Chronicon Roskildense

Chronicon Roskildense (Danish: Roskildekrøniken English: Roskilde Chronicle) a small Danish historical work, which except for few yearbooks, is the oldest known attempt to write a coherent account of Danish history by a Danish author, from the time of the introduction of Christianity in Denmark to the author's own time. Written in Latin.

The original chronicle covers the timeframe 826 to c. 1140. A later addition from King Valdemar I's time, of a few more pages, takes the chronicle to 1157, when King Valdemar I gains the throne of Denmark. However these additional pages is mostly direct quotes from other sources.

The author is unknown, but it is thought he must have had some relationship to Roskilde Cathedral, as he is very confident with matters dealing with Roskilde. Churchly matters are not of special interest to him, he writes lively and vividly about all kinds of matters happing around him. Events themselves are only briefly covered while persons taking part in them or even created them, are throughout covered with great passion.

Unlike Saxo's Gesta Danorum or Svend Aagesen's Brevis Historia Regum Dacie which is Danish history as seen from our time, Chronicon Roskildense often covers the 'losing' side in these very same events told of by Saxo and Svend Aggesen. At times the author can seem very bitter and blinded by politic, however this fact also makes this chronicle a very interesting piece of work. 'Winners' write history, this work is history seen from the 'losing' side.

The early part of the work is in many cases based on Adam of Bremen's Descriptio insularum Aquilonis, sometime even direct quotes, however the author only takes what he needs and the meaning is not always the same.

As with many Danish chronicles the exact time of writing is not known for sure. The original chronicle ends very sudden. Olaf "II" Haraldsen, son of Harald Kesja is spoken of as still alive. He is killed in 1143. The last subject written about, is Rikes and Eskil quarrel over the Archbishop seat of Lund, which falls to Eskil. This happens in 1137-1138. So the book must be finished between 1138 and 1143. But as said the work ends very abruptly, so this might not have been the intended ending.

The original manuscript is lost today and the chronicle exists now only in copies made in the 13th, 16th and 17th centuries.

Latin copies reside in:

• University Library, Kiel, S. H. 8 A.8° (13th century). Known as Codex Kiloniensis.
• Den Arnamagnæanske Samling, Copenhagen, AM 107 8o (16th century).
• Uppsala University Library, De la Gardie XXV-XXIX (17th century).

References

• Den Ældeste Danmarkskrønike (Roskildekrøniken), Jørgen Olrik, Copenhagen, 1898
• Roskildekrøniken - Den ældeste Danmarkshistorie, Lotte Fang, Forlag Sesam A/S, Viborg, 1979, ISBN 87-7324-517-8