Venusinus’s Verses (V)1

This is the first critical edition of the Latin monologues written in 1602 by the Copenhagen professor Jon Jacobsen Venusinus (c. 1559–1608) at the request of King Christian IV (1577–1648). In all, we possess 135 different monologues pronounced by 108 Danish kings and two Danish queens from Dan I to Christian IV himself. Some of them may be later additions according to the original pattern (e.g. n° 40b, 52, 57–58, 84, 102). Apart from two exceptions, they all contain four lines, two elegiac couplets consisting of a dactylic hexameter followed by a dactylic pentameter. From 1602 to 1608, 100 of those poems were cast on guns of which only seven are left (fig. 1 and 2). We have only fragments of three out of these seven. Before 1604, Venusinus’s pupil Peder Hansen2 (1576–1631) copied 82 poems from drafts, one only in part (fig. 3). At least twelve new guns were produced between 1630 and 1639, mostly with the same poems. In 1646, 103 monologues were edited in the portrait book Regum Daniæ Icones (Portraits of Denmark’s kings, subsequently Icones, fig. 4 and 5). In line with this title, the poems are called Reges Daniæ in our edition. Until 1714, at least 49 guns were caught by Sweden in war, and the poems were copied. Since all manuscript copies are incomplete, our edition is based on the editio princeps from 1646. It includes all variants. The 135 monologues have a total of 542 different lines. They can be considered a poetic abstract of Saxo’s History of the Danes (Gesta Danorum) and represent a fitting source for these proceedings. Only seven of them have been translated previously.

Frederick II died in 1588, eighteen years after having failed in his effort in the Northern Seven Years’ War (1563–1570) to win back Sweden, which had been lost in 1523. Many Danes hoped his young son Christian IV would restore the Kalmar Union under Danish leadership. He was considered a new Alexander. Upon his election as a future king of Denmark in 1584, a Scanian priest translated the Alexander romance into Danish and dedicated it to Christian’s parents. The book was meant to provide him with political and military education. Preserved in five manuscripts, it has never been edited3. Christian IV was crowned in 1596 at the age of nineteen, after eight years of regency. He went on to rule over an empire: the kingdom of Denmark, including Scania, Halland, and Blekinge in the southern part of the Scandinavian peninsula, as well as two islands in the Baltic Sea, Gotland, today part of Sweden, and Saarema, today part of Estonia; and the kingdom of Norway, including Bohuslän, Jämtland, Härjedalen, and the Idre and Särna parishes, today part of Sweden. Christian IV also ruled over Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland in the Northern Atlantic and the duchies Schleswig and Holstein in Southern Jutland. His territory was one of the largest and mightiest empires in Europe.

He started his reign by rearming his kingdoms. During a council at Kronborg on July 26, 1601, he recommended that all village churches with more than one clock only keep the biggest one and deliver the others to produce new guns. The official order was issued on October 104. In the meantime, Christian IV had invited the Swedes for talks on September 30 in Knäred, Halland, at the border, but they did not show up5. On December 20, he called the Danish senators for a diet in Copenhagen, probably intending to convince them to sign a declaration of war. During this crisis, he sent this request to Venusinus, formerly a pastor at the Holy Church in Copenhagen and now a professor of physics at the University of Copenhagen:

Magister Jon Jacobsen received a letter from his royal majesty who asked him to translate the Danish kings’ deeds found on the tapestries at Kronborg from German into Latin verses and ordered the governor at this place Mogens Ulfeldt to send him a copy of these verses. Kronborg, March 9, 16026.

Venusinus did not use the Kronborg verses for his poems, returning instead to Saxo. He must have started writing immediately. Upon his appointment as a professor in June 1600, he had been put up in the most comfortable apartment at the university which was usually given to the rector. In 1600, Peder Hansen, a student from Sakskøbing, Lolland, moved in and worked for Venusinus until 1604 as his amanuensis, i.e. secretary. In a booklet now held at the Royal Library7, Hansen copied several texts from his professor: letters, recommendations, a long speech in favor of Nicolaus Copernicus8, and poems. Shortly before the speech, which was pronounced on July 13, 1602, he copied 81 of the gun poems, and some time later another one about Frederick II. Two kings have two different monologues. All these copies seem to be drafts. Apparently, Venusinus had not yet decided which version to hand out to the king.

The poems were intended to be inscribed on a new series of guns. Borchart Quelkmeyer, the head of a longstanding military foundry in Copenhagen (1592–1611)9, was ordered to cast 50 guns. He delivered the first ones in 1603 and the last ones in 1608 according to arsenal accounts10. In 1600, Christian IV had created another military foundry in Elsinore. It was directed by Hans Wolf Entfelder until 161511. He began delivering 50 more guns in 1602 and finished the job in 1605. His successor Hans Kemmer began a new series of shorter and heavier guns in 1630, but he did not complete it until his death in 163612. At least one gun of the new series was produced in 1639 by his successor Hans Meyer13. Contemporary documents call the first series the “Old Kings” (Gamle Konger), the second one the “Short New Kings” (Korte Nye Konger). Although the “Old Kings” was produced at two different foundries, they were shaped almost identically. Those from the first series were fourteen-pounders, weighed on average 2,500 pounds14, and were decorated with Venusinus’s distiches and portraits of the kings who pronounced them. Below, two mermaids held dolphins by the tails. The guns also featured Christian IV’s coat of arms, the name of the foundry, and the year of production. This was the first mass order of guns in Danish military history. Entfelder produced the first 50 guns from Dan I to Biorn, and Quelkmeyer supplied the following from Harald IV to Frederick II. About 1650, 51 guns were left at the Copenhagen Arsenal, about 1731 only twenty; about 1771, not a single one remained15. Between 1729 and 1744, one of the last “Old Kings” was drawn six times in Denmark, the one with Harald III16, but without the poem.

Until 1714, at least 49 guns were lost in battles against Sweden, but some paradoxically stayed in Denmark because of a defeat. Indeed, on October 4, 1710, 22 guns sank with the warship Dannebroge during the Battle of Køge Bay near Copenhagen17 and were covered by sand on the bottom of the sea for 163 years.

Meanwhile, the conquered guns were copied several times in Sweden before destruction. The oldest copy is probably a drawing which most certainly is still kept in the Stockholm Army Museum, although it could not be located there today despite the strenuous efforts of Rauno Vaara. In 1974, Poul Dedenroth-Schou managed to locate the drawing, but too late to give its shelf-mark18. He was however able to date it between 1660 and 1700 thanks to a copy made in 1847 and sent to Denmark with the permission of the officer Carl Gustav Lagercrantz (1816–1867). The copy is part of “Lagercrantz’s drawings” which contain fifteen leaves with drawings of 66 guns19. Dedenroth-Schou studied these leaves which are today held in the Copenhagen War Museum, but despite strenuous efforts there as well they could not be located either by Ole Frantzen, the former director. One of the drawings shows an “Old King” featuring Sigvarth II (n° 56). Fortunately, this drawing was already reproduced in 1860 in a book with fourteen leaves showing old Danish weapons20. The anonymous editor was the Danish officer Otto Blom (1830–1903), then in charge of the Danish arsenal’s historical collections.

The next Swedish copy is undated. On six leaves, it contains 46 poems from 37 “Old Kings” and nine “Short New Kings”21. The Latin spelling is not always reliable. The copy also mentions the weight and year of production of each gun and calls the guns “trophies” (Trophæer). It is clearly from the 17^th century and was most likely realized after the loss of Scania in 1660 when Sweden took over a large part of the Danish military equipment. The guns were produced by four different founders between 1604 and 1639. Only one of the poems (n° 2) had been edited so far22.

A part of this war booty was probably soon transformed into new Swedish weapons, because some of the guns are not recorded in the next Swedish copies from 1697 and 1714. In 1697, Charles XI ordered an inventory of “metal trophies” (Metalltropheer) in Stockholm. This copy which consists of 79 leaves looks like the previous one, but it gives more details about the guns and also records guns from other Danish series and other countries. The inventory lists thirteen “Old Kings” and ten “Short New Kings” in the arsenal near Saint James Church in central Stockholm23. Two “Old Kings” were not recorded previously (n° 14–15) and thus seem to have been conquered during the Scanian War (1676–1679), the only military conflict between Sweden and Denmark between 1660 and 1697.

In 1714, the last Swedish copy of Venusinus’s poems was produced by Philipp Jacob Thelott (1682–1750) and his sister Anna Maria Thelott (1683–1710). Between 1706 and 1714, these artists filled three books with about 1,300 drawings of guns conquered by Sweden24. The last book from 1714 has 234 leaves, and the drawings with Danish guns are gathered from leaf 97 to leaf 175. Two of these leaves represent the series with Venusinus’s poems. Each leaf depicts a gun surrounded with portraits of the kings and their poems. Leaf 138 has five poems, leaf 139 ten (fig. 6). One of the poems was copied twice (n° 2). These drawings thus preserve fourteen original poems. The two artists probably did not understand Latin at all because their copies are riddled with errors, just like the previous ones from 1697. These late copies still show which variants of the poems were chosen for the guns. The drawings from 1714 are preserved by the Stockholm Army Museum, which has made them available online.

Since 1710, the Dannebroge wreck has been lying nine meters below sea level, seven kilometers from the coastline. In 1873, it was explored, and twelve guns were retrieved. Five of them originated from the series with Venusinus’s poems. Four were cast by Entfelder in 1603, and the fifth by Quelkmeyer in 1604. They were described by Blom on July 6, 1873, in a Danish newspaper with a drawing of the gun from 1604. Blom feared that these guns could be lost again and recast for other purposes and recommended the erection of a monument in honor of Iver Huitfeldt (1665–1710), the naval officer who commanded Dannebroge and lost his life in the battle along with most of his crew. Blom’s fear was justified: in 1875, one of the guns was recast into a clock for the Holmen Church, as he explained two years later25. No drawing seems to have been made before this unfortunate decision. Blom now claimed that seven of the poetic guns had been retrieved from Dannebroge, but without explaining anything about the two guns apparently retrieved since the first exploration26. The new figure may may have been erroneous. The last two guns must now be considered permanently lost.

In a catalogue of the arsenal collection, Blom described two of the remaining guns27. These descriptions do not include drawings, only transcriptions of the two poems and their Danish translations. In 1885, he repeated his previous observations and mentioned that two of the guns now belonged to the arsenal collection. In 1886, the monument he had recommended was finally erected on the Langelinie pier not far from the stone on which the Little Mermaid was placed in 1913. Two of the four remaining guns were integrated at the base of the nineteen-meter high “Iver Huitfeldt Column” designed by Vilhelm Dahlerup. They are still there.

In 1910, on the bicentenary of the Battle of Køge Bay, five years after Norway’s independence from Sweden, a second monument was raised in Hurum, Iver Huitfeldt’s birthplace near Oslo. One of the two guns from the arsenal collection was then offered to Norway and placed at the base of the monument. The other one remained in Copenhagen and is currently preserved in the War Museum, but no longer exhibited.

In 1974, Poul Dedenroth-Schou, later director of the Royal Castle Koldinghus (1976–2013), published the reference work about the “Old Kings”. He found several documents in Sweden and Denmark and gave exact shelf-marks except for those of the originals for “Lagercrantz’s drawings”, which were discovered too late. His article deals with the physical guns, less with the poems inscribed on them. According to Dedenroth-Schou, the gun portraits may have been modelled partly from the Kronborg tapestries, but as he admitted, the basis for comparison is narrow since the corresponding tapestries are lost and can only be reconstructed with great caution after a manuscript from c. 1600 with colored drawings28. Dedenroth-Schou noted that none of the “New Short Kings” was preserved and hoped that the wreck Dannebroge, then covered with sand again, would soon be rediscovered and deliver further guns from Christian IV’s reign.

In 1986, new pieces from the wreck were retrieved, including four front pieces from “Old Kings”: one with Gram’s complete poem and the upper part of his portrait, two with the first lines of Hiarni’s and Sigvald I’s poems, one cast by Entfelder with an unknown king. From this one, only the muzzle with the foundry is left29. These guns have since received little attention from scholars.

Holst’s Regum Daniæ Icones

The 1646 portrait book featuring Venusinus’s distiches and portraits was popular, considering the number of known copies. Twenty copies of the first edition are housed in libraries, which have either checked which edition their copy belongs to or own unambiguous online descriptions30. Two other copies were sold at auctions, in 2009 in Pforzheim by Kiefer, Buch- und Kunst-auktionen, for an unknown price and in 2019 in Linköping by Gomér & Andersson for 6,353 SEK (about 535 €). These twenty copies often differ, the introduction pages are not always in the same order and sometimes portraits are added at the end. The Vienna copy, which is the only one available online, does represent their contents well.

The introduction is ten pages long and begins with the main title in capital letters: “REGUM DANIÆ ICONES.” (p. 1). The next page shows a copper engraving with fourteen angles holding coats-of-arms. The two central angles on the top hold the coats-of-arms of Denmark and Norway under a crown. On the coat with laurels below, the artist repeats the main title and names himself: “REGUM DANIÆ ICONES Accuratê expressæ HAFNIÆ, Alb[ert] Haelwegh Fecit et Excudit (Pictures of the Danish kings, accurately engraved in Copenhagen, made and executed by Albert Haelwegh)” (p. 2). Then, the editor announces short poems in three languages and names himself: “EPIGRAMMATA LATINA DANICA GERMANICA REGUM DANIÆ res gestas compendio exhibentia. HAFNIÆ, Sumptibus Georg Holst B[ibliopolæ]. (Latin, Danish, and German epigrams presenting succinctly the Danish kings’ deeds, [printed] in Copenhagen at the expense of the librarian Jørgen Holst.)” (p. 3). The next four pages (p. 4–7) contain the editor’s dedication to the French ambassador Gaspard Coignet de la Thuilerie (1597–1653). After the Danish defeat at the beginning of the Torstenson War leading to the occupation of Jutland and of most of Scania in 1644, this diplomat was sent to Scandinavia. He is considered the main architect of the Brömsebro Peace Treaty signed on August 13, 1645, resulting in considerable losses of territory for Christian IV who ceded Jämtland, Härjedalen, Idre, Särna, Gotland, and Ösel to Sweden permanently, and Halland for 30 years. Denmark would never recover its hegemony in Scandinavia and needed to take comfort in its past glories. Holst offers consolation to his desperate fellow citizens. Finally, he thanks Ole Worm for allowing the publication of texts from his museum (“ex Musæo Wormiano”). This famous museum was founded around 1620. Holst signed his dedication on January 1, 1646, in Copenhagen. He had been working in the capital as a librarian and editor since 1630 and his business was flourishing. His dedication is followed by a second dedication to Coignet de la Thuilerie in the form of a long anagram of his name (p. 8). It is signed by Peder Niels Mehrn, then a student at the royal school in Sorø, Zealand. He graduated as a magister in 1653 and became a librarian in Sorø. The next page is an index listing the names of 101 kings and two queens (p. 9).

The final page of the introduction features a short anonymous message to the reader. The author, perhaps Worm, explains that no reliable historian has written anything about Denmark before the election of Dan I as a king. He then expresses doubts about the authenticity of the old Gotlandic manuscripts that Petreius claimed to have found and that Claus Lyschander followed in his genealogy of Danish kings31. This is a reference to the Latin work known as Umbra Saxonis (Saxo’s shadow) written in 1579 by the Scanian pastor Niels Pedersen or Petreius. In it he claimed that Jutland was colonized in 1851 Anno Mundi (subsequently AM), i.e. after the creation of the world, by the Asian immigrant Gomer, one of Noah’s great-great-grandsons. In a chronology omitted in 1695 in the editio princeps32 and only published in full in 201233, Petreius claimed that Dan I was elected king in 2910 AM or 1053 BC. He also gave dates for the beginning and duration of each reign until Frederick II’s coronation in 1559. This was the first attempt at a complete precise chronology of Saxo’s kings. The first partial attempt had been made in 1532 by the German scholar Achilles Pirmin Gasser. He dated the reign of 28 Danish kings from Dan I to Frederick I in a survey of universal history from Adam to 153134. Gasser is often quoted by Arild Huitfeldt in a 1603 Danish chronicle, extending from Dan I to Valdemar the Great’s son Cnut35. Huitfeldt does not claim to know the exact dates of their reigns. He simply provides a discussion of chronological proposals.

In 1622, Claus Christoffersen Lyschander (1558–1624) adopted a less scientific approach in a monumental genealogical work of over 700 pages, modestly intitled Synopsis historiarum Danicarum (Synopsis of the Danish history) in Latin and De danske kongers slectebog (Genealogy of the Danish kings) in Danish. In 1616, Lyschander had been appointed royal historian, succeeding Venusinus in this office. His main task was to write a follow-up to the History of the Danes. This had already been done in 1579 in Latin by Petreius, whose book was censured, and between 1595 and 1604 in ten Danish volumes by Huitfeldt. Huitfeldt’s volume about the most remote past deals with Saxo’s kings, and the first historical king, Gøtrik, is already addressed on page 28. Since Lyschander intended to write a complete national history beginning with the colonization of Denmark about 1,000 years before Dan I’s election, he based his work on Umbra Saxonis. His genealogy dates the deaths of the Danish kings according to Petreius’s chronology with minor discrepancies, but generally omits the duration of the reigns. The readers had to calculate this themselves.

In 1643, Lyschander’s chronology was used by the Copenhagen professor of mathematics Erik Torm (1607–1667) on a large leaf featuring 102 small portraits of Danish kings from Dan I to Christian IV36, all different. Torm transformed the old-fashioned AM years into modern BC years. While he kept most of Lyschander’s years of death unchanged, he added reign durations and strived to establish a coherent series of dates. Some errors remained, mostly due to negligence from the unnamed engraver.

Holst in turn used Torm’s dates for the Icones, but new errors were often added, either by Holst himself or his engraver Haelwegh. Holst’s print is neither paginated nor foliated, but the 103 portraits are numbered. Each portrait faces a page, on which the poems are printed in three languages, bringing the edition to a total of 216 pages. In the Vienna copy, there are two blank pages between each king. This copy therefore has 212 leaves. None of the portraits are signed, but there is no reason to believe that they were engraved by someone else than Haelwegh who is known as a skilled portraitist. He probably came from the Netherlands and his contributions to the Icones were among his first works. Each king is presented in an oval frame with a sword, a scepter, a globus cruciger, or two of these symbols. In the frame, the duration of reign and the year of death are inscribed in capitals. A brief description in italics and a number are given under the portraits. This pattern remains unchanged until the beginning of the Oldenburg dynasty in 1448. These short Latin texts may have been written by Worm whose manuscripts were used for the poems.

The 1646 edition gives no information about the poems’ authors. The Icones were later reissued with a partly new introduction and new Danish and German poems. Thirteen copies are based on this reedition37. Another copy was sold in 2014 in Copenhagen by Bruun-Rasmussen for 4,600 DKK (about 620 €). The Florence copy is the only one available online. It differs from the copy in the Danish Royal Library, lacking the first title and beginning with the engraving signed by Haelwegh (p. 1). The three following pages are based on the first edition: the title mentioning epigrams (p. 2), Mehrn’s dedication (p. 3), and the index of kings (p. 4). This index does not include Frederick III who was crowned in 1648. He is added in the Royal Library copy and some others, but is missing in the Florence copy along with Christian IV, probably because the two last leaves are lost. The next page is new. It is an engraving without text representing a family tree with 103 small portraits (p. 5). The portraits are stereotypes, not copies of the larger portraits. The final page of the introduction is a new message with the title “LECTORI SALUTEM (Greetings to the reader)” (p. 6). It explains that Jon Jacobsen Venusinus, Adam Melchior Werner, and Søren Terkelsen respectively wrote the Latin, German, and Danish poems. The end of the message compares the portrait book to the Roman poet Ennius, who spoke three languages38. Holst’s dedication from 1646 is omitted, perhaps because it was less relevant some years later. However, it is still included in the Royal Library copy. This copy ends with a new portrait of Frederick III and new poems which show that he was still king when the Icones were reissued. The Royal Library copy was acquired on June 13, 1657, by the judge Henning Pogwisch (1611–1664), meaning that the reissue came out between 1648 and 1657.

