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 essential source for the nation's early history. It is also one of the oldest known written documents about the history of Estonia and Latvia.

Consisting of sixteen books written in Latin on the invitation of Archbishop Absalon, describes Danish history and to some degree Scandinavian history in general, from prehistory to the late 12th century. In addition, offers singular reflections on European affairs in the High Middle Ages from a unique Scandinavian perspective, supplementing what has been handed down by historians from Western and Southern Europe.

Books

The sixteen books, in prose with an occasional excursion into poetry, can be categorized into two parts: Books 1–9, which deal with Norse mythology and semi-legendary Danish history, and Books 10–16, which deal with medieval history. Book 9 ends with Gorm the Old. The last three books (14–16), which describe Danish conquests on the south shore of the Baltic Sea and wars against Slavic peoples (the Northern Crusades), are very valuable for the history of West Slavic tribes (Polabian Slavs, Pomeranians) and Slavic paganism. Book 14 contains a unique description of the temple on the island of Rügen.

Overview

Book 1

The first book is mostly Saxo's original work, sharing little with other primary works, but taking some inspiration from Ancient Greek epics. It very briefly covers the rule of the eponymous founder of the Danish nation, Dan, but also his brother Angul, his sons Humble and Lother, and Dan's grandson, Skiold, whose son, Gram is the first Danish king to be given some detail, his reign revolves around conquering Sweden and Finland, only to die in a battle. Most of the book deals with the adventures of Hading, the son of Gram and Finnish princess, Signe. Here the adventure concerns the loss of Denmark to the Swedes as well as Hading's attempts to reclaim it with the help of giants and Odin. The book concludes with Hading's suicide after hearing of his friend's death.

Book 2

Book 2 follows adventures of Hading's descendants, who perform cunning raids across the Baltic Sea and far as England, while encountering many supernatural events and being forced to solve disputes via single combat. This book includes the stories of kings Helge and Rolf Krake, which are also told in '' Hrólfs saga kraka''.

Book 3

Book 3 begins with the story of a Swedish prince, Hother, in an alternate version of the story of Höðr and the death of the god Baldr (here presented as a false god named Balderus). Hother eventually does become King in Denmark after the deaths of Rolf Krake and his usurper Hiartuar.

The second half of the book introduces Amleth, as a grandson of the Danish king Rorik. Amleth's father was murdered by his uncle, the governor of Jylland. Amleth pretends to be a fool in fear of his uncle who has married his mother. He is sent to Britain by his uncle to be put to death, but secretly rewrites the death warrant and instead marries the daughter of the king. Then he returns to Denmark and kills his uncle. This story was later told by Shakespeare as ''Hamlet''.

Book 4

After killing his uncle and securing the support of his people in doing so, Amleth returns to Britain. His father-in-law sends him to woo (on the King's behalf) the Scottish Queen Hermutrude, who is famous for murdering all her suitors. However, Hermutrude refuses to marry the King and instead marries Amleth, making the King into Amleth's enemy. Amleth is killed by the new King of Denmark, Wiglek, who then marries Hermutrude. Many subsequent kings follow.

Book 5

Book 5 covers the life of just a single king, Frotho III, and focuses on his empire-building and the exploits of his brilliant Norwegian advisor, Erick the Eloquent (later King of Sweden). Ultimately Frotho ends up ruling over Britain, Scandinavia, the Slavs, and the Huns. Other tales from Norse legend are included in this book, within Frotho's lifetime, including the story of Hedin and Hogni and the story of Hialmar and Arrow-Odd. Saxo says that it was during Frotho's reign that Jesus came to Earth, and there was uninterrupted peace around the world. Frotho is eventually killed by a sorceress in the form of a sea-cow.

Book 6

Follows the adventurers of the legendary hero, Starkad who is disappointed in the decadent ways of Frothi III's descendants.

Book 7

Is a collection of short and unrelated love stories, many of these ventures feature shieldmaidens.

Book 8

Covers the famous Battle of Brávellir, between Harald Wartooth and Sigurd Ring. Danish involvement in the Saxon wars against Charlemagne, voyages to Biarmia, and the death of Starkad.

Book 9

The book deals with Ragnar Lothbrok and his rising empire, he appoints many of his sons to govern parts of his empire all the way from Scotland to Scythia.

History

Chronology

When exactly was written is the subject of numerous works; however, it is generally agreed that was not finished before 1208. The last event described in the last book (Book 16) is King Canute VI of Denmark subduing Pomerania under Duke Bogislaw I, in 1186. However the preface of the work, dedicated to Archbishop Anders Sunesen, mentions the Danish conquest of the areas north of the Elbe in 1208.

Book 14, comprising nearly one-quarter of the text of the entire work, ends with Absalon's appointment to archbishop in 1178. Since this book is so large and ''Absalon'' has greater importance than King Valdemar I, this book may have been written first and comprised a work on its own. It is possible that Saxo then enlarged it with Books 15 and 16, telling the story of King Valdemar I's last years and King Canute VI's first years.

