Svend Aagesen

Svend Aagesen (or "Sven") also known as Aggessøn, Aggesøn or Aggesen. The most correct name is probably Sven Aggesen. In Latin Svenonis Aggonis. Born somewhere around 1140-1150, death unknown.

Most famous, in Denmark at least, for one of the first attempt to write a coherent History of Denmark, surpassed in time maybe only by Chronicon Roskildense.

Family

Svend Aagesen was born into a magnate-family, which counts several known names.

The oldest known family member that we know of with some certainty, is Svend's Great-grand-father, Thrugot, who was married to Thorgunna, daughter of Vagn Aagesøn, a Grand-son of the legendary Palne Toke. Thrugot and Thorgunna had two sons, Sven and Vagn.

Sven Thrugotsøn (or Thorgunnasøn) had four sons. One, probably the oldest, Asser, was the first Archbishop of Lund (1104-1137) and also the first Archbishop of Scandinavian. Another, probably the youngest, Sven, was a canon in Lund, later in Viborg and even later, 1132, Bishop in Viborg.
The 3rd, Eskil, we know little about, but the last Christiern Svensøn is Svend Aagesen’s grandfather.

Christiern Svensøn and his son Agge, which is Svend Aagesen’s Father, thought under the Civil war followering Knud Lavard’s murder, on Erik 2. Emune side and Svend Aagesen writes in Brevis Historia Regum Dacie, about their participating in these battles.

Life and Education

It is likely that he was educated on some monastery in Denmark, but given his knowledge of classic antiquity, which he displays in his writing, there is little doubt he has received a more comprehensive education elsewhere, probably in one of the big Church-schools in France.
Notable in the preface of Brevis Historia Regum Dacie, he mention that reading of old Latin historians works, is something he spend time on – but likewise he mention, with sadness, that similar works does not exist for Danish Kings, notable persons and events.

Like his forefathers he joined King Valdemar I’s housecarls, known as Thinglid – which origin is said to descend from King Canute the Great's corps.
As a Thinglid man he was on King Valdemar I and the later King Canute VI, many war-expeditions, of which he mentions a few personal details in Brevis Historia Regum Dacie

Because of his comment about King Valdemar I’s Queen, Sophia, it seems that he might have been close to the Kings court. Whether that was because of personal status or because of his forefathers status, is unknown.

Writing

His service with the King, does not seem to have diminished his desire to write, on the contrary it seems.

The first thing we know he has written, is a free re-write of Witherlogh (Known today as Danish: Lejrloven or Krigerloven English: Lejrlaw or Warriorlaw) also called Lex Castrensis, which is an old punishment- & compensation-law mostly specified for Soldiers in the Kings service.
This is probably written in 1181-1182 and we read in the preface of this little work that Svend Aagesen is already fettling with much bigger things, cause he mentions his desire to write a King-list of the Kings of Denmark. That he did do this work, a necessary work in writing the history of Denmark, is known, because a 13th century writer used this list, called Genealogia Regum Dacie in his own work. Today the original list exists only as fragments.

However his famous work, and for which he is known, is Brevis Historia Regum Dacie, finished 1186 or 1187 (last event described is from 1185), a historical work of Danish history, roughly 300 A.D to 1185.

Svend vs. Saxo

Whether Svend knew Saxo by more than name, is an often-discussed subject. Some comments in Brevis Historia Regum Dacie can be interpreted as such. Some researchers go as far as to say that they might have went to school in France together and they both served Kings of Denmark simultaneously, and went on those kings many war-expeditions, and as such some of their writing is first hand accounts.
That can certain ring true for Svend, but for Saxo there is very little evidence to back it up. There is no direct evidence that they knew of each other by more than name.

References

Paul Læssøe Muller, "Sven Aggesøn: Kortfattet historie om Danmarks Konger", Det Berlingske Bogtrykkeri, Copenhagen, 1944.

M.CL.Gertz, "Sven Aggesøns Historiske Skrifter", Rosenkilde & Bagger, Copenhagen, 1967 (Re-print)

M.CL.Gertz, "Scriptores Minores Historiæ Danice", G.E.C.Gad, 1917-1918

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