Which country formerly ruled Iceland?

For much of its history, Iceland was not an independent country. It spent centuries under the rule of Denmark. Although Iceland had once been a self-governing society in its early settlement days, it later came under the Norwegian crown, and then under Danish rule, where it remained for a very long time.

Iceland did not break free from Denmark all at once. Independence came in slow steps over many years. Iceland was first granted limited self-government, then a greater degree of home rule, and eventually it was recognized as a sovereign state that still shared a king with Denmark. Each step gave Icelanders a little more control over their own affairs.

The final break came during the Second World War. While Denmark was under occupation by Nazi Germany, Iceland held a national vote on whether to become a fully independent republic. The result was overwhelming - the vast majority of Icelanders voted yes. In 1944, Iceland was proclaimed an independent republic, ending its long centuries of foreign rule.

This article was written using information from Wikipedia.