The first Althing meets at Þingvellir
The world's oldest parliament met in the open air
In 930 Iceland's Norse settlers began gathering each summer in the Þingvellir valley to make laws and settle disputes, with a lawspeaker reciting the law from memory, a third each year. The Althing met there until 1800, and Iceland's parliament still bears the name.
Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 10th century
Did you know
An Icelandic lawspeaker lost his job because his voice was too weak. He had to recite the law from memory at the Althing, a third each summer — and Grímr Svertingsson simply could not be heard. Share →
The Vikings were not the first in Iceland. Icelandic chronicles say the Norse found Irish hermit monks there — the papar — who left, leaving behind books, bells and croziers. Share →
Meanwhile around the world (±25 years)
Africa
- 909 Proclamation of the Fatimid Caliphate — 21 years earlier
Asia
- 938 Battle of Bạch Đằng — 8 years later
- 946 Millennium Eruption of Mount Paektu — 16 years later
Americas
- c. 950–1250 Medieval Warm Period — 20 years later
Alive at the time
- Igor of Kiev (aged 52)
- Æthelstan (aged 36)
- Otto the Great (aged 18)
- Olga of Kiev (aged 10)