Absalon first appears in Saxo Grammaticus's contemporary chronicle Gesta Danorum at the end of the civil war, at the brokering of the peace agreement between Sweyn III and Valdemar at St. Alban's Priory, Odense.

He was also interested in history and culture, and commissioned Saxo Grammaticus to write Gesta Danorum, a comprehensive chronicle of the history of the Danes.

Saxo Grammaticus ' Gesta Danorum was not finished until after the death of Absalon, but Absalon was one of the chief heroic figures of the chronicle, which was to be the main source of knowledge about early Danish history.

Tales concerning the Skjöldungs, possibly originating as early as the 6th century, were later used as a narrative basis in such texts as Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus and Hrólfs saga kraka.

The first is found in Christiern Pedersen's " Danske Krønike ", which is a sequel to Saxo ’ s Gesta Danorum, written 1520 – 23.

The Danish flag from the front page of Christiern Pedersen ’ s version of Saxo ’ s Gesta Danorum, 1514.

Saxo Grammaticus wrote in his Gesta Danorum another story about Frigg:

Gesta Danorum (" Deeds of the Danes ") is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus (" Saxo the Literate ", literally " the Grammarian ").

* Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum, Books I-IX, translated to English by Oliver Elton 1905.

* Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum, from the Royal Library in Copenhagen, Danish and Latin.

Shakespeare based Hamlet on the legend of Amleth, preserved by 13th-century chronicler Saxo Grammaticus in his Gesta Danorum as subsequently retold by 16th-century scholar François de Belleforest.

A facsimile of Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus, which contains the legend of Amleth

Many of the earlier legendary elements are interwoven in the 13th-century Vita Amlethi (" The Life of Amleth ") by Saxo Grammaticus, part of Gesta Danorum.

An episode in the Latin work Gesta Danorum, written in the 12th century by Saxo Grammaticus, is generally considered to refer to Hel, and Hel may appear on various Migration Period bracteates.

In the account of Baldr's death in Saxo Grammaticus ' early 13th century work Gesta Danorum, the dying Baldr has a dream visitation from Proserpina ( here translated as " the goddess of death "):

The Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus recorded an alternative version of this myth in his Gesta Danorum.

According to Paul the Deacon's 8th century work Historia Langobardorum, the Langobards migrated southward from Scandinavia led by Ibur and Aio, while Saxo Grammaticus records in his 12th-century work Gesta Danorum that this migration was prompted by Aggi and Ebbi.

* 1514 – Jodocus Badius Ascensius publishes Christiern Pedersen's Latin version of Saxo ’ s Gesta Danorum, the oldest known version of that work.

Parallels have been pointed out between Njörðr and the figure of Hadingus, attested in book I of Saxo Grammaticus ' 13th century work Gesta Danorum.

He has been identified with Uffo ( also Uffe, Uffi of Jutland ), a legendary Danish king in the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus.

Additionally, Sleipnir is mentioned in a riddle found in the 13th century legendary saga Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks, in the 13th century legendary saga Völsunga saga as the ancestor of the horse Grani, and book I of Gesta Danorum, written in the 12th century by Saxo Grammaticus, contains an episode considered by many scholars to involve Sleipnir.

In Saxo Grammaticus ' 12th century work Gesta Danorum, where gods appear euhemerized, Ollerus is described as a cunning wizard with magical means of transportation:

Early modern publications, dealing with what we now call Viking culture, appeared in the 16th century, e. g. Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus ( Olaus Magnus, 1555 ), and the first edition of the 13th century Gesta Danorum of Saxo Grammaticus in 1514.

The first printed press publication and the oldest known complete text of Saxo ’ s works is Christiern Pedersen's Latin edition, printed and published by Jodocus Badius in Paris, France, March 15, 1514 under the title of Danorum Regum heroumque Historiae (" History of the Kings and heroes of the Danes ").

* Eric Christiansen, published 1980-1981, title: Saxo Grammaticus: Danorum regum heroumque historia, books X-XVI

In the 12th century, Danish accounts by Saxo Grammaticus and other Danish Latin chroniclers recorded a euhemerized account of his story.

Full frontpage can be seen: File: Saxo Chr P front version 001. jpg | here.

Jacob Grimm noted that if, as Adam of Bremen states, Fosite's sacred island was Heligoland, that would make him an ideal candidate for a deity known to both Frisians and Scandinavians, but that it is surprising he is never mentioned by Saxo Grammaticus.

It is possible that Saxo then enlarged it with Books 15 and 16, telling the story of King Valdemar I's last years and King Canute VI's first years.

It is believed that Saxo then wrote Books 11, 12, and 13.

Svend Aagesen's history of Denmark, Brevis Historia Regum Dacie ( circa 1186 ), states that Saxo had decided to write about " The king-father and his sons ," which would be King Sweyn Estridson, in Books 11, 12, and 13.

The Angers Fragment is the biggest fragment, and the only one attested to be in Saxo ’ s own handwriting.

In 1510-1512, Christiern Pedersen, a Danish translator working in Paris, searched Denmark high and low for an existing copy of Saxo ’ s works, which by that time was nearly all but lost.

By that time most knowledge of Saxo ’ s work came from a summary located in Chronica Jutensis, from around 1342, called Compendium Saxonis.

The title Saxo himself used for his work is unknown.

Front page of Christiern Pedersen's Saxo version, Paris 1514.

De danske Kongers og Heltes Historie, skrevet i pyntelig Stil for over 300 Aar siden af Saxo Grammaticus, en Sjællandsfar og Provst ved Kirken i Roskilde, og nu for første Gang oplyst ved et Register og omhyggeligt trykt.

Histories of the Kings and heroes of the Danes, composed in elegant style by Saxo Grammaticus, a Sjællander and also provost of the church of Roskilde, over three hundred years ago, and now for the first time illustrated and printed correctly in a learned compilation.

* N. F. S. Grundtvig, published 1818-1822, title: Danmarks Krønike af Saxo Grammaticus

Some scholars see Beowulf as a product of these early tales along with Gesta Danorum and Hrólfs saga kraka.

The battle of Högni and Heðinn is recorded in several medieval sources, including the skaldic poem Ragnarsdrápa, Skáldskaparmál ( section 49 ), and Gesta Danorum: king Högni's daughter, Hildr, is kidnapped by king Heðinn.

* Gesta Danorum

" ( Gesta Danorum, Book I )

In Saxo's Gesta Danorum, however, the gods and goddesses are heavily euhemerized, and Saxo's view on pagan deities is extremely biased, therefore most stories related to pagan gods written in it might not exist in ancient lore.

Gesta Danorum ( Angers Fragment ), page 1, front.

Consisting of sixteen books written in Latin on the invitation of Archbishop Absalon, Gesta Danorum describes Danish history and to some degree Scandinavian history in general, from prehistory to the late 12th century.

In addition, Gesta Danorum offers singular reflections on European affairs in the High Middle Ages from a unique Scandinavian perspective, supplementing what has been handed down by historians from Western and Southern Europe.

When exactly Gesta Danorum was written is the subject of numerous works ; however, it is generally agreed that Gesta Danorum was not finished before 1208.

It is also in this summary that the name Gesta Danorum is found.

With the help of printer Jodocus Badius, Gesta Danorum was refined and printed.

* Alfred Holder, published 1886, title: Saxonis Grammatici Gesta Danorum

* Jørgen Olrik & Hans Ræder, published 1931, title: Saxonis Gesta Danorum