View source for Lists of heads of state of Iceland

{{Short description|None}}
{{Infobox monarchy
| royal_title        = King
| realm              = Iceland
| native_name        = ''Konungur Íslands''
| border             = <!-- Optional. Accepted values: provincial / federal / imperial -->
| coatofarms         = Kingdom of Iceland Coat of Arms.svg
| coatofarms_article = Coat of arms of Iceland
| coatofarms_link    = 
| type               = other
| his/her            = His
| image              = Kristian IV av Danmark, malning av Pieter Isaacsz 1611-1616.jpg
| caption            = '''Longest reigning<br />[[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]]'''<br />4 April 1588–28 February 1648
| other              = <!-- Optional. Other caption below incumbent's name instead of enthronement date. -->
| image2             = <!-- Optional. Just the image name, no File: or Image: coding -->
| caption2           = <!-- Optional. -->
| incumbent2         = <!-- Optional. for a co-principality -->
| incumbent2since    = <!-- Optional. Enthronement date. -->
| other2             = <!-- Optional. Other caption below co-incumbent's name instead of enthronement date. -->
| heir_apparent      = <!-- Optional. -->
| heir_presumptive   = <!-- Optional. -->
| first_monarch      = [[Haakon IV of Norway|Haakon IV]]
| last_monarch       = [[Christian X of Denmark|Kristján X]]
| formation          = 1262
| abolition          = 	17 June 1944
| residence          = <!-- Optional. -->
| appointer          = <!-- Optional. -->
| pretender          = <!-- Optional. -->
}}
This is a '''list of heads of state of Iceland''', including [[Monarchy of Norway|Kings of Norway]] from 1262 to 1814, [[Monarchy of Denmark|Kings of Denmark]] from 1814 to 1918, the [[King of Iceland]] from 1918 to 1944 and [[President of Iceland|Presidents of Iceland]] from 1944.

== Overview ==

Iceland was settled in the late 9th and early 10th centuries, principally by people of [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]] and other [[Scandinavia]]n origin. In 930, the ruling chiefs established a republican [[constitution]] and an assembly called the [[Althing]]—the oldest parliament in the world. [[Icelandic Commonwealth|Iceland remained independent]] until 1262, when it entered into a [[Old Covenant (Iceland)|treaty which established a union]] with the [[Monarchy of Norway|Norwegian monarchy]]. In the late 14th century [[Hereditary Kingdom of Norway|Norway]] and [[Denmark]] entered into a union. The union between Denmark and Norway, ignoring some shorter periods, lasted until 1814, when Norway briefly [[Norway in 1814|gained independence]], and Iceland became an integral part of Denmark until 1918, when Iceland was recognised as a fully [[Kingdom of Iceland|sovereign state]] in personal union with Denmark under a [[Personal union|common monarch]], on 1 December that same year.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

Following a [[Icelandic constitutional referendum, 1944|constitutional referendum]] between 20 and 23 May 1944, Iceland formally became an [[Founding of the Republic of Iceland|independent republic]] on 17 June 1944. Since Denmark was still occupied by [[Nazi Germany|Germany]], many Danes felt offended that the step should have been taken at the time {{Citation needed|date=September 2019}}. Still, the last King of Iceland, [[Christian X of Denmark|Kristján X]], sent a message of congratulations to the Icelandic people.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

