Toto

Looks like you're right about Iceland. From

<a href="http://www.travelnet.is/about/history.htm" target="_blank">http://www.travelnet.is/about/history.htm</a>

Brief History Of Iceland

330 Ultima Tule

874-930 The settlement of Iceland

930 Establishment of the Althing

Althing, Iceland's present-day parliament, is the world's oldest existing national assembly. Founded at Thingvellir ("Parliament Plains"), the country's republican system of government was unique in its day. In the year 930, at the closing of what is now known as the Settlement period, a constitutional law code was accepted and the Althing established. The judicial power of the Althing was distributed among four local courts and a form of supreme court which convened annually at the national assembly at Thingvellir.


985 Eirikur the Red discovers and settles Greenland

1000 Peaceful adoption of Christianity at Thingvellir

Christianity was peacefully adopted at the Althing by the Icelanders in the year 1000 AD The Althing assembled for two weeks every summer and attracted a large proportion of the population. The first bishopric was established at Skálholt in South Iceland in 1056 and a second at Hólar in the north in 1106. Both became the country's main centres of learning.

==end quote==

But it doesn't sound so peaceful here (although it does somehow remind me of a Monty Python skit. . .): <a href="http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/njal100.html" target="_blank">Iceland's conversion</a>.

capsaicin67

From "Iceland's Conversion":

[/B]"There will never be peace unless we have a single law. I ask you all -- heathens and Christians alike -- to accept the one law that I am about to proclaim."

All agreed, pledging under oath to abide by his judgement.

He then proclaimed, "Our first principle of law is that all Icelanders shall henceforth be Christian. We shall believe in one God -- Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
[B]

I guess they had their "pledge problems", too. eery thing is, sounds like something you could imagine hearing from Bush the Younger, or Bayh the Opportunist in the near future......

Buffman

Hmmmmm? There might be a question about Iceland being a continuously existing, "sovereign," Christian democracy," especially during the 1800-1918 period.

<a href="http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq53.html#top" target="_blank">http://www.lysator.liu.se/nordic/scn/faq53.html#top</a>

1262
Weakened by internal struggles, Iceland becomes under Norwegian rule, maintaining, however, substantial autonomy. This was the end of the age of Sturlungs.

1387
Norway, and with it Iceland, becomes united with Denmark.

1400s - 1700s
Pestilence, commercial exploitation, and natural catastrophes nearly wiped out the Icelandic nation. By the late 18th century its population had dropped to fewer than 40,000. A renewal began in the 19th century.

1536
Iceland becomes Lutheran. The Bible is translated into Icelandic in 1584.

1783-86
The worst volcanic eruptions in the history of Iceland occur. Grass was burned over large areas, 3/4 of cattle starved to death; one quarter of Iceland's inhabitants died of starvation.

1786
Reykjavík received trade rights.

1800
The Alþing meetings discontinued by the Danish king.

1843
With the awakening of Icelandic nationalism, the Alþing is re-established as a consultative body.

1874
Iceland gets a constitution of its own.

1904
Home rule under Denmark.

1918
Denmark recognizes Iceland as a sovereign state, but Iceland remains united with Denmark.

1940
When Denmark falls to the Nazistic Germany, Iceland is occupied by British troops to prevent a German attack.

1941
U.S. forces take over defence of Iceland from British.

1944
Iceland declares full independence at Þingvellir.