The hall
receives
its
name from the stag's antlers, of which the one-half crowns the eastern
gable, the other half the western.
name from the stag's antlers, of which the one-half crowns the eastern
gable, the other half the western.
Beowulf
They are also once called Hrēðmen, 445.
On account of
their renowned warlike character, they bore the names Gār-Dene, 1, 1857,
Hring-Dene (Armor-Danes), 116, 1280, Beorht-Dene, 427, 610. The great
extent of this people is indicated by their names from the four quarters of
the heavens: Ēast-Dene, 392, 617, etc. , West-Dene, 383, 1579, Sūð-Dene,
463, Norð-Dene, 784. --Their dwelling-place "in Scedelandum," 19, "on
Scedenigge," 1687, "be sǣm twēonum," 1686.
Ecg-lāf (gen. Ecglāfes, 499), Hunferð's father, 499.
Ecg-þēow (nom. Ecgþēow, 263, Ecgþēo, 373; gen. Ecgþēowes, 529, etc. ,
Ecgþīowes, 2000), a far-famed hero of the Gēatas, of the house of the
Wǣgmundings. Bēowulf is the son of Ecgþēow, by the only daughter of Hrēðel,
king of the Gēatas, 262, etc. Among the Wylfings, he has slain Heaðolāf
(460), and in consequence he goes over the sea to the Danes (463), whose
king, Hrōðgār, by means of gold, finishes the strife for him, 470.
Ecg-wela (gen. Ecg-welan, 1711). The Scyldings are called his descendants,
1711. Grein considers him the founder of the older dynasty of Danish kings,
which closes with Heremōd. See Heremōd.
Elan, daughter of Healfdene, king of the Danes, (? ) 62. According to the
restored text, she is the wife of Ongenþēow, the Scylfing, 62, 63.
Earna-næs, the Eagle Cape in the land of the Gēatas, where occurred
Bēowulf's fight with the drake, 3032.
Ēadgils (dat. Ēadgilse, 2393), son of Ōhthere, and grandson of Ongenþēow,
the Scylfing, 2393. His older brother is
Ēanmund (gen. Ēanmundes, 2612). What is said about both in our poem
(2201-2207, 2380-2397, 2612-2620) is obscure, but the following may be
conjectured:--
The sons of Ōhthere, Ēanmund and Ēadgils, have rebelled against their
father (2382), and must, in consequence, depart with their followers from
Swīorīce, 2205-6, 2380. They come into the country of the Gēatas to
Heardrēd (2380), but whether with friendly or hostile intent is not stated;
but, according to 2203 f. , we are to presume that they came against
Heardrēd with designs of conquest. At a banquet (on feorme; or feorme, MS. )
Heardrēd falls, probably through treachery, by the hand of one of the
brothers, 2386, 2207. The murderer must have been Ēanmund, to whom,
according to 2613, "in battle the revenge of Wēohstān brings death. "
Wēohstān takes revenge for his murdered king, and exercises upon Ēanmund's
body the booty-right, and robs it of helm, breastplate, and sword
(2616-17), which the slain man had received as gifts from his uncle, Onela,
2617-18. But Wēohstān does not speak willingly of this fight, although he
has slain Onela's brother's son, 2619-20. --After Heardrēd's and Ēanmund's
death, the descendant of Ongenþēow, Ēadgils, returns to his home, 2388. He
must give way before Bēowulf, who has, since Heardrēd's death, ascended the
throne of the Gēatas, 2390. But Bēowulf remembers it against him in after
days, and the old feud breaks out anew, 2392-94. Ēadgils makes an invasion
into the land of the Gēatas (2394-95), during which he falls at the hands
of Bēowulf, 2397. The latter must have then obtained the sovereignty over
the Swēonas (3005-6, where only the version, Scylfingas, can give a
satisfactory sense).
Eofor (gen. Eofores, 2487, 2965; dat. Jofore, 2994, 2998), one of the
Gēatas, son of Wonrēd and brother of Wulf (2965, 2979), kills the Swedish
king, Ongenþēow (2487 ff. , 2978-82), for which he receives from King
Hygelāc, along with other gifts, his only daughter in marriage, 2994-99.
Eormen-rīc (gen. Eormenrīces, 1202), king of the Goths (cf. about him, W.
Grimm, Deutsche Heldensage, p. 2, ff. ). Hāma has wrested the Brōsinga mene
from him, 1202.
Eomǣr, son of Offa and Þrȳðo (cf. Þrȳðo), 1961.
Eotenas (gen. pl. Eotena, 1073, 1089, 1142; dat. Eotenum, 1146), the
subjects of Finn, the North Frisians: distinguished from eoton, _giant_.
Vid eoton. Cf. Bugge, Beit. , xii. 37; Earle, Beowulf in Prose, pp. 146,
198.
Finn (gen. Finnes, 1069, etc. ; dat. Finne, 1129), son of Folcwalda (1090),
king of the North Frisians, i. e. of the Eotenas, husband of Hildeburg, a
daughter of Hōc, 1072, 1077. He is the hero of the inserted poem on the
Attack in Finnsburg, the obscure incidents of which are, perhaps, as
follows: In Finn's castle, Finnsburg, situated in Jutland (1126-28), the
Hōcing, Hnæf, a relative--perhaps a brother--of Hildeburg is spending some
time as guest. Hnæf, who is a liegeman of the Danish king, Healfdene, has
sixty men with him (Finnsburg, 38). These are treacherously attacked one
night by Finn's men, 1073. For five days they hold the doors of their
lodging-place without losing one of their number (Finnsburg, 41, 42). Then,
however, Hnæf is slain (1071), and the Dane, Hengest, who was among Hnæf's
followers, assumes the command of the beleaguered band. But on the
attacking side the fight has brought terrible losses to Finn's men. Their
numbers are diminished (1081 f. ), and Hildeburg bemoans a son and a brother
among the fallen (1074 f. , cf. 1116, 1119). Therefore the Frisians offer
the Danes peace (1086) under the conditions mentioned (1087-1095), and it
is confirmed with oaths (1097), and money is given by Finn in propitiation
(1108). Now all who have survived the battle go together to Friesland, the
homo proper of Finn, and here Hengest remains during the winter, prevented
by ice and storms from returning home (Grein). But in spring the feud
breaks out anew. Gūðlāf and Oslāf avenge Hnæf's fall, probably after they
have brought help from home (1150). In the battle, the hall is filled with
the corpses of the enemy. Finn himself is killed, and the queen is captured
and carried away, along with the booty, to the land of the Danes,
1147-1160.