It is believed that Saxo then wrote Books 11, 12, and 13. Svend Aagesen's history of Denmark, '' Brevis Historia Regum Dacie'' (circa 1186), states that Saxo had decided to write about "The king-father and his sons," which would be King Sweyn Estridson, in Books 11, 12, and 13. He would later add the first ten books. This would also explain the 22 years between the last event described in the last book (Book 16) and the 1208 event described in the preface.

Manuscripts

The original manuscripts of the work are lost, except for four fragments: the Angers Fragment, Lassen Fragment, Kall-Rasmussen Fragment and Plesner Fragment. The Angers Fragment is the biggest fragment, and the only one attested to be in Saxo's own handwriting. The other ones are copies from . All four fragments are in the collection of the Danish Royal Library in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The text has, however, survived. In 1510–1512, Christiern Pedersen, a Danish translator working in Paris, searched Denmark high and low for an existing copy of Saxo's works, which by that time was nearly all but lost. By that time most knowledge of Saxo's work came from a summary located in '' Chronica Jutensis'', from around 1342, called '' Compendium Saxonis''. It is also in this summary that the name is found. The title Saxo himself used for his work is unknown.

Christiern Pedersen finally found a copy in the collection of Archbishop Birger Gunnersen of Lund, Skåne (Skåne is now part of Sweden, but at the time was still part of Denmark), which he gladly lent him. With the help of printer Jodocus Badius, was refined and printed.

Printing

The first printed press publication and the oldest known complete text of Saxo's works is Christiern Pedersen's Latin edition, printed and published by Jodocus Badius in Paris, France, on 15 March 1514 under the title of ''Danorum Regum heroumque Historiae'' ("History of the Kings and heroes of the Danes"). The edition features the following colophon: ...''impressit in inclyta Parrhisorum academia Iodocus Badius Ascensius Idibus Martiis. MDXIIII. Supputatione Romana.'' (the Ides of March, 1514).

The full front page reads (with abbreviations expanded) in Latin:

''Danorum Regum heroumque Historiae stilo eleganti a Saxone Grammatico natione Zialandico necnon Roskildensis ecclesiae praeposito, abhinc supra trecentos annos conscriptae et nunc primum literaria serie illustratae tersissimeque impressae.''

English language:

''Histories of the Kings and heroes of the Danes, composed in elegant style by Saxo Grammaticus, a Zealander and also provost of the church of Roskilde, over three hundred years ago, and now for the first time illustrated and printed correctly in a learned compilation.''

Latin versions

The source of all existing translations and new editions is Christiern Pedersen's Latin ''Danorum Regum heroumque Historiae''. There exist a number of different translations today, some complete, some partial.
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Danish translations

* Christiern Pedersen, never published ca. 1540, Lost
* Jon Tursons, lost, never published ca. 1555
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* , 2 volumes

English translations

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* (Volume 1: English text; volume 2: Commentary by Hilda Ellis Davidson)
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* (Volume 1: Books I-X; Volume 2: Books XI-XVI).

Other translations

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* Russian by Andrey Dosaev in two vols.">Russian_language.html" ;"title="ull translation on Russian language">Russian by Andrey Dosaev in two vols.* Daniel Palmqvist (2021), ''Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus, En del av Sveriges historia''.Published by Cultura Aetatis 2021. ISBN 978-91-984633-9-2 [The first nine of the 16 books translated into Swedish].

is also translated partially in other English, French language, French and German language, German releases.

Hamlet

Certain aspects of formed the basis for William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet''. Saxo's version, told of in Books 3 and 4, is very similar to that of Shakespeare's ''Hamlet''. In Saxo's version, two brothers, Horwendill, Orvendil and Fengi are given the rule over Jutland by King Rørik Slyngebond of the Danes. Soon after, Orvendil marries King Rørik's daughter, Geruth (Gertrude in ''Hamlet''). Amleth is their first and only child.

Fengi becomes resentful of his brother's marriage, and also wants sole leadership of Jutland, so therefore murders Orvendil. After a very brief period of mourning, Fengi marries Geruth, and declares himself sole leader of Jutland. Eventually, Amleth avenges his father's murder and plans the murder of his uncle, making him the new and rightful King of Jutland. However, while Hamlet dies in Shakespeare's version just after his uncle's death, in Saxo's version Amleth survives and begins ruling his kingdom, going on to other adventures.

References

Sources

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e-text both volumes without appendixes or indices
* , (table of contents in Danish).
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online
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at the Internet Archive
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External links

Gesta Danorum
in English translation at Wikisource (only Book I-IX; Book X-XVI are unavailable)

at the Royal Danish Library (se
here
for differences between it and the newest edition by Karsten Friis-Jensen).
The Latin original in A. Holder's edition (1886)The Latin original in Christiern Pedersen's first complete print edition
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{{Authority control

12th-century history books
12th-century books in Latin
Sources on Germanic paganism
Chronicles about Denmark
Danish non-fiction books
12th century in Denmark
Cultural depictions of Ragnar Lodbrok