== Kings of Norway (1262–1814)==
{{further|List of Norwegian monarchs}}
{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = '''[[Haakon IV of Norway|Haakon IV]]'''
| nickname1   = the Old
| native1     = 
| life1       = {{Birth date|1204|4|1|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1263|12|16|1204|4|1|df=yes}}
| reignstart1 = 1262
| reignend1   = 16 December 1263
| notes1      = Son of [[Haakon III of Norway|Haakon III]]
| family1     = [[House of Fairhair|Fairhair]]
| image1      = Haakon IV of Norway seal.jpg
| alt1        = Haakon IV of Norway
| name2       = '''[[Magnus VI of Norway|Magnus VI]]'''
| nickname2   = the Law-mender
| native2     = 
| life2       = {{Birth date|1238|5|1|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1280|5|9|1238|5|1|df=y}}
| reignstart2 = 16 December 1263
| reignend2   = 9 May 1280
| notes2      = Son of Haakon IV
| family2     = [[House of Fairhair|Fairhair]]
| image2      = King Magnus VI of Norway. Stavanger Cathedral blank.png
| alt2        = Magnus VI of Norway
| name3       = '''[[Eric II of Norway|Eric II]]'''
| nickname3   = 
| native3     = 
| life3       = 1268 – {{Death date|1299|7|15|df=y}}
| reignstart3 = 9 May 1280
| reignend3   = 15 July 1299
| notes3      = Son of Magnus VI
| family3     = [[House of Fairhair|Fairhair]]
| image3      = Eirik Magnusson.JPG
| alt3        = Eric II of Norway
| name4       = '''[[Haakon V of Norway|Haakon V]]'''
| nickname4   = 
| native4     = 
| life4       = 1270 – {{Death date|1319|5|8|df=y}}
| reignstart4 = 15 July 1299
| reignend4   = 8 May 1319
| notes4      = Son of Magnus VI
| family4     = [[House of Fairhair|Fairhair]]
| image4      = Håkon Magnusson.JPG
| alt4        = Haakon V of Norway
| name5       = '''[[Magnus VII of Norway|Magnus VII]]'''
| nickname5   = 
| native5     = 
| life5       = 1316 – {{Death date|1374|12|1|df=y}}
| reignstart5 = 1319
| reignend5   = 1 December 1374<ref>Lars O. Lagerqvist & Nils Åberg in ''Kings & Rulers of Sweden'' {{ISBN|91-87064-35-9}} p. 22</ref>
| notes5      = Grandson of Haakon V
| family5     = [[House of Bjälbo|Bjälbo]]
| image5      = Magnus Eriksson (cropped).jpg
| alt5        = Magnus VII of Norway
| name6       = '''[[Haakon VI of Norway|Haakon VI]]'''
| nickname6   = 
| native6     = 
| life6       = 1340 – {{Death date|1380|9|11|df=y}}
| reignstart6 = 15 August 1343
| reignend6   = 11 September 1380
| notes6      = Son of Magnus VII
| family6     = [[House of Bjälbo|Bjälbo]]
| image6      = Hacon VI of Norway seal c 1363.jpg
| alt6        = Haakon VI of Norway
| name7       = '''[[Olaf IV of Norway|Olaf IV]]'''
| nickname7   = 
| native7     = 
| life7       = 1370 – {{Death date|1387|8|3|df=y}}
| reignstart7 = 29 July 1380
| reignend7   = 3 August 1387
| notes7      = Son of Haakon VI
| family7     = [[House of Bjälbo|Bjälbo]]
| image7      = Olaf II of Denmark c 1385 (cropped).jpg
| alt7        = Olaf IV of Norway
| name8       = '''[[Margaret I of Norway|Margaret I]]'''
| nickname8   = 
| native8     = 
| life8       = c. 1353 – {{Death date|1412|10|28|df=y}}
| reignstart8 = 2 February 1388
| reignend8   = 28 October 1412
| notes8      = Mother of Olaf IV
| family8     = [[House of Estridsen|Estridsen]]
| image8      =  Margaret of Denmark, Norway & Sweden (1389) effigy 2010 (2).jpg
| alt8        = Margaret I of Norway
| name9       = '''[[Eric III of Norway|Eric III]]'''
| nickname9   = 
| native9     = 
| life9       = c. 1381 – {{Death date|1459|5|3|df=y}}
| reignstart9 = 28 October 1412
| reignend9   = 1442
| notes9      = Son of [[Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania]]
| family9     = [[House of Griffins|Griffins]]
| image9      = Eric VII the Pomeranian of Denmark (photo 2010) crop.jpg
| alt9        = Eric III of Norway
| name10      = '''[[Christopher I of Norway|Christopher I]]'''
| nickname10  = 
| native10    = 
| life10      = {{Birth date|1416|2|26|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1448|01|5|1416|02|26|df=y}}
| reignstart10= 1442
| reignend10  = 5 January 1448
| notes10     = Son of [[John, Count Palatine of Neumarkt]]
| family10    = [[House of Palatinate-Neumarkt|Palatinate-Neumarkt]]
| image10     = Christopher of Bavaria.jpg
| alt10       = Christopher I of Norway
| name11      = '''[[Charles I of Norway|Charles I]]'''
| nickname11  = 
| native11    = 
| life11      = {{Birth date|1409|10|5|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1470|5|14|1409|10|5|df=y}}
| reignstart11= 20 November 1449
| reignend11  = 1450
| notes11     = Son of Knut Tordsson Bonde
| family11    = [[House of Bonde|Bonde]]
| image11     = Carl II of Sweden 15th century by Bernt Notke 1982 .jpg
| alt11       = Charles I of Norway
| name12      = '''[[Christian I of Norway|Christian I]]'''
| nickname12  = 
| native12    = 
| life12      = 1426 – {{Death date|1481|5|21|df=y}}
| reignstart12= 1450
| reignend12  = 21 May 1481
| notes12     = Son of [[Dietrich, Count of Oldenburg]]
| family12    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image12     = Christian-I-DenmarkNorwaySweden.JPG
| alt12       = Christian I of Norway
| name13      = '''[[John, King of Denmark|John I]]'''
| nickname13  = 
| native13    = 
| life13      = {{Birth date|1455|2|2|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1513|2|20|1455|2|2|df=y}}
| reignstart13= 1483
| reignend13  = 20 February 1513
| notes13     = Son of Christian I
| family13    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image13     = 1455 Johann.JPG