Finna land. Bēowulf reaches it in his swimming-race with Breca, 580.
Fitela, the son and nephew of the Wälsing, Sigemund, and his companion in
arms, 876-890. (Sigemund had begotten Fitela by his sister, Signȳ. Cf.
more at length Leo on Bēowulf, p. 38 ff. , where an extract from the legend
of the Walsungs is given. )
Folc-walda (gen. Folc-waldan, 1090), Finn's father, 1090.
Francan (gen. Francna, 1211; dat. Froncum, 2913). King Hygelāc fell on an
expedition against the allied Franks, Frisians, and Hūgas, 1211, 2917.
Frēsan, Frȳsan (gen. Frēsena, 1094, Frȳsna, 1105, Frēsna, 2916: dat.
Frȳsum, 1208, 2913). To be distinguished, are: 1) North Frisians, whose
king is Finn, 1069 ff. ; 2) West Frisians, in alliance with the Franks and
Hūgas, in the war against whom Hygelāc falls, 1208, 2916. The country of
the former is called Frȳsland, 1127; that of the latter, Frēsna land,
2916.
Fr. . es wæl (in Fr. . es wæle, 1071), mutilated proper name.
Frēawaru, daughter of the Danish king, Hrōðgār; given in marriage to
Ingeld, the son of the Heaðobeard king, Frōda, in order to end a war
between the Danes and the Heaðobeardnas, 2023 ff. , 2065.
Frōda (gen. Frōdan), father of Ingeld, the husband of Frēaware, 2026.
Gārmund (gen. Gārmundes, 1963) father of Offa. His grandson is Ēomǣr,
1961-63.
Gēatas (gen. Gēata, 205, etc. ; dat. Gēatum, 195, etc. ), a tribe in Southern
Scandinavia, to which the hero of this poem belongs; also called
Wedergēatas, 1493, 2552; or, Wederas, 225, 423, etc. ; Gūðgēatas, 1539;
Sǣgēatas, 1851, 1987. Their kings named in this poem are: Hrēðel; Hæðcyn,
second son of Hrēðel; Hygelāc, the brother of Hæðcyn; Heardrēd, son of
Hygelāc; then Bēowulf.
Gifðas (dat. Gifðum, 2495), Gepidǣ, mentioned in connection with Danes and
Swedes, 2495.
Grendel, a fen-spirit (102-3) of Cain's race, 107, 111, 1262, 1267. He
breaks every night into Hrōðgār's hall and carries off thirty warriors, 115
ff. , 1583ff. He continues this for twelve years, till Bēowulf fights with
him (147, 711 ff. ), and gives him a mortal wound, in that he tears out one
of his arms (817), which is hung up as a trophy in the roof of Heorot, 837.
Grendel's mother wishes to avenge her son, and the following night breaks
into the hall and carries off Æschere, 1295. Bēowulf seeks for and finds
her home in the fen-lake (1493 ff. ), fights with her (1498 ff. ), and kills
her (1567); and cuts off the head of Grendel, who lay there dead (1589),
and brings it to Hrōðgār, 1648.
Gūð-lāf and Oslāf, Danish warriors under Hnæf, whose death they avenge on
Finn, 1149.
Hālga, with the surname, _til_, the younger brother of the Danish king,
Hrōðgār, 61. His son is Hrōðulf, 1018, 1165, 1182.
Hāma wrests the _Brōsinga mene_ from Eormenrīc, 1199.
Hæreð (gen. Hæreðes, 1982), father of Hygd, the wife of Hygelāc, 1930,
1982.
Hæðcyn (dat. Hæðcynne, 2483), second son of Hrēðel, king of the Gēatas,
2435. Kills his oldest brother, Herebeald, accidentally, with an arrow,
2438 ff. After Hrēðel's death, he obtains the kingdom, 2475, 2483. He falls
at Ravenswood, in the battle against the Swedish king, Ongenþēow, 2925. His
successor is his younger brother, Hygelāc, 2944 ff. , 2992.
Helmingas (gen. Helminga, 621). From them comes Wealhþēow, Hrōðgār's wife,
621.
Heming (gen. Heminges, 1945, 1962). Offa is called Heminges mǣg, 1945;
Ēomǣr, 1962. According to Bachlechner (Pfeiffer's Germania, I. , p. 458),
Heming is the son of the sister of Gārmund, Offa's father.
Hengest (gen. Hengestes, 1092; dat. Hengeste, 1084): about him and his
relations to Hnæf and Finn, see Finn.
Here-beald (dat. Herebealde, 2464), the oldest son of Hrēðel, king of the
Gēatas (2435), accidentally killed with an arrow by his younger brother,
Hæðcyn, 2440.
Here-mōd (gen. Heremōdes, 902), king of the Danes, not belonging to the
Scylding dynasty, but, according to Grein, immediately preceding it; is, on
account of his unprecedented cruelty, driven out, 902 ff. , 1710.
Here-rīc (gen. Hererīces, 2207) Heardrēd is called Hererīces nefa, 2207.
Nothing further is known of him.
Het-ware or Franks, in alliance with the Frisians and the Hūgas, conquer
Hygelāc, king of the Gēatas, 2355, 2364 ff. , 2917.
Healf-dene (gen. Healfdenes, 189, etc. ), son of Bēowulf, the Scylding (57);
rules the Danes long and gloriously (57 f. ); has three sons, Heorogār,
Hrōðgār, and Hālga (61), and a daughter, Elan, who, according to the
renewed text of the passage, was married to the Scylfing, Ongenþēow, 62,
63.
