Dan II of Denmark

Dan II is one of the legendary Danish kings, the son of Offa of Angel, described in Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum.

Text

Gesta Danorum, 4.6[1]

The Danish History, Book Four[2]

Uffoni Dan filius succedit. Qui cum, transfusis in exteros proeliis, trophaeorum frequentia rerum dominium propagasset, partum gloriae fulgorem taetro superbiae squalore fuscavit, ita a clarissimi parentis honestate degenerans, ut, cum ille ceteris moderatione praestiterit, hic ceteros fastuosa tumidus elatione contempserit. Sed et paterna bona, vel quae ipse exterarum gentium manubiis pepererat, flagitiis disiciebat, opes, quae regio splendori servire debuerant, voracibus sumptuum impensis tribuens. Sic interdum a maioribus suis similia portentis pignora desciscunt.

Uffe was succeeded by his son DAN, who carried his arms against foreigners, and increased his sovereignty with many a trophy; but he tarnished the brightness of the glory he had won by foul and abominable presumption; falling so far away from the honour of his famous father, who surpassed all others in modesty, that he contrariwise was puffed up and proudly exalted in spirit, so that he scorned all other men. He also squandered the goods of his father on infamies, as well as his own winnings from the spoils of foreign nations; and he devoured in expenditure on luxuries the wealth which should have ministered to his royal estate. Thus do sons sometimes, like monstrous births, degenerate from their ancestors.

See also

• Dan (king)

Notes

1. Olrik's edition
2. Elton's translation

References

• Davidson, Hilda Ellis (ed.) and Peter Fisher (tr.) (1999). Saxo Grammaticus : The History of the Danes : Books I-IX. Bury St Edmunds: St Edmundsbury Press. ISBN 0-85991-502-6. First published 1979-1980.
• Elton, Oliver (tr.) (1905). The Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus. New York: Norroena Society. Available online
• Olrik, J. and H. Ræder (1931). Saxo Grammaticus : Gesta Danorum. Available online