Four copies contain only portraits, omitting the introduction except for Haelwegh’s engraving and the poems39. Two of them are available online. One was acquired at an auction in 2018 and is the only known copy from 1678. It contains an addition to Haelwegh’s engraving, a line which reads: “Apud S[erenissim]æ Regi[æ] M[ajestat]is Bibliopolam Danielem Paulli. Anno 1678 (By the Most Serene Royal Majesty’s librarian Daniel Paulli in 1678)”. Daniel Paulli (1640–1684) owned the most prominent library in Copenhagen and had been appointed royal librarian in 1665. This copy indicates that he took over the copper plates from Holst, who died penniless in 1663.

Bertelsen’s Verses (B)40

When Frederick II decided to decorate his new castle in Elsinore with tapestries, he asked Iver Bertelsen (1530/1535–1583) to deliver poems for the weaver Hans Knieper. This request is not preserved, but Bertelsen seems to have finished his verses in 1582. The manuscript edited in 1745 by Oluf Bang (B₂) notes that the king “had this work done in the year 128241”. This must be a typo intended for “1582”, since Frederick II signed a contract with the weaver on December 9, 158142, and Bertelsen died on September 28, 1583. He was born in Middelfart, Funen, and is first mentioned in 1556 as a chaplain in Kolding, Jutland. After studying in Wittenberg, he became a professor of rhetoric in Copenhagen in 1559, the same year as Frederick II’s coronation. Due to a dispute with his colleagues, he had to leave the university in 1563. From 1565 to 1567, he worked as a pastor in Stege, Møn. He was then incarcerated in Sorø Abbey for having criticized the exorcism ritual used for baptisms and stayed in prison for four years. In 1571, he was released thanks to Frederick II who visited him in Sorø and had him appointed as abbot in Ringsted, Zealand. From 1572 to 1580, Bertelsen was the headmaster in Sorø and then returned as an abbot to Ringsted where he wrote the poems shortly before his death43.

While his poems ended up not being used for the tapestries, they served as patterns for the German verses which were chosen for unknown reasons. Both versions are fairly similar, but it has been established that the German poems are based on the Danish texts and not the other way around, as early scholars believed44.

Although Bertelsen’s verses were rejected for the tapestries, they circulated in manuscripts and were very popular. Fifteen copies are known, ten of which are probably dated from the late 16^th century, mostly illustrated with portraits. The verses were edited posthumously in 1646 by Holst. This edition contains 102 poems from Dan I to Frederick II and an additional poem who seems to have been composed especially for this purpose according to Venusinus’s distiches. Their length varies from eight to 26 lines. From the eleventh century onwards, most kings speak twenty lines. These poems add up a total of 1,456 lines, or on average 14.3 lines per poem. Bertelsen does not seem to have written a poem for Prince Christian who was only five years old in 1582 and had not yet been elected as a future king. The election took place in 1584, when he was seven years old, according to Danish tradition. Bertelsen used Saxo and some secondary sources such as the Danish Rhyme Chronicle (Den Danske Rimkrønike), which was printed eight times between 1495 and 161345. This text is the first in which Saxo’s kings tell their own life in monologues. The printed version contains 116 monologues from Dan I to Christian I and over 5,000 lines, an average of more than 40 lines per king. These lines are metrically irregular, ranging from eight to eleven syllables and using different sorts of rhymes: rhyming couplets, cross rhymes, and embracing rhymes. The author of the Danish Rhyme Chronicle may have borrowed the idea of letting the kings themselves speak from the Swedish Small Rhyme Chronicle (Lilla Rim-Krönikan) written some years before. In the original redaction from around 1450, 61 Swedish monarchs talk about themselves in 390 rhyming couplets46. The last three, Margaret I, Erik of Pomerania, and Christopher I, also ruled over Denmark during the Kalmar Union. Without knowing these short Swedish monologues, Bertelsen reduced the average length of his monologues to about a third of that in the Danish Rhyme Chronicle so that the weaver would have enough space for them on the tapestries. Bertelsen’s verses are more regular, most have eight syllables. He mainly uses rhymed couplets, but he makes three exceptions with cross rhymes (n° 15, 52, 85).

His poems were edited twice. The second edition from 1745 (B₁₇) is based on a manuscript copied in 1589 by Elisabeth Brockenhuus (B₂), but on two occasions the editor Oluf Bang refers to a second manuscript (p. 342, [3]49). This edition has 100 poems and one prose description (instead of n° 84), numbered from 1 to 101. Five poems from 1646 are permuted (n° 30–33, 68), five omitted (n° 40a, 52, 57, 58, 84), four replaced by other lines (n° 40b, 66, 85, 101). Only 1,310 of the 1,456 lines from 1646 are also found in the second edition which adds three new poems spoken by the five kinglets (n° 37b), Gorm III (n° 65b), and Cnut V (n° 80b). In total, the second edition has 1,436 lines. Interestingly, Frederick II originally speaks about the tapestries in the final monologue and says nothing about his wars against Dithmarschen and Sweden. This monologue was translated into German and is recorded in two of the three oldest German manuscripts, especially the 1583 one (K₂). Frederick II must have rejected it and requested a more military presentation of himself. The 1646 edition presents the same martial text in both Danish and German.

For a long time, Bertelsen’s authorship fell into oblivion because his name was not mentioned in any manuscript. Holst published the poems anonymously. In 1723, Albert Thura explained that Elisabeth Brockenhuus “wrote the history of the Danish kings47”, that Anna Skram, her aunt, painted the pictures of the kings in bright colors, and that their copy was held by the Royal Library in Copenhagen. Thura was referring to the copy from c. 1589 (B₂). In 1732, he described another copy from c. 1600 (B₉) in two notices about Anna Krabbe and Anne Skram as female authors48. He only knew this second copy from a printed donation from Peder Hansen Resen to the Royal Library in 168549. In 1750, Christian Gottlieb Jöcher did not distinguish between author and copier and therefore attributed the poems to Anna Krabbe50. This misunderstanding was cleared up in 1866 by Holger Frederik Rørdam51. He explained that Jacob Jacobsen Wolff, who had married Bertelsen’s daughter in 1600, attributed the poems in 1603 to his father-in-law in a preface to a rhyme chronicle52 and that Lyschander confirmed this attribution a few years later in an encyclopedia about Danish poets53.

The Kronborg Verses (K)54

According to a 1718 inventory, Hans Knieper wove 43 tapestries, but only 40 represented Danish monarchs55. The Dutch weaver started his work in 1581 and, based on invoices, completed it in 1584. The poems were edited in 1597 by the Magdeburg librarian Johann Francke. His edition contains 100 poems with eight to sixteen lines, totaling 1,118 lines, or on average 11.2 lines per poem (K 1–100). The seventeen poems which can be compared with the preserved tapestries have the same number of lines, except for the last one spoken by Christian IV, which has two more lines in the print. This means that the 40 original tapestries featured about 1,116 lines spoken by 105 persons. The group of five kinglets on *HK 11 must have spoken together as is the case in the print (K 37). Three of the tapestries had six monologues with probably 60, 70, and 72 lines (*HK 9, *HK 15, *HK 18).

The German poems were reissued in 1646 by Holst from one of Worm’s manuscripts. This version has six new kings (n° 14, 40, 52, 57, 58, 84), omits three poems (K 37, 64, 79), and replaces the poems spoken by Frederick II and Christian IV with new ones (n° 101, 102). Five poems are permuted (K 29–32, 63), and one has two additional lines (K 23). Holst’s version has a total of 1,142 lines, 24 more than the first print, and seems to be less faithful. The poems are also preserved in three manuscripts, one from 1583 (K₂), two some years younger (K₄, K₅). They have never been compared thoroughly to the tapestries and the editions.

In 1790, the Hamburg theater specialist Johann Friedrich Schütze edited the Kronborg verses for the third time. He printed them from a copy of a parchment that had belonged to Anne Krabbe (K₅). This version has 1,108 lines and mostly matches the first print. Krabbe’s manuscript had been handed over to the Royal Library in 1782.

All the Kronborg poems are composed in Knittelverse, lines with rhyming couplets. Many rhymes are only bound together with assonances. Most lines have eight syllables. None of the poems have been translated yet, not even into Danish. While based on Bertelsen’s verses, they are not slavish translations. Saxo’s original Latin text was probably not used as a complementary source of information. The author is unknown.

Werner’s verses (W)56

Holst reissued the Icones with a new introduction and new German and Danish verses. As he states in the new introduction, the German verses were composed by Adam Friedrich Werner57. This second edition cannot be dated precisely. It adds Frederick III, who was crowned on November 23, 1648; as mentioned, a Copenhagen copy of the second edition has an ex-libris from June 13, 1657. The Icones might have been reissued in 1657 or shortly before 1657, since Werner gifted a copy to the royal councilor Theodor Lente according to a Latin poem published in 165758. Werner was born in East Prussia, came to Denmark in 1642, and began studying at the University of Copenhagen in 1645 while working as a private tutor. He wrote panegyrics to Christian IV and was appointed court poet in 1646. He only composed Latin and German verses. He died in 1672 in Copenhagen as a notary.

He contributed 104 poems of two metrical types to the Icones, all with eight lines. He used cross rhymes for the 52 monarchs bearing an odd number (W 1–103). The odd lines have eight syllables and masculine rhymes, and the even ones have seven syllables and feminine rhymes. For the 52 other monarchs (W 2–40, 40b–102), rhyming couplets with eight syllables and masculine rhymes are used in all lines. In all 832 lines, a strict alternation between stressed and unstressed syllables is maintained. Werner’s poetry thus follows the rules established in 1624 by Martin Opitz in his famous Buch von der deutschen Poeterey. Its contents are aligned with Venusinus’s verses. The German poems can be considered as free amplifying translations, devoid of any originality. Undoubtedly, the Kronborg verses were rejected in the second edition by Holst because they did not match the new rules for German poetry. Owing to a misunderstanding, the Kronberg verses were once attributed to Werner59.

Terkelsen’s verses (T)60

In the introduction to the second edition, Holst mentions Werner first and Søren Terkelsen second, echoing the order in which the verses were composed. The Danish poems are faithful translations of Werner’s rendering of the Latin verses. Terkelsen’s poems all have eight lines and rely on the metrical type used by Werner for the odd numbered monarchs, i.e. cross rhymes and alternatively eight and seven syllables with masculine and feminine endings. Terkelsen also complied Opitz’s rules, which was new in Denmark. From 1633 to 1645, Terkelsen worked as a custom officer in Glückstadt, Schleswig, and had close contacts to the circles of German poets in Hamburg. Like Werner, he admired Opitz and the German poets who had adopted the new metrical rules, like Paul Fleming. Terkelsen translated several German texts into Danish and published all his texts between 1645 and 165661. His contribution to the second edition of the Icones is in line with these translations. His 832 lines must have seemed very modern to Danish readers of the time. Although they were published above the German verses like Bertelsen’s poems in the first edition, they were in fact translations from German this time. They were apparently never copied in manuscripts. The unique handwritten copy of the second Icones edition contains only Latin and German verses, and Terkelsen is inaccurately presented as the author of the German poems (W₂).

Portraits (P)62

As the title indicates, the Icones are above all a book of portraits in which the images are accompanied by texts rather than the opposite. The early portraits of Danish kings have generated little research, since Danish National Museum director Mouritz Mackeprang and art historian Sigfrid Müller-Christensen published their study on the Kronborg tapestries in 1950.

In 1514, Saxo’s History of the Danes was This version honly illustrated with one engraving. The front page shows an anonymous Danish king introduced as “REX DANORVM”. No other Saxo edition was illustrated until 1898, nor were the books deriving from Saxo’s work such as the Danish Rhyme Chronicle. The first book portraying Saxo kings is a Basel encyclopedia published by Heinrich Pantaleon. It appeared in three thick volumes containing around 1,500 biographies of German heroes from the Flood to Pantaleon’s own time. The first edition was published in Latin between 1565 and 1566. It was faithfully translated into German between 1567 and 1570, and this German version was reissued in 1571 and 1578. The first part, which extends to the year 799, contains many Danish kings, twenty-nine out of the 58 up to Gøtrik listed in 1514 by Christien Pedersen63. The next two parts only have eight Danish kings. This series of Danish kings ends in 1540 with Christian II, the last Catholic king of Denmark. The biographies are based on Saxo who had been reissued in 1534 in Basel. Each of them is illustrated with a small stereotypical woodcut. On average, each engraving was reused for twelve different biographies. Nevertheless, the faces of 37 Saxo kings including Balder and Odin could now be admired in print.

Pantaleon’s encyclopedia, which contains the first printed portrait of Amlethus, seems to have gone entirely unnoticed in Shakespearean scholarship as well as in Denmark. It is not listed in Bibliotheca Danica in the section about portraits of kings and queens64. This authoritative catalogue of Danish literature before 1830 usually includes foreign books about Denmark. The section about portraits begins with the Icones heroum bellica virtute maxime illustrium (Portraits of heroes famous for their war deeds) published in 1589 in Basel by Valentin Thilo. It contains no Saxo king, only portraits of the six kings from the Oldenburg dynasty.

Two years earlier, Thilo’s friend Nicolaus Reusner had published the first extensive German portrait book in Strasbourg with a similar title, the Icones sive imagines virorum literis illustrium (Portraits of men of letters) and a dedication to Frederick II65. It contains 99 realistic portraits of illustrious scholars, mostly from Germany. The portraits are followed by a few lines about the person. This book has no portrait of a Danish king, but it looks like Holst’s Icones in its structure.

In 1597, Johann Francke published the first portrait book with only Danish kings. It contains 99 portraits in 42 variants. They are placed above the Kronborg poems, but they have no resemblance to the tapestries. Francke may have copied the poems from a manuscript without drawings.

As previously noted, in 1643, Erik Torm published a large leaf with 102 small portraits of Danish kings from Dan I to Christian IV, numbered from 2 to 102. Below each portrait, the duration of the reign and the year of death are mentioned in Latin. The leaf has no specific date, but it is dedicated to Christian IV in the 47^th year of his reign, i.e. 1643. The lower half of the leaf presents each king in German. The kings are portrayed with a crown and an attribute such as a scepter, a sword, or a globus cruciger, but bear no resemblance to the Kronborg tapestries, the 1597 engravings or those from 1646. The leaf was also published in Danish. The Latin title advertises “real portraits (veræ effigies)” of Danish kings over a period of “2,670 years (MMDCLXX)”. This presentation is somewhat contradicted by the dates below Dan I who is said to have ruled for 40 years between 2910 AM and 994 BC. This would mean that he founded Denmark 2,677 years before 1643. The leaf was reissued twice with careless imitations and additional portraits of the three following kings. The title was updated to “MMDCLXXX” and “MMDCCIX”. This would mean the years 1646 and 1675 if starting from 1034 BC. The one bearing the “MMDC-LXXX” inscription, however, ends with Frederick III and is dated 1652 by the Royal Library. This leaf was indeed often included into the 1652 edition of Arild Huitfeldt’s chronicle from Dan I to Cnut VI, first published in 1603. Huitfeldt, chancellor from 1586 to his death in 1609, published the first Danish history in ten volumes between 1595 and 1604 and probably received assistance from anonymous writers. One of them may have been Venusinus. Arild Huitfeldt’s grandfather Otte Huitfeldt was an ancestor of the naval officer Iver Huitfeldt.

In 1685, the Nuremberg scholar Johann Christoph Beer anonymously published a voluminous German history of Danish kings from Dan I to Christian V. The biographies were illustrated by 104 engravings which were close reproductions of Haelwegh’s portraits until Christian IV, however mostly reversed with the kings looking in the opposite direction and without Hetha. In 1732, Beer’s book was used as a basis for an abridged Danish version published in Copenhagen by the German printer Johan Jørgen Høpfner, also anonymously. Høpfner had been freshly appointed director of the royal print office. His small portraits are carelessly copied from Beer’s engravings, but still indebted to the Icones. However, Haelwegh’s faces are difficult to recognize in this Danish book.

Until 1700, there may have been under 600 engravings with portraits of Danish kings in circulation. In addition to the prints, the royal profiles could be admired on the Kronborg tapestries, on guns, and on drawings belonging to aristocrats who were often closely related to each other.

From the 40 tapestries, fourteen are left, with seventeen portraits. No drawing of the lost tapestries is known. The 117 portraits of Danish kings, which were painted in 1574 by Anthon Samfleth66 for Frederick II according to a notice in the royal accounts, and may have been used as models by Knieper, are also lost. Only one manuscript reproduces the Kronborg tapestries with some resemblance, a parchment from c. 1600 owned by Anne Krabbe (P₁₂). It contains German verses which were probably also copied from the walls (K₅). Twenty-one of the gun portraits are known, including five from original guns, fifteen from Swedish drawings and one from Danish drawings. In addition, thirteen manuscripts contain drawings with portraits from Dan I to the kings of the late 16^th century or mid-17^th century. The total number of drawings with kings probably exceeds 1,400.

Several drawings are related to Karen Skram who copied the Stockholm manuscript (P₇) with Danish verses (B₄). This noble woman was the daughter of Peder Skram, a famous naval hero, and Elsebe Krabbe, and the wife of Laurids Brockenhuus. Karen Skram let her cousin Anne Krabbe copy verses from a manuscript that her daughter Elisabeth had written in 1589 around the age of twelve. Later, she gifted it to her brother-in-law (B₂). In 1591, Karen Skram let her younger daughter Birgitte copy the same verses again; she gifted this copy to her own sister Oline Skram (B₃). Based on the final date, Birgitte Brockenhuus must have done this work at the age of ten. In 1599, Birgitte married Jacob Ulfeldt. Their son was the famous Corfitz Ulfeldt, who married Christian IV’s daughter Eleonore Christina in 1636. Their daughter Karen Ulfeldt married her distant relative Oluf Brockenhuus in 1640, and they called their daughter Eleonore Kirstine in honor of the marriage between Karen Ulfeldt’s brother and the princess of the same name. This daughter later owned a copy from 1642 (P₁₅). That copy was passed from generation to generation until it was acquired by the Royal Library in 1979.

Only few of these drawings have been published. Only the Greifswald manuscript is available online. In 1950, Mackeprang published 99 Kronborg-like portraits from P₁₂ and seventeen portraits from four other manuscripts67, two with Amlethus. The online image collection of the Danish Royal Library includes 50 drawings from ten manuscripts showing Margarethe I and thirteen kings from Valdemar II to Christian V. Apparently, Shakespearian scholars have only reproduced Amlethus drawings twice68, without mentioning Pantaleon. In 1983, the drawing from P₁₀ was inaccurately described as “[p]robably the oldest picture of Hamlet”.

