 1768 – 3 December 1839(1839-12-03) (aged 71) 7 February 1814 3 December 1839 Son of Christian VII Oldenburg Frederick VI of Denmark
Christian VIII (1786-09-18)18 September 1786 – 20 January 1848(1848-01-20) (aged 61) 3 December 1839 20 January 1848 Son of Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark and grandson of Frederick V Oldenburg Christian VIII of Denmark
Frederick VII (1808-10-06)6 October 1808 – 15 November 1863(1863-11-15) (aged 55) 20 January 1848 15 November 1863 Son of Christian VIII Oldenburg Frederick VII of Denmark
Christian IX (1818-04-08)8 April 1818 – 29 January 1906(1906-01-29) (aged 87) 15 November 1863 29 January 1906 Son of Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and great-grandson of Frederick V Glücksburg Christian IX of Denmark
Frederik VIII (1843-06-03)3 June 1843 – 14 May 1912(1912-05-14) (aged 68) 29 January 1906 14 May 1912 Son of Christian IX Glücksburg Frederik VIII of Denmark
Christian X (1870-09-26)26 September 1870 – 20 April 1947(1947-04-20) (aged 76) 14 May 1912 1 December 1918 Son of Frederik VIII Glücksburg Christian X of Denmark

Kings of Iceland (1918–1944)

From 1918 to 1944, Iceland was a sovereign kingdom. It shared the same king with Denmark. This king was the head of state for both countries.

Name Lifespan Reign start Reign end Notes Family Image
Kristján X
 (1870-09-26)26 September 1870 – 20 April 1947(1947-04-20) (aged 76) 1 December 1918 17 June 1944 Son of Frederik VIII Glücksburg Christian X of Denmark

Presidents of Iceland (1944—present)

Since June 17, 1944, Iceland has been a republic. This means its head of state is a president, not a king or queen. The president is chosen by the people.

Main article: President of Iceland
See also: Prime Minister of Iceland

See also

  • Jørgen Jørgensen, Jörundur hundadagakonungur ("Jørgen the dog-days King" in Icelandic), a Danish adventurer that proclaimed himself temporary king during some months of 1809.
  • List of Norwegian monarchs
  • List of Danish monarchs
  • List of Swedish monarchs
  • List of Finnish monarchs
  • List of Greenlandic rulers
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