Krøniker

Krøniker are historical narratives that recount events in roughly chronological order, often focusing on political, religious, and social developments within a region or dynasty. They emerged in medieval Europe as a way to preserve memory and legitimize rulers or institutions. Krøniker are typically compiled by clerks or court scribes in monasteries, cathedrals, or royal administrations and can be written in Latin or vernacular languages. They may run year by year like annals, but usually include continuous narration, commentary, and occasional digressions.

In the Nordic and Danish-Norwegian tradition, several well-known chronicles have shaped the understanding of early medieval history. Gesta Danorum, written in Latin by Saxo Grammaticus in the 12th century, is a foundational Danish chronicle that blends history with legendary material. Heimskringla, attributed to Snorri Sturlason and composed in the early 13th century, is a collection of sagas about Norwegian kings and is often treated as a national chronicle. Historia Norvegiae (Historia Norvegiæ) is another medieval Latin chronicle about Norway. These works illustrate common features of krøniker: a concern with royal genealogies, political events, church affairs, and regional triumphs, as well as the inclusion of myth and legend.

Reliability varies; krøniker mix fact with tradition and speak from particular political or religious perspectives. They function as sources for later historiography and as instruments for legitimizing rulers and institutions. In modern use, krøniker remains a term for historical chronicles in Danish and Norwegian contexts, reflecting a traditional method of recording the past.