Edition Principles

Holst’s first edition has 103 poems numbered from 1 to 102 with n° 40 twice (V₃). Hansen has 82 poems, often numbered differently (V₂), the guns have 56 poems (V₁, V_6–9). Our transcriptions are primarily based on the complete Copenhagen copy Hielmst. 281 2^o of Holst’s first edition, secondarily on the other witnesses. Holst’s readings are corrected in italics, variants given in notes, Holst’s second edition (V₄) together with the first. Variants in the handwritten copy of this print (V₅) are not recorded.

Abbreviations are resolved unmarked (e.g. atque, et, filius, Magnus for atq;, &, f., fili⁹, M.), the letters i, j, u, and v are normalized according to their phonetic value, accents are omitted (e.g. a quo for à quo), upper case is only used for proper nouns (e.g. rex for Rex), punctuation is modernized, no variant is given for e, æ, and œ and i and y, and emendations are in italics.

The distiches are introduced by the text on the corresponding engravings. The monarchs’ titles and sometimes their main achievements are described below the picture. The duration of their reign and their year of death are inscribed in a frame around the portrait. The seven last kings from the Oldenburg dynasty are introduced differently; only the duration of their reign is mentioned.

In the headers, the names are normalized according to the index in Karsten Friis-Jensen’s Saxo edition69, those of the later kings according to common use. The reign dates are corrected in italics to establish a coherent chronology, especially according to Torm’s leaf used by Holst (or Worm) and Haelwegh. The dates are given with the abbreviations AM (for Anno Mundi), BC, and AD to 100 AD.

The witnesses are numbered according to their likely chronology.

Abbreviations

AM – Stockholm, Armémuseum (“Army Museum”).

B_1–17 – Bertelsen’s verses, quoted from H₁ (B₁₃) with length (number always as V₃), also with number and length in O. Bang, Samling…, op. cit. (note 40) (B₁₇ from B₂) if different.

CP – Christiern Pedersen’s list, quoted from Danorum Regum heroumque historie…, op. cit. (note 63) with numbers and books, chapters, and sections of the History of the Danes.

DBL – Dansk Biografisk Leksikon, online version, <https://biografiskleksikon.lex.dk>, with entries from the 3^rd edition, 16 Vol., Svend Cedergreen Bech (ed.), Copenhagen, Gyldendal, 1979–1984; often unchanged from the 2^nd edition, Povl Engelstoft and Svend Dahl (eds.), 27 Vol., Copenhagen, Schultz, 1933–1944.

G – Gasser’s chronology in A. P. Gasser, Historiarum…, op. cit. (note 34) with numbers and reign dates.

G₂ – E. Gigas, Katalog…, Vol. II, op. cit. (note 78).

G₃ – E. Gigas, Katalog…, Vol. III/1, op. cit. (note 71).

H₁ – Holst’s first Icones edition from 1646 (note 1).

H₂ – Holst’s second Icones edition from 1648/1657 (note 1).

HBJ – L. Hvass & T. Bill-Jensen, Christian 4…, op. cit., p. 409–411 (note 95).

HK – MFC, p. 80–81: Hans Knieper’s tapestries with their number in the 1718 inventory (HK 1–40).

K_1–8 – The Kronborg verses, quoted from Chronica. Das ist Beschreibung…, op. cit. (note 54) (K₃) with numbers and length, also their length in H₁ (K₇) and Kleine Chronicke…, op. cit. (note 54) (K₈ from K₅) if different.

KB – Copenhagen, Det Kongelige Bibliotek (“Royal Library”).

KM – Copenhagen, Krigsmuseets arkiv (“War Museum Archive”).

LC. – C. Lyschander, Synopsis…, op. cit. (note 31) (page) with numbers and dates for coronation, reign, and death.

MFC – M. Mackeprang and S. Flamand Christensen, Kronborgtapeterne…, op. cit. (note 1).

MGH – Monumenta Germaniae Historica, online: <https://www.dmgh.de>.

P – Petreius’s chronology in P. Andersen Vinilandicus, Nordens Gotiske Storhedstid…, op. cit. (note 33) with numbers and dates for beginning and duration of reign (P without subscript).

P_1–25 – Portrait collections with Danish kings.

RA – Copenhagen, Rigsarkivet (“National Archive”).

T – E. Torm, Veræ effigies…, op. cit. (note 36) with numbers and dates for coronation, reign, and death (T 1–102).

T – Terkelsen’s verses in H₂ (T without number).

V – Anders Sørensen Vedel’s list in his Saxo translation from 157570 with numbers and names (V without subscript).

V_1–8 – Venusinus’s Reges Daniæ recorded on the guns (V₁, V_6–9) with page, in Hansen’s copy (V₂) with page, in the copy of H₂ (V₅), in Holst’s editions (V_3–4) with numbers and variants.

W_1–2 – Werner’s verses in H₂ (W₁) and the handwritten copy (W₂).

Ø – Missing year or number.

+ – Duration of reign after coronation or before death.

= – Year after reign duration or before death.

Witnesses

Guns

P₁₃ – Copenhagen, Langelinie, two guns (Uffi and Huglek); Copenhagen, Krigsmuseet, one gun (Erik Evergood); Hurum, parochial church, one gun (Halfdan I); Køge, Køge Museum (currently deposited in Holmegaard), three damaged guns (Gram, Hiarni, and Sigvald I): 1602/1604, seven poems, three of which are partly lost, and five portraits.

V₁ – As P₁₃.

Manuscripts

B₁ – KB, GKS 812 fol.71: 210 ff., 1589, Bertelsen’s verses with 104 portraits from Dan I to Frederick II, owned in 1589 by Hak Ulfstand (1535–1594).

B₂ – Odense, Karen Brahes Bibliotek, E III, 772: 78 ff., 1589/1590, Bertelsen’s verses copied by the child Elisabeth Brockenhuus (c. 1577–1600/1603) for her mother Karen Skram (1545–1625) who gifted them to her brother-in-law Henning Gøye (1568–1617).

B₃ – KB, GKS 2431 4o73: 71 ff., 1590/1591, Bertelsen’s verses from Dan I to Frederick II copied by the child Birgitte Brockenhuus (1580–1656) for her mother Karen Skram who gifted them to her sister Oline Skram (1535/1536–1602).

B₄ – Stockholm, Kungliga biblioteket, K 4974: 252 ff., 1597, Bertelsen’s verses with 117 portraits from Humli to Frederick II, copied by Karen Skram.

B₅ – KB, Thott 795 fol. 75: 200 ff., late 16^th c., Bertelsen’s verses with 100 portraits from Dan I to Frederick II, some verses without portraits, owned by Lene Rud (1594–1671) whose daughter gifted them in 1695 to her son Hans Kaas (1657–1700).

B₆ – KB, GKS 813 fol.76: 120 ff., late 16^th c., Bertelsen’s verses with 101 portraits from Dan I to Christian III, some verses without portraits.

B₇ – KB, Thott 1551 4to77: 76 ff., late 16^th c., Bertelsen’s verses, owned by “Dirich Willumszønn”, perhaps Diderich Willumsen (1660–1718).

B₈ – KB, GKS 2432 4o78: 347 ff., late 16^th c., fol. 1–59 (first part): Bertelsen’s verses from Dan I to Frederick II copied by Cornelius Hamsfort (1546–1627), original poems attributed to Birgitte Brockenhuus.

B₉ – KB, Thott 797 fol. 79: 282 ff., c. 1600 with additions up to 1670, Bertelsen’s verses partly copied by Anne Krabbe (1552–1618) from her cousin Karen Skram’s manuscript (B₂), but in a front-page notice Karen Skram is mixed up with her sister Anne Skram (1535/1550–1593), with 120 portraits from Humli to Christian V. 

B₁₀ – KB, Kall 68 4o80: 201 ff., c. 1600, first part: Bertelsen’s verses.

B₁₁ – KB, NKS 586 fol. 81: 123 ff., 1638, Bertelsen’s verses copied in Copenhagen by Anders Beyer († 166382) from B₆, with 106 portraits from Dan I to Frederick II.

B₁₂ – KB, NKS 2749 fol. 83: 230 ff., 1642, Bertelsen’s verses probably copied from B₄, with 117 portraits from Humli to Frederick II, owned by Birgitte Brockenhuus’s daughter Karen Ulfeldt (1611–1658), her daughter Eleonore Kirstine Brockenhuus (1642/1645–after 1656), and later many others, in 1979 acquired by the Royal Library.

B₁₄ – KB, Thott 796 fol. 84: 422 ff, 17^th c., Bertelsen’s verses copied from B₆, with 100 portraits from Dan I to Christian III.

B₁₅ – KB, NKS 930b 4to85: 42 ff., 18^th c., Bertelsen verses from Dan I to Frederick II copied from B₁₀.

B₁₆ – KB, Kall 423 4o86: 44 ff., 18^th c., Bertelsen’s verses copied from B₂.

K₂ – KB, Thott 1550 4o87: 59 ff., 1583, Kronberg verses.

K₄ – KB, Kall 422 4o88: 52 ff., c. 1600, Kronberg verses.

K₅ – KB, GKS 2427 4o89: 104 ff. (parchment), c. 1600, Kronberg verses with 99 portraits, owned by Anne Krabbe.

P₄ – Greifswald, Universitätsbibliotek, Ms 108490: 195 ff., 1586/1600, 102 portraits from Dan I to Frederick II with Danish prose, in 1710 owned by the Swede Johan Hjärne (1696–1737), in 1729 acquired in Stockholm by the Greifswald lawyer Johann Christian von Nettelbladt (1696–1775).

P₅ – As B₁.

P₇ – As B₄.

P₈ – As B₅.

P₉ – As B₆.

P₁₀ – As B₉.

P₁₁ – KB, GKS 815 fol. 91: 133 ff., c. 1600, portraits from Dan I to Frederick II with German prose, owned in 1658 by “H.S.” and undated by “C.W. Gabell”, probably Christopher Gabel (1617–1673).

P₁₂ – As K₅.

P₁₄ – As B₁₁.

P₁₅ – As B₁₂.

P₁₈ – KB, GKS 814 fol. 92: 114 ff., 1630/1640, 120 portraits from Dan I to Christian V († 1647) as a prince.

P₁₉ – KB, NKS 587 fol. 93: 218 ff, 1630/1640, 120 portraits from Dan I to Christian V as a prince, copied by the same hand as P₁₈, probably a little later.

P₂₀ – As B₁₃.

P₂₂ – AM, unknown shelf-mark (probably one of the 28 pieces in Armémuseums arkivsamlingar, Uppteckningsarkivet AM F22:43), probably only one portrait with Venusinus’s verses on an “Old King” (Sigvarth II), 1660/1700; KM, unknown shelf-mark (momentarily not locatable, in 1974 with the shelf-mark “1. afsnit II, 8, n° 82–97”, copy from 1847 sent to Denmark by Lagercrantz, in total fifteen leaves with 66 guns (C 12 with the “Old King”); printed in 1860 from Lagercrantz’s drawing94 (quoted after this print).

P₂₄ – AM, Ritningen J 3 volym 45, AM 5379, Vol. III: 234 ff., 1714, fifteen portraits with Venusinus’s verses (fol. 138 and 139) two of which on guns, after lost guns taken in the battles of Halmstad (1676), Lund (1676), Runneberga (1677), Malmö (1678), Rügen (1678), and Helsingborg (1710).

P₂₅ – Copenhagen, Forsvarets bibliotek (“Defense Library”), Sto. kva. 236 (olim I.A.55), p. 168, 1729 (without portrait, “Mushardt’s manuscript”); Ibid., unknown shelf-mark (olim I.A.57), p. 531, c. 1730 (momentarily not locatable, probably like the previous drawing, “Hoffmeyer’s manuscript”); Ibid., FOL 081 (olim I.D.55/II), p. 21, c. 1744 (portrait without text, “Beselin’s manuscript I”); KM, unknown shelf-mark (olim 1. afsnit 20, n^o 45–46), before 1747 without date (momentarily not locatable, portrait with number and name, “Beselin’s manuscripts II–III”), KM, current and previous shelf-mark unknown, p. 19, before 1812 without date (momentarily not locatable, portrait with number and name, “Juncker’s seventh manuscript”), one portrait without verses, after a gun kept in Copenhagen, six copies depending on each other or a lost original; printed in 2011 after “Juncker’s seventh manuscript95”.

V₂ – KB, NKS 271 8o96: 226 ff. partly paginated, 1594–1672, mainly texts copied between 1594 and 1605 by Peder Hansen, Venusinus’s private secretary, the verses from Dan I to Frederick II between 1602 and 1604 (p. 85–104, 106, 172).

V₅ – KB, Thott 491 8o97: 58 ff., 17^th c. (after 1670), Venusinus’s and Werner’s verses copied from H₂, n° 31–35 are missing.

V₆ – As P₂₂.

V₇ – RA, Håndskriftsamlingen, VD 1, 6 ff., 1660/1700, 46 of Venusinus’s poems, copied in Sweden from conquered guns; one of them printed in 1877 (n° 2)98.

V₈ – AM, Armémuseums arkivsamlingar, Uppteckningsarkivet AM F22:43, v. A: 5, 79 ff., 13.3.1697, Venusinus’s verses on thirteen “Old Kings” and ten “New Short Kings”.

W₂ – As V₅.

Prints

B₁₃ – H₁: Danish, German, and Latin verses printed from unknown manuscripts belonging to Worm, with 103 portraits from Dan I to Christian IV.

B₁₇ – O. Bang, Samling…, op. cit. (note 40): Bertelsen’s verses (from B₂).

K₃ – Chronica. Das ist Beschreibung…, op. cit. (note 54): The Kronberg verses, with 99 portraits from Dan I to Christian IV.

K₆ – Jacob Friedrich Reimmann, Historiæ literariæ exotericæ et acroamaticæ particula [...], Leipzig/Quedlinburg, Strunz, [1710], p. 31: Dan I’s und Humli’s Kronborg verses from a lost manuscript from 1622.

K₇ – As B₁₃.

K₈ – Kleine Chronicke..., op. cit. (note 54): The Kronborg verses from K₅.

P₁ – H. Pantaleon, Prosopographia…, op. cit. and Idem, Teutscher Nation Heldenbuch…, op. cit. (note 56): 73 portraits of 37 kings in 38 variants.

P₃ – Icones heroum…, op. cit. (note 56): six portraits of the kings from the Oldenburg dynasty.

P₆ – As K₃.

P₁₆ – E. Torm, Veræ effigies…, op. cit. (note 36): 102 portraits.

P₁₇ – As B₁₃.

P₂₁ – Der Königen in Dännemark…, op. cit. (note 56): 104 portraits.

T – H₂: Venusinus’s verses reprinted from the first edition with minor differences, new Danish and German verses composed by Terkelsen and Werner for the second edition, with 104 portraits from Dan I to Frederick III, including 103 from Holst 1648.

V₃ – As B₁₃.

V₄ – As T.

W₁ – As T.

Tapestries

K₁ – Copenhagen, Nationalmuseet, seven tapestries (HK 28, 34, 36–40); Elsinore, Kronborg, seven tapestries (HK 24–27, 29–30, 33): 1582/1584, seventeen German poems with 204 lines and seventeen portraits.

P₂ – As K₁.

Lost Guns

*P₁₃ – 93 “Old Kings” with 93 portraits, molded in Elsinore and Copenhagen between 1602 and 1608 and at least twelve “New Short Kings” molded in Elsinore between 1630 and 1639; 50 lost guns are known from drawings and prints: seventeen portraits and 49 poems.

*V₁ – As *P₁₃.

Lost Manuscripts

*B₁₃ – One or more manuscripts owned by Ole Worm in 1646, with Danish, German, and Latin verses, used by Holst for his edition.

*K₆ – German record with the title “Successio aller Könige in Dännemarck von dem ersten König Dan biß auf Christianum den Vierten [...]”, 1622, probably copied at Kronborg directly from the tapestries for Duke Philipp Julius of Pomerania during a visit, signed by him on September 3, 1622, two first stanzas about Dan I and Humli quoted in 1710 by the Saxon historian Jacob Friedrich Reimmann and from him in 1790 by Johann Friedrich Schütze99, probably destroyed in 1710 by the fire along with most of Reimmann’s collections.

*K₇ – As *B₁₃.

*V₃ – As *B13.

*V₇ – As *P₂₃.

Lost Tapestries

*K₁ – 26 tapestries originally exhibited at Kronborg, 1582/1584, portraits of 86 kings and two queens and 83 poems with 912 lines if Francke rendered the poems faithfully in 1597. The list of portraits is known from the 1718 inventory.

*P2 – As *K1.

* * *

Edition and Translation of Venusinus’s Reges Daniæ

[1. Dan I, 1034–994 BC100]

Dan, Humbli judicis sive principis Sielandiæ vicinarumque insularum filius, a quo Dania appellationem sortita est, Danici regni conditor, regnavit xxxx annos, obiit ante Christum 994:

[V_2–5]

Dan ego devictis Baltisque Amalisque peramplum,
    Qua sect­a est triplici Gothica terra freto,
Constitui regnum primus; gens Martia deinceps
    Nobile de nostro nomine nomen habet.

[Dan, son of Humli, judge or prince of Zealand and the neighboring islands, from whom Denmark has received its name, founder of the Danish kingdom, reigned for 40 years, and died in 994 BC: I Dan, after having defeated the Balts and the Amali, first founded this vast kingdom which is divided in the Gothic land by three belts. The warlike nation then got its noble name from mine.]

[2. Humli, 994–983 BC101]

Humblus, Dani I filius, rex Danorum, regnavit xi annos, obiit ante Christum 983:

[V_3–5]

Jure recens regnum post patris fata secundus
    Accipio; fratris non tamen ira tulit.
Exuit immeritum. Cessi quo nomine tandem.
    Ipse magis felix, et miser ille fuit.

[Humli, son of Dan I, king of the Danes, reigned for eleven years, and died in 983 BC: After my father’s death, I was the second who righteously took over this young kingdom, but my wrathful brother could not bear it. He stole it illegally. Finally, I abandoned my title. I was rather lucky, he wretched.]

[V₂ / V₇ / V_8ab / V₉]

Conscendi solium patris, mihi frater ademptum
    Per vim Lotherus, sed diadema tulit.
Hocque animo patiente tuli, nam juncta sciebam
    Cum magno atque jugi regia sceptra metu.

[I ascended my father’s throne, but my brother Løther stole it from me by force and took the crown. I endured this patiently, knowing that the royal scepter is ted with a heavy yoke and a great fear.]

[3. Løther, 983–966 BC102]

Lotherus, frater Humbli, rex Danorum, regnavit xvii annos, obiit ante Christum 966:

[V_2–5 / V₇]

Germanum regno spolians, opibusque potentes,
    Sum mihi me recte consuluisse ratus.
Sed male consultum, nam me vitalibus auris
    Dejectum solio subdita gens spoliat.

[Løther, brother of Humli, third king of the Danes, reigned for seventeen years, and died in 966 BC: I deprived my brother of the reign, the mighty of their wealth, and thought I made the right decision. But it was a bad one because my subjects removed me from the throne and deprived me of life.]

[4. Skiold, 966–886 BC103]

Scioldus, Lotheri filius, rex Danorum IV et Saxoniæ princeps, a quo Dani dicti sunt Skioldungi, imperavit xxxxxxxx annos, obiit ante Christum 886:

[V_2–5]

Robore tantus eram, tam munificentia et armis
    Inclutus et magnis in patriam meritis,
Ut, si deinde bonum quem regem nacta fuisset,
    Posteritas, Schioldo diceret esse satum.