| alt13       = John I of Norway
| name14      = '''[[Christian II of Norway|Christian II]]'''
| nickname14  = 
| native14    = 
| life14      = {{Birth date|df=yes|1481|7|1}} – {{Death date and age|1559|1|25|1481|7|1|df=y}}
| reignstart14= 22 July 1513
| reignend14  = 20 January 1523
| notes14     = Son of John I
| family14    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image14     = Poul Hagelstein - Christian II - KMS889 - Statens Museum for Kunst.jpg
| alt14       = Christian II of Norway
| name15      = '''[[Frederick I of Norway|Frederick I]]'''
| nickname15  = 
| native15    = 
| life15      = {{Birth date|1471|10|7|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1533|4|10|1471|10|7|df=y}}
| reignstart15= 1523
| reignend15  = 10 April 1533
| notes15     = Son of Christian I
| family15    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image15     = Frederik 1.jpg
| alt15       = Frederick I of Norway
| name16      = '''[[Christian III of Norway|Christian III]]'''
| nickname16  = 
| native16    = 
| life16      = {{Birth date|1503|8|12|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1559|1|1|1503|8|12|df=y}}
| reignstart16= 1537
| reignend16  = 1 January 1559
| notes16     = Son of Frederick I
| family16    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image16     = Christian III of Denmark.jpg
| alt16       = Christian III of Norway
| name17      = '''[[Frederick II of Norway|Frederick II]]'''
| nickname17  = 
| native17    = 
| life17      = {{Birth date|1534|7|1|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1588|4|4|1534|7|1|df=y}}
| reignstart17= 1 January 1559
| reignend17  = 4 April 1588
| notes17     = Son of Christian III
| family17    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image17     = 1581 Lorck Frederik 2..jpg
| alt17       = Frederick II of Norway
| name18      = '''[[Christian IV of Norway|Christian IV]]'''
| nickname18  = 
| native18    = 
| life18      = {{Birth date|1577|4|12|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1648|2|28|1577|4|12|df=y}}
| reignstart18= 4 April 1588
| reignend18  = 28 February 1648
| notes18     = Son of Frederick II
| family18    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image18     = Kristian IV av Danmark, malning av Pieter Isaacsz 1611-1616.jpg
| alt18       = Christian IV of Norway
| name19      = '''[[Frederick III of Norway|Frederick III]]'''
| nickname19  = 
| native19    = 
| life19      = {{Birth date|1609|3|18|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1670|2|9|1609|3|18|df=y}}
| reignstart19= 6 July 1648
| reignend19  = 9 February 1670
| notes19     = Son of Christian IV
| family19    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image19     = Frederik 3 by window.jpg
| alt19       = Frederick III of Norway
| name20      = '''[[Christian V of Norway|Christian V]]'''
| nickname20  = 
| native20    = 
| life20      = {{Birth date|1646|4|15|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1699|8|25|1646|4|15|df=y}}
| reignstart20= 9 February 1670
| reignend20  = 25 August 1699
| notes20     = Son of Frederick III
| family20    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image20     = Cristian V.jpg
| alt20       = Christian V of Norway
| name21      = '''[[Frederick IV of Norway|Frederick IV]]'''
| nickname21  = 
| native21    = 
| life21      = {{Birth date|1671|10|11|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1730|10|12|1671|10|11|df=y}}
| reignstart21= 25 August 1699
| reignend21  = 12 October 1730
| notes21     = Son of Christian V
| family21    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image21     = Frederik den 4.jpg
| alt21       = Frederick IV of Norway
| name22      = '''[[Christian VI of Norway|Christian VI]]'''
| nickname22  = 
| native22    = 
| life22      = {{Birth date|1699|11|30|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1746|8|6|1699|11|30|df=y}}
| reignstart22= 12 October 1730
| reignend22  = 6 August 1746
| notes22     = Son of Frederick IV
| family22    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image22     = Christian 6.jpg
| alt22       = Christian VI of Norway
| name23      = '''[[Frederick V of Norway|Frederick V]]'''
| nickname23  = 
| native23    = 
| life23      = {{Birth date|1723|3|31|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1766|1|14|1723|3|31|df=y}}
| reignstart23= 6 August 1746
| reignend23  = 14 January 1766
| notes23     = Son of Christian VI
| family23    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image23     = Portrait King Frederik V by Pilo.jpg
| alt23       = Frederick V of Norway
| name24      = '''[[Christian VII of Norway|Christian VII]]'''
| nickname24  = 
| native24    = 
| life24      = {{Birth date|1749|1|29|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1808|3|13|1749|1|29|df=y}}
| reignstart24= 14 January 1766
| reignend24  = 13 March 1808
| notes24     = Son of Frederick V
| family24    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image24     = CHRISTIANviiportrait.jpg
| alt24       = Christian VII of Norway
| name25      = '''[[Frederick VI of Norway|Frederick VI]]'''
| nickname25  = 
| native25    = 
| life25      = {{Birth date|1768|1|28|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1839|12|3|1768|1|28|df=y}}
| reignstart25= 13 March 1808
| reignend25  = 7 February 1814
| notes25     = Son of Christian VII
| family25    = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image25     = Fiedrichvidenmark.jpg
| alt25       = Frederick VI of Norway
}}

