Gesta Danorum

Consisting of sixteen books written in Latin on the invitation of Archbishop Absalon, Gesta Danorum describes Danish history and to some degree Scandinavian history in general, from prehistory to the late 12th century. In addition, Gesta Danorum 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 stories of legendary, or semi-legendary, Danish kings, ending with Gorm the Old; and Books 10–16, which deal with medieval history. 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.

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 Humblus and Lotherus, and Dan's grandson, Skioldus, 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 Hadingus, the son of Gram and Finnish princess, Signe. Here the adventure concerns the loss of Denmark to the Swedes as well as Hadingus's attempts to reclaim it with the help of giants and Odin. The book concludes with Hadingus's suicide after hearing of his friend's death.

Kings featured in Book 1 are:

• Dan I
• Humblus
• Lotherus
• Skioldus
• Gram
• Svibdagerus
• Guthormus
• Hadingus

Book 2

Book 2 is split into two halves. The first half primarily follows adventures of Hadingus's son, Frotho, 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.

The second half of the Book includes the stories of kings Haldanus, Helgo, Roe and Rolvo Krake, which are also told in Hrólfs saga kraka. These kings also appear in other sources such as the Old English Beowulf (under the names Healfdene, Halga, Hroðgar, and Hroðulf).

Kings featured in Book 2 are:

• Frotho I
• Haldanus I
• Roe
• Helgo
• Rolvo Krake
• Hiarwarthus (king for less than a single day)

Book 3

Book 3 begins with Saxo's version of the death of the Norse god Baldr. In this version, Hotherus is a Swedish prince in love with a woman named Nanna, and Balderus is a son of Odin (Norse gods are described in Gesta Danorum as magicians who were merely believed to be gods) who desires Nanna for himself, leading to extended conflict between them. After defeating the army of the gods and slaying Balderus, Hotherus becomes King in Denmark after the deaths of Rolvo Krake and his usurper Hiartuar. Later, Odin rapes a Ruthenian princess named Rinda, begetting the son Bous. For this crime, Odin was temporarily exiled from Byzantium (where the euhemerised Aesir were believed to rule) and replaced by Ollerus. When Odin returned to power ten years later, he incited Bous to declare war on Hotherus in revenge for the death of Balderus.

The second half of the book introduces Amleth, as a grandson of the Danish king Rørikus. 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.

Kings featured in Book 3 are:

• Høtherus (and Balderus)
• Rørikus (the grandfather of Hamlet)

Book 4

Book 4 concludes the tale of Amleth. 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, Wiglecus, who then marries Hermutrude.

Many subsequent kings follow, including Wiglecus, Wermundus, and Uffo, who are known to us from the Anglo-Saxon royal genealogies as three legendary Kings of the Angles (Wihtlæg, Wermund, and Offa).

Kings featured in Book 4 are:

• Wiglecus
• Wermundus
• Uffo
• Dan II
• Huglecus
• Frotho II
• Dan III
• Fridlevus I

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

In Book 6, the poet Hiarnus is given the crown after the death of Frotho III because of the great song of praise he wrote for Frotho. Frotho's son, Fridlevus II, returns and takes the kingship from Hiarnus, then goes on many adventures. Fridlevus' son Frotho IV, named for his grandfather, is a generous and beloved king, and skilled in war from the age of twelve, but is eventually slain by the treacherous Suertingus. Frotho is followed by Ingellus, who is unlike his father and whose court becomes decadent under the influence of the sons of Suertingus.

Book 6 also introduces and follows the adventures of the legendary hero, Starcatherus, who after surviving a shipwreck was taken in at the court of Frotho IV and exceedingly well treated, before leaving to become a viking. Tales told of Starcatherus include his slaying of King Wicarus, and his attack on the Irish king Huglecus in the fleet of the pirate king Hako.

When Starcatherus returns to Denmark, he is disappointed in the decadent ways of Ingellus, and incites the king to slay the sons of Suertingus.

This story, of three kings named Friðleifr (Fridlevus), his son Froði (Frotho) and his son Ingjaldr (Ingellus) appear in other sources of Germanic legend, such as Chronicon Lethrense, Brevis historia regum Dacie, and several genealogies. Starcatherus inciting Ingellus to revenge against the sons of Suertingus echoes the old warrior in Beowulf who incites the Heaðobard king Ingeld to renew his conflict with the Danes. The death of Vikar (Wicarus) is told in Gautreks saga and the battle of Haki (Hako) and Hugleik (Huglecus) is told in Ynglinga saga.

Kings featured in Book 6 are:

• Hiarnus
• Fridlevus II
• Frotho IV
• Ingellus

Book 7

Book 7 tells of the last of the royal descendants of the original kings, beginning with Olavus I and ending with Haldanus II Biargrammus. On his deathbed, Haldanus II he wills his sovereignty to the unrelated Unguinus, King of the Geats, whose descendants become the new royal family. Conflict between Sygarus, grandson of Unguinus, and the sons of Hamundus leads to the near destruction of this second royal family also and the fracturing of the Danish state, which is eventually reunified by Sygarus's great-grandson Harald Wartooth.

Also included in Book 7 is a collection of short love stories, including the tales of Alf and Alfhild (Alf is here presented as a son of Sygarus) and Hagbard and Signy (Signy being a daughter of Sygarus, and Hagbard a son of Hamundus). Several of these short tales feature shieldmaidens.

Kings featured in Book 7 are:

• Olavus I
• Frotho V
• Haraldus I
• Haldanus II Biargrammus
• Haraldus II
• Unguinus
• Sywaldus I
• Sygarus
• Sywaldus II
• Haldanus III
• Haraldus III Hyldetan (Harald Wartooth)

Book 8

Covers the famous Battle of Brávellir, between Harald Wartooth and Ringo. The Book covers the lives of the kings following this battle, including how Starcatherus slew king Olo and afterwards died in the reign of Olo's son Omundus as a result.

During the reign of Gormo I, the hero Thorkillus leads two journeys beyond the known world: one via Biarmia to the home of Geruthus, a giant killed long ago by Thor; and one to the place where Utgarthilocus is bound in heavy chains. When Thorkillus returns home from his journeys, he discovers that Germany has been Christianised.

The Book concludes with Danish involvement in the Saxon Wars against the Frankish King Karolus (Charlemagne) in the reign of Gormo's son, Gotricus.

Kings featured in Book 8 are:

• Haraldus III Hyldetan (Harald Wartooth)
• Ringo
• Olo
• Omundus
• Sywardus I
• Buthlus
• Iarmericus
• Broderus
• Sywaldus III
• Snio
• Biorn
• Haraldus III
• Gormo I
• Gotricus

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.

Kings featured in Book 9 are:

• Olavus II
• Hemmingus
• Siwardus Ring
• Regner Lothbrog
• Siwardus III
• Ericus I
• Ericus II
• Kanutus I
• Frotho VI
• Gormo II
• Haraldus III
• Gormo III