[Skiold, son of Løther, fourth king of the Danes and prince of Saxony, from whom the Danes are called Skioldungs, reigned for 80 years, and died in 886 BC: I was so important for my strength, so famous for my generosity, my arms, and my deeds toward my fatherland that when posterity had a good king, he was said to be from Skiold’s seed.]

[5. Gram, 886–855 BC­104]

Gramus, Scioldi filius, rex Danorum, imperavit xxxi annos, obiit ante Christum 855:

[V_1–5]

Sigtrugum clava Suarinumque ense cecidi,
    Suediaque est nostrum ferre coacta jugum.
Pendebant vivo mihi Saxonis arva tributum,
    Me cæso solium sed SuIbidagrus init.

[Gram, son of Skiold, king of the Danes, reigned for 31 years, and died in 855 BC: I brought Sigtrygg down with a club and Svarin with a sword and forced Sweden to carry our yoke. The Saxon’s furrows paid tribute to me during my lifetime, but when I fell Svipdag ascended the throne.]

[6. Svipdag, 855–815 BC105]

Suibdagerus, rex Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Sueciæ, regnavit xxxx annos, obiit ante Christum 815:

[V_2–5 / V_7–9]

Commisso stravi Gramum certamine, cujus
    Venerat in thalamum filia rapta meum.
Sed patrem fratremque ultus, me fudit Hadingus,
    Subjiciens armis omnia nostra suis.

[Svipdag, king of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, reigned for 40 years, and died in 815 BC: After abducting his daughter into my bed, I struck down Gram in a secret battle, but Hadding, avenging his father and his brother, defeated me, and subdued all my countries with his army.]

[7. Guththorm, 855–841 BC, as Svipdag’s vassal106]

Guthormus, Grami filius, rex Daniæ, regnavit xiiii annos, obiit ante Christum 813:

[V_2–5 / V_7–9]

Qui patrium precio regnum precibusque tenebam,
    Haut liquide regis nomine dignus eram.
Rex tamen usque fui, dum me Suibdagria tandem
    Suspectum celeri jussa dedere neci.

[Guththorm, son of Gram, king of Denmark, reigned for fourteen years, and died in 813 BC: I, who ruled my father’s kingdom on request, was not clearly worthy of a king’s name. However, I was a king until I was put to a swift death on Svipdag’s order because he mistrusted me.]

[8. Hadding, 815–761 BC107]

Haddingus, frater Guthormi, rex Daniæ et Sueciæ, imperavit xxxxxiiii annos, obiit ante Christum 761:

[V_2–5 / V_7–8]

Ultus Suibdagro cæso fratremque patremque,
    Regnorum factus deinde monarcha duum,
Præficio Hundingum Suedis Uffone perempto,
    Ex pacto libuit, quo moriente mori.

[Hadding, brother of Guththorm, king of Denmark and Sweden, reigned for 54 years, and died in 761 BC: By killing Svipdag, I avenged my brother and my father and was then made sovereign of two kingdoms. After Uffi’s death, I let Hunding rule over the Swedes, and when he died, I decided to die as well following a pact.]

[9. Frothi I, 761–684 BC108]

Frotho I, Haddingi filius, rex Daniæ variarumque nationum domitor, regnavit xxxxxxxvii annos, obiit ante Christum 684:

[V_2–5]

Non mihi sufficiunt tria regna, sed insuper illis
    Haut pauca adjicio Martis et artis ope.
Devictis Anglis, Frisonibus atque Ruthenis
    Impeto dum Suecos Marte, siti emorior.

[Frothi I, son of Hadding, king of Denmark and lord of various nations, reigned for 77 years, and died in 684 BC: Three kingdoms were not enough to me. I added many through warfare and skill. After defeating the Englishmen, the Frisians, and the Russians, I died of thirst while attacking the Swedes during a war.]

[10. Halfdan I, 684–628 BC109]

Haldanus, Frothonis filius, rex Daniæ, regnavit xxxxxiiii annos, obiit ante Christum 628:

[V_1–5]

Tollere me proprios fratres fratrumque clientes,
    E medio regni cæcus adegit amor.
Perdere me nequit cunctis exosa tyrannis,
    Sed tulit extremam sera senecta diem.

[Halfdan, son of Frothi, king of Denmark, reigned for 54 years, and died in 628 BC: Blind love for royal power made me eliminate my own brothers and my brothers’ servants. My tyranny, loathed by everybody, could not bring my downfall, my death was only caused by old age.]

[11. Roi, 628–594 BC110]

Roe, filius Haldani I, rex Daniæ, regnavit xxxiiii annos, obiit ante Christum 594:

[V_3–5]

Imperium telluris ego (sic pactus uterque),
    Imperium frater suscipiebat aquæ.
Testis adhuc nostri Roeschildia nominis extat.
    Dum reprimo Suecos fortiter, occubui.

[Roi, son of Halfdan I, king of Denmark, reigned for 34 years, and died in 594 BC: According to our deal, I ruled over the land, and my brother over the sea. Roskilde still bears witness of my name. I was killed when I bravely fought the Swedes.]

[V₂]

Partitus regnum cum fratre Helgone paternum,
    Rex ego sum terra factus at ille mari.
Prima Roeskildæ jeci fundamina, Suedus
    Ter acie villum me fugat atque necat.

[After sharing my father’s kingdom with my brother Helge, I was made king of the land, and he of the sea. I laid the foundations of Roskilde. In three battles, the Swede drove poor me away and slew me.]

[12. Helgi, 594–565 BC111]

Helgo, frater Roe, rex Daniæ et Slavoniæ, regnavit xxviiii annos, obiit ante Christum 565:

[V_2–5]

Classe mea late populatus Teutonis oras
    Danorum docui quam grave ferre jugum.
Hothbrodum deinceps illa ipsa classe recidi,
    Militibus prædæ Suedia tota fuit.

[Helgi, brother of Roi, king of Denmark and Slavonia, reigned for 29 years, and died in 565 BC: I widely devastated the Germans’ coasts with my fleet and thus taught them severely to carry the Danish yoke. Then, I removed Hothbrod with the same fleet and my soldiers received the whole of Sweden as booty.]

[13. Rolf Krake, 565–524 BC112]

Rolfo Krage, Helgonis filius, rex Daniæ, Sueciæ, Slavoniæ, imperavit xxxxi annos, obiit ante Christum 524:

[V_2–5 / V₇]

Me dum Suedus adit simulans se ferre tributum
    Arma tegit vasis hostica, corde dolum.
Meque meosque necat sommo vinoque sepultos,
    Viggonis ipse statim perfidus ense cadit.

[Rolf, brother of Helgi, king of Denmark, Sweden, and the Slavonia, reigned for 41 years, and died in 524 BC: When the Swede approached me and feigned paying tribute, he hid the hostile army in vases and his fraud in his heart. He killed me and my people when we were buried in sleep and wine. This perfidious man himself soon fell by Viggi’s sword.]

[14. Høther, 524–482 BC113]

Hotherus, nepos Suanhuidæ, sororis Frothonis I, rex Daniæ, Sueciæ, Slavoniæ, regnavit xxxxii annos, obiit ante Christum 482:

[V_2–5]

Balderus, postquam stirps regia desiit, armis
    Præstigiisque ambit Danica sceptra suis.
Hoc cæso factus Danis Suedisque monarcha,
    Ense cado Boi, Bous et ipse meo.

[Høther, nephew of Svanhvita, sister of Frothi I, king of Denmark, Sweden, and Slavonia, reigned for 42 years, and died in 482 BC: After the extinction of the royal dynasty, Balder surrounded the Danish scepter with his weapons and tricks. When he was killed, I became king of the Danes and the Swedes and fell by Bo’s sword, Bo by mine.]

[V_8–9]

Cum Rudolfo obiit Dani stirps mascula regis,
    Hinc mihi cognato Dania sceptra refert.
Sed quia Suecus eram, Balder magnus arma capessit,
    Sub cujus strati vindice fratre cado.

[When King Dan’s male royal line died out with Rolf, Denmark gave the scepter to me, his cousin. But because I was a Swede, the great Balder took the arms. Once he lay dead on the ground, I fell to his avenger, his brother.]

[15. Rørik, 482–432 BC114]

Roricus Slengebaand vel Racke dictus, filius Hotheri, Amlethi avus maternus, rex Daniæ, regnavit xxxxx annos, obiit ante Christum 432:

[V_2–5]

Martia Sclavorum sunt corda coercita nostro
    Marte, Horvendillo nata Gerutha datur.
Nascitur hisce nepos vario stratagemate clarus
    Nomen et hinc etiam nunc Amalethus habet.

[Rørik nicknamed Slyngebond or Racke, son of Høther, maternal grandfather of Amleth, king of Denmark, reigned for 50 years, and died in 432 BC: The Slavonians’ warring heart was subdued by my own warring heart, and I married my daughter Gerutha to Ørvendil. They begot my grandson who is famous for his various tricks. His name Amleth is still well known today.]

[V_8–9]

Fit mihi Curlandus, Suecus, Slavo, Saxo rebellis,
    Quos me Danorum subdere dextra juvat.
Dignus cujus honos et gloria parta perennet,
    Qui domino fidei pignora certa dedit.

[The Kurlanders, the Swedes, the Slavs, and the Saxons rebelled against me. The Danes’ arm helped me subdue them. The one who has given certain guarantees of faith to the Lord deserves that his honor and his conquered glory last forever.]

[16. Viglek, 432–364 BC115]

Vigletus, Rorici filius, rex Daniæ, regnavit xxxxxxviii annos, obiit ante Christum 364:

[V_3–5]

Ut Roricus obiit, regnum mihi contigit; obstat
    Amlethus luctis fretus et arma parat.
Ast a me periit cæsus; civilia bella
    Motibus his patriæ multa dedere mala.

[Viglek, son of Rørik, king of Denmark, reigned for 68 years, and died in 364 BC: When Rørik died, the kingdom fell to me. Trusting his fighting skills, Amleth resisted and took arms against me, but I killed him. Stirred up by these troubles, the civil war brought many evils to the country.]

[V₂ / V₇]

Roricus ut fatis concessit, Scania nostro
    In Cymbros ductu gens animosa movet.
Prudentemque illic Amalethum sternimus; inde
    Paruit imperio Dania tota meo.

[When Rørik came to his death, the brave Scanian nation moved against Jutland under our leadership. There, we knocked down the shrewd Amleth. From then on, all Denmark obeyed my orders.]

[17. Vermund, 364–294 BC116]

Vermundus, cæcus Vigleti filius, rex Daniæ, imperavit xxxxxxx annos, obiit ante Christum 294:

[V_2–5 / V₇]

Attislum fudi Suecum, me lumine cassum
    Saxo minax regno vult spoliare senem,
Sed regis natum sternens comitemque duello
    Saxonicas repulit filius Uffo minas.

[Vermund, doubtful son of Viglek, king of Denmark, reigned for 70 years, and died in 294 BC: I overthrew the Swede Athisl. When I got old and blind, the threatening Saxon wanted to deprive me of my kingdom, but my son Uffi slayed the king’s son and a count in a duel and thwarted the Saxon threats.]

[18. Uffi, 294–264 BC117]

Uffo Fortis alias Olo Mansuetus nominatus, Vermundi filius, rex Daniæ et Saxoniæ, regnavit xxx annos, obiit ante Christum 264:

[V_1–5]

Omnibus ipse puer, stipes et truncus habebar,
    Qui quantusque essem dissimulanter habens.
Sed cum tempus erat patrem patriamque tueri,
    Inclyta virtutis tum documenta dedi.

[Uffi the Strong, also called Olaf the Mild, son of Vermund, king of Denmark and Saxony, reigned for 30 years, and died in 264 BC: As a boy, I was considered a log without branches by all. I hid who I was and how big I was from them. But when it was time to protect my father and my country, I gave ample evidence of my force.]

[19. Dan II, 264–227 BC118]

Danus II, Uffonis filius, rex Daniæ, imperavit xxxvii annos, obiit ante Christum 227:

[V_2–5 / V₇]

Haut impar magno magna virtute parenti
    Victrici retuli multa trophæa manu.
Sed simul inflatus fastu, mea prodigo, partæ
    Famæ et fortunæ concidit omne decus.

[Dan II, son of Uffi, king of Denmark, reigned for 37 years, and died in 227 BC: Just as my great and very strong father, I brought back many trophies in my victorious hand. But at the same time, puffed up with pride, I squandered my assets and ruined all the honor of my conquered fame and fortune.]

[20. Huglek, 227–175 BC119]

Hugletus Parvus, Dani II vel filius vel frater, rex Daniæ, regnavit xxxxxii annos, obiit ante Christum 175:

[V_1–5]

Pyratas Suedos domui, mea cætera nescit
    Posteritas nec qui scriberet ullus erat.
Idque mea forsan culpa; vos discite reges
    Vindicias vestri nominis esse libros.

[Huglek the Small, son or brother of Dan II, king of Denmark, reigned for 52 years, and died in 175 BC: I subdued the Swedish pirates. Posterity knows not of my other deeds; there was nobody to write them down. Perhaps, this was my own fault. You kings, learn that your glory is defended in books.]

[21. Frothi II, 175–145 BC120]

Frotho II Vegetus, rex Daniæ et Norvagorum victor, imperavit xxx annos, obiit ante Christum 145:

[V_2–5 / V_7–9]

Norvediæ mihi prima decem delere dynastas
    Atque horum terras subdere cura fuit.
Altera Frogerum pacto superare duello,
    Tum cives alta pace beare meos.

[Frothi II the Active, king of Denmark and vanquisher of the Norwegians, reigned for 30 years, and died in 145 BC: My first aim was to destroy ten lords of Norway and to subdue their lands, my second one to defeat Froger in an arranged duel, then to make my people happy with sublime peace.]

[22. Dan III, 145–76 BC121]

Danus III, Frothonis filius, rex Daniæ, domitor Saxonum, imperavit xxxxxxix annos, obiit ante Christum 76:

[V_2–5]

Postquam mi puero regnum defertur avitum,
    Civibus imperitat Saxo tributa meis.
Hunc vectigalem vice versa Martia fecit,
    Haut sueta externum Dania ferre jugum.

[Dan III, son of Frothi, king of Denmark, vanquisher of the Saxons, reigned for 69 years, and died in 76 BC: After the kingdom of my ancestors was handed down to me as a child, the Saxon ordered my people to pay tribute. This tax was paid back with war. Denmark is not used to carrying a foreign yoke.]

[23. Frithlef I, 76–39 BC122]

Fridlevus Celer, Dani filius, rex Daniæ et Saxoniæ, dominator in Britannia et Hibernia, regnavit xxxvii annos, obiit ante Christum 39:

[V_2a / V_3–5 / V_7–9]

Huirvilus admotis nostra cum classe carinis
    Norvedicos mecum depopulatur agros.
Perfidus ille, autem funestis ilicet armis
    Fædere dum rupto me petit ipse perit.

[Frithlef the Swift, son of Dan, king of Denmark and Saxony, victor in Britain and Ireland, reigned for 37 years, and died in 39 BC: Hvirvil moved his ships forward with our fleet and then ravaged the Norwegian fields with me. As this perfidious man attacked me shortly after having broken our treaty, he perished himself.]

[V_2b]

Norvedicos populabar agros comitante Verillo,
    Insidiis, qui, dum me petit, ipse perit.
Sensit Hyberna suo damno gens effera, dictus
    Quam merito fuerim mente manuque Celer.

[I ravaged the Norwegian fields with Hvirvil who perished himself when he attacked me using tricks. The wild Irish nation felt it at its expense. With good reason, I would be named the Swift in mind and acts.]

[24. Frothi III, 39 BC–16 AD, before three years of interregnum123]

Frotho III Magnus, Fridlevi filius, rex Daniæ, Sueviæ, Norvegiæ, Saxoniæ, Slavoniæ, omniumque mari Balthico abjacentium regionum totiusque Septentrionis imperator, domitor, adhæc debellator Britan-norum, Hibernorum, Hunnorum et ducentorum viginti præterea regum, regnavit xxxxxiv, obiit post Christum 16:

[V_3–5]

Rex ego magnus eram: reges et regna subegi
    Plurima, vicinis gentibus horror eram.
Sum laude æterna, cujus pars forte putanda est,
    Quod nata est mundi me dominante salus.

[Frothi III the Great, son of Frithlef, king of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Saxony, Slavonia, and all the other regions near the Baltic Sea, emperor of the entire North, defeater and vanquisher of the British, the Irish, the Huns, and 220 other kings, reigned for 54 years, and died in 16 AD: I was a great king. I subdued several kings and kingdoms and wrought terror to the neighboring nations. I will rest in eternal praise, maybe partly because the World’s Salvation was born during my reign.]

[V₂]

Pace bonus belloque potens rex, scilicet unquam,
    Cui par Arctoo nullus in orbe fuit.
Nempe mei Oceanus simul et tria flumina fines
    Imperii Tanais, Rhenus et Ister erant.

[I was a good king in peace and a mighty one in war, namely a king nobody has ever equaled in the Northern world. Indeed, the Ocean and three rivers, the Don, the Rhine, and the Danube, were the borders of my empire.]

[V₂]

Normannus, Saxo, Russus, Scytha, Sarmata, Suedus
    Sub nostro imperio Sclavus et Anglus erant.
Quidquid et est inter Tanaim regionis et undas
    Rheni, hoc imperio paruit omne meo.

[The Normans, the Saxons, the Russians, the Scythes, the Sarmats, the Swedes, the Slavs, and the Englishmen submitted to my empire. All the regions between the Don and the waters of the Rhine obeyed my orders.]

[25. Hiarni, 19–21 AD124]

Hiarnus, rex Daniæ, scalder, regnavit ii annos, obiit post Christum 21:

[V_1–5 / V_7–9]

Regem me Dani faciunt epigrammatis ergo,
    Scilicet his tanti docta poesis erat.
Sed me Frothonis nato præsente relinquunt,
    Sic stirps præ quovis regia vate cluet.

[Hiarni, king of Denmark, poet, reigned for two years, and died in 21 AD: The Danes made me king because of an epigram. Naturally, the poetry of such a great epigram was wise to them. But they abandoned me when Frothi’s son showed up. Therefore, the royal line is more illustrious than any poet.]

[26. Frithlef II, 21–32 AD125]

Fridlevus II, Frothonis Magni filius, rex Daniæ, Saxoniæ, Slavoniæ, etc., imperavit xi annos, obiit post Christum 32:

[V_3–5]

Multa mihi laus est; Mavors mihi favit apertus
    Et favit licita calliditate Dolus. 
Me victus sensit Batavus sensitque Britannus;
    Hibernique meas extimuere manus.

[Frithlef II, son of Frothi the Great, king of Denmark, Saxony, Slavonia, etc., reigned for eleven years, and died in 32 AD: I enjoy considerable glory. Mars favored me generously, Dolus with righteous skill. The defeated Batave took notice of me, the Brit as well, and the Irish feared my troops.]

[V₂ / V₇]

Dani me regem faciunt Jarnone remoto,
    Ut me resciscunt esse Frothone satum.
Seditione etiam cæso Jarnone remota
    Pacifica tueor patria sceptra manu.

[The Danes removed Hiarni and then made me king when they discovered that I was Frothi’s son. After Hiarni died and sedition ended, I defended the scepter of my fatherland with a pacifying hand.]

