Iceland has no official army but maintains a small coast guard for defense. In 2018, an Icelandic man’s death while fighting in Syria caught my attention. Curious, I researched whether other Icelanders were serving in foreign armies and was surprised to find many had throughout the centuries. I found a dilapidated website written by anthropologist Baldur A. Sigurvinsson back in 2001 or so. With many dead links, here I aim to preserve it.
(WIP)
1600-1700
1. Jón Halldórsson, Danish Army 16??-1615-.
2. Þorgrímur, Danish Army(?).
3. Helgi Jónsson, Possible Barbary pirate.
4. Jón Jónsson Westmann, Barbary pirate captain, and later Danish Navy Commodore. 1629-46; 1646-49 .
5. Gunnar Ólafsson, Constabel in Iceland and possibly Denmark.
6. Guðmundur Guðmundsson, Danish Army 1658-62, General in Armée de Mercenery du Duc de la Savoie 1707.
7. Einar Torfason, Danish Army 1659-59. Brother to Teitur Torfason.
8. Marteinn Rögnvaldsson, Danish Army 1659-59.
9. Oddur 'eldri' Eyjólfsson, Danish Army 1659-59.
10. Teitur Torfason, Danish Army 1659-5. Brother to Einar Torfason.
11. Jón Gíslason, Danish Army(?) Sargeant 1686-97. Later priest in Iceland.
12. [Jón Þorkelsson Vídalín](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jon-Thorkelsson-Vidalin), Constable in the Danish Navy 1689-91. Bishop and Author.
13. Guðbrandur Björnsson, Danish Army 1683-87.
14. Guðmundur Benediktsson, "There are chances that he spent a long time abroad, and even further than in Denmark, perhaps doing military service.'' Says in Íslendingabók.
1700-1800
1. Jón Torfason, Danish Army 1695-1712(?).
2. Hallgrímur Bjarnason, Deacon. Soldier in Denmark 1701-02.
3. [Magnús Arason Thorkelín](https://www.geographicus.com/P/ctgy&Category_Code=arasonmagnus), Danish Navy Captain 1707-28. Fought in the Great Northern War. Cartographer.
4. Torfi Pálsson, Teacher. Later priest onboard Danish Navy ship 169?-12.
5. Jón Arason Svardal, Soldier in Norway 1716-21?; 1722-?.
6. Jón Vigfússon, Constable in Denmark 1729-31.
7. Sigurður Þorsteinsson, possible goldsmith. Danish Army Captain.
8. Grímur Jónsson, Captain.
9. Árni Magnússon, Danish Navy.
10. Bjarni Markússon, Danish Army 1750-51.
11. Guðmundur Helgason Ísfold, Danish Army Sergeant. Jail guard.
12. Jón Teitsson, Danish Army Constable 1756-57.
13. Hallgrímur Jónsson Backman, Danish Army 1759-63.
14. Jón Pétursson, Danish Navy 1768-72.
15. Jón Jónsson Scheving, Danish Army Sergeant 1768-??.
16. Guðbrandur Jónsson Fjeldmann, Soldier in Denmark 1773(?)-??. Got married in Danish India.
17. Eiríkur Eiríksson Laxdal, Danish Navy Deckhand 1773-74.
18. Þorleifur Arason Adaldahl, Deacon. Danish Army Sergeant 1774-??.
19. Sigurður Sigurðsson, Danish Army.
20. Jón Sveinsson, Doctor. Danish Navy 1779-79.
21. Eiríkur 'yngri' Guðmundsson Hoff. Soldier in Denmark. Died Childless.
22. Þorsteinn Arason(Grönfeldt), Norwegian King's Bodyguard 1783-89.
23. Marteinn Hannesson Scheving, Norwegian Army Second Lieutenant 1783-89.
24. Þorsteinn Einarsson, Soldier in Denmark 1784-84.
25. Þorgeir Pálsson, Danish Navy 1785-92.
