Portal:Denmark/Selected article/Week 35, 2006

Gesta Danorum ("Deeds of the Danes") is a work of Danish history, by 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus ("Saxo the Literate", literally "the Grammarian") at the monastery of Sorø. It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and an essential source for the nation's early history, one that helps define the national identity.

In sixteen books, written in Latin on the invitation of Archbishop Absalon, it describes Danish history and to some degree Scandinavian history in general, from prehistory to the late 12th century. It is told in a sparkling and entertaining language, that reads as well today as it did back then.

The sixteen books, in prose with an occasional excursus into poetry, can be categorized into two parts, book 1-9 being what is known as the Old Norse part and Book 10-16 being medieval history. Book 9 ends with Gorm the Old, the first factual documented King of Denmark.

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