[27. Frothi IV, 32–78 AD126]

Frotho IIII, Fridlevi filius, rex Daniæ, Saxoniæ, Slavoniæ, Russiæ, Britannorumque juxta atque aliarum gentium victor, regnavit xxxxvi annos, obiit post Christum 78:

[V_2–5]

Starcateri ductu Norivedus, Sarmata, Saxo
    Subdunt imperio colla superba meo.
Suerco suis laribus succensis perdidit uno
    Meque meosque, etiam seque suosque rogo.

[Frothi IV, son of Frithlef, king of Denmark, vanquisher of Saxony, Slavonia, Russia, the Brits, and other nations, reigned for 46 years, and died in 78 AD: Under Starkath’s leadership, the Norwegians, the Sarmats, and the Saxons bent their proud necks to my empire. As he set his palace on fire, Sverting killed me and my people, and himself and his people as well, in one single blaze.]

[28. Ingjald, 78–101127]

Ingellus, Frothonis filius, rex Daniæ, regnavit xxiii annos, obiit post Christum 101:

[V_2–5]

Dum me Starcaterus duris incessere dictis
    Pergeret, heu luxu perditus usque fui.
Saxonicos demum thalamos exosus, avitæ
    Virtutis, rexi Danica sceptra, memor.

[Ingjald, son of Frothi, king of Denmark, reigned for 23 years, and died in 101: I was alas lost in debauchery until Starkath persisted in assaulting me with hard words. I finally began to loathe German marriages and handled the Danish scepter, remembering ancestral virtue.]

[29. Olaf I, 101–111128]

Olaus I, Ingelli filius, rex Daniæ, imperavit x annos, obiit post Christum 111:

[V_2–5]

Cætera quæ gessi, quæ sunt incognita, seræ
    Saltim hoc quod referat, posteritatis erit.
Ne qua foret natos inter discordia, jussi
    Alternis regerent, hic solo at ille salo.

[Olaf, son of Ingjald, king of Denmark, reigned for ten years, and died in 111: What is recorded will at least reach late posterity, all my other deeds are unknown. So that no discord should arise between my sons, I ordered them to rule over different realms, one over land, and the other over sea.]

[V_7–9]

Impatiens fratris mecum regnare volentis
    Hic damnum regno, sed diadema mihi.
Ast ne seditio fieret, transactio facta
    Mutuus ut rex sit frater uterque simul.
Alternis etenim vicibus moderamen habebat
    Hic terris annuus ille mari.

[I did not bear my brother, who wanted to reign with me. He was a nuisance to the kingdom, and the crown was mine. To avoid sedition, we agreed that we should be a king simultaneously by turns every year, one brother over land, the other over sea.]

[30. Frothi V, 111–130129]

Frotho V, filius Olai, rex Daniæ, regnavit xix annos, obiit post Christum 130:

[V_2–5 / V_7ab / V_8–9]

Impatiens consortis eram, terraque marique
    Imperio solus nempe præesse volens.
Infelix igitur feci foret impia tandem
    Sanguine fraterno commaculata manus.

[Frothi V, son of Olaf, king of Denmark, reigned for nineteen years, and died in 130: I did not bear my consort because I wanted to rule over land and sea alone. So, unhappy, I finally made sure my impious hand was stained with my brother’s blood.]

[31. Harald I, 111–113, together with Frothi V130]

Haraldus I, Frothonis frater, rex Daniæ, regnavit ii annos, obiit post Christum 113:

[V_2–4 / V_7–9]

Fratre meo Gothicos illinc vastante, vicissim
    Hinc nostros Suedus depopulatur agros.
Quum contra starem, sed iniquo Marte perire
    Non expectato fratre necesse fuit.

[Harald I, brother of Frothi, king of Denmark, reigned for two years, and died in 113: While my brother ravaged the faraway Gothic fields, the Swede ravaged ours here on the other hand. Although I was resisting, it was necessary that I perished because of the iniquitous Mars without waiting for my brother.]

[32. Halfdan II, 130–145131]

Haldanus II Biergramus, Haraldi filius, rex Daniæ, regnavit xv annos, obiit post Christum 145:

[V_2–4 / V₇]

Corporis immani visendum mole gigantem
    Prostravi et Suedis jura superba dedi.
Tum quæ Norvedis toto stirps regia regno
    Desierat per me reddita sceptra tenet.

[Halfdan II the Mountain-Wild, son of Harald, king of Denmark, reigned for fifteen years, and died in 145: I brought down a giant who was noticeable because of the huge mass of his body and imposed harsh laws on the Swedes. Then, the Norwegian royal line, which was extinct in the whole kingdom, regained the scepter thanks to me.]

[33. Harald II, 130–140, together with Halfdan II132]

Haraldus II, Haldani frater, rex Daniæ, regnavit x annos, obiit post Christum 140:

[V_2–4 / V₇]

Balthica me classem ductante per æquora nusquam
    Piratæ toto damna dedere mari.
Me virtute, clientelis opibusque potentem
    Frater constructis sustulit insidiis.

[Harald II, brother of Halfdan, king of Denmark, reigned for ten years, and died in 140: When I led the fleet in the Baltic Sea, no pirates ever caused damage anywhere in the ocean. My brother brought me down with traps he had lain, me who was mighty by virtue and my vassals’ tributes.]

[34. Ungvin, 145–154133]

Unguinus, rex Daniæ et Gothiæ, regnavit ix annos, obiit post Chris-tum 154:

[V_2–4]

Haldani jussu regnum mihi cessit opimum
    Inque meas venit regia gaza manus.
Sed vitam regnumque et opes Regnoldus ademit,
    Heu; mihi sic damno sors opulenta fuit.

[Unguin, king of Denmark and Gothia, reigned for nine years, and died in 154: At Halfdan’s command, a rich kingdom was yielded to me, and a royal treasure came into my hands. But Regnvald took my life, kingdom, and wealth, alas; thus, my fortune caused my downfall.]

[35. Sigvald I, 154–176134]

Sivaldus I, rex Daniæ, Unguini filius, regnavit xxii annos, obiit post Christum 176:

[V_1–4]

Qui mihi sustulerat patrem Regnoldus ademtum
    Mi quoque dum vitam venit et imperium,
Danorum expertus tridui certamine vires
    Tum generi cæsus concidit ense mei.

[Sigvald I, son of Ungvin, king of Denmark, reigned for 22 years, and died in 176: As Regnvald, who had taken my father away from me by killing him, came to take my life and my empire as well, he experienced the Danes’ forces in a three-day battle and then fell, destroyed by my son-in-law’s sword.]

[36. Sigar, 176–199135]

Sigarus, rex Daniæ, Sivaldi filius, imperavit xxiii annos, obiit post Christum 199:

[V_3–5]

Felix, si nimium non felix forte, fuissem;
    Nostræ pulchra fuit nata ruina domus.
Ejus amatorem miseranda morte peremi.
    Ultus cæde mea quem ferus Haco fuit.

[Sigar, son of Sigvald, king of Denmark, reigned for 23 years, and died in 199: I would have been happy, had I maybe not been excessively happy. My beautiful daughter ruined my house. I killed her lover miserably. The savage Haki avenged this death by killing me.]

[V₂ / V_7–8]

Hagbardi Sygnesque meæ quis nescit amores,
    Qui mihi, qui regno noxa fuere meo?
Nam mihi causa meæ mortis regnoque fuerunt
    Immensi, regum stirpe cadente, mali.

[Who ignores the love between Hagbarth and my daughter Signe which harmed me and my kingdom? For they caused my death and a great disaster to my kingdom by cutting down the royal line.]

[37a. Sigvald II, 199–210136]

Sivaldus II, rex Daniæ, Sigari filius, regnavit xi annos, obiit post Christum 200:

[V_2–5 / V_7–8]

Ulturus cari mortem genitoris Haconi
    Undique collecto milite congredior.
Alteriusque alter dextra cadit, atque ita regum
    Danorum periit stirpitus omne genus.

[Sigvald II, son of Sigar, king of Denmark, reigned for eleven years, and died in 200: To avenge my dear father’s death, I gathered soldiers from all over and then advanced against Haki. One fell by the other’s weapon. Thus, the entire line of Danish kings perished with its roots.]

[37b. The Five Kinglets137]

[V₂ / V_7–8]

Danorum postquam stirps desiit inclyta regum,
    Delegit regem gens sibi quæque suum.
Principe sic quæ consuevit dominarier uno,
    Quinque virum cœpit Dania ferre jugum.

[After the extinction of the famous line of Danish kings, every tribe elected its own king. Thus, Denmark, which was used to being ruled by a single prince, began to carry five men’s yoke.]

[38. Halfdan III, 210–260138]

Haldanus III Fortis, Borcari nobilis Scani ex prosapia regis Haldani Biergrami et Drottæ, Regnaldi regis Norvegiæ filiæ, filius et Sigvaldi gener, rex Daniæ, regnavit xxxxx annos, obiit post Christum 260:

[V_2–5 / V_7–9]

Corpore procero, præcelsa mente, stupendo
    Robore et illustri stirpe oriundus eram.
Dignus eram virgo cui regia nuberet et cui
    Cederet atque manus Dania sponte daret.

[Halfdan III the Strong, son of Borkar, a Scanian gentleman from the descendance of King Halfdan the Mountain-Wild and Drot, daughter of Regnvald, king of Norway, and son-in-law of Sigvald, king of Denmark, reigned for 50 years, and died in 260: I was born with a tall body, an eminent mind, an astonishing force, and from an illustrious line. I deserved a royal virgin to marry me, and Denmark to spontaneously obey and sustain me.]

[39. Harald III, 260–326139]

Haraldus Huldetan III, filius Haldani, sublatis quinquumviris, Ostmaro, Hundingo, Hanone, Rorico et Hathero rex Daniæ, Slavorumque, Frisonum, Britannorum, Aquitanorum, Rhenicolarum et variorum præterea populorum victor atque domitor, imperavit xxxxxxvi annos, obiit post Christum 326:

[V_3–5]

Depulsis regno sociis ego corpus in unum
    Restitui, et porro multa trophæa tuli.
Subjeci Suecos, Sclavos, acresque Britannos,  
    Et plures; tandem sors minus æqua fuit.

[Harald III Hilditan, son of Halfdan, king of Denmark after the submission of five men, Østmar, Hunding, Hani, Rørik, and Hathar, vanquisher and lord of the Slavs, the Frisians, the Brits, the inhabitants of Aquitaine and the Rhine, and various other nations, reigned for 66 years, and died in 326: After expelling the allies from my kingdom, I restored it to a single body and then won numerous victories. I subdued the Swedes, the Slavs, the fiery Brits, and many others. Finally, my fate became less just.]

[V₂]

Magno patre satus, magni Mavortis alumnus
    Adjeci regnis plurima regna meis.
Dein cæcus, Suedis confligens, sponte perivi
    Exosus morte, quæ sine Marte foret.

[As a son of a great father, as a pupil of great Mars, I added several kingdoms to my territories. Then, I became blind and deliberately perished in a battle against Sweden, loathing a death without fight.]

[40a. Ring, 326–327140]

Ringo vel Haquinus Ringo, Daniæ, Sueciæ, Gothorumque rex, etc., imperavit i annum, obiit post Christum 327:

[V_2–5]

Magnificum feci devicto funus Haraldo
    Victis demulcens saucia corda viris.
Quis tamen haut fidens Hettæ mea jura resigno,
    Quam jubeo Danis imperitare suis.

[Ring or Håkon Ring, king of Denmark, Sweden, the Goths, etc., reigned for one year and died in 327: After defeating Harald, I staged a magnificent funeral, nursing the defeated men’s wounded hearts. However, mistrusting them, I finally surrendered my rights to Hetha whom I ordered to rule over her Danes.]

[40b. Hetha, 326–327, together with Ring141]

Hetha, Danicarum amazonum una, Jutiæ et insularum post fata Haraldi Hyldetandi regina, donec ab Olone II imperium abjurare coacta fuit, hæc Slesvicum condidit deque nomine suo Hetheby appellavit, hujus loco quidam poniunt Ringoherred, imperavit i annum, obiit post Christum […]:

[V_3–5]

Signa tuli mediis in millibus armaque virgo,
    Hinc me reginam gens sibi nostra creat.
Non potuit tolerare diu mea jussa severa,
    Elegit hæc Aulum, Jutia sola mea.

[Hetha, one of the Danish amazons, queen of Jutland and of the islands after Harald Hilditan’s death, until she was forced by Olaf II to renounce the empire, who founded Schleswig and named Hedeby, which some locate in Ring’s district, after herself, reigned for one year and died in […]: As a virgin, I carried flags and weapons among thousands of men. Therefore, our tribe made me queen. Jutland, my homeland, could not endure my severe commands for a long time, it elected Olaf.]

[41. Oli II, 327–331142]

Olo II Vegetus, sororis Haraldi regis filius ex gubernatore Scaniæ, pulsa Hetha rex Daniæ, regnavit iv annos, obiit post Christum 331:

[V_3–5]

Post cædem Ringo Scanos mihi donat, Haraldi
    Et rex dejecta virgine constituor.
Sed quoniam imperio nimium dominabar acerbo,
    Cædor ab his ipsis, qui mihi regna dabant.

[Oli II the Vigorous, son of King Harald’s sister with the governor of Scania, king of Denmark after Hetha’s expulsion, reigned for four years, and died in 331: After his death, Ring gave me Scania and I was appointed king after expelling Hetha, Harald’s maiden. But because I ruled with too harsh a power, I was slaughtered by the very people who gave me the kingdom.]

[42. Ømund, 331–341143]

Omundus, Olonis filius, rex Daniæ et Slavoniæ, cujus tempore Hathero percussori, ad id patrandum a se incitato et donis invitato, sponte cervicem præbuit abscindendam Starcatherus, post actum sub 15 Daniæ regibus ætatem, regnavit x annos, obiit post Christum 341:

[V_3–4 / V_7–9]

Norvegos Danis occiso rege subegi,
    Præda fuit classi Russia deinde mea.
Cætera juris eram semper studiosus et æqui
    Pace bona summum fretus adusque diem.

[Ømund, son of Oli, king of Denmark and Slavonia, in whose time Starkath, after having served fifteen Danish kings, willingly presented his neck to be cut off by Hathar who, lured with gifts, executed him at his request, reigned for ten years, and died in 341: After killing their king, I subdued the Norwegians to the Danes. Then, Russia became my booty thanks to my fleet. Otherwise, I always respected the law and equality and relied on a good peace until my last day.]

[43. Sigvarth I, 341–350144]

Sivardus I, Omundi filius, rex Daniæ valde infelix, regnavit ix annos, obiit post Christum 350:

[V_3–5]

Me regnante meos subito defecit ad hostes,
    Pars regni plusquam dimidiata mei.
Cimbria Slavinis nam cessit, Scandia Suedis,
    Cum queis confligens fortiter, occubui.

[Sigvarth I, son of Ømund, a very unlucky king, reigned for nine years, and died in 350: During my reign, more than half of my kingdom suddenly split off to join my enemies. For Jutland submitted to the Slavs, Scania to the Swedes. I died while fighting them bitterly.]

[44. Buthli, 350–351145]

Buthlus, frater Omundi, rex (vel potius interrex, donec rediret e Slavis captus Jarmericus) Daniæ, regnavit i annum, obiit post Christum 351:

[V_3–5 / V₇]

Regni quod reliquum mansit mihi fratre perempto
    Ægre tutabar Martis et artis ope.
Ergo queis impar sceptris privatus agebam
    Deinde sub alterius, pro pudor, imperio.

[Buthli, brother of Ømund, king of Denmark (or rather king in interim until the captured Jarmerik returned from the Slavs), reigned for one year and died in 351: With war and cunning, I struggled to protect the rest of the kingdom left to me after my brother’s death. Therefore, inferior in those matters, I was deprived of the scepter and shamefully reigned under the rule of another.]

[45. Jarmerik, 351–367146]

Jarmericus, Sivardi filius, rex Daniæ, Sueciæ, Slavoniæ adhæc Sem-brorum atque Curetum domitor, imperavit xvi annos, obiit post Christum 367:

[V_3–5]

Captus apud Vendos adolevi regis in aula,
    Hinc profugus regni sceptra capesso patris.
Tum Vendos Suedosque simul mihi Marte subegi;
    Dein mihi credulitas causa erat exilii.

[Jarmerik, son of Sigvarth, king of Denmark, Sweden, and Slavonia, ruler of the Samlanders and the Kurlanders, reigned for sixteen years, and died in 367: I grew up as a prisoner among the Wends, at the royal court. After escaping from there, I took over the scepter in my father’s kingdom. Then, I subdued both the Wends and the Swedes with warfare. Then, credulity caused my exile.]

[46. Broder, 367–369147]

Broderus, Jarmerici filius, rex Daniæ, regnavit ii annos, obiit post Christum 369:

[V_3–5]

Postulor incestus sed consuetudo noverca
    Cum casta semper non nisi sancta fuit.
Qua tamen immerito crudeli morte perempta;
    Servarunt Danis me mea fata meis.

[Broder, son of Jarmerik, king of Denmark, reigned for two years, and died in 369: I was accused of being incestuous, but my relationship with my chaste stepmother was always nothing, but holy. However, she was killed cruelly and undeservedly. My destiny saved me, according to my Danes.]

[47. Sigvald III, 369–378148]

Sivaldus III, rex Daniæ, regnavit ix annos, obiit post Christum 378:

[V_3–5 / V₇]

De me posteritas, qui nil memorabile gessi,
    Quod referat nudum nil nisi nomen habet.
Res regesque foret scribenti fingere promptum,
    Ni fors suspectam redderet historiam.

[Sigvald III, king of Denmark, reigned for nine years, and died in 378: About me who did nothing memorable, posterity does not report anything apart my empty name. It would be easy for the writer to make up events and kings, but such random accounts cast doubt on history.]

[48. Snio, 378–400, before 296 years of interregnum149]

Snio, Sivaldi filius, rex Daniæ, in cujus tempore incidit Longobar-dorum ex hoc regno egressus secundum Saxonem, regnavit xxii annos, obiit post Christum 400:

[V_3–5]

Longobardorum nostrum migratio seclum
    Illustrat; qua quid clarius esse potest?
Per medias gentes erumpimus et nova regna
    Condimus; æterni nominis hoc opus est.

[Snio, son of Sigvald, king of Denmark, in whose time the Lombards emigrated from this kingdom according to Saxo, reigned for 22 years, and died in 400: The migration of the Lombards makes our time illustrious. What could be more famous than this? We departed through the heart of the nations and founded a new kingdom. This deed is worth eternal glory.]

[V₇]

Danis nequidquam contra luctante Suedo
    Redditur auspiciis Scandia culta meis.
Lombardos me rege ferunt hinc esse profectos,
    Per me qui potes hoc prædare licet.

[The bountiful Scania was given back to the Danes under my auspices, while the Swede resisted against it. The Lombards are said to have emigrated from here when I was a king. I allowed these mighty people to plunder down there.]

[49. Biorn, 696–700150]

Biorno, rex Daniæ, regnavit iv annos, obiit post Christum 700:

[V_3–5]

Qui fuerim satis est liquidum, rex scilicet, atqui
    Qualia, quæ gessi, dicere nemo potest.
Quid juvat innumeris nos objectare periclis,
    Nostra ubi nobiscum facta sepulta jacent.

[Biorn, king of Denmark, reigned for four years, and died in 700: Who I was is sufficiently clear, a king of course, but nobody can say what kind of things I have done. What is the use for us to affront innumerable dangers if our deeds are buried with us?]

