Holger Danske (Mythology)
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Ogier the Dane (Danish: Holger Danske, French: Ogier de Danemarche) is a legendary Danish hero who first appears in an Old French chanson de geste, in the cycle of poems Geste de Doon de Mayence. Despite his Danish origins, his surname—“of Danemarche”—is speculated to have signified the marches of the Ardennes and not Denmark.
According to his legend, he was the son of Geoffrey (the historical Gudfred), king of Denmark. In La Chevalerie Ogier de Danemarche, he had a son who was slain by Charlot, son of Charlemagne; seeking revenge, he sought out and slew Charlot, and was only barely prevented from killing Charlemagne himself. He resisted Charlemagne for seven years, but made peace with him in order to fight at Charlemagne's side against the Saracens, in which battle he slew the giant Brehus.
There may be a dim flicker of history in the tale, in that Danish sources reveal that in around 800, while Charlemagne's empire was at its peak, a Danish king named Godfred or Godfrid made successful war against Frankish expansion into Frisia and Schleswig for many years. After a long stalemate, peace is declared between the two rulers.
Like Frederick Barbarossa, Saint Wenceslas and King Arthur, in Danish legend Ogier becomes a king in the mountain; he is said to dwell in the castle of Kronborg, his beard grown down to the floor, and to sleep there until some date when Denmark is in mortal danger, at which time he will rise up and deliver the nation. In some versions, Morgue le Faye (commonly known today as Morgan le Fay) takes him to Avalon, from where he returns after two hundred years to save France.
Poul Anderson's fantasy novel Three Hearts and Three Lions (ISBN 0-671-72186-0) (1961) draws upon these legends and also alters them. Its protagonist Holger Carlsen (a Danish resistance fighter) is transported to a fantasy alternate history where the Matter of France is historical. He eventually learns that he is Ogier the Dane, sent to our universe to remove him from the conflict between humans and Faerie in that one.
During World War II one of the groups of the Danish resistance movement operated under, and issued communiques signed by, the name "Holger Danske".
In the catacombs beneath the Kronborg castle in Helsingør, there is a statue of Holger Danske (Ogier the Dane). According to folklore the statue will come alive when Denmark is in great danger, and Holger Danske will save the country.
