By Kópavogur

By Kópavogur

In 1574, a royal letter was issued in the then capital of Iceland, Copenhagen, which recommended that the Icelandic Parliament, which had been working continuously at Þingvellir since 930, be moved from there to Kópavogur. Why Kópavogur? Yes, the river in Kópavogur lies halfway between Reykjavík and Bessastaðir, where the king’s officials stayed. The move never materialized. But several assemblies were held in Kópavogur, the best known event is the Kópavogur Assembly on July 28, 1662, and its purpose was to get the Icelanders to accept the hereditary monarchy of the Danish king. The Kópavogur Agreement meant that laws passed by the Danish king came into force automatically, without the involvement of the Icelandic Parliament. The agreement was valid until 1874, when Icelanders received their first constitution. Seventy years later, on June 17, 1944, we finally became an independent nation, with a president, instead of a king or queen sitting in Copenhagen.

 

A monument to the Kópavogur Agreement at the ancient parliament site at the northern bottom of Kópavogur.

 

Looking along Kópavogur, Arnarnes in Garðabær to the left..
The artwork Kópur (1998) by Grímur Marinó in Árnagarður.
Árnagarður is a beautiful outdoor recreation area on the northeast side of Kópavogur

 

Kópavogur 11/05/2022 08:49 – 09:29 : A7R IV – A7R III : FE 1.8/20mm G – FE 1.8/135mm GM