[50. Harald IV, 700–714151]

Haraldus IV, rex Daniæ, regnavit ixv annos, obit post Christum 714:

[V_2–5]

Incertum fuerim bellone an pace secundus,
    Namque hoc qui posset prodere, nullus erat.
Discite vos reges quanti faciunda poesis,
    Quæ vestra æternum vivere facta facit.

[Harald IV, king of Denmark, reigned for fourteen years, and died in 714: It is unknown if I was lucky in war or in peace, for there was nobody to tell it. Learn, you kings, at what price poetry which makes your deeds last forever must be produced.]

[51. Gorm I, 714–764152]

Gormo I Grandævus sive Sapiens, Haraldi filius, rex Daniæ LI, sub quo mentio Christianismi primum facta est in Dania a Torchillo, imperavit xxxxx annos, obiit post Christum 764:

[V_3–5]

Arma juvent alios, sævique insania Martis,
    Me variæ accendit cognitionis amor.
Scrutari formas rerum, formasque deorum
    Dignior imperiis res mihi visa fuit.

[Gorm I the Old or the Wise, son of Harald, 51^st king of Denmark, under whom Christianism was first mentioned in Denmark by Thorkil, reigned for 50 years, and died in 764: Whereas weapons and the madness of cruel war are pleasant to others, I was burning with the desire to acquire wide-ranging knowledge. It seemed to me worthy enough of my power to find what things and gods look like.]

[V₂ / V₇]

Usque sub extremam Thorquellus navigat Arcton
    Immanisque domum lustrat Ugartilochi.
Nempe meo jussu læta sub pace remotas
    Intima cui terras nosse cupido fuit.

[Thorkil sailed to the remotest North and purified the house of the enormous Utgartha-Loki. Indeed, under my command, his deepest desire was to explore the remote lands in joyful peace.]

[52. Sigfred, 806–807, together with Gorm II (777–798)153]

Sigefridus, Gormonis Grandævi filius sed pater Gevæ, conjugis Witichindi Magni, rex Daniæ cujus ope adjutus bellum identidem adversus Carolum Magnum instauravit, imperavit i annum, obiit post Christum 807:

[V_3–5]

Natus ego Gormonis eram, mihi tempora vitæ
    Pacata, et regnum perbreve fata dabant.
Filia Geva fuit Witekindi nobilis uxor;
    Huic contra Francos auxiliator eram.

[Sigfred, son of Gorm the Old, but father of Geva, Widukind the Great’s wife, king of Denmark, with whose help Widukind began a war against Charlemagne and continuously fought him, reigned for one year and died in 807: I was Gorm’s son. My lifetime was peaceful, and my destiny gave me a very short reign. My daughter Geva married the noble Widukind. I helped him against the Franks.]

[53. Gøtrik, 764–809 (804–810)154]

Gotricus Largus alias Gotofredus, Sigfridi frater, rex Daniæ, Saxoniæ, Frisionum, perque Septentrionem imperator, aliarum ad hæc in Germania nationum dominus et Cæsari Carolo Magno hostis valde formidabilis, cujus jussu vallum Danicum prope Slesvicum, per Cimbriæ cervicem primo ductum et excitatum est, regnavit xxxxv annos, obiit post Christum 809:

[V_2–5]

Saxoniam Carolus dum vastat, Danica late
    Classis Teutonicos depopulatur agros.
Meque dein congressurum cum Cæsare, somnum
    Dum capio, satrapæ perfida dextra ferit.

[Gøtrik the Generous or Godfred, brother of Sigfred, king of Denmark, Saxony, and the Frisians, ruler throughout the North, lord of other nations in Germany, and absolutely formidable enemy of Emperor Charlemagne, on whose order the Danish rampart near Schleswig, at the bottom of Jutland, was first completed and raised, reigned for 45 years, and died in 809: While Charles was ravaging Saxony, the Danish fleet abundantly plundered the German fields. Then, just as I was going to meet the emperor, while I was asleep, I was hit by a vassal’s perfidious weapon.]

[54. Olaf III, 809–810155]

Olo sive Olaus III, Gotrici filius, rex Daniæ, imperavit i annum, obiit anno Christi 810:

[V_2–5]

Ulturus mortem satago dum patris, ad arma
    Conclamat procerum seditiosa manus.
Queis ego sublatis diuturna pace fruebar,
    Subditaque imperio est Dania tota meo.

[Oli or Olaf III, son of Gøtrik, king of Denmark, reigned for one year and died in 810: As I was struggling to avenge my father’s death, a seditious troop of noblemen called for weapons. After subduing them I enjoyed a long-lasting peace, and all of Denmark submitted to my rule.]

[55. Hemming, 810–812 (810–812)156]

Hemmingus, Sigfridi filius, rex Daniæ qui per legatos juxta Eidoram flumen regni sui limitem, pacem et fœdus sancivit cum Carolo Magno, regnavit ii annos, obiit anno Christi 812:

[V_3–5]

Post patriæ motus pacem cum Cæsare sanxi.
    Vix aliud nostrum clarius extat opus.
Attamen et dicunt Vinetarum funditus urbem
    Auspiciis una procubuisse meis.

[Hemming, son of Sigfred, king of Denmark, who, through ambassadors, established the border of the kingdom next to the Eider River, and concluded peace and a treaty with Charlemagne, reigned for two years, and died in 812: After troubles in my fatherland, I signed a peace with the emperor. Hardly any other deed of mine is more famous. However, the city of Vineta is also said to have entirely collapsed at once under my patronage.]

[V₂ / V_7–8]

Seditione domi vexatus ab hoste cavebam,
    Ne metuenda foris Cæsaris arma forent.
Meque authore suos sortita est Dania fines,
    Haut certo circum limite scripta prius.

[Troubled by an enemy during a domestic sedition, I took care that the emperor’s fear-inducing weapons did not pierce through from the outside. On my initiative, Denmark established its borders since no clear delineations had been made previously.]

[56. Sigvarth II, 812–817157]

Sivardus II, Gotrici ex filia nepos, Sivardi vel reguli Norvagi filius, rex Danorum per Scaniam et Selandiam vicinasque alias insulas, regnavit v annos, obiit anno Christi 817:

[V_3–5]

Hemmingus fato cedit, Selandia regem
    Me creat, et pariter Scania jussa facit.
Ringo trahit Jutos, pugna concurrimus; ambo
    Nos cadimus; vincunt ast superantque mei.

[Sigvarth II, grandson of Gøtrik from his daughter, son of Sigvarth, notably kinglet of Norway, king of the Danes in Scania, on Zealand and the neighboring islands, reigned for five years, and died in 817: When Hemming died, Zealand made me king and Scania obeyed my orders as well. Ring took the Jutes with him, and we met in a battle. We both fell, but my people triumphed and were victorious.]

[V₂ / V_6–9]

Me conante sua Ringonem sede movere,
    Scandica Sclavini littora classe petunt.
Quos cum persequerer, mea subdit Ringo, sed ipse
    Congressus cecidi, concidit ipse simul.

[When I tried to remove Ring from his seat, the Slavs attacked the Scanian coast with a fleet. As I was persecuting them, Ring subdued my own coast, but when we met, I fell, and he collapsed as well.]

[57. Ring, 814–817, together with Sigvarth II158]

Ringo, filius Olai III, rex Danorum per Jutiam, et æmulus Sivardi Secundi, regnavit iii annos, obiit anno Christi 817:

[V_3–5]

Jutia me regem, Sivardum cætera fecit
    Scania; non soles fert bene terra duos.
Nec binos regnum reges, sed cædimur ambo,
    Quam bene sorte pares, quam bene morte sumus.

[Ring, son of Olaf III, king of the Danes through Jutland and rival of Sigvarth II, reigned for three years, and died in 817: Jutland made me king, besides Scania Sigvarth. The earth cannot sustain two suns; nor can a kingdom sustain two kings. However, we both fell. How good it is that we were equal in fate! How good that we were equal in death!]

[58. Harald Klak (812–813, 819–827)159]

Haraldus Klack, Ringonis filius, rex Daniæ, sed primus regum nostrorum qui sacra unda tincti Christo nomen dederunt, primam quoque ædem sacram in regno hoc Slesvici Deo moliri cœpit, imperavit […] annos, obiit anno Christi […]:

[V_3–5]

Inter ego Danos primus Christiana professus
    Sacra fui, primus templa beata dedi.
Propterea amisi regnum, Christoque fidelem
    Me vixisse, satis sors ea dura probat.

[Harald Klak, son of Ring, king of Denmark, but the first of our kings who gave their names to Christ after having been baptized in holy water, the one who began to build the first holy church for God in this kingdom in Schleswig, reigned for […] years, and died in […]: I was the first among the Danes who recognized the Christian sacraments and the first who built holy churches. Therefore, I lost my kingdom, and my hard fate proves that I spent my life as a believer of Christ.]

[59. Ragnar Lothbrok, 817–841160]

Regnerus Lodbrog sive Reginfridus, Sivardi II filius, Haraldi beati patruelis et in regno æmulus rex Daniæ, adusque Constantinopolim notus clarisssimis victoriis, quas quinquaginta omnino ex plerisque per Europam regnis reportavit, imperavit ii annos, obiit anno Christi 843:

[V_2–5 / V_7–8]

Norvedis, Suedis, Anglis, Pictisque subactis
    Auxi Danorum jugiter imperium.
Klackum jure bono poscentem sceptra fugavi,
    Regna dedi natis quinque decemque meis.

[Ragnar Lothbrok or Reginfrid, son of Sigvarth II, uncle of the blessed Harald and in his kingdom rival as a king of Denmark, known until Constantinople for 50 most illustrious victories he completely won against most of the kingdoms throughout Europe, reigned for two years, and died in 843: After having subdued the Norwegians, the Englishmen, and the Scots, I continuously expanded the Danish empire. I sent Klak, who was righteously claiming the scepter, into exile and gave the kingdoms to my fifteen sons.]

[60. Sigvarth III, 841–846161]

Sivardus III, Snogøye dictus, Regneri filius, rex Daniæ, regnavit iiii annos, obiit anno Christi 846:

[V_3–5]

Principio solus, post fratri junctus habebam
    Imperium, frater fortis Ivarus erat.
Invadunt alii regnum, dum ulciscimur Anglum,
    Sed pœnas nobis cæde dedere sua.

[Sigvard III called Snake-eye, son of Ragnar, king of Denmark, reigned for four years, and died in 846: I first ruled alone, then with my brother, brother who was the strong Ivar. Other people invaded our kingdom while we were avenging the Englishmen. But they punished us with their defeat.]

[V₂ / V_7a]

Ulciscente mei me patris fata Britanni
    Pœnas insolito more modoque luunt.
Invitos feci mea jussa capessere Danos
    Succedente etiam tempore sponte sequi.

[While I was avenging my father’s death, the Brits were punished in an unusual way and custom. I persuaded the reluctant Danes to obey my orders and even, as time passed by, to follow me willingly.]

[V_7b]

Anglos Heiloni vexanti Ringo resistens,
    Captus cui pectus vermibus Heilo replet.
Vindex patris ei vulturibus impleo terga:
    Magnas ærumnas magna tyrannis habet.

[When Ragnar resisted Ælla who tormented the Englishmen, he was caught and Ælla filled his breast with worms. To avenge my father, I filled Ælla’s back with vultures: great tyranny brings great pain.]

[61. Erik I, 846–847162]

Ericus I, frater Haraldi Klack, rex Daniæ sub quo perfectum est templum Slesvici, quod Haraldus cœperat, Ansgari usque publice per Daniam evangelium docuit, regnavit i annum, obiit anno Christi 847:

[V_2–5]

Qui regum Upsaliæ longe lateque per oras
    Ditarat magno mi Deus imperio,
Is quoque me proceresque meos atque ipsa beavit,
    Regna salutari cognotione sui.

[Erik I, brother of Harald Klak, king of Denmark, under whom the Schleswig church begun by Harald was completed, and Ansgar taught the gospel publicly in Denmark, reigned for one year and died in 847: God, who gifted me with great power durably and widely over the Uppsala kings’ coast, also graced me, my noblemen, and the kingdom itself with the knowledge of His deeds, to our salvation.]

[V₂]

Sublata tandem Lotbrochi posteritate
    Regia deberi sum mihi sceptra ratus.
Hæc eademque ex fratre nepos sibi vendicat, isthæc
    Lis causam nostræ cædis utrinque dedit.

[Finally, after the extinction of Lothbrok’s descendance, I thought the royal scepter was due to me, but my brother’s grandson claimed this same scepter for himself. This dispute ended in both of our deaths.]

[62. Erik II, 847–863163]

Ericus II cognomento Puer, Sivardi 3 filius, rex Daniæ, Ripensis templi (secundi in regno hoc) conditor et socer Haraldi Pulchricomi, primi Norvegiæ monarchæ, ut placet Huitfeldio, regnavit x annos, obiit anno Christi 863:

[V_3–5]

Depellor regno, puer a genitore relictus,
    Sed mihi fata tamen restituere meum.
Osor eram Christi primo, post ipse potentem
    Sincera colui relligione Deum.

[Erik II nicknamed the Child, son of Sigvarth III, king of Denmark, founder of the Ribe church in Denmark (the second in this kingdom) and father-in-law of Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway according to Huitfeldt, reigned for ten years, and died in 863: I was relinquished as a child by my father and expelled from the kingdom, but fate nevertheless gave me what was mine back. First, I was an enemy of Christ, then I worshipped the mighty God with sincere piety myself.]

[V₂ / V₇]

Qui circumfusas longe lateque per oras,
    Ditarat magno me Deus imperio,
Is quoque me proceresque meos, atque ipsa beavit
    Regna salutari cognitione sui.

[God, who gifted me with great power durably and widely over the surrounding coasts, also graced me, my noblemen, and the kingdom itself with the knowledge of His deeds, to our salvation.]

[63. Cnut I, 863–873164]

Canutus I Parvus sive Hirsutus, Erici Pueri filius, rex Daniæ, cujus tempore Rollo Danus cum popularibus Normannis patria egressus Galliam intravit, eamque, prius turbare non destitit, quam Neustria, que nunc Normannnia est, a Carolo Simplice Galliæ Rege donaretur, regnavit x annos, obiit anno Christi 873:

[V_2–5]

Semper erat cordi teneris quam tutor ab annis
    Me meus edocuit, vana superstitio.
Cætera dignus eram sceptris, vel Martis alumnus
    Et cui diva fuit pectore sculpta Themis.

[Cnut I the Small or the Shaggy, son of Erik the Child, king of Denmark, in whose time Rollo the Dane, having left his fatherland with his countrymen, the Normans, entered Gallia, and ceaselessly caused trouble there until Neustria, which is now Normandy, was gifted by Charles the Simple, king of Gallia, reigned for ten years, and died in 873: The vain superstition which my tutor taught me years ago has always been dear to young people’s hearts. Apart from that, I deserved the scepter both as a pupil of Mars and as a man in whose breast divine justice was sculptured.]

[64. Frothi VI, 873–889165]

Frotho VI, Canuti I filius, rex Daniæ et partim Angliæ, templorumque Slesvicensis et Ripensis, quæ a Christianæ religionis osoribus dejecta erant, reparator, tertii quoque, quod Arhusii est, conditor, imperavit xvi annos, obiit anno Christi 889:

[V_3–5]

Firmavi regnum, me reddidit Anglia Christo;
    Hinc veræ rediit relligionis amor.
Roma igitur petii verbum cœleste docentes;
    Ausus prævenit mors tamen atra pios.

[Frothi VI, son of Cnut I, king of Denmark and of part of England, restorer of the churches in Schleswig and Ribe which had been torn down by the enemies of the Christian religion, also founder of a third church in Aarhus, reigned for sixteen years, and died in 889: I strengthened the kingdom, England rendered me to Christ. From there, love for the true religion came back to me. I sought the teachers of the heavenly word in Rome, but cruel death thwarted my pious enterprise.]

[V₂ / V₇]

Dogmata divini cultus edoctus ab Anglis,
    His mea regna volens accumulare bonis.
Roma doctores accersi curo, sed illos
    Heu nimium properans Parca videre vetat.

[I was taught the lessons of the divine religion by the Englishmen and wanted to share this wealth in my kingdom. I ensured that the wise men were summoned from Rome, but my death too premature, alas, prevented me from seeing them.]

[65a. Gorm II, 889–930166]

Gormo II Anglicus, Frothonis VI filius, rex Daniæ adversus quem, quod Christianæ religionis osor esset, Frisiosque bello lacesseret, movit Henricus Auceps imperator Romanorum Marchionatumque Slevicensem erexit, uxor ejus Thura erat, Ethelredi Angliæ regis filia heroina propter pietatem et prudentiam nominatissima, regnavit ii annos, obiit anno Christi 897:

[V_3–5]

Anglia me genuit, quare dicebar et Anglus,
    Sed non illa velut Dania fida fuit.
Post spretis vixi multo felicior Anglis;
    Quam res sic vetitas mittere sæpe juvat!

[Gorm II the Englishman, son of Frothi VI, king of Denmark, against whom, because he was an enemy of the Christian religion and led a war against the Frisians, the Roman emperor Henry the Fowler fought and founded a margra-viate in Schleswig, and whose wife was Thyra, daughter of Æthelred, king of England, a heroin well known for her piety and good behavior, reigned for two years, and died in 897: England bore me. That is why I was also called the Englishman. But England was not as faithful as Denmark. After leaving the Englishmen, I lived much more happily. How useful it often is to give up forbidden things!]

[V₂ / V_7–8]

Non semper fortes nascuntur fortibus, illud
    Patris ab exemplo sat liquet atque meo.
Nam virtute pater quæ regna subegerat, isthæc
    Elabi ex manibus sum mihi passus iners.

[Strong people do not always descend from strong people. This is demonstrated clearly enough by my father’s example and mine. Indeed, I suffered that the kingdom, over which my father ruled with virtue, fell from my hands while I stood inactive.]

[65b. Gorm III (c. 936–958/964)167]

[V₂]

Anglica Tyra Dei venit mihi munere conjunx,
    Cujus consilio fretus et auxilio
Restitui Danis, quæ sunt ter optima, pacem
    Scilicet et sanctæ relligionis opes.

The English Thyra was given to me as a wife by the grace of God and, leaning on her advice and help, I gave back to the Danes the best of all things, peace of course, and the power of the holy religion.]

[66. Harald V, 930–980 (958/964–985/987)168]

Haraldus V cognomine Blaatand, Gormonis Anglici filius, rex Daniæ, partium Norvegiæ et Julini dominus qui Richardo Normannorum duci bis opem tulit, terruitque Galliæ reges Ludovicum et Lotharium, cum Ottone Magno Romanorum imperatore fœdus sancivit, consti-tutis apud ecclesias Slesvicensem, Ripensem, Arhusiensem episcopis, quos inter Poppo fuisse creditur, vallum quoque Danicum, Danevircha dictum, curante matre Thyra, instaurari et firmius muniri fecit sublato marchione Slesviciensi, regnavit xxxxx annos, obiit anno Christi 980:

[V_3–5]

Ut Christi cultor fierem, pia mater et Otto
Author erat, bello Cæsar, et illa prece.
Filius hinc regno pepulit me, sorte maligna
    Vix potui in patriam mortuus esse redux.

