Editing Icelanders (section)

=== Hardship and conflict ===

[[Image:Rock of law in Þingvellir.jpg|220px|right|thumb|Rock of law in [[Þingvellir]] was used to make speeches.]]
In 930, on the [[Þingvellir]] ({{langx|en|Thingvellir}}) plain near [[Reykjavík]], the chieftains and their families met and established the Alþingi, Iceland's first national [[Legislative Assembly|assembly]]. However, the Alþingi lacked the power to enforce the laws it made. In 1262, struggles between rival chieftains left Iceland so divided that [[King Haakon IV]] of Norway was asked to step in as a final arbitrator for all disputes, as part of the [[Old Covenant (Iceland)|Old Covenant]]. This is known as the [[Age of the Sturlungs]].<ref>Byock, 1990</ref>

Iceland was under Norwegian leadership until 1380, when the [[Hereditary Kingdom of Norway|Royal House of Norway]] died out. At this point, both Iceland and Norway came under the control of the [[Monarchy of Denmark|Danish Crown]]. With the introduction of [[absolute monarchy]] in Denmark, the Icelanders relinquished their [[autonomy]] to the crown, including the right to initiate and consent to legislation. This meant a loss of independence for Iceland, which led to nearly 300 years of decline: perhaps largely because Denmark and its Crown did not consider Iceland to be a [[colony]] to be supported and assisted. In particular, the lack of help in [[Defense (military)|defense]] led to constant [[Turkish Abductions|raids by marauding pirates]] along the Icelandic coasts.<ref name="F5">Fiske ''et al.'', 1972, p. 5</ref>

Unlike Norway, Denmark did not need Iceland's fish and homespun wool. This created a dramatic deficit in Iceland's trade, and no new ships were built as a result. In 1602, Iceland was forbidden to trade with other countries by order of the [[Danish Government]], and in the 18th century climatic conditions had reached an all-time low since Settlement.<ref name="F5"/>

[[Image:Lakagigar Iceland 2004-07-01.jpg|220px|right|thumb|[[Laki]] erupted in 1783–84 with catastrophic consequences for Iceland.]]
In 1783–84, [[Laki (volcano)|Laki]], a [[Fissure vent|volcanic fissure]] in the south of the island, erupted. The eruption produced about {{convert|15|km3|mi3|abbr=on}} of [[basalt]] lava, and the total volume of [[tephra]] emitted was 0.91&nbsp;km<sup>3</sup>.<ref>Global Volcanism Program, 2007</ref> The [[Particulate|aerosols]] that built up caused a cooling effect in the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. The consequences for Iceland were catastrophic, with approximately 25–33% of the population dying in the [[famine]] of 1783 and 1784. Around 80% of sheep, 50% of cattle, and 50% of horses died of [[Skeletal fluorosis|fluorosis]] from the 8 million tons of fluorine that were released.<ref name="Stone, 2004">Stone, 2004</ref>  This disaster is known as the [[Mist Hardship]] (Icelandic: ''[[Móðuharðindin]]'').

In 1798–99, the Alþingi was discontinued for several decades, eventually being restored in 1844. It was moved to [[Reykjavík]], the capital, after being held at [[Þingvellir]] for over nine centuries.