26. Ketill Jónsson von Melsted, Danish Army Major 1789-97, 1808-11. Bailiff in Danish India. Ketill led a flotilla of 680 men to re-capture a fortified island Anholt, which had been taken by the English. The attack was unsuccessful, and Ketill was shot during the charge.
27. Bolle Willum Jónsson Ericksen, Danish Navy Lieutenant. Judge, Historian and Lawyer. Committed suicide by jumping of a bridge.
1800-1900
1. Nobody.
2. Nobody.
3. Jens Jónsson, Danish Army 1802-09. Napoleonic Wars.
4. Eiríkur Níelsson Hjaltalín, Danish Army First Lieutenant 1804-10. Napoleonic Wars.
5. Ólafur Ólafsson, Danish Army 1800?-1815?. Napoleonic Wars.
6. Grímur Jónsson Johnsson Danish Army First Lieutenant and War commissary 1806-19. Napoleonic Wars. Bailiff in Iceland and Denmark.
7. Eyjólfur Guðmundsson Gudmundsen, Danish Navy Lieutenant Medic 1807-33. Napoleonic Wars.
8. Nobody.
9. Oddur Jónsson Hjaltalín, Danish Army Lieutenant 1808-16. Napoleonic Wars.
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20. Ásgeir Jónsson Stadfeldt Danish Army Military Judge 1815-19. Later District Judge in Norway.
21. Gunnlaugur Oddsson, Danish Navy Math teacher 1817-21. Later priest in Iceland.
22. Bjarni Þorsteinsson Thorsteinson, Danish Navy Military Judge and Teacher 1819-21. Later President of the Althing.
23. Ólafur Stefánsson Stephensen, Danish Army Lieutenant 1822-32. Later Military Judge.
24. Þorgeir Guðmundsson, Danish Navy Teacher 1827-30.
25. Jón Jónsson Hjaltalín, Danish Army Medic 1839-46.
26. Pétur Stefán Biering, Danish Army Colonel 1842?-86. First and second Schleswig War.
27. Stefán Guðmundsson Skagfjörd, Danish Army Constable 1848-1850. First Schleswig War.
28. [Jón Þórðarson Thoroddsen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B3n_Thoroddsen_elder), Danish Army Sergeant 1848-48.
29. Sæmundur Gunnlaugsson, Danish Army Sergeant 1848-48. First Schleswig War.
30. Bjarni Þorsteinn Þorgeirsson Gudmundsen, Danish Army Constable 1848-49. First Schleswig War.
31. Duplicate
32. Níels Daníel Kemp, Danish Army 1848-50, 1864-64. First and second Schleswig Wars.
33. Jón Constant Ólafsson Finsen, Danish Army Medic 1850-56.
34. Júlíus Hannibal Grímur Grímsson Johnsson, Danish Army Lieutenant.
35. Ólafur Sigvaldason, Danish Army Lieutenant. Second Schleswig War.
36. Haraldur Emil Gunnlaugur Jónsson Arnasen, Danish Army 1864-64. Drowns in Iceland, childless and unmarried. Second Schleswig War.
37. Níels Emil C. D. Weywadt, Danish Army Volunteer 1864-65?. Drowns in Iceland, childless and unmarried. Second Schleswig War.
38. Vilhelm Jakob Benediktsson Benedictsen, Danish Army First Lieutenant 18??-1864-1866. Second Schleswig War.
38. Gerhard Ludvig Biering, Danish Army Lieutenant Colonel.
39. Sigurður Sigurðsson Sivertsen yngri, Danish Army Lieutenant.
40. Benedikt Bogason Benediktsen, Danish Army Lieutenant.
41. Frederik Stephanus Grímsson Thorkelín, Danish Army Lieutenant.
42. Benedictus Fr. Jul. Grímsson Thorkelin, Colonel.
43. Ólafur Ólafsson.
45. Pétur Nielsen.
1900-2000
Coming soon