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Norway has left prominent mark in the pages of Iceland's history. Iceland's tryst with Norway began as early as the 13th century. After the Irish and the Norse, it was the Norwegians who took the reins to rule in Iceland. Though Norway's entrance into Iceland was well sought out and executed by the Norwegian king, Norway's rule over Iceland did not last long.
The Icelanders were pagans before the arrival of the Norwegians and worshiped pagan Norse gods and goddesses. But the King of Norway sent missionaries to Iceland to convert them forcefully into Christianity. Many of them turned Christians while many didn't. This religious dispute divided the island into the pagan group and the Christian group. There were signs of an imminent civil war but it did not take place. The problem was solved within the islanders.
Administrative power lay in the hands of officers popularly called chieftains. Their functioning was efficient but only up to a certain period of time. Gradually conflicts arose amongst the chieftains and the state was plunged into feudalism. Internal conflicts and the effects of feudalism consequently led to a bloody and violent civil war. Norway intervened and Iceland finally submitted to Norway.
Norway's enforcement of its rule on Iceland was a gradual process. Althing, the parliament intended to hold on to power but soon it shifted to the ecclesiastical system. The rule of Norway brought order into the land but the taxes were high and the Icelanders were not satisfied with the judicial system.
Norway could not keep its hold on Iceland for long and Denmark imposed itself upon Iceland along with Norway. Norway's rule on Iceland weakened. The Treaty of Kiel, which separated Norway and Denmark, brought an end to Norway's hold over Iceland.
Though Iceland was under the power of Norway for much less a time than it was under Denmark Norway's contribution to Iceland's history is vast and cannot be overlooked.
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