Who Was the Danish Historian Sven Aggesen?

The article deals with the question of the identity of the Danish historian of the second half of the 12th century, later known as Sven Aggesen, but who called himself only Sven. Meanwhile, in other sources of the 12th century, there is no direct news about a writer with that name, as a result of which, as early as the 18th century, it was suggested that he was a canon of the church of St. Lawrence in Lund, Sven. However, this assumption, repeated in subsequent times, is based only on the similarity of personal names and the noble origin of both Svens. This article, however, provides more solid data that allow us to identify the writer Sven with another of his contemporary, namely with Bishop Sven I of Aarhus (1165–1191). This identification is based on the interest of both in historical writings, closeness to the family of the Danish kings and Bishop (Archbishop) Absalon, as well as the similarity of biographical facts regarding their participation in Danish campaigns against the Baltic Slavs.

, Denmark, 12 century, Sven Aggesen, historian, personality, Bishop Sven I of Aarhus, identification