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"Kong Kristian" (IPA: [kʰʌng kʰʁisdjɑn] King Christian), or "Kongesangen" (The King's Song), is the royal anthem of Denmark. Composed by Ditlev Ludvig Rogert and adopted in 1780, it is one of the oldest in the world. The lyrics first appeared in 1779, in Johannes Ewald's historical drama, The Fishermen.

"Kong Kristian" is usually performed only in the presence of a member of the royal family, and normally only the first verse is played or sung. "Der er et yndigt land" is the civic national anthem, used on all other national occasions.

Kong Kristian stod ved højen mast

i røg og damp;

hans værge hamrede så fast,

at gotens hjelm og hjerne brast.

Da sank hvert fjendtligt spejl og mast

i røg og damp.

Fly, skreg de, fly, hvad flygte kan!

hvo står for Danmarks Kristian

hvo står for Danmarks Kristian

i kamp?

Niels Juel gav agt på stormens brag.

Nu er det tid.

Han hejsede det røde flag

og slog på fjenden slag i slag.

Da skreg de højt blandt stormens brag:

Nu er det tid!

Fly, skreg de, hver, som véd et skjul!

hvo kan bestå mod Danmarks Juel

hvo kan bestå mod Danmarks Juel

i strid?

O, Nordhav! Glimt af Wessel brød

din mørke sky.

Da ty'de kæmper til dit skød;

thi med ham lynte skræk og død.

Fra vallen hørtes vrål, som brød

den tykke sky.

Fra Danmark lyner Tordenskjold;

hver give sig i himlens vold

hver give sig i himlens vold

og fly!

Du danskes vej til ros og magt,

sortladne hav!

Modtag din ven, som uforsagt

tør møde faren med foragt

så stolt som du mod stormens magt,

sortladne hav!

Og rask igennem larm og spil

og kamp og sejer før mig til

og kamp og sejer før mig til

min grav!

(by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

King Kristian stood by the lofty mast

In mist and smoke;

His sword was hammering so fast,

Through Gothic helm and brain it passed;

Then sank each hostile hulk and mast,

In mist and smoke.

"Fly!" shouted they, "fly, he who can!

Who braves of Denmark's Kristian,

Who braves of Denmark's Kristian,

In battle?"

Nils Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar,

Now is the hour!

He hoisted his blood-red flag once more,

And smote upon the foe full sore,

And shouted loud, through the tempest's roar,

"Now is the hour!"

"Fly!" shouted they, "for shelter fly!

Of Denmark's Juel who can defy,

Of Denmark's Juel who can defy,

The power?"

North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel rent

Thy murky sky!

Then champions to thine arms were sent;

Terror and Death glared where he went;

From the waves was heard a wail, that rent

Thy murky sky!

From Denmark thunders Tordenskiol',

Let each to Heaven commend his soul,

Let each to Heaven commend his soul,

And fly!

Path of the Dane to fame and might!

Dark-rolling wave!

Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight,

Goes to meet danger with despite,

Proudly as thou the tempest's might,

Dark-rolling wave!

And amid pleasures and alarms,

And war and victory, be thine arms,

And war and victory, be thine arms,

My grave!

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