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'Danish Code' is the title of a Danish statute book, that previously formed the basis for the Danish legislation. The majority of the statute has now been superseded by newer laws.

Contents

History

Early history

The history of 'Danske Lov'

History

Early history

The historical book Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus, that is dated to the 13th century, describes the Danish kings' attempts at legislation. Inscriptions of laws on paper or stone tables is known already from Ancient Persia and the Roman Republic, though one of the first examples of Danish legislation was 'Vederloven' from the 1180s, that regulated the personal army of the king, also known as the Housecarls. This was superseeded by a series of regional laws where Jyske Lov is the only one that is dated. Generally the regional laws are based on Casuistry. This means that the are based on concrete cases of breaches of the law, and describe how the conflict is to be solved. However, the rules of procedure are broad.
The statute needs to be viewed in connection with the European traditions of justice, that since the 12th century has moved towards an assembly of different practices. This tradition was encouraged by the Catholic church.

The history of 'Danske Lov'

Immediately after gaining absolute power King Frederick III appointed a commission, to scrutinize the laws of the kingdom, to identify laws that were in conflict with the absolute power of the king.