INTRODUCTION. 
XX 
crated to the see of Skalholt, and a second was 
instituted to that of Holutn in 1107 - Both were 
originally under the jurisdiction of the Arch¬ 
bishop of Bremen and Hamburgh; but in 1103 
or 1104 they became subordinate to Azerus, the 
first Archbishop of Lund in Scania, and in 1152 
to the Bishop of Drontheim. 
The Lutheran religion * was introduced by 
King Christian III. in the year 1540, but the 
zeal, with which the bishops opposed this new 
sect, prevented it from gaining ground till 1551; 
when the last and most earnest supporter of 
popish superstitions, Jonas Araesonius T> was be¬ 
headed by order of the King’s Lieutenant. Soon 
after this period all the inhabitants embraced the 
Lutheran faith. 
Iceland at present has only one bishop; for in 
the year 1785 the King of Denmark ordered that 
all the estates belonging to the see of Skalholt 
should be sold, and the money deposited in the 
funds called Jordebog’s Casse. The episcopal 
see was removed to Reikevig, and a certain yearly 
salary granted to the bishop in lieu of his former 
* Von Troil. 
f Arngrim Jonse Comment, de Islandia, 