Heard-rēd (dat. Heardrēde, 2203, 2376), son of Hygelāc, king of the Gēatas,
and Hygd. After his father's death, while still under age, he obtains the
throne (2371, 2376, 2379); wherefore Bēowulf, as nephew of Heardrēd's
father, acts as guardian to the youth till he becomes older, 2378. He is
slain by Ōhthere's sons, 2386. This murder Bēowulf avenges on Ēadgils,
2396-97.
Heaðo-beardnas (gen. -beardna, 2033, 2038, 2068), the tribe of the
Lombards. Their king, Frōda, has fallen in a war with the Danes, 2029,
2051. In order to end the feud, King Hrōðgār has given his daughter,
Frēawaru, as wife to the young Ingeld, the son of Frōda, a marriage that
does not result happily; for Ingeld, though he long defers it on account of
his love for his wife, nevertheless takes revenge for his father, 2021-2070
(Wīdsīð, 45-49).
Heaðo-lāf (dat. Heaðo-lāfe, 460), a Wylfingish warrior. Ecgþēow, Bēowulf's
father, kills him, 460.
Heaðo-rǣmas reached by B. in the swimming-race with Bēowulf, 519.
Heoro-gār (nom. 61; Heregār, 467; Hiorogār, 2159), son of Healfdene, and
older brother of Hrōðgār, 61. His death is mentioned, 467. He has a son,
Heoroweard, 2162. His coat of mail Bēowulf has received from Hrōðgār
(2156), and presents it to Hygelāc, 2158.
Heoro-weard (dat. Heorowearde, 2162), Heorogār's son, 2161-62.
Heort, 78. Heorot, 166 (gen. Heorotes, 403; dat. Heorote, 475, Heorute,
767, Hiorte, 2100). Hrōðgār's throne-room and banqueting hall and
assembly-room for his liegemen, built by him with unusual splendor, 69, 78.
In it occurs Bēowulf's fight with Grendel, 720 ff.
The hall receives its
name from the stag's antlers, of which the one-half crowns the eastern
gable, the other half the western.
Hildeburh, daughter of Hōc, relative of the Danish leader, Hnæf, consort of
the Frisian king, Finn. After the fall of the latter, she becomes a captive
of the Danes, 1072, 1077, 1159. See also under Finn.
Hnæf (gen. Hnæfes, 1115), a Hōcing (Wīdsīð, 29), the Danish King
Healfdene's general, 1070 ff. For his fight with Finn, his death and
burial, see under Finn.
Hond-scīo, warrior of the Gēatas: dat. 2077.
Hōc (gen. Hōces, 1077), father of Hildeburh, 1077; probably also of Hnæf
(Wīdsīð, 29).
Hrēðel (gen. Hrēðles, 1486), son of Swerting, 1204. King of the Gēatas,
374. He has, besides, a daughter, who is married to Ecgþēow, and has borne
him Bēowulf, (374), three sons, Herebeald, Hæðcyn, and Hygelāc, 2435. The
eldest of these is accidentally killed by the second, 2440. On account of
this inexpiable deed, Hrēðel becomes melancholy (2443), and dies, 2475.
Hrēðla (gen. Hrēðlan, MS. Hrǣdlan, 454), the same as Hrēðel (cf. Müllenhoff
in Haupts Zeitschrift, 12, 260), the former owner of Bēowulf's coat of
mail, 454.
Hrēðling, son of Hrēðel, Hygelāc: nom. sg. 1924; nom. pl. , the subjects of
Hygelāc, the Geats, 2961.
Hrēð-men (gen. Hrēð-manna, 445), the Danes are so called, 445.
Hrēð-rīc, son of Hrōðgār, 1190, 1837.
Hrefna-wudu, 2926, or Hrefnes-holt, 2936, the thicket near which the
Swedish king, Ongenþēow, slew Hæðcyn, king of the Gēatas, in battle.
Hrēosna-beorh, promontory in the land of the Gēatas, near which Ongenþēow's
sons, Ōhthere and Onela, had made repeated robbing incursions into the
country after Hrēðel's death. These were the immediate cause of the war in
which Hrēðel's son, King Hæcyn, fell, 2478 ff.
Hrōð-gār (gen. Hrōðgāres, 235, etc. ; dat. Hrōðgāre, 64, etc. ), of the
dynasty of the Scyldings; the second of the three sons of King Healfdene,
61. After the death of his elder brother, Heorogār, he assumes the
government of the Danes, 465, 467 (yet it is not certain whether Heorogār
was king of the Danes before Hrōðgār, or whether his death occurred while
his father, Healfdene, was still alive). His consort is Wealhþēow (613), of
the stock of the Helmings (621), who has borne him two sons, Hrēðrīc and
Hrōðmund (1190), and a daughter, Frēaware (2023), who has been given in
marriage to the king of the Heaðobeardnas, Ingeld. His throne-room (78
ff. ), which has been built at great cost (74 ff. ), is visited every night
by Grendel (102, 115), who, along with his mother, is slain by Bēowulf (711
ff. , 1493 ff). Hrōðgār's rich gifts to Bēowulf, in consequence, 1021, 1818;
he is praised as being generous, 71 ff. , 80, 1028 ff. , 1868 ff. ; as being
brave, 1041 ff. , 1771 ff. ; and wise, 1699, 1725. --Other information about
Hrōðgār's reign for the most part only suggested: his expiation of the
murder which Ecgþēow, Bēowulf's father, committed upon Heaðolāf, 460, 470;
his war with the Heaðobeardnas; his adjustment of it by giving his
daughter, Frēaware, in marriage to their king, Ingeld; evil results of this
marriage, 2021-2070. --Treachery of his brother's son, Hrōðulf, intimated,
1165-1166.
Hrōð-mund, Hrōðgār's son, 1190.
Hrōð-ulf, probably a son of Hālga, the younger brother of King Hrōðgār,
1018, 1182. Wealhþēow expresses the hope (1182) that, in case of the early
death of Hrōðgār, Hrōð-ulf would prove a good guardian to Hrōðgār's young
son, who would succeed to the government; a hope which seems not to have
been accomplished, since it appears from 1165, 1166 that Hrōð-ulf has
abused his trust towards Hrōðgār.
