Lýðveldisstofnun

Lýðveldisstofnun is an Icelandic term that translates to "establishment of a republic." It refers to the process by which a country transitions from a different form of government, typically a monarchy, to a republic. In Iceland, this term is most prominently associated with the founding of the modern Icelandic Republic on June 17, 1944. This event marked a significant moment in Icelandic history, severing the final ties with Denmark, under which Iceland had been a sovereign state since 1918 but with the Danish monarch as head of state.

The path to lýðveldisstofnun in Iceland involved a long struggle for independence, which gained momentum in the 19th century. Following the dissolution of the union with Denmark during World War II, when Denmark was under German occupation, Iceland seized the opportunity to declare full independence and establish a republic. This was achieved through a referendum and subsequent parliamentary decision. The establishment of the republic was a culmination of decades of political activism and a desire for complete national sovereignty. The date of June 17th, the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson, a key figure in Iceland's 19th-century independence movement, was chosen to commemorate this foundational event. Lýðveldisstofnun in this context signifies not just a political change but a reaffirmation of Icelandic national identity and self-determination.