Althing Founded

The Althing, the world's oldest surviving parliament, was founded in 930 AD at Þingvellir ("assembly fields") in Iceland. Úlfljótr, who had studied Norwegian law for three years, brought back a legal framework that formed the basis of Iceland's first laws. His half-brother, Grímur Geitskör, identified Þingvellir as the ideal location for the assembly. The Lögberg (Law Rock) became the focal point where the elected Lawspeaker would recite the laws and important decisions were announced. Located approximately 45 kilometers east of what later became Reykjavík, the Althing marked Iceland's transition to an organized commonwealth.