The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Absalon

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Life Of Saxo.

• attestation: Archbishop Absalon of Lund, who held the position from 1179 to 1201, commissioned Saxo to write the history of Denmark.

  "Absalon, Archbishop of Lund from 1179 to 1201, pressed him, who was "the least of his companions, since all the rest refused the task", to write the history of Denmark"

• attestation: Absalon served as Bishop of Roskild before and during his tenure as Archbishop.

  "Absalon was previously, and also after his promotion, Bishop of Roskild"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > The History.

• attestation: Absalon became Archbishop in 1179 and commissioned the history sometime after that date.

  "Absalon became Archbishop in 1179, and the language of the Preface (written, as we shall see, last) implies that he was already Archbishop when he suggested the History to Saxo"

• attestation: Absalon died in 1201, but the work was not yet finished, as Birger (who died in 1202) is mentioned as alive in Book XI.

  "Absalon died in 1201. But the work was not then finished; for, at the end of Bk. XI, one Birger, who died in 1202, is mentioned as still alive"

• attestation: The latter books of the history are largely based on Absalon's personally communicated memoirs.

  "The latter books are, therefore, to a great extent, Absalon's personally communicated memoirs"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Preface.

• attestation: Absalon, Chief Pontiff of the Danes, commissioned Saxo to compile a chronicle of Denmark's history.

  "Absalon, Chief Pontiff of the Danes, whose zeal ever burned high for the glorification of our land"

The Danish History, > Book Seven.

• attestation: Absalon was told by a man who saw a beam found at the site, struck by a ploughshare

  "a man told Absalon that he had seen a beam found in the spot, which a countryman struck with his ploughshare"