Baptism and political alliances: the Christianization of the Danes in Saxo Grammaticus’s "Gesta Danorum", Asser’s "Life of King Alfred" and "The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle"

The present work focuses on how the Christianization of the Danes is represented in three major literary work through the event of the baptism of Harald Klak and Guthrum: these are two examples of conversion driven by political reasons. Indeed, in the ninth century, the period in which these events are set, it was not a rare occasion to forge alliances with Christian leaders through a formal baptism. The first chapter introduces the Christianization process in Scandinavia from a historical and ideological point of view, while also explaining the reasons why Viking kings and chieftains would accept to convert and to encourage Christianity among their subjects. It is concluded with the analysis of baptism as a political symbol, and by the introduction of literary examples of this that are going to be elaborated on in the following two chapters. The second chapter discusses Saxo’s Grammaticus Gesta Danorum: it gives an overview of the author and his work, and then it concentrates on books VIII, IX and X, in which the passage from pre-Christian religion to Christianity is examined, in particular the baptism of Haral Klak to secure the help of King Louis the Pious. The third chapter analyzes Asser’s Life of King Alfred and The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle by focusing on the treaty between King Alfred and Guthrum, which formally established the Danelaw in 878 and which was sanctioned by both parties through Guthrum’s baptism with Alfred as his sponsor. The dissertation is concluded with a comparison between the two events previously examined.