Sýslumaður
Encyclopedia
Sýslumaður is an office or title created in Iceland
when it submitted to the King of Norway in 1262-1264. This sort of office had already been established in Norway
, called sysselmann
in contemporary Norwegian
. It is often translated as sheriff in English
.
The Sýslumaður was granted a fief called Sýsla in which he was responsible for collecting tolls, taxes and fines, upholding the law and military defences. They were also to hold courts of justice and name the men who were to sit in juries.
The Sýslumenn traditionally had large retinues of soldiers, but this practice was mostly abandoned after 1550, when the Danish King sent an army which succeeded in disarming most of Iceland as a preventative to rebellion.
Currently the Icelandic sheriff's are only tasked with being chiefs of police in their districts still known as sýsla, collecting taxes and issuing various permits and passports. Although recent changes in the organisation of the Icelandic Police
have created some differences in the tasks entrusted to different sýslumenn. The sýslumaður of Suðurnes
maintains, for example, additional non-police security forces for Keflavík International Airport
, meanwhile the sýslumaður of Kópavogur
is in charge of issuing all Icelandic passport
s.
During the era of when the U.S. Military
was able to assist the needs of the Icelandic Police
, they had instruction sessions, on life saving techniques at sea, supervised and arranged by them on regular basis'. Their training for local schools also played a vital role in the safety of maritime sailors that began work and occupations at sea in the fishing industries. These were coordinated with the Icelandic Coast Guard
, and Search and Rescue
, in the early to mid and latter 1990s.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
when it submitted to the King of Norway in 1262-1264. This sort of office had already been established in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, called sysselmann
Sysselmann
Sysselmann/Sýslumaður is a Norwegian, Faroese and Icelandic title of local government. It was used during the Middle Ages as a noble title. In Norway it has been revived twice in modern times as a special form of local government, the Governor of Svalbard now holds the title and the Governor of...
in contemporary Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
. It is often translated as sheriff in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
The Sýslumaður was granted a fief called Sýsla in which he was responsible for collecting tolls, taxes and fines, upholding the law and military defences. They were also to hold courts of justice and name the men who were to sit in juries.
The Sýslumenn traditionally had large retinues of soldiers, but this practice was mostly abandoned after 1550, when the Danish King sent an army which succeeded in disarming most of Iceland as a preventative to rebellion.
Currently the Icelandic sheriff's are only tasked with being chiefs of police in their districts still known as sýsla, collecting taxes and issuing various permits and passports. Although recent changes in the organisation of the Icelandic Police
Icelandic Police
The Icelandic National Police is the main police force of Iceland. It is responsible for law enforcement on all Icelandic territories except at sea where the Icelandic Coast Guard enforces the law. The two services assist each other as needed.- History :...
have created some differences in the tasks entrusted to different sýslumenn. The sýslumaður of Suðurnes
Suðurnes
Suðurnes is a region in southwest Iceland. The region has a population of more than 20,000 and is one of the more densely populated parts of the island...
maintains, for example, additional non-police security forces for Keflavík International Airport
Keflavík International Airport
-Cargo airlines:-Ground transport:Transport between the airport and Reykjavik city is by road only. The distance is 50 km. A new fast freeway was opened 2008. The buses have a timetable adapted to the flight schedule. They go to and from the Reykjavik bus terminal, taking around 45 minutes...
, meanwhile the sýslumaður of Kópavogur
Kópavogur
Kópavogur is a city and Iceland's second largest municipality, with a population of 30,779.It lies immediately south of Reykjavík and is part of the Greater Reykjavík Area. The name literally means seal pup bay...
is in charge of issuing all Icelandic passport
Icelandic passport
Icelandic Passports are issued to citizens of Iceland for the purpose of international travel.-Physical Appearance:Icelandic passports are blue, with the Icelandic Coat of arms emblazoned in the center of the front cover...
s.
During the era of when the U.S. Military
Iceland Defense Force
The Iceland Defense Force was a military command of the United States armed forces from 1951 to 2006. The IDF, created at the request of NATO, came into existence when the United States signed an agreement to provide for the defense of Iceland, which does not, and did not, have its own unified...
was able to assist the needs of the Icelandic Police
Icelandic Police
The Icelandic National Police is the main police force of Iceland. It is responsible for law enforcement on all Icelandic territories except at sea where the Icelandic Coast Guard enforces the law. The two services assist each other as needed.- History :...
, they had instruction sessions, on life saving techniques at sea, supervised and arranged by them on regular basis'. Their training for local schools also played a vital role in the safety of maritime sailors that began work and occupations at sea in the fishing industries. These were coordinated with the Icelandic Coast Guard
Icelandic Coast Guard
The Icelandic Coast Guard is the service responsible for Iceland's coastal defense and maritime and aeronautical search and rescue. Origins of the Icelandic Coast Guard can be traced to 1859, when the corvette Ørnen started patrolling Icelandic waters...
, and Search and Rescue
Military of Iceland
Icelands defences consist of the Icelandic Coast Guard which patrols Icelandic waters and airspace and other services such as the National Commissioner's National Security and Special Forces Units....
, in the early to mid and latter 1990s.