[Harald V nicknamed Bluetooth, son of Gorm the Englishman, king of Denmark, lord of parts of Norway and Julin, who brought help twice to Richard, the duke of the Normans, and terrified Louis and Lothar, the kings of Gaul, signed a treaty with Otto the Great, the Roman emperor, having constituted bishops for the churches in Schleswig, Ribe, and Aarhus, to whom Poppo is supposed to have belonged, who also ordered the construction and fortification of the Danish rampart called Dannevirke, of which his mother Thyra took care after the submission of the margraviate of Schleswig, reigned for 50 years, and died in 980: My pious mother and Otto urged me to become a devotee of Christ, the emperor with war, and she with prayers. My son expelled me from this country. Due to bad luck, I merely could go back to my fatherland when I died.]

[V₂ / V₇]

Anglia pressa silet me rege, et Cæsaris armis
    Vastata est Limicum Cimbria adusque fretum.
Sacraque sunt Christi mysteria cœpta doceri,
    Pro quibus et mortem pertuli et exilium.

[Oppressed, England kept quiet during my reign, and Jutland was ravaged by the emperor’s weapons until the Limfjord. The holy mysteries of Christ for which I endured exile and death began to be taught.]

[67. Sven I, 980–1014 (985/987–1014)169]

Suenotto sive Sueno Furcatæ Barbæ, Haraldi Blaatandi filius, rex Daniæ, Angliæ (quam ejecto rege Ethelredo universam tertia expe-ditione occupavit) et magnæ partis Norvegiæ interempto rege Olao Truggonis, ejus regni initio Æscromanni, piratæ Dani, Saxoniam Frisiamque inundarunt et adversus Christianos in Dania quarta et ultima persecutio perpetrata est at factus tandem, post exilium et ipse Christianus Ottoniæ et Roschildiæ episcopatus erexit, exstructo simul templo Trinitatis ubi tumulatus perhibetur, imperavit xiv annos, obiit anno Christi 1014:

[V_2a / V_3–5]

Impietas pessum meque et mea pene dedisset,
    Ni Deus ex alto sorte tulisset opem.
Qui me conversum regnis opibusque beavit
    Et summis fecit regibus esse parem.

[Sven Otto or Sven Forkbeard, son of Harald Bluetooth, king of Denmark, England (which he occupied in its entirety in a third raid after expelling King Æthelred) and a large part of Norway after killing King Olaf Tryggvason, at the beginning of whose reign the Vikings, Danish pirates, flooded Saxony and Frisia and the fourth and last persecution against the Christians was perpetrated in Denmark, who, having finally himself converted to Christianity after an exile, founded bishoprics in Odense and Roskilde, having simultaneously constructed the Trinity Church where he is said to have been buried, reigned for fourteen years, and died in 1014: My impiety would have punished the vile man that I was, had God not by luck brought relief from the sky. After my conversion, he graced me with kingdoms and wealth and made me the equal of the highest kings.]

[V_2b]

Persequor infausto Christum pede, meque invicissim
    Infesta miserum corripit ille manu.

[I followed the Christ reluctantly, and in turn he grabbed poor me with a hostile hand.]

[68. Harald VI, 980–1014, together with Sven I (1014–c. 1018)170]

Haraldus VI, Suenottonis filius, rex Daniæ tam cum pater adhuc apud Anglos a se victos et debellatos superstes ageret, quam extincto eo, aliquandiu una cum fratre Canuto Magno, regnavit xxxxx annos, obiit anno Christi 980:

[V_2–5]

Numina bina beant magnorum nomina regum,
    Hinc Themis, inde Jovis filia Prosperitas.
Hac ego præstiterim sive illa? Neutra an utraque?
    Quod nemo scripsit, dicere nemo potest.

[Harald VI, son of Sven Otto, king of Denmark, both while his father was still alive after fighting and defeating the Englishmen and after he died, for some time together with his brother Cnut the Great, reigned for 50 years, and died in 980: Two goddesses bless the names of great kings, partly Justice, partly Jupiter’s daughter Prosperity. Could I distinguish myself in front of the first or the second goddess? Of none of them or both? Nobody can tell what nobody wrote.]

[69. Cnut II, 1014–1036 (c. 1018–1035)171]

Canutus II cognomine Magnus, Dives, Senior, Suenottonis primo-genitus, rex Daniæ, totiusque Angliæ (post fata Edmundi quicum regnum erat partitus) et Norvegiæ, et Slaviæ et Sembiæ, clarissimus, pientissimus, fortissimus, superque (ut habet Erici regis chronicon) omnes mundi reges terribilis ac laudabilis, partium adhæc Sueciæ dominus, Scotorumque victor gloriosissimus qui præter instituta centum etiam leges curiales sive Castrenses, quas hodieque versamus, promulgavit, papam Johannem 21 Romæ invisit, cum Conrado Salico, Romanorum imperatore, fœdus icit, sponsata filio ejus Henrico III, post imperatori, filia sua Gunilda, regnavit xxii annos, obiit anno Christi 1036:

[V_2–5]

Anglos, Norvedos, Suedos et Saxonas armis
    Subjicio fretus numinis auxilio.
Oceani magnum imperium mihi mille carinis
    Sexaginta hominum millia vecta parant.

[Cnut II nicknamed the Great, the Divine, the Old, the first-born of Sven Otto, king of Denmark, of all England (after the death of Edmund with whom he had shared this kingdom), Norway, Slavonia, and Samland, most famous, pious and strong, and (according to King Erik’s chronicle) more terrifying and more famous than all other kings of the world, lord of parts of Sweden, the most glorious vanquisher of the Scots, who in addition to a hundred decrees also issued the military or Lejre laws which we still use today, who visited Pope John XXI in Rome, signed a treaty with the Roman emperor Conrad the Salic, and gave his daughter Gunhild in marriage to Conrad’s son Henry III, the later emperor, reigned for 22 years, and died in 1036: Thanks to my arms and leaning on the help of God, I subdued the Englishmen, the Norwegians, the Swedes, and the Saxons. 60,000 men, transported on a thousand ships, prepared for me a great power over the ocean.]

[70. Cnut III, 1036–1044 (1035–1042)172]

Canutus III Durus, Canuti Magni ex Emma, Richardi II Norman-norum ducis sorore, Ethelredi regis vidua, filius, rex Daniæ et Angliæ, imperavit xxii annos, obiit anno Christi 1042:

[V_2–5]

Durus ut in bello, sic durus pace, subactos
    Nam populos feci quam grave ferre jugum.
Hinc quæ regna suis pater acquisiverat armis,
    Hæc ego dilabi sum mihi passus iners.

[Cnut III the Hard, son of Cnut the Great from the sister of Richard II, the duke of the Normans, widow of King Æthelred, king of Denmark and England, reigned for 22 years, and died in 1042: I was tough in war and in peace as well, as I forced the subjected nations to carry a most heavy yoke. I helplessly watched this kingdom, which my father had conquered with his weapons, collapse.]

[71. Magnus, 1044–1048 (1042–1047)173]

Magnus Bonus, sancti Olai Norvegiæ regis filius, rex Norvegiæ post fata Canuti Magni et extincto simul filio ejus Canuto III ex pacto et conventu rex Daniæ, cujus regni initio Danorum imperium ejurarunt Angli, surrogato in locum Canuti Dani fratre ejus uterino Eduardo sancto, Ethelredi filio, regnavit iiii annos, obiit anno Christi 1048:

[V_3–5]

Norwagis præeram Danos moderante Canuto,
    Et post ex pacto Dania facta mea est.
Frustra me regno depellere Sueno sategit,
    Sed magis hoste potens casus iniquus erat.

[Magnus the Good, son of Saint Olaf, the king of Norway, king of Norway after Cnut the Great’s death and king of Denmark after the death of Cnut the Great’s son Cnut III according to a treaty and an agreement, at the beginning of whose reign the Englishmen rejected the Danish empire and replaced the Dane Cnut with his half-brother Saint Edward, son of Æthelred, reigned for four years, and died in 1048: I commanded the Norwegians while Cnut ruled over the Danes. Sven tried in vain to expel me from my kingdom, but the injustice of his cause was stronger than his army.]

[V₂ / V₇]

Suenone bis fuso tandem mihi Dania paret,
    Haut prius externum sueta subire jugum.
Me duce Saxonicæ ceciderunt agmina gentis,
    Dein proprio perii præcipitatus equo.

[After Sven’s two defeats, Denmark, formerly not used to accepting a foreign yoke, obeyed me at last. Under my leadership, the battalions of the Saxon nation fell. Then I perished by falling from my own horse.]

[72. Sven II, 1048–1074 (1047–1076)174]

Sueno II Estritius, Canuti Magni sororis Estrithæ et Ulfonis filius, rex Daniæ, Angliæ quoque (quam ad filios Haraldum et Canutum a Guilhelmo Normanno bello repetiit) et Norvegiæ titulo totius, conditor 4 episcopatuum Lundensis et Dalbyensis in Scania (quæ duo post in unum coaluerunt) Wiburgensis et Borglumensis in Cimbria, literatorum adhæc amator ac fautor summus in quibus familiares ipsi fuerunt Guilhelmus Anglus Roschildensis episcopus (qui viso funere regis exequias ejus subitaneo a Deo impetrato excessu illustriores reddidit), Sueno Norvagus et Adamus Bremensis rerum nostrarum et Septentrionis ex parte scriptor, cum hoc rege fœdus iniit Henricus IV Romanorum imperator, regnavit xxvi an, obiit anno Christi 1074:

[V_3–5]

Non unum placuit regnum mihi, regna petebam,
    Sed neutro obtento rex prope vanus eram.
Sed fors me juvit, quem non vis juvit, et astus;
    Quod culpant, nimius semper amore fui.

[Sven II Estrithson, son of Estrith, sister of Cnut the Great, and Ulf, king of both Denmark and England (which he tried to reconquer by warfare from Wilhelm the Norman for his sons Harald and Cnut) and of all of Norway by title, founder of four bishoprics, in Lund and Dalby in Scania (these two were later united in one), and in Viborg and Børglum in Jutland, most important lover and promotor of writers such as William from England, bishop of Roskilde (who, after he had seen the king’s funeral, after his sudden death decided by God, made his obsequies more illustrious), Sven from Norway, and Adam of Bremen, author of our history and partly that of Scandinavia, king with whom Henry IV, the Roman emperor, signed a treaty, reigned for 26 years, and died in 1074: Not pleased with one kingdom, I sought kingdoms. However, because I did not obtain any, I was almost a king in vain. Fortune helped me, whom strength did not help, along with trickery. What I was blamed for is that I always was too loving.]

[V₂]

Arctoos inter reges ego nobile primus
    Doctrina retuli nomen ab eximia.
Nec pietate minor meritisque et munere suavis
    Eloquii Boreo notus in orbe fui.

[Among the Nordic kings, I was the first to achieve noble glory after an excellent education. Not less for my piety and my merits than for my talent for delightful eloquence, I was well known in the Nordic world.]

[73. Harald VII, 1074–1080 (1076–1080)175]

Haraldus VII, Suenonis Estrithii filius, rex Daniæ qui primus legem tulit, qua jubebantur Dani non amplius candenti ferro, sed jure-jurando crimen cujus postulabantur, infirmare et diluere, imperavit ii annos, obiit anno Christi 1080:

[V_2–5 / V₇]

Relligionis eram studiosus, cætera sceptris
    Impar, et solo nomine regna tenens.
Angli, præsidio Danorum fraude perempto
    Me rege, excutiunt, non sine labe, jugum.

[Harald VII, son of Sven Estrithson, king of Denmark, who was the first to issue a law ordering the Danes not to deny and recuse an accusation anymore by hot iron, but by swearing an oath, reigned for two years, and died in 1080: I was keen on religion, besides I was inferior for the scepter, and I only held the kingdom by my title. After killing the governor of the Danes by using trickery, the Englishmen, as I was a king, threw off their yoke, not without ruin.]

[74. Cnut IV, 1080–1090 (1080–1086)176]

Divus Canutus etc., rex Daniæ, Sembonum, Curetum, Esthonumque domitor ac dominus, regnavit x annos, obiit anno Christi 1090:

[V_2–5]

Expediunda truces dum vindex classis in Anglos
    Dum decimas mystis plebs dare jussa negat,
Tum me seditio fratre instigante coorta
    Sustulit, hinc divos indiges inter ago.

[Saint Cnut, etc., king of Denmark, ruler and lord of the Samlanders, the Kurlanders, and the Estonians, reigned for ten years, and died in 1090: While an avenging fleet was about to depart to fight the savage Englishmen and the people, ordered by the priest to give the tithe, refused to do so, then a rebellion, that began at the instigation of my brother, defeated me. Therefore, I dwell deified among the saints.]

[75. Olaf IV, 1090–1099 (1086–1095)177]

Olaus IV, rex Daniæ, qui, quod per universum regni ejus tempus, ob interemptum in templo Ottoniano sanctissimum regem Canutum IV fratrem ejus, dira et gravi fame laboraverint subditi, cognominatus ab iis est Hunger, regnavit x annos, obiit anno Christi 1099:

[V_2–5]

Per fraudem fuso germani sanguine fratris
    Infausta gessi Danica sceptra manu.
Totos namque annos septem fuit Adrasteja
Numinis immani conspicienda fame.

[Oluf IV, king of Denmark, who, as throughout his reign his subjects suffered from cruel and dire starvation because of the assassination of his brother Cnut IV the Holy in the church of Odense, was nicknamed Hunger by them, reigned for ten years, and died in 1099: I held the Danish scepter in an unlucky hand because my full brother’s blood was fraudulently shed. Indeed, Adrasteia had to be contemplated with immense starvation for her divine power for seven whole years.]

[76. Erik III, 1099–1106, before one year of interregnum (1095–1103)178]

Ericus III Bonus, rex Daniæ et Wandalorum, quos sibi tributarios fecit, profectus est per Russiam et Constantinopolim, constituto interim ad regni gubernacula Haraldo primogenito, imperavit vii annos, obiit anno Christi 1106:

[V_1–5]

Robore et ingenio, forma, virtute, procero
    Corpore et eloquio pene stupendus eram.
Frustra me Christi Solymis lustrare sepulchrum,
    Compulit immensus relligionis amor.

[Erik III Evergood, king of Denmark and of the Wends whom he forced to pay tribute to himself, who gave the rudder of the kingdom to his first-born Harald and then moved forward through Russia and Constantinople, reigned for seven years, and died in 1106: I possessed an almost stupefying force, intelligence, beauty, talent, physical growth, and eloquence. My immeasurable love for the religion drove me in vain to visit the grave of Christ in Jerusalem.]

[77. Nicolaus, 1107–1135 (1104–1134)179]

Nicolaus, cognita morte fratris Ericii Boni, dejecto a gubernaculis filio ejus Haraldo, factus rex Daniæ et sanctum Canutum, fratris Erici Boni legitimam ex Botilda conjuge sobolem in sylva Harrestadensi perfidiose et crudeliter necari curavit, regnavit xxviii annos, obiit anno Christi 1135:

[V_2–5]

Assensus nimium nati crudelibus ausis
    Ipsum commeritis implico meque malis.
Ille etenim Emundi dextra cadit, inde Canuti
Guthica gens sancti me ferit ulta necem.

[Niels, who, after learning about the death of his brother Erik Evergood and removing Erik’s son Harald from power, was made king of Denmark and had Saint Cnut, his brother Erik Evergood’s legitimate heir with his wife Bodil, perfidiously and savagely killed in the Haraldsted Forest, reigned for 28 years, and died in 1135: Having given too much approval to my son’s cruel enterprise, I involved him and myself in well-deserved disasters. Indeed, he was killed by Emune’s weapon. Therefore, the tribe of Jutland hit me to avenge Saint Cnut’s murder.]

[V₇]

Nec tumidos animos mihi reddidit aura secunda
    Sortis nec servum, grex numerosus erat.
Canutum fratris sobolem perimendo labore
    Nos auxit Magnus filius ipse gravi.
Mox armis gnati Erici regem repulsum
    Slesvigii mactat morte plebeja manus.

[The favorable breeze did neither inflate my spirit nor make it a servant of fate, the herd was too numerous. When my own son Magnus killed Cnut, my brother’s son, he caused me a great misfortune. The king was soon chased away by the weapons of Eric’s son and slaughtered to death by the people of Schleswig.’

[78. Erik IV, 1131–1139, first against Niels (1134–1137)180]

Ericus IV, filius Erici Boni, rex Daniæ et Wandalorum, cognomen Harefot accepit, tandem ob partam a patruo rege Nicolao parricida in Scania victoriam vindicatamque fratris sui sancti Canuti regis Obodritorum necem, Emundi sive Illustris titulo a subditis decoratus est, regnavit viii annos, obiit anno Christi 1139:

[V_2–5]

Ille ego profusi sine causa sanguinis ultor
    Ipse propinquorum sanguine fœdo manus.
Namque ensis fratrem tenerosque ex fratre nepotes
    Pene omnes jussu sustulit unda meo.

[Erik IV, son of Erik Evergood, king of Denmark and the Wends, nicknamed Harefoot, who, because of the victory he obtained in Scania over his uncle, King Niels, the parricide, and the vengeance in Schleswig for the murder of his brother Saint Cnut, king of the Obotrites, was finally awarded with the title Emune or the Illustrious by his subjects, reigned for eight years, and died in 1139: Avenger of unjustified bloodshed, I stained my own hand with my relatives’ blood. Indeed, the swell of massacre carried away my brother and almost all my young nephews on my order.]

[79. Erik V, 1139–1147 (1137–1146)181]

Ericus V, sororis Erici Emundi filius, a patientia vel pietate dictus Ovicula, rex Daniæ et Wandalorum, is postquam annis octo Danis præfuisset, febri correptus regiam purpuram monachali cucullo mutavit, regnavit viii annos, obiit anno Christi 1147:

[V_2–5]

Mente ferox pridem, tandem mansuetior agni
    Cognomen meritus, sed leo Marte fui.
Belli pertæso demum regnique, quietam
    Cum monachis vitam vivere collibuit.

[Erik V, son of Erik the Memorable’s sister, called the Lamb from his patience or piety, king of Denmark and the Wends, who after ruling the Danes for eight years was struck by fever and traded his royal purple for monkhood, reigned for eight years, and died in 1147: At first, my spirit was fierce; then, it became milder than a lamb. I deserved my nickname, although I was a lion in war. Finally, utterly tired of war and government, I decided to spend a quiet life with monks instead.]

[80a. Sven III, 1147–1156 (1146–1157)182]

Sueno III, Erici Emundi filius, rex Daniæ, appellatus Gratenhede a campo non procul Wiburgo, imperavit x annos, obiit anno Christi 1156:

[V_2–5]

Fraudibus oppresso regni consorte Canuto
Vindicis, et merito me premit ira Dei.
Namque ope Waldmari Nemesis mihi Dia cruentas
    Nempe viri manes injicit ulta manus.

[Sven III, son of Erik Emune, king of Denmark, called Grathe from the field not far from Viborg, reigned for ten years, and died in 1156: After oppressing Cnut, who shared the kingdom with me, by playing tricks on him, I was also rightfully struck by the wrath of the vengeful God. Indeed, thanks to Valdemar’s action, the goddess Nemesis, as an avenging hand, sent me the bleeding spirits of this man.]

[80b. Cnut V, against Sven III (1146–1157)183]

[V₂]

Me mea credulitas pessum dat, perdere aperte
    Nam me Marte nequit Sueno, sed apte potest.
Nempe invitatum sub amici nomine fratrem
    Dum vocat, extremum mi parat exilium.

