Danske Kongegrave I-III (Richly illustrated)

Danske Kongegrave [Danish Royal Tombs] is a tour de force, a comprehensive and lavishly illustrated three-volume work that chronicles the history of Denmark through its royal tombs, with thirty-five expert scholars offering a fascinating account of the royal dynasties, royal burial rituals, and tombs in a European perspective. The work offers a comprehensive treatment of the Danish royal tombs in the context of European history and art history. Although most of the royal tombs are found in Denmark, some of the kings and queens have been buried abroad. The reader is therefore taken on a cultural-historical journey to the graves of King Canute in Winchester, Magnus the Good's tomb in Nidaros, Erik Ejegod's grave in Cyprus, Queen Bodil's in Palestine and Queen Caroline Mathilde's grave in Germany, among others. Volume I describes the monuments for Danish monarchs from the mid-900s to ca. 1250. This was a dramatic period in Danish history, with strife and often regicide often being the order of the day, but also a time when the kingdom was consolidated and became a political player on the European stage. Volume II covers a span of about 400 years from the High Middle Ages to the Baroque. In this volume the current royal dynasty, the Oldenburg dynasty, enters the scene, and the development of sepulchral monuments from the renaissance to the Baroque period is traced. The reader is offered insight into the craftsmanship that characterizes the Renaissance tombs. Also the prominent role the burial rites and their symbolism came to play for the Crown's self-understanding is discussed. Volume III covers the period from the inauguration of absolute monarchy (1660) and, from 1848, the constitutional monarchy. Although the constitution from 1849 paved the way for democracy in Denmark, changing the role of the royal family, the royal tombs remained important, not least through popular support as reflected by fundraising and public donations that, for instance, helped ensure the funding of the sarcophagi for Christian X and Queen Alexandrine at the turn of the 20th century. Karin Kryger holds an MA in art history. She has been affiliated with the City Museum of Copenhagen and the Danish National Museum as a registrar of tombs. She has published numerous books and articles on sepulchral monuments, cemetery culture and sculpture, church art and restoration history. She is on the editorial board of the journal Sphinx.