== Kings of Denmark (1814–1918)==
{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = '''[[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]]'''
| nickname1   = 
| native1     = 
| life1       = {{Birth date|1768|1|28|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1839|12|3|1768|1|28|df=y}}
| reignstart1 = 7 February 1814
| reignend1   = 3 December 1839
| notes1      = Son of Christian VII
| family1     = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image1      = Fiedrichvidenmark.jpg
| alt1        = Frederick VI of Denmark
| name2       = '''[[Christian VIII of Denmark|Christian VIII]]'''
| nickname2   = 
| native2     = 
| life2       = {{Birth date|1786|9|18|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1848|1|20|1786|9|18|df=y}}
| reignstart2 = 3 December 1839
| reignend2   = 20 January 1848
| notes2      = Son of [[Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark]] and grandson of Frederick V
| family2     = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image2      = Christianviiidenmark.jpg
| alt2        = Christian VIII of Denmark
| name3       = '''[[Frederick VII of Denmark|Frederick VII]]'''
| nickname3   = 
| native3     = 
| life3       = {{Birth date|1808|10|6|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1863|11|15|1808|10|6|df=y}}
| reignstart3 = 20 January 1848
| reignend3   = 15 November 1863
| notes3      = Son of Christian VIII
| family3     = [[House of Oldenburg|Oldenburg]]
| image3      = Frederik VII af August Schiøtt.jpg
| alt3        = Frederick VII of Denmark
| name4       = '''[[Christian IX of Denmark|Christian IX]]'''
| nickname4   = 
| native4     = 
| life4       = {{Birth date|1818|4|8|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1906|1|29|1818|4|8|df=y}}
| reignstart4 = 15 November 1863
| reignend4   = 29 January 1906
| notes4      = Son of [[Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg]] and great-grandson of Frederick V
| family4     = [[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]]
| image4      = Christian IX af Henrik Olrik.jpg
| alt4        = Christian IX of Denmark
| name5       = '''[[Frederik VIII of Denmark|Frederik VIII]]'''
| nickname5   = 
| native5     = 
| life5       = {{Birth date|1843|6|3|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1912|5|14|1843|6|3|df=y}}
| reignstart5 = 29 January 1906
| reignend5   = 14 May 1912
| notes5      = Son of Christian IX
| family5     = [[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]]
| image5      = FREDERIK VIII. of Denmark.jpg
| alt5        = Frederik VIII of Denmark
| name6       = '''[[Christian X of Denmark|Christian X]]'''
| nickname6   = 
| native6     = 
| life6       = {{Birth date|1870|9|26|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1947|4|20|1870|9|26|df=y}}
| reignstart6 = 14 May 1912
| reignend6   = 1 December 1918
| notes6      = Son of Frederik VIII
| family6     = [[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]]
| image6      = Kong Christian 10.jpg
| alt6        = Christian X of Denmark
}}