[My credulity lost me: indeed, Sven could not defeat me in an open war, but he could with cunning. As he invited me as a brother under the name of friendship, he prepared my last exile.]

[81. Valdemar I, 1156–1182 (1157–1182)184]

Waldemarus I cognomento Magnus, Daniæ Vandalorumque rex, dux Slesvicensium, etc., imperavit xxvi annos, obiit anno Christi 1182:

[V_2–5 / V₇]

Vallum instauratur, qua Danos limes et inter
    Teutonas est, recipit Rugia victa fidem.
Vendæ cum Finnis, Nordalbingique procaces
    Danorum incipiunt me duce ferre jugum.

[Valdemar I nicknamed the Great, king of Denmark and the Wends, duke of Schleswig, etc., reigned for 26 years, and died in 1182: The rampart serving as a border between the Danes and the Germans was restored, and Rügen gained the faith after its defeat. The Wends, with the Fins, and the shameless inhabitants of Nordalbingia began to carry the Danes’ yoke with me as their lord.]

[82. Cnut V, 1182–1202 (1182–1202)185]

Canutus V, Daniæ Vandalorumque rex, dux Holsatiæ, Schles-vicensium et Pomeranorum, etc., imperavit xx annos, obiit post Christi 1202:

[V_2–5]

Cæsaris impulsu Sclavi me classe petentes
    Axilli ductu præsulis intereunt.
Holsatos immorigeros Marsosque rebelles
    Edocui nostrum non leve ferre jugum.

[Cnut V, king of Denmark and the Wends, duke of Holstein, Schleswig, and Pomerania, etc., reigned for twenty years, and died in 1202: At the emperor’s instigation, the Slavs who attacked me with a fleet were killed under Bishop Absalon’s leadership. I taught the disobedient inhabitants of Holstein and the rebels of Dithmarschen to carry our heavy yoke.]

[83. Valdemar II, 1202–1242 (1202–1241)186]

Waldemarus II Victoriosus, rex Daniæ Gothorum Vandalorumque, princeps Livoniæ Nordalbingiæ et Vagriæ, etc., natus 1177, leges pub-licavit Cimbricas 1232, regnavit 40, obiit 1242:

[V_2–5]

Livonos, Esthos, Vendas et Saxones armis
    Perdomui late bellica signa ferens.
Tandem pertæsum belli me compulit æquas
    Sielandis leges condere dia Themis.

[Valdemar II the Victorious, king of Denmark, the Goths and the Wends, lord of Livonia, Nordalbingia and Wagria, etc., born in 1177, issued the Code of Jutland in 1232, reigned for 40 years, and died in 1242: I tamed the Livonians, the Estonians, the Wends, and the Saxons with weapons by carrying the war flag far and wide. Finally, when I was tired of war, the goddess Themis compelled me to issue rightful laws to the Zealanders.]

[84. Valdemar III, 1219–1232, together with Valdemar II (1218–1231)187]

Waldemarus III, rex Daniæ, etc., regnavit xiii annos, obiit anno Christi 1232:

[V_3–5]

Quam sors me vario jactavit turbine! Regnum
Nunc est, nunc minime, rursus et, ecce, mihi est!
Nunc intra regni, nunc extra dimico fines;
    Omnis in ambiguo res mihi semper erat.

[Valdemar III, king of Denmark, etc., reigned for thirteen years, and died in 1232: How Fortune tossed me around with various whirlwinds! Sometimes, I had the kingdom, sometimes no more, sometimes again! Sometimes, I fight within the borders of my kingdom, sometimes abroad. Everything was always uncertain to me.]

[85. Erik VI, 1241–1250 (1242–1250)188]

Ericus cognomento Sanctus, rex Daniæ et Livoniæ, etc., regnavit ix annos, obiit anno Christi 1250:

[V_2–5]

Annos pene decem frater civilibus armis
    Regnandi cupidus me petit atque premit.
Armis diffisus tandem sub nomine pacis
    Me circumventum perfidus ense ferit.

[Eric nicknamed the Saint, king of Denmark and Livonia, etc., reigned for nine years, and died in 1250: For almost ten years, my brother who wanted to reign attacked and oppressed me with civil war. Mistrusting war, this traitor finally, after trapping me under the guise of peace, killed me with a sword.]

[86. Abel, 1250–1252 (1250–1252)189]

Abel, rex Daniæ, dux Slesvicensium, etc., imperavit ii annos, obiit anno Christi 1252:

[V_2–5]

Nomine dictus Abel, re Cain, fratre perempto,
    Infanda tenui Danica sceptra manu.
Donec sera meo Nemesis satianda cruore,
    Fratris nempe mei, me petit ulta necem.

[Abel, king of Denmark, duke of Schleswig, etc., reigned for two years, and died in 1252: Called Abel by name, but in fact Cain after killing my brother, I held the Danish scepter in my despicable hand until slow Nemesis, who had to be satisfied with my blood, hit me obviously, avenging my brother’s murder.]

[87. Christopher I, 1252–1259 (1252–1259)190]

Christophorus I, rex Daniæ, etc., imperavit vii annos, obiit anno Christi 1259:

[V_2–5]

Regno promissis, pretio, precibusque redempto,
    Quod si quisquam alius rex, ego pestis eram.
Sola sub imperio mansit Siælandia nostro
    At reliqua Holsatis Dania præda fuit.

[Christopher I, king of Denmark, etc., reigned for seven years, and died in 1259: After having bought the kingdom with promises, money, and prayers, I was more than any other king a plague. Only Zealand remained under my rule, the rest of Denmark was Holstein’s prey.]

[88. Erik VII, 1259–1286 (1259–1286)191]

Ericus VII Glipping dictus, rex Daniæ, Vandalorum Gothorum, dux Æsthoniæ, etc., regnavit xxvii annos, obiit anno Christi 1286:

[V_3–5]

Quamvis pauca meæ superent vestigia laudis,
    Est tamen auspiciis Suedia victa meis.
Tum me, submotum quem plebs proceresque volebant,
    Dextra ferit, magnum, Stigonis ausa, nefas.

[Erik VII called Glipping, king of Denmark, the Wends, and the Goths, duke of Estonia, etc., reigned for 27 years, and died in 1286: Although only few traces of my merits remain, Sweden was defeated under my auspices. Then, a weapon hit me whom the plebs and the nobles wanted to remove. Stig’s forfeit was an enormous crime.]

[89. Erik VIII, 1287–1319 (1286–1319)192)

Ericus VIII Menved dictus, rex Daniæ, Vandalorum Gothorum, dux Æsthoniæ, etc., regnavit xxxii annos, obiit anno Christi 1319:

[V_3–4 / V₇]

Rex ætate puer, sed vir virtute, paternæ
    Cui necis authores perdere cura fuit.
Et patriam servare armis et legibus, hostes
    Vincere et haud falsa mente timere Deum.

[Erik VIII called Menved, king of Denmark, the Wends, and the Goths, duke of Estonia, etc., reigned for 32 years, and died in 1319: When I became king, I was a boy in age, but a man in value. I was eager to punish my father’s murderers, to serve my fatherland with weapons and laws, to defeat the enemies, and to fear God with an honest mind.]

[90. Christopher II, 1319–1331, before a 9-year interregnum (1320–1331)193]

Christophorus II, rex Daniæ, Vandalorum, Gothorum, dux Æsthoniæ, etc., regnavit xii annos, obiit anno Christi 1331:

[V_3–5]

Dum contra patriæ leges vi grassor et ira,
    Pro regno dignus me mage carcer erat.
Affinis Cæsar nil iuvit; discite reges
    Regibus haut quicquam tutius esse fide.

[Christopher II, king of Denmark, the Wends, and the Goths, duke of Estonia, etc., reigned for twelve years, and died in 1331: As I fought the laws of my fatherland with violence and wrath, I deserved the prison rather than the kingdom. The emperor, my relative, did not help. Learn, you kings, that nothing is more certain for kings than faith.]

[91. Valdemar IV, 1340–1375 (1340–1375)194]

Waldemarus IIII, rex Daniæ, Vandalorum, Gothorum, dux Æsthoniæ, etc., imperavit xxxv annos, obiit anno Christi 1375:

[V_3–5]

Culpa si qua mei regno data damna parentis,
    Cuncta Dei fretus munere restituo.
Summoto namque Holsato, Suedoque vetustis
    Gauderet feci Dania limitibus.

[Valdemar IV, king of Denmark, the Wends, and the Goths, duke of Estonia, etc., reigned for 35 years, and died in 1375: While the kingdom suffered damage because of my father, I mended it entirely, counting on God’s gift. After pushing Holstein and Sweden away, I indeed made sure that Denmark could enjoy its former borders.]

[92. Margaret, 1375–1412 (1375–1412)195]

Margareta, regina Daniæ, Sueciæ, Norvegiæ, Vandalorum, Gothorum, etc., imperavit xxxvii annos, obiit anno Christi 1412:

[V_3–5]

Danica sceptra parens mihi liquit, Norica natus,
    Fæminea venit Suedia victa manu.
Sic unita meis starent tria regna perenni
    Fædere, Dis visum si foret auspiciis.

[Margaret I, queen of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Wends, the Goths, etc., reigned for 35 years, and died in 1412: My father, born in Bavaria, left me the Danish scepter. The defeated Sweden came to a woman’s hand. Three kingdoms would thus have remained united by an eternal pact under my auspices, had it pleased the gods.]

[93. Olaf V, 1377–1387, together with Margaret (1376–1387)196]

Olaus V, rex Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Vandalorum, Gothorumque, etc., præfuit x annos, obiit anno Christi 1387:

[V_3–5 / V₇]

Me sibi quantamvis puerum gens Danica regem
    Delegit meritis matris adacta meæ.
Abstulit ut teneræ primo sub flore juventæ
    Me regem regnis mors inopina tribus.

[Olaf V, king of Denmark, Norway, the Wends, the Goths, etc., reigned for ten years, and died in 1387: The Danish people, guided by my mother’s merits, elected me king although I was only a child. When I was in the first flower of my tender youth and a king of three countries, sudden death took me away.]

[94. Erik IX, 1396–1438, initially together with Margaret (1412–1439)197]

Ericus IX Pomeranus, rex Daniæ, Sueciæ, Norvegiæ, Vandalorum, Gothorum, dux Pomeraniæ, etc., regnavit xxxxii annos, obiit anno Christi 1438:

[V_3–4 / V_7–8]

Regnorum mihi sceptra trium matertera liquit
    Liquisset sceptris, o si animumque parem.
Quod quia non factum tandem tribus excido regnis,
    Contentus patria vivere sede senex.

[Erik IX of Pomerania, king of Denmark, Norway, the Wends, and the Goths, duke of Pomerania, etc., reigned for 42 years, and died in 1438: My aunt left me the scepter of three kingdoms. Oh, had she only left me a mind matching the scepter! Since I was not made for three kingdoms, I finally stumbled and was happy to spend my old age in my father’s land.]

[95. Christoffer III, 1438–1448 (1440–1448)198]

Christophorus III Bavarus, rex Daniæ, Sueciæ, Norvegiæ, Vanda-lorum, Gothorum, dux Bavariæ, etc., regnavit x annos, obiit anno Christi 1448:

[V_3–5]

Ericus postquam regnis excesserat istis,
    Mox regem Dani me sibi constituunt.
Ex pacto Suedi mihi parent et Norivedi,
    Sicque triplex cingit mi diadema caput.

[Christopher III of Bavaria, king of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Wends, the Goths, duke of Bavaria, etc., reigned for ten years, and died in 1448: After Erik’s departure from these kingdoms, the Danes soon elected me their king. Following an agreement, the Swedes and the Norwegians obeyed me; thus, my head was triply crowned.]

[96. Christian I (1448–1481)199]

Christianus I, Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Sueciæ, Vandalorum Gothorumque rex, dux Slesvici, Holsatiæ, Stormariæ et Dithmarsiæ, comes in Olden-borch et Delmenhorst, etc., ætatis xxxxxvi, regnavit xxxii, virtute monstrante viam:

[V_3–5]

Primus eram regum, quos Oldenburgica regno
    Stirps comitum priscis regibus orta dedit.
O utinam qua cum divino munere fretus
    Progenies possit prosperitate frui!

[Christian I, king of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Wends, the Goths, duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, and Dithmarschen, count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst, etc., at the age of 56, reigned for 32 years, virtue shows the way: I was the first of the kings given to this kingdom by the Oldenburg line, which came from ancient kings. May this descendance with whom I count on a divine gift prosper!]

[97. John I (1481–1513)200]

Johannes I, Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Sueciæ, Vandalorum Gothorumque rex, Slesvici, Holsatie, Stormariæ et Dithmarsiæ dux, comes in Oldenborgh et Delmenhorst. etc., ætatis 58, regnavit xxxii, pro lege et grege:

[V_3–5]

Non sine clade gravi me terque quaterque rebellis
    Suetica gens aliis fallere sueta fidem.
Huic Lubecenses socios se fædere jungunt,
    Queis terra atque mari plurima damna dedi.

[John, king of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Wends, the Goths, duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, and Dithmarschen, count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst, etc., at the age of 58, reigned for 32 years, for the law and the herd: The rebellious Swedish nation often deceived other people’s trust, but not without suffering serious defeats from me three and even tour times. The people from Lübeck, upon whom I inflicted several defeats both on land and at sea, joined this nation as allies through a treaty.]

[98. Christian II (1513–1523)201]

Christiernus II, Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Sueciæ, Vandalorum Gotho-rumque rex, Slesvici, Holsatie, Stormariæ et Dithmarsiæ dux, comes in Oldenborgh et Delmenhorst, etc., ætatis 78, regnavit ix, sic erat in fatis:

[V_2–5]

Quod tribus exciderim regnis, quis dixerit isthæc
    Factis an fatis, sors tribuenda meis?
Dicam: sunt toti mea crimina cognita mundo;
    Persensi factis consona fata meis.

[Christian II, king of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Wends, the Goths, duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, and Dithmarschen, count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst, etc., at the age of 78, reigned for nine years, thus it was ordained: Because I lost three kingdoms, who will have said if this result must be attributed to my actions or my destiny? I shall tell it: my crimes are known in the entire world. I have experienced that my fate reflects my acts.]

[99. Frederick I, before one year of interregnum (1523–1533)202]

Fridericus I, Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Vandalorum Gothorumque rex, Slesvici, Holsatie, Stormariæ et Dithmarsiæ dux, comes in Olden-borgh et Delmenhorst, etc., ætatis 56, regnavit x, nil sine numine:

[V_3–5]

Nobile nobilitas debet mihi Dania nomen,
    Cui crevit jussu jusque decusque meo.
Qui meus ille ex fratre nepos sit captus et arcto
    Cur deinceps clausus carcere cuique liquet.

[Frederick I, king of Denmark, Norway, the Wends, the Goths, duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, and Dithmarschen, count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst, etc., at the age of 56, reigned for ten years, nothing without divine power: Danish noblemen owe me noble glory because law and honor thrived for them on my order. It is clear how my nephew from my brother was captured and why he was locked up in a small prison cell.]

[100. Christian III (1534–1559)203]

Christianus III, Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Vandalorum Gothorumque rex, Slesvici, Holsatie, Stormariæ et Dithmarsiæ dux, comes in Olden-borgh et Delmenhorst, etc., ætatis lvii, regnavit xxv, fiat voluntas tua domine:

[V_3–5 / V₇]

Me quoque nobilitas invito Cæsare regem
    Delegit faustis, ut reor, auspiciis.
Quem Themis et pietas et munificentia magnum
    Fecit et æternum nomen habere dedit.

[Christian III, king of Denmark, Norway, the Wends, the Goths, duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, and Dithmarschen, count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst, etc., at the age of 57, reigned for 25 years, let Thy will be done, Lord: Nobility elected me king, even against the emperor’s will, as I admit under favorable auspices. Justice, piety, and magnificence made me great and gave me eternal glory.]

[101. Frederick II (1559–1588)204]

Fridericus II, Daniæ, Norwegiæ, Vandalorum, Gothorumque rex, Slesvici, Holsatie, Stormariæ et Dithmarsiæ dux, comes in Olden-borgh et Delmenhorst, etc., ætatis liv, regnavit xxx, spes mea sola deus:

[V_3–5]

Hic Fridericus erat rex utrum pace vel armis
    Clarior, in dubio est: magnus utroque fuit.
Quid fuit? Est et erit; desint quoque cætera, talem
    Esse potest natum progenuisse satis.

[Frederick II, king of Denmark, Norway, the Wends, the Goths, duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, and Dithmarschen, count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst, etc., at the age of 54, reigned for 30 years, God my only hope: It is uncertain whether this Frederick was a more illustrious king for peace or for war. He was great in both. Was? He is and will be. May all the rest be missing, it can be enough to have generated such a son.]

[V₂ / V₇]

Dithmarsos domui, dein Sueco fracta superbo,
    Pectora sunt armis non bene fida meis.
Cui pacem pressi belli sub mole, rogatus
    Qua mihi collibuit conditione dedi.

[I subdued Dithmarschen, then smashed the proud Swedes’ unfaithful chests with my weapons. When they begged for peace under the pressure of war, I offered it on my own terms.]

[102. Christian IV, until 1596 as a minor (1588–1648)205]

Christianus IV, Dei gratia Daniæ, Norvegiæ, Vandalorum, Gotho-rumque rex, dux Slesvici, Holsatiæ, Stormariæ et Dithmarsiæ, comes in Oldenborch et Delmenhorst, etc., vivit, regnat, valet annos natus lxix, anno mdcxlv, regna firmat pietas:

[V_3–5]

Hic regum est Christianus apex, pietatis imago,
    Atque pater patriæ, fraude doloque carens.
Qui cunctos animo superat, fatique procellas
    Spernit; vive diu, rex bone, vive tuis.

[Christian IV, by God’s grace king of Denmark, Norway, the Wends, the Goths, duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, and Dithmarschen, count of Oldenburg-Delmenhorst, etc., lives, rules, and is in good health in 1645 at the age of 69, piety strengthens the kingdoms: Here is Christian, the pinnacle of kings, the image of piety, the father of the fatherland, devoid of fraud and deceit. He surpasses everybody in spirit and despises the storms of destiny. Long live, good king, live for your people!]

* * *

Photographie : Peter Andersen, 2023; CC BY NC SA.

Photographie : Peter Andersen, 2023; CC BY NC SA.

Source : Copenhagen, Det Kongelige Bibliotek (KB), NKS 271 8o, p. 88 (V₂). Reproduction : photographies (Peter Andersen, 2023) ; utilisation avec l’aimable autorisation de la Kongelige Bibliotek de Copenhague (tous droits réservés).

Source: Copenhagen, Statens Museum for Kunst, without shelf-mark (P₁₇). Reproduction : Copenhague, Statens Museum for Kunst; <https://open.smk.dk/artwork/image/KKSgb11690/19> ; utilisation libre de droits.

Source : KB, Hielmst. 279 2o, fol. [23]^v (V₃). Reproduction : photographies (Peter Andersen, 2023) ; utilisation avec l’aimable autorisation de la Kongelige Bibliotek de Copenhague (tous droits réservés).

Source: Stockholm, Armémuseum, Ritningssamlingen J 3 volym 45,  AM 5379, III, fol. 139^r (V₉). Reproduction: Anton Svedberg (Armémuseum); <https://digitaltmuseum.se/021016242849>; CC domaine public.