Before you stands Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík, which was previously called Lærði skólinn, Reykjavíkurskólinn, Latínuskólinn, or in Latin Schola Reykjavicensis or Schola Reykjavicana. It has a long history, and many renowned Icelanders have attended it over the years. Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík has been located in Reykjavík since 1846, but its roots trace back to 1056, making it the oldest school in Iceland. Girls were not admitted to the school until 1904, though they were allowed to take exams from 1886.
Significant events have taken place in this building, the most notable being the National Assembly of 1851, a key event in Iceland's independence history. The National Assembly was a crucial event in Iceland's struggle for independence. It was convened instead of the regular Althing, which had been reestablished six years earlier. The assembly was held in the hall of the Learned School in Reykjavík on August 9, 1851, following elections held the previous summer. The assembly was to address issues concerning Iceland's governance after the abolition of absolute monarchy in Denmark in 1848. The Danish government's draft legislation proposed that Iceland be incorporated into Denmark, with the same laws and regulations as Denmark, the Althing would become an advisory council, and Icelanders would have six representatives in the Danish parliament. This was contrary to the resolutions of the Þingvellir meeting the previous summer, where attendees expressed a desire for Iceland to be a federated state of Denmark rather than a part of it.
The draft was previously discussed in a constitutional committee for two weeks. The nationally elected representatives opposed the draft because Icelanders' rights were virtually non-existent and their wishes were largely ignored. The committee, therefore, drafted another bill under the guidance of Jón Sigurðsson. Trampe foresaw that the nationally elected representatives would reject the government's draft and immediately adjourned the meeting before a vote could take place. Jón Sigurðsson then protested on behalf of the king and the nation against this injustice. Most of the Icelandic representatives stood up and said the famous words often attributed to Jón: "We all protest."
Iceland's history is short compared to that of countries on the European mainland. Settlement began late in the 9th century AD, and the land was quickly populated, mainly from Norway (but also the British Isles). The country belonged to no state until Icelanders submitted to the King of Norway with the signing of the Old Covenant in 1262/64. Norway and Iceland then became part of the Danish realm in 1380. Alongside the nationalist awakening across Europe, Icelandic nationalism and the struggle for independence intensified throughout the 19th century, culminating in Iceland gaining sovereignty on December 1, 1918. However, the Danish king continued to be the King of Iceland until the Republic of Iceland was established on June 17, 1944, becoming fully independent.
To log this geocache please answer these questions and submit a photo:
1. What was the famous meeting that took place here called and when was it held?
2. When did Iceland become fully independent?
3. What is this school called today and when was it founded?
4. When were girls first admitted to it?
5. Take a photo of yourself in front of the sign by the steps, it doesn't have to show your face :) Please put the photo in the log.
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