Hrones-næs (dat. -næsse, 2806, 3137), a promontory on the coast of the
country of the Gēatas, visible from afar. Here is Bēowulf's grave-mound,
2806, 3137.
Hrunting (dat. Hruntinge, 1660), Hunferð's sword, is so called, 1458, 1660.
Hūgas (gen. Hūga, 2503), Hygelāc wars against them allied with the Franks
and Frisians, and falls, 2195 ff. One of their heroes is called Dæghrefn,
whom Bēowulf slays, 2503.
[H]ūn-ferð, the son of Ecglāf, þyle of King Hrōðgār. As such, he has his
place near the throne of the king, 499, 500, 1167. He lends his sword,
Hrunting, to Bēowulf for his battle with Grendel's mother, 1456 f.
According to 588, 1168, he slew his brothers. Since his name is always
alliterated with vowels, it is probable that the original form was, as
Rieger (Zachers Ztschr. , 3, 414) conjectures, Unferð.
Hūn-lāfing, name of a costly sword, which Finn presents to Hengest, 1144.
See Note.
Hygd (dat. Hygde, 2173), daughter of Hæreð, 1930; consort of Hygelāc, king
of the Gēatas, 1927; her son, Heardrēd, 2203, etc. --Her noble, womanly
character is emphasized, 1927 ff.
Hyge-lāc (gen. Hige-lāces, 194, etc. , Hygelāces, 2387; dat. Higelāce, 452,
Hygelāce, 2170), king of the Gēatas, 1203, etc. His grandfather is
Swerting, 1204; his father, Hrēðel, 1486, 1848; his older brothers,
Herebeald and Hæðcyn, 2435; his sister's son, Bēowulf, 374, 375. After his
brother, Hæðcyn, is killed by Ongenþēow, he undertakes the government (2992
in connection with the preceding from 2937 on). To Eofor he gives, as
reward for slaying Ongenþēow, his only daughter in marriage, 2998. But much
later, at the time of the return of Bēowulf from his expedition to Hrōðgār,
we see him married to the very young Hygd, the daughter of Hæreð, 1930. The
latter seems, then, to have been his second wife. Their son is Heardrēd,
2203, 2376, 2387. --Hygelāc falls during an expedition against the Franks,
Frisians, and Hūgas, 1206, 1211, 2356-59, 2916-17.
Ingeld (dat. Ingelde, 2065), son of Frōda, the Heaðobeard chief, who fell
in a battle with the Danes, 2051 ff. in order to end the war, Ingeld is
married to Frēawaru, daughter of the Danish king, Hrōðgār, 2025-30. Yet his
love for his young wife can make him forget only for a short while his
desire to avenge his father. He finally carries it out, excited thereto by
the repeated admonitions of an old warrior, 2042-70 (Wīdsīð, 45-59).
Ing-wine (gen. Ingwina, 1045, 1320), friends of Ing, the first king of the
East Danes. The Danes are so called, 1045, 1320.
Mere-wīoingas (gen. Mere-wīoinga, 2922), as name of the Franks, 2922.
Nægling, the name of Bēowulf's sword, 2681.
Offa (gen. Offan, 1950), king of the Angles (Wīdsīð, 35), the son of
Gārmund, 1963; married (1950) to Þrȳðo (1932), a beautiful but cruel
woman, of unfeminine spirit (1932 ff. ), by whom he has a son, Ēomǣr, 1961.
Ōht-here (gen. Ōhtheres, 2929, 2933; Ōhteres, 2381, 2393, 2395, 2613), son
of Ongenþēow, king of the Swedes, 2929. His sons are Ēanmund (2612) and
Ēadgils, 2393.
Onela (gen. Onelan, 2933), Ōhthere's brother, 2617, 2933.
Ongen-þēow (nom. -þēow, 2487, -þīo, 2952; gen. -þēowes, 2476, -þīowes,
2388; dat. -þīo, 2987), of the dynasty of the Scylfings; king of the
Swedes, 2384. His wife is, perhaps, Elan, daughter of the Danish king,
Healfdene (62), and mother of two sons, Onela and Ōhthere, 2933. She is
taken prisoner by Hæðcyn, king of the Gēatas, on an expedition into Sweden,
which he undertakes on account of her sons' plundering raids into his
country, 2480 ff. She is set free by Ongenþēow (2931), who kills Hæðcyn,
2925, and encloses the Gēatas, now deprived of their leader, in the
Ravenswood (2937 ff. ), till they are freed by Hygelāc, 2944. A battle then
follows, which is unfavorable to Ongenþēow's army. Ongenþēow himself,
attacked by the brothers, Wulf and Eofor, is slain by the latter, 2487 ff. ,
2962 ff.
Ōs-lāf, a warrior of Hnæf's, who avenges on Finn his leader's death, 1149
f.
Scede-land, 19. Sceden-īg (dat. Sceden-īgge, 1687), O. N. , Scān-ey, the most
southern portion of the Scandinavian peninsula, belonging to the Danish
kingdom, and, in the above-mentioned passages of our poem, a designation of
the whole Danish kingdom.
Scēf or Scēaf. See Note.
Scēfing, the son (? ) of Scēf, or Scēaf, reputed father of Scyld, 4. See
Note.
Scyld (gen. Scyldes, 19), a Scēfing. 4. His son is Bēowulf, 18, 53: his
grandson, Healfdene, 57; his great-grandson, Hrōðgār, who had two brothers
and a sister, 59 ff. --Scyld dies, 26; his body, upon a decorated ship, is
given over to the sea (32 ff. ), just as he, when a child, drifted alone,
upon a ship, to the land of the Danes, 43 ff. After him his descendants
bear his name.
Scyldingas (Scyldungas, 2053; gen. Scyldinga, 53, etc. , Scyldunga, 2102,
2160; dat. Scyldingum, 274, etc. ), a name which is extended also to the
Danes, who are ruled by the Scyldings, 53, etc. They are also called
Ār-Scyldingas, 464; Sige-Scyldingas, 598, 2005; Þēod-Scyldingas, 1020;
Here-Scyldingas, 1109.
