Saxo Grammaticus facts for kids
Saxo Grammaticus (around 1150–1220) was a famous Danish historian and writer. He worked as a clerk or secretary for Absalon, who was the Archbishop of Lund and a main advisor to King Valdemar I of Denmark. Saxo is best known for writing the Gesta Danorum. This was the first complete history of Denmark. It included the old legend of Amleth, which later inspired Shakespeare's famous play, Hamlet.
Who Was Saxo Grammaticus?
Saxo Grammaticus was likely born in Zealand, a part of Denmark. He was probably born around 1150 and passed away around 1220. His first name, Saxo, was common in Denmark back then. The name Grammaticus means "the learned one." This name was given to him because he was very educated. He was also sometimes called Longus, meaning "the tall."
Saxo lived during a time when Denmark was growing and often at war. Leaders like Archbishop Absalon and the Valdemar kings led these changes. The Danes also faced threats from the Wends, who attacked by land and sea. King Valdemar I had just won a civil war. Later, King Valdemar II led an army to invade Holstein.
Saxo came from a family of warriors. He wrote that he felt he should also be a soldier. He mentioned that his father and grandfather served in King Valdemar I's army. This shows that military service was a family tradition.
Saxo was very well educated. He likely studied outside Denmark, possibly in Paris. He knew Latin very well. He worked for Archbishop Absalon, who was a key advisor to King Valdemar I. In his will, Absalon even forgave Saxo a small debt. He also asked Saxo to return two books to a monastery. Saxo Grammaticus's most important work is his sixteen-book history of the Danes, called Gesta Danorum.
About Gesta Danorum
In the introduction to his book, Saxo wrote that Archbishop Absalon (around 1128–1201) encouraged him to write a heroic history of the Danes. He probably started writing around 1185. Saxo's goal was "to glorify our fatherland." He wanted to make Denmark's past sound grand and important. He was inspired by famous ancient writers like Virgil, Plato, and Cicero.
Saxo gathered information for his history from many places. He used old stories told by people from Iceland. He also looked at ancient books and even writings carved on rocks. He also used stories from his patron, Archbishop Absalon. Absalon had been part of many historical events himself. Saxo's book was not just a simple record of facts. It was also shaped by Saxo's own ideas and the times he lived in.
The Gesta Danorum has sixteen books. It covers the history of the Danish people from their earliest founders, Dan I of Denmark and Angul, up to about the year 1187.
- The first four books tell the history of the Danes before Christ.
- The next four books cover their history after Christ.
- Books 9–12 focus on Christian Denmark.
- Books 13–16 talk about the city of Lund and events during Saxo's own lifetime.
It is thought that Saxo wrote the last eight books first. This is because he used a lot of information from Absalon, who died in 1201.
The first eight books are similar to the works of Snorri Sturluson. They include myths about giants and the old Norse gods. Saxo tells the story of Dan, the first king of Denmark. He also tells about other Danish heroes. Many of these heroes interact with the Norse gods. However, Saxo's "heathen" gods are not always good. They can be tricky. For example, in the story of Harald, a legendary Danish king, Odin taught him how to fight. But then Odin betrayed Harald and killed him, bringing him to Valhalla.
Saxo's writings show that he valued war and bravery in battle. He praised heroes who became famous through fighting much more than those who made peace. He did not think highly of the time of peace under King Frode. He was only happy when King Knut brought back the old warrior customs. Saxo finished his history with a preface, which he wrote around 1216. By then, Anders Sunesen had become the new Archbishop of Lund. Saxo thanked both Archbishops and the current King Valdemar II in his preface.
Why Saxo's Work Is Important
Saxo's story of Amleth is very interesting for people who study Shakespeare. This story is the first known version of the tale that inspired Shakespeare's Hamlet. In Saxo's version, Amleth is a son seeking revenge for his murdered father.
In the early 1500s, a man named Christiern Pedersen helped print Saxo Grammaticus's work. This was a big step in making Gesta Danorum known to scholars. From then on, more people in universities learned about it. Oliver Elton, who first translated parts of Gesta Danorum into English, said that Saxo was the first important writer from Denmark.
Famous scholars like Erasmus praised Saxo's skill in Latin. Erasmus wondered how "a Dane of that age got so great power of eloquence." This means he was amazed at how well Saxo wrote Latin.
Even though Saxo is seen as Denmark's "first national historian," two other Danish histories were written before his. One was the Chronicon Roskildense, a short Latin work finished around 1143. The other was Brevis historia regum Dacie by Sven Aggesen, finished around 1186 or 1187.
Scholars during the Renaissance loved Saxo's work. They were curious about the history and legends before Christianity came to Denmark. Saxo's way of telling history was different from other writers of his time, especially those from Norway and Iceland. He often showed historical figures as either great heroes or terrible villains.
Some scholars have studied Saxo's work more deeply. They suggest that Saxo was not just changing old stories. He was creating something new. He wanted to help strengthen Danish institutions and support the Northern Crusades in the 13th century.
It seems Saxo Grammaticus changed his writing plan after his patron Absalon died in 1202. The first nine books of Gesta Danorum, which focus a lot on mythology, were actually written after Absalon's death. This is very different from the seven books written when Absalon was alive. Historians often divide the book into two parts: the mythical part (books I–IX) and the historical part (books X–XVI). The historical part is based on Absalon's memories. This suggests that Saxo might have written the historical books first, then the mythical ones, and finally the preface.
See also
- 10462 Saxogrammaticus, asteroid
