Compendium Saxonis (also known as ''Abbreviatio Saxonis'') is a summary located in
Chronica Jutensis. It contains a summary of
Saxo’s ''
Gesta Danorum
("Deeds of the Danes") is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th-century author Saxo Grammaticus ("Saxo the Literate", literally "the Grammarian"). It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essentia ...
'', about one-fourth the size of the original. It is written in
Latin
Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...
.
It is thought to have been written by the same author as ''
Chronica Jutensis''.
In this summary, the name ''Gesta Danorum'' is found. It is not known if ''Saxo'' also used this name for his original work.
As this is a summary, a large part of the original work is cut out, which some readers have found frustrating. As the author is less interested in war and battles, stories dealing with such things are often cut heavily.
The original manuscript is lost, but it survives in four different handwritten copies, about a hundred years younger. One was written by a
Monk
A monk (; from , ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many reli ...
from
Odense
Odense ( , , ) is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2025, the city proper had a population of 185,480 while Odense Municipality had a population of 210, ...
in 1431.
Latin copies can be found in:
*
Danish Royal Library
The Royal Library () in Copenhagen is the national library of Denmark and the academic library of the University of Copenhagen. It is among the largest libraries in the world and the largest in the Nordic countries. In 2017, it merged with the ...
of
Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
, Add.. 49 2o (1431)
* Danish Royal Library of Copenhagen, Don. Var. 139 4o (14/15th century).
*
Swedish Royal Library
The National Library of Sweden (, ''KB'', meaning "the Royal Library") is Sweden's national library. It collects and preserves all domestic printed and audio-visual materials in Swedish, as well as content with Swedish association published abr ...
of
Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
, De la Gardie 44 4o (15th century)
* Swedish Royal Library of Stockholm, Skokloster 47 4o (15th century)
References
* M.CL.Gertz, "Scriptores Minores Historiæ Danice", G.E.C.Gad, 1917-1918
Repertorium Chronicarum
Chronicles about Denmark
14th-century history books
14th-century books in Latin