Gesta Danorum

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Gesta Danorum

work by Saxo Grammaticus

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June 29, 2026

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Gesta Danorum, meaning "Story of the Danes," is a comprehensive history of Denmark written by the 12th-century historian Saxo Grammaticus. This 16-volume work is considered the first significant history of Denmark and a foundational piece of Danish literature.

The Gesta Danorum begins with the legendary King Dan and concludes with the conquest of Pomerania in 1185. The initial nine books delve into Danish legends, drawing from ancient lays and sagas, and are believed to have inspired works like Shakespeare's Hamlet. The remaining books cover historical periods, with Saxo's accounts gaining more authority closer to his own time. Written in eloquent Latin, the work aimed to showcase Denmark's long history and traditions, emphasizing the unifying role of the monarchy.1

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Hamlet
…story is narrated in the Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus’s late 12th-century history of Denmark. But the character’s famous hesitation—his reluctance or unreadiness to avenge his father’s murder—is central and peculiar to Shakespeare’s conception of Hamlet. This hesitation has fascinated critics, but none of the explanations offered, such as unconscious Oedipal…
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…story is narrated in the Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus’s late 12th-century history of Denmark. But the character’s famous hesitation—his reluctance or unreadiness to avenge his father’s murder—is central and peculiar to Shakespeare’s conception of Hamlet. This hesitation has fascinated critics, but none of the explanations offered, such as unconscious Oedipal…
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Danish literature
The Middle Ages
…important contribution to world literature—the Gesta Danorum (written between 1185 and 1222; “The Deeds of the Danes”; Eng. trans. The History of the Danes) of Saxo Grammaticus—was written in Latin. The medieval ballads of Denmark are among the most important in Europe; 539 are known in more than 3,000 versions,…
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…important contribution to world literature—the Gesta Danorum (written between 1185 and 1222; “The Deeds of the Danes”; Eng. trans. The History of the Danes) of Saxo Grammaticus—was written in Latin. The medieval ballads of Denmark are among the most important in Europe; 539 are known in more than 3,000 versions,…
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Ragnar Lothbrok
In the Gesta Danorum (c. 1185) of the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, for example, Ragnar was a 9th-century Danish king whose campaigns included a battle with the Holy Roman emperor Charlemagne. According to Saxo’s legendary history, Ragnar was eventually captured by the Anglo-Saxon king Aella of Northumbria
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In the Gesta Danorum (c. 1185) of the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, for example, Ragnar was a 9th-century Danish king whose campaigns included a battle with the Holy Roman emperor Charlemagne. According to Saxo’s legendary history, Ragnar was eventually captured by the Anglo-Saxon king Aella of Northumbria
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Saxo Grammaticus
…century) was a historian whose Gesta Danorum (“Story of the Danes”) is the first important work on the history of Denmark and the first Danish contribution to world literature.
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…century) was a historian whose Gesta Danorum (“Story of the Danes”) is the first important work on the history of Denmark and the first Danish contribution to world literature.
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saga
Legendary sagas
…are also treated in the Gesta Danorum of the 12th-century Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, who states that some of his informants for the legendary history of Denmark were Icelanders.
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…are also treated in the Gesta Danorum of the 12th-century Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, who states that some of his informants for the legendary history of Denmark were Icelanders.
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Christiern Pedersen
…(now lost) of Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum, under the title Historia danica (1514). He also edited Peder Laale’s proverbs and published a Latin-Danish lexicon. Returning to Denmark, Pedersen supported the Reformation and became secretary to Christian II, following him into exile in 1525. In Holland he translated, from the Vulgate,…
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…(now lost) of Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum, under the title Historia danica (1514). He also edited Peder Laale’s proverbs and published a Latin-Danish lexicon. Returning to Denmark, Pedersen supported the Reformation and became secretary to Christian II, following him into exile in 1525. In Holland he translated, from the Vulgate,…
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Germanic religion and mythology
Scandinavian literary sources
…history of the Danes (Gesta Danorum). The first nine books of this work deal with the prehistory of the Danes and are actually a history of the ancient gods and heroes. Interpreting the old religion euhemeristically (i.e., by reducing the gods to the level of distinguished men), Saxo regarded…
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…history of the Danes (Gesta Danorum). The first nine books of this work deal with the prehistory of the Danes and are actually a history of the ancient gods and heroes. Interpreting the old religion euhemeristically (i.e., by reducing the gods to the level of distinguished men), Saxo regarded…
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Anders Sørensen Vedel
…ballad collector who translated the Gesta Danorum of the medieval historian Saxo Grammaticus from Latin into Danish (1575).
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…ballad collector who translated the Gesta Danorum of the medieval historian Saxo Grammaticus from Latin into Danish (1575).
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