Scylfingas, a Swedish royal family, whose relationship seems to extend to
the Gēatas, since Wīglāf, the son of Wīhstān, who in another place, as a
kinsman of Bēowulf, is called a Wǣgmunding (2815), is also called lēod
Scylfinga, 2604. The family connections are perhaps as follows:--
Scylf.
|
------------------------
Wǣgmund. . . . . . . .
| |
------------------ ----------
Ecgþēow. Wēohstān. Ongenþēow.
| | |
-------- -------- ---------------
Bēowulf. Wīglāf. Onela. Ōhthere.
|
-----------------
Ēaumund. Ēadgils.
The Scylfings are also called Heaðo-Scilfingas, 63, Gūð-Scylfingas, 2928.
Sige-mund (dat. -munde, 876, 885), the son of Wæls, 878, 898. His (son and
) nephew is Fitela, 880, 882. His fight with the drake, 887 ff.
Swerting (gen. Swertinges, 1204), Hygelāc's grandfather, and Hrēðel's
father, 1204.
Swēon (gen. Swēona, 2473, 2947, 3002), also Swēo-þēod, 2923. The dynasty of
the Scylfings rules over them, 2382, 2925. Their realm is called Swīorice,
2384, 2496.
Þrȳðo, consort of the Angle king, Offa, 1932, 1950. Mother of Ēomǣr, 1961,
notorious on account of her cruel, unfeminine character, 1932 ff. She is
mentioned as the opposite to the mild, dignified Hygd, the queen of the
Gēatas.
Wæls (gen. Wælses, 898), father of Sigemund, 878, 898.
Wǣg-mundingas (gen. Wǣgmundinga, 2608, 2815). The Wǣgmundings are on one
side, Wīhstān and his son Wīglāf; on the other side, Ecgþēow and his son
Bēowulf (2608, 2815). See under Scylfingas.
Wederas (gen. Wedera, 225, 423, 498, etc. ), or Weder-gēatas. See Gēatas.
Wēland (gen. Wēlandes, 455), the maker of Bēowulf's coat of mail, 455.
Wendlas (gen. Wendla, 348): their chief is Wulfgār. See Wulfgār. The
Wendlas are, according to Grundtvig and Bugge, the inhabitants of Vendill,
the most northern part of Jutland, between Limfjord and the sea.
Wealh-þēow (613, Wealh-þēo, 665, 1163), the consort of King Hrōðgār, of the
stock of the Helmings, 621. Her sons are Hrēðrīc and Hrōðmund, 1190; her
daughter, Frēawaru, 2023.
Wēoh-stān (gen. Wēox-stānes, 2603, Wēoh-stānes, 2863, Wih-stānes, 2753,
2908, etc. ), a Wǣgmunding (2608), father of Wīglāf, 2603. In what
relationship to him Ælfhere, mentioned 2605, stands, is not
clear. --Wēohstān is the slayer of Ēanmund (2612), in that, as it seems, he
takes revenge for his murdered king, Heardrēd. See Ēanmund.
Wīg-lāf, Wēohstān's son, 2603, etc. , a Wǣgmunding, 2815, and so also a
Scylfing, 2604; a kinsman of Ælfhere, 2605. For his relationship to
Bēowulf, see the genealogical table under Scylfingas. --He supports Bēowulf
in his fight with the drake, 2605 ff. , 2662 ff. The hero gives him, before
his death, his ring, his helm, and his coat of mail, 2810 ff.
their renowned warlike character, they bore the names Gār-Dene, 1, 1857,
Hring-Dene (Armor-Danes), 116, 1280, Beorht-Dene, 427, 610. The great
extent of this people is indicated by their names from the four quarters of
the heavens: Ēast-Dene, 392, 617, etc. , West-Dene, 383, 1579, Sūð-Dene,
463, Norð-Dene, 784. --Their dwelling-place "in Scedelandum," 19, "on
Scedenigge," 1687, "be sǣm twēonum," 1686.
Ecg-lāf (gen. Ecglāfes, 499), Hunferð's father, 499.
Ecg-þēow (nom. Ecgþēow, 263, Ecgþēo, 373; gen. Ecgþēowes, 529, etc. ,
Ecgþīowes, 2000), a far-famed hero of the Gēatas, of the house of the
Wǣgmundings. Bēowulf is the son of Ecgþēow, by the only daughter of Hrēðel,
king of the Gēatas, 262, etc. Among the Wylfings, he has slain Heaðolāf
(460), and in consequence he goes over the sea to the Danes (463), whose
king, Hrōðgār, by means of gold, finishes the strife for him, 470.
Ecg-wela (gen. Ecg-welan, 1711). The Scyldings are called his descendants,
1711. Grein considers him the founder of the older dynasty of Danish kings,
which closes with Heremōd. See Heremōd.
Elan, daughter of Healfdene, king of the Danes, (? ) 62. According to the
restored text, she is the wife of Ongenþēow, the Scylfing, 62, 63.
Earna-næs, the Eagle Cape in the land of the Gēatas, where occurred
Bēowulf's fight with the drake, 3032.
Ēadgils (dat. Ēadgilse, 2393), son of Ōhthere, and grandson of Ongenþēow,
the Scylfing, 2393. His older brother is
Ēanmund (gen. Ēanmundes, 2612). What is said about both in our poem
(2201-2207, 2380-2397, 2612-2620) is obscure, but the following may be
conjectured:--
The sons of Ōhthere, Ēanmund and Ēadgils, have rebelled against their
father (2382), and must, in consequence, depart with their followers from
Swīorīce, 2205-6, 2380. They come into the country of the Gēatas to
Heardrēd (2380), but whether with friendly or hostile intent is not stated;
but, according to 2203 f. , we are to presume that they came against
Heardrēd with designs of conquest. At a banquet (on feorme; or feorme, MS. )
Heardrēd falls, probably through treachery, by the hand of one of the
brothers, 2386, 2207. The murderer must have been Ēanmund, to whom,
according to 2613, "in battle the revenge of Wēohstān brings death. "
Wēohstān takes revenge for his murdered king, and exercises upon Ēanmund's
body the booty-right, and robs it of helm, breastplate, and sword
(2616-17), which the slain man had received as gifts from his uncle, Onela,
2617-18. But Wēohstān does not speak willingly of this fight, although he
has slain Onela's brother's son, 2619-20. --After Heardrēd's and Ēanmund's
death, the descendant of Ongenþēow, Ēadgils, returns to his home, 2388. He
must give way before Bēowulf, who has, since Heardrēd's death, ascended the
throne of the Gēatas, 2390. But Bēowulf remembers it against him in after
days, and the old feud breaks out anew, 2392-94. Ēadgils makes an invasion
into the land of the Gēatas (2394-95), during which he falls at the hands
of Bēowulf, 2397. The latter must have then obtained the sovereignty over
the Swēonas (3005-6, where only the version, Scylfingas, can give a
satisfactory sense).
