Icelandic Commonwealth: Map & History
The Icelandic Commonwealth, also known as the Icelandic Free State, was the political unit existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king with the Old Covenant in 1262.
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Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Icelandic Commonwealth, also known as the Icelandic Free State, was the political unit existing in Iceland between the establishment of the Althing in 930 and the pledge of fealty to the Norwegian king with the Old Covenant in 1262. With the probable exception of hermitic Irish monks known as Papar, Iceland was an uninhabited island until around 874.
Modern Countries Once Part of Icelandic Commonwealth
At its mapped extent, Icelandic Commonwealth covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Icelandic Commonwealth's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Icelandic Commonwealth in Depth
Decline and fall
In the early 13th century, the Age of the Sturlungs, the Commonwealth began to suffer from chaos and division resulting from internal disputes. Originally, the goðar (chieftains) functioned more as a contractual relationship than a fixed geographic chieftaincy. However, by 1220 this form of communal leadership was replaced by dominant regional individuals who battled with one another for more control. One historian argues the chaos and violence of this period stem from an imbalance of power and changes in the nature of Icelandic warfare. Whereas the number of goðar had been at least 39 early in the Icelandic Commonwealth, a few powerful families had consolidated control over most of the goðorð in the late 12th century.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Icelandic Commonwealth (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Icelandic Commonwealth: Key Facts
| Capital | Thingvellir National Park |
|---|---|
| Founded | 930 CE |
| Dissolved | 1262 |
Facts from Wikidata Q62389 (CC0).
Icelandic Commonwealth Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Icelandic Commonwealth appears, with the other states of the time.
Icelandic Commonwealth Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 112,115 km² in 1266 CE.
Icelandic Commonwealth: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Icelandic Commonwealth exist?
Icelandic Commonwealth is dated to 936 CE – 1271 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Icelandic Commonwealth?
The capital of Icelandic Commonwealth was Þingvellir.
How large was Icelandic Commonwealth at its peak?
At its peak in 1266 AD Icelandic Commonwealth covered about 112,115 km².
How did the map of Icelandic Commonwealth change over time?
Icelandic Commonwealth appears on 3 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1000 CE to 1200 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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