==[[Kingdom of Iceland|Kings of Iceland]] (1918–1944)==
{{Succession table monarch
| name1       = '''[[Christian X of Denmark|Kristján X]]'''<br><ref>[[Sveinn Björnsson]], ruled as [[Regent]] from 1941 to 1944.</ref>
| nickname1   = 
| native1     = 
| life1       = {{Birth date|1870|9|26|df=y}} – {{Death date and age|1947|4|20|1870|9|26|df=y}}
| reignstart1 = 1 December 1918
| reignend1   = 17 June 1944
| notes1      = Son of Frederik VIII
| family1     = [[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]]
| image1      = Kong Christian 10.jpg
| alt1        = Christian X of Denmark
}}

== Presidents of Iceland (1944–present) ==
{{transcluded section|President of Iceland}}
{{See also|Prime Minister of Iceland}}

{{trim|{{#section-h:President of Iceland|List}}}}

==See also==
*[[Jørgen Jørgensen]], ''Jörundur hundadagakonungur'' ("Jørgen the [[dog days|dog-days]] King" in Icelandic), a Danish adventurer that proclaimed himself temporary king during some months of 1809
*[[History of Iceland]]
*[[List of Norwegian monarchs]]
*[[List of Danish monarchs]]
*[[List of Swedish monarchs]]
*[[List of monarchs and heads of state of Finland]]
*[[List of Greenlandic rulers]]

==Notes==
<references />

{{Monarchs of Iceland}}
{{Iceland topics}}
{{Lists of historical monarchs of modern countries}}

[[Category:Kings of Iceland]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Iceland|Heads of state]]
[[Category:Heads of state of Iceland| ]]
[[Category:Iceland history-related lists|Heads of state]]