Eofor (gen. Eofores, 2487, 2965; dat. Jofore, 2994, 2998), one of the
Gēatas, son of Wonrēd and brother of Wulf (2965, 2979), kills the Swedish
king, Ongenþēow (2487 ff. , 2978-82), for which he receives from King
Hygelāc, along with other gifts, his only daughter in marriage, 2994-99.
Eormen-rīc (gen. Eormenrīces, 1202), king of the Goths (cf. about him, W.
Grimm, Deutsche Heldensage, p. 2, ff. ). Hāma has wrested the Brōsinga mene
from him, 1202.
Eomǣr, son of Offa and Þrȳðo (cf. Þrȳðo), 1961.
Eotenas (gen. pl. Eotena, 1073, 1089, 1142; dat. Eotenum, 1146), the
subjects of Finn, the North Frisians: distinguished from eoton, _giant_.
Vid eoton. Cf. Bugge, Beit. , xii. 37; Earle, Beowulf in Prose, pp. 146,
198.
Finn (gen. Finnes, 1069, etc. ; dat. Finne, 1129), son of Folcwalda (1090),
king of the North Frisians, i. e. of the Eotenas, husband of Hildeburg, a
daughter of Hōc, 1072, 1077. He is the hero of the inserted poem on the
Attack in Finnsburg, the obscure incidents of which are, perhaps, as
follows: In Finn's castle, Finnsburg, situated in Jutland (1126-28), the
Hōcing, Hnæf, a relative--perhaps a brother--of Hildeburg is spending some
time as guest. Hnæf, who is a liegeman of the Danish king, Healfdene, has
sixty men with him (Finnsburg, 38). These are treacherously attacked one
night by Finn's men, 1073. For five days they hold the doors of their
lodging-place without losing one of their number (Finnsburg, 41, 42). Then,
however, Hnæf is slain (1071), and the Dane, Hengest, who was among Hnæf's
followers, assumes the command of the beleaguered band. But on the
attacking side the fight has brought terrible losses to Finn's men. Their
numbers are diminished (1081 f. ), and Hildeburg bemoans a son and a brother
among the fallen (1074 f. , cf. 1116, 1119). Therefore the Frisians offer
the Danes peace (1086) under the conditions mentioned (1087-1095), and it
is confirmed with oaths (1097), and money is given by Finn in propitiation
(1108). Now all who have survived the battle go together to Friesland, the
homo proper of Finn, and here Hengest remains during the winter, prevented
by ice and storms from returning home (Grein). But in spring the feud
breaks out anew. Gūðlāf and Oslāf avenge Hnæf's fall, probably after they
have brought help from home (1150). In the battle, the hall is filled with
the corpses of the enemy. Finn himself is killed, and the queen is captured
and carried away, along with the booty, to the land of the Danes,
1147-1160.
Finna land. Bēowulf reaches it in his swimming-race with Breca, 580.
Fitela, the son and nephew of the Wälsing, Sigemund, and his companion in
arms, 876-890. (Sigemund had begotten Fitela by his sister, Signȳ. Cf.
more at length Leo on Bēowulf, p. 38 ff. , where an extract from the legend
of the Walsungs is given. )
Folc-walda (gen. Folc-waldan, 1090), Finn's father, 1090.
Francan (gen. Francna, 1211; dat. Froncum, 2913). King Hygelāc fell on an
expedition against the allied Franks, Frisians, and Hūgas, 1211, 2917.
Frēsan, Frȳsan (gen. Frēsena, 1094, Frȳsna, 1105, Frēsna, 2916: dat.
Frȳsum, 1208, 2913). To be distinguished, are: 1) North Frisians, whose
king is Finn, 1069 ff. ; 2) West Frisians, in alliance with the Franks and
Hūgas, in the war against whom Hygelāc falls, 1208, 2916. The country of
the former is called Frȳsland, 1127; that of the latter, Frēsna land,
2916.
Fr. . es wæl (in Fr. . es wæle, 1071), mutilated proper name.
Frēawaru, daughter of the Danish king, Hrōðgār; given in marriage to
Ingeld, the son of the Heaðobeard king, Frōda, in order to end a war
between the Danes and the Heaðobeardnas, 2023 ff. , 2065.
Frōda (gen. Frōdan), father of Ingeld, the husband of Frēaware, 2026.
Gārmund (gen. Gārmundes, 1963) father of Offa. His grandson is Ēomǣr,
1961-63.
Gēatas (gen. Gēata, 205, etc. ; dat. Gēatum, 195, etc. ), a tribe in Southern
Scandinavia, to which the hero of this poem belongs; also called
Wedergēatas, 1493, 2552; or, Wederas, 225, 423, etc. ; Gūðgēatas, 1539;
Sǣgēatas, 1851, 1987. Their kings named in this poem are: Hrēðel; Hæðcyn,
second son of Hrēðel; Hygelāc, the brother of Hæðcyn; Heardrēd, son of
Hygelāc; then Bēowulf.
Gifðas (dat. Gifðum, 2495), Gepidǣ, mentioned in connection with Danes and
Swedes, 2495.
