The German Mastiff were a gentle giant dogs. Back to 36 B.C., the image of a dog similar to the Great Dane appeared on Greek money. The German Mastiff is considered as the 'Apollo of dogs'. In 407 A.D., Asiatic people (the Alans) invaded part of Italy and Spain and German Gaul. The Alans brought big mastiff dogs (especially in Germany) with them. They were considered the dogs of royalty and were very high prized and regarded.
These giant dogs were able of overcoming bears and other wild beasts. They were admired for this reason and that's when the breeding begun. These dogs were crossed with Irish Greyhounds and the result of this cross is the Great Dane that we have today.