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World's oldest parliament, the Icelandic Parliament is established, the Alþingi (anglicised as Althing or Althingi)

The Alþingi, anglicised as Althingi or Althing, is the supreme national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest surviving parliament in the world.

The Alþingi, anglicised as Althingi or Althing, is the supreme national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest surviving parliament in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir ('thing fields' or 'assembly fields'), about 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of what later became the country's capital, Reykjavík. The present parliament building, the Alþingishús, was built in 1881 of hewn Icelandic stone. The unicameral parliament has 63 members, and is elected every four years based on party-list proportional representation. Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir became speaker of the Althing in February 2025.

After Iceland's union with Norway in 1262, the Althing lost its legislative power, which was not restored until 1904, when Iceland gained home rule from Denmark.

Historical Significance

The Alþingi, anglicised as Althingi or Althing, is the supreme national parliament of Iceland.

Events Before

  1. Battle of the Bosnian Highlands: Simeon I of Bulgaria is defeated by King Tomislav of Croatia

    Simeon I the Great was the ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire from 893 until his death in 927.

  2. King Aethelstan is the first southern English king to gain control of much of the north of Britain when various local ki

    King Aethelstan is the first southern English king to gain control of much of the north of Britain when various local kings accept his overlordship at Eamont, Cumbria

  3. The Saracens conquer and destroy Taranto (southern Italy)

    The Saracens conquer and destroy Taranto (southern Italy)

  4. Trpimir II succeeds to the Croatian throne.

    Trpimir II succeeds to the Croatian throne.

  5. Caliphate of Cordoba is established by Emir Abd-al-Rahman III

    ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḥakam al-Rabdī ibn Hishām ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Dākhil al-Marwānī al-Umawī al-Qurashī, or simply ʿAbd al-Raḥmān III,...

Events After

  1. Battle of Riade: German King Henry I defeats the Magyars in northern Thuringia

    The Battle of Riade or Battle of Merseburg was fought between the troops of East Francia under King Henry I and the Magyars at an unidentified location in northern Thuringia along the river Unstrut...

  2. Saint Wenceslas is murdered by his brother Boleslaus I of Bohemia

    Wenceslaus I, Wenceslas I or Václav the Good was the Prince (kníže) of Bohemia from 921 until his death, probably in 935.

  3. Duke Alberik II of Spoleto appoints his son Pope Leo VII

    Duke Alberik II of Spoleto appoints his son Pope Leo VII

  4. Louis IV [Louis of Overseas], crowned King of France

    Louis IV (920/921 – 10 September 954), called d'Outremer or Transmarinus ("From overseas"), reigned as King of West Francia from 936 to 954.

  5. Otto I the Great crowned King of Germany (East Francia)

    East Francia (Latin: Francia orientalis) or the Kingdom of the East Franks (Regnum Francorum orientalium) was a successor state of the Carolingian Empire ruled by the Carolingian dynasty until 911.

More from the 930s

Saint Wenceslas is murdered by his brother Boleslaus I of Bohemia

Wenceslaus I, Wenceslas I or Václav the Good was the Prince (kníže) of Bohemia from 921 until his death, probably in 935.

Duke Alberik II of Spoleto appoints his son Pope Leo VII

Duke Alberik II of Spoleto appoints his son Pope Leo VII

Translation of the relics of martyr Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia, the patron saint of the Czech state

Wenceslaus I, Wenceslas I or Václav the Good was the Prince (kníže) of Bohemia from 921 until his death, probably in 935.

Battle of Riade: German King Henry I defeats the Magyars in northern Thuringia

The Battle of Riade or Battle of Merseburg was fought between the troops of East Francia under King Henry I and the Magyars at an unidentified location in northern Thuringia along the river Unstrut...

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on June 23, 930?
The Alþingi, anglicised as Althingi or Althing, is the supreme national parliament of Iceland. It is the oldest surviving parliament in the world. The Althing was founded in 930 at Þingvellir ('thing fields' or 'assembly fields'), about 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of what later became the country's capital, Reykjavík.
Why is World's oldest parliament, the Icelandic Parliament is established, the Alþin... significant?
The Alþingi, anglicised as Althingi or Althing, is the supreme national parliament of Iceland.

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June 23 in HistoryYear 930