Grendel, a fen-spirit (102-3) of Cain's race, 107, 111, 1262, 1267. He
breaks every night into Hrōðgār's hall and carries off thirty warriors, 115
ff. , 1583ff. He continues this for twelve years, till Bēowulf fights with
him (147, 711 ff. ), and gives him a mortal wound, in that he tears out one
of his arms (817), which is hung up as a trophy in the roof of Heorot, 837.
Grendel's mother wishes to avenge her son, and the following night breaks
into the hall and carries off Æschere, 1295. Bēowulf seeks for and finds
her home in the fen-lake (1493 ff. ), fights with her (1498 ff. ), and kills
her (1567); and cuts off the head of Grendel, who lay there dead (1589),
and brings it to Hrōðgār, 1648.
Gūð-lāf and Oslāf, Danish warriors under Hnæf, whose death they avenge on
Finn, 1149.
Hālga, with the surname, _til_, the younger brother of the Danish king,
Hrōðgār, 61. His son is Hrōðulf, 1018, 1165, 1182.
Hāma wrests the _Brōsinga mene_ from Eormenrīc, 1199.
Hæreð (gen. Hæreðes, 1982), father of Hygd, the wife of Hygelāc, 1930,
1982.
Hæðcyn (dat. Hæðcynne, 2483), second son of Hrēðel, king of the Gēatas,
2435. Kills his oldest brother, Herebeald, accidentally, with an arrow,
2438 ff. After Hrēðel's death, he obtains the kingdom, 2475, 2483. He falls
at Ravenswood, in the battle against the Swedish king, Ongenþēow, 2925. His
successor is his younger brother, Hygelāc, 2944 ff. , 2992.
Helmingas (gen. Helminga, 621). From them comes Wealhþēow, Hrōðgār's wife,
621.
Heming (gen. Heminges, 1945, 1962). Offa is called Heminges mǣg, 1945;
Ēomǣr, 1962. According to Bachlechner (Pfeiffer's Germania, I. , p. 458),
Heming is the son of the sister of Gārmund, Offa's father.
Hengest (gen. Hengestes, 1092; dat. Hengeste, 1084): about him and his
relations to Hnæf and Finn, see Finn.
Here-beald (dat. Herebealde, 2464), the oldest son of Hrēðel, king of the
Gēatas (2435), accidentally killed with an arrow by his younger brother,
Hæðcyn, 2440.
Here-mōd (gen. Heremōdes, 902), king of the Danes, not belonging to the
Scylding dynasty, but, according to Grein, immediately preceding it; is, on
account of his unprecedented cruelty, driven out, 902 ff. , 1710.
Here-rīc (gen. Hererīces, 2207) Heardrēd is called Hererīces nefa, 2207.
Nothing further is known of him.
Het-ware or Franks, in alliance with the Frisians and the Hūgas, conquer
Hygelāc, king of the Gēatas, 2355, 2364 ff. , 2917.
Healf-dene (gen. Healfdenes, 189, etc. ), son of Bēowulf, the Scylding (57);
rules the Danes long and gloriously (57 f. ); has three sons, Heorogār,
Hrōðgār, and Hālga (61), and a daughter, Elan, who, according to the
renewed text of the passage, was married to the Scylfing, Ongenþēow, 62,
63.
Heard-rēd (dat. Heardrēde, 2203, 2376), son of Hygelāc, king of the Gēatas,
and Hygd. After his father's death, while still under age, he obtains the
throne (2371, 2376, 2379); wherefore Bēowulf, as nephew of Heardrēd's
father, acts as guardian to the youth till he becomes older, 2378. He is
slain by Ōhthere's sons, 2386. This murder Bēowulf avenges on Ēadgils,
2396-97.
Heaðo-beardnas (gen. -beardna, 2033, 2038, 2068), the tribe of the
Lombards. Their king, Frōda, has fallen in a war with the Danes, 2029,
2051. In order to end the feud, King Hrōðgār has given his daughter,
Frēawaru, as wife to the young Ingeld, the son of Frōda, a marriage that
does not result happily; for Ingeld, though he long defers it on account of
his love for his wife, nevertheless takes revenge for his father, 2021-2070
(Wīdsīð, 45-49).
Heaðo-lāf (dat. Heaðo-lāfe, 460), a Wylfingish warrior. Ecgþēow, Bēowulf's
father, kills him, 460.
Heaðo-rǣmas reached by B. in the swimming-race with Bēowulf, 519.
Heoro-gār (nom. 61; Heregār, 467; Hiorogār, 2159), son of Healfdene, and
older brother of Hrōðgār, 61. His death is mentioned, 467. He has a son,
Heoroweard, 2162. His coat of mail Bēowulf has received from Hrōðgār
(2156), and presents it to Hygelāc, 2158.
Heoro-weard (dat. Heorowearde, 2162), Heorogār's son, 2161-62.
Heort, 78. Heorot, 166 (gen. Heorotes, 403; dat. Heorote, 475, Heorute,
767, Hiorte, 2100). Hrōðgār's throne-room and banqueting hall and
assembly-room for his liegemen, built by him with unusual splendor, 69, 78.
In it occurs Bēowulf's fight with Grendel, 720 ff.
The hall receives its
name from the stag's antlers, of which the one-half crowns the eastern
gable, the other half the western.
Hildeburh, daughter of Hōc, relative of the Danish leader, Hnæf, consort of
the Frisian king, Finn. After the fall of the latter, she becomes a captive
of the Danes, 1072, 1077, 1159. See also under Finn.
Hnæf (gen. Hnæfes, 1115), a Hōcing (Wīdsīð, 29), the Danish King
Healfdene's general, 1070 ff. For his fight with Finn, his death and
burial, see under Finn.
Hond-scīo, warrior of the Gēatas: dat. 2077.
Hōc (gen. Hōces, 1077), father of Hildeburh, 1077; probably also of Hnæf
(Wīdsīð, 29).
Hrēðel (gen. Hrēðles, 1486), son of Swerting, 1204. King of the Gēatas,
374. He has, besides, a daughter, who is married to Ecgþēow, and has borne
him Bēowulf, (374), three sons, Herebeald, Hæðcyn, and Hygelāc, 2435. The
eldest of these is accidentally killed by the second, 2440. On account of
this inexpiable deed, Hrēðel becomes melancholy (2443), and dies, 2475.
