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| 1786 |
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| Commerce with Iceland free to all Danes and Norwegians. | 1 |
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| 1787 |
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| Iceland divided into three amts and Icelandic affairs controlled from Copenhagen. The Allthing lost its legislative power and was dissolved in 1800. | 2 |
| The Napoleonic Wars hurt Iceland because the continental system blocked trade with England. They also gave Iceland a taste of freedom. | 3 |
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| 1809, June 26 |
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| Jørgen Jørgensen posted a proclamation in Reykjavik declaring Iceland free and indicating that a national Icelandic government would be established. Icelandic officials backed by English naval power voided this on Aug. 22. | 4 |
| Cultural Development: Despite its lack of a university, Iceland enjoyed considerable cultural activity during the late 17th and 18th centuries. Thormod Torfœus wrote many historical works, including Historia Rerum Norwegicarum. Icelanders were heavily influenced by the Aufklärung movement and Danish culture, the upper classes taking Danish dress after 1780. Magnus Stephensen played a major role in this dissemination, establishing the first Icelandic monthly and a society for general enlightenment (1794). (See Denmark and Iceland) | 5 |
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