Timeline of Icelandic history


This is a timeline of Icelandic history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Iceland and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see history of Iceland.

11th century

15th century

16th century

YearEvent
1501English merchants plunder Bessastaðir.
1513Leiðarhólmsskrá.
1522Sveinsstaðafundur.
1539Gissur Einarsson is made bishop.
1541The Skálholt see turns Lutheran.
1550Bishop Jón Arason and his sons are beheaded in Skálholt.
1551The Hólar see turns Lutheran.
1559The English are driven from Vestmannaeyjar.
1571Guðbrandur Þorláksson becomes bishop of Hólar.
1584Guðbrandsbiblía, the first Icelandic Bible, is published.