Hrēðla (gen. Hrēðlan, MS. Hrǣdlan, 454), the same as Hrēðel (cf. Müllenhoff
in Haupts Zeitschrift, 12, 260), the former owner of Bēowulf's coat of
mail, 454.
Hrēðling, son of Hrēðel, Hygelāc: nom. sg. 1924; nom. pl. , the subjects of
Hygelāc, the Geats, 2961.
Hrēð-men (gen. Hrēð-manna, 445), the Danes are so called, 445.
Hrēð-rīc, son of Hrōðgār, 1190, 1837.
Hrefna-wudu, 2926, or Hrefnes-holt, 2936, the thicket near which the
Swedish king, Ongenþēow, slew Hæðcyn, king of the Gēatas, in battle.
Hrēosna-beorh, promontory in the land of the Gēatas, near which Ongenþēow's
sons, Ōhthere and Onela, had made repeated robbing incursions into the
country after Hrēðel's death. These were the immediate cause of the war in
which Hrēðel's son, King Hæcyn, fell, 2478 ff.
Hrōð-gār (gen. Hrōðgāres, 235, etc. ; dat. Hrōðgāre, 64, etc. ), of the
dynasty of the Scyldings; the second of the three sons of King Healfdene,
61. After the death of his elder brother, Heorogār, he assumes the
government of the Danes, 465, 467 (yet it is not certain whether Heorogār
was king of the Danes before Hrōðgār, or whether his death occurred while
his father, Healfdene, was still alive). His consort is Wealhþēow (613), of
the stock of the Helmings (621), who has borne him two sons, Hrēðrīc and
Hrōðmund (1190), and a daughter, Frēaware (2023), who has been given in
marriage to the king of the Heaðobeardnas, Ingeld. His throne-room (78
ff. ), which has been built at great cost (74 ff. ), is visited every night
by Grendel (102, 115), who, along with his mother, is slain by Bēowulf (711
ff. , 1493 ff). Hrōðgār's rich gifts to Bēowulf, in consequence, 1021, 1818;
he is praised as being generous, 71 ff. , 80, 1028 ff. , 1868 ff. ; as being
brave, 1041 ff. , 1771 ff. ; and wise, 1699, 1725. --Other information about
Hrōðgār's reign for the most part only suggested: his expiation of the
murder which Ecgþēow, Bēowulf's father, committed upon Heaðolāf, 460, 470;
his war with the Heaðobeardnas; his adjustment of it by giving his
daughter, Frēaware, in marriage to their king, Ingeld; evil results of this
marriage, 2021-2070. --Treachery of his brother's son, Hrōðulf, intimated,
1165-1166.
Hrōð-mund, Hrōðgār's son, 1190.
Hrōð-ulf, probably a son of Hālga, the younger brother of King Hrōðgār,
1018, 1182. Wealhþēow expresses the hope (1182) that, in case of the early
death of Hrōðgār, Hrōð-ulf would prove a good guardian to Hrōðgār's young
son, who would succeed to the government; a hope which seems not to have
been accomplished, since it appears from 1165, 1166 that Hrōð-ulf has
abused his trust towards Hrōðgār.
Hrones-næs (dat. -næsse, 2806, 3137), a promontory on the coast of the
country of the Gēatas, visible from afar. Here is Bēowulf's grave-mound,
2806, 3137.
Hrunting (dat. Hruntinge, 1660), Hunferð's sword, is so called, 1458, 1660.
Hūgas (gen. Hūga, 2503), Hygelāc wars against them allied with the Franks
and Frisians, and falls, 2195 ff. One of their heroes is called Dæghrefn,
whom Bēowulf slays, 2503.
[H]ūn-ferð, the son of Ecglāf, þyle of King Hrōðgār. As such, he has his
place near the throne of the king, 499, 500, 1167. He lends his sword,
Hrunting, to Bēowulf for his battle with Grendel's mother, 1456 f.
According to 588, 1168, he slew his brothers. Since his name is always
alliterated with vowels, it is probable that the original form was, as
Rieger (Zachers Ztschr. , 3, 414) conjectures, Unferð.
Hūn-lāfing, name of a costly sword, which Finn presents to Hengest, 1144.
See Note.
Hygd (dat. Hygde, 2173), daughter of Hæreð, 1930; consort of Hygelāc, king
of the Gēatas, 1927; her son, Heardrēd, 2203, etc. --Her noble, womanly
character is emphasized, 1927 ff.
Hyge-lāc (gen. Hige-lāces, 194, etc. , Hygelāces, 2387; dat. Higelāce, 452,
Hygelāce, 2170), king of the Gēatas, 1203, etc. His grandfather is
Swerting, 1204; his father, Hrēðel, 1486, 1848; his older brothers,
Herebeald and Hæðcyn, 2435; his sister's son, Bēowulf, 374, 375. After his
brother, Hæðcyn, is killed by Ongenþēow, he undertakes the government (2992
in connection with the preceding from 2937 on). To Eofor he gives, as
reward for slaying Ongenþēow, his only daughter in marriage, 2998. But much
later, at the time of the return of Bēowulf from his expedition to Hrōðgār,
we see him married to the very young Hygd, the daughter of Hæreð, 1930. The
latter seems, then, to have been his second wife. Their son is Heardrēd,
2203, 2376, 2387. --Hygelāc falls during an expedition against the Franks,
Frisians, and Hūgas, 1206, 1211, 2356-59, 2916-17.
Ingeld (dat. Ingelde, 2065), son of Frōda, the Heaðobeard chief, who fell
in a battle with the Danes, 2051 ff. in order to end the war, Ingeld is
married to Frēawaru, daughter of the Danish king, Hrōðgār, 2025-30. Yet his
love for his young wife can make him forget only for a short while his
desire to avenge his father. He finally carries it out, excited thereto by
the repeated admonitions of an old warrior, 2042-70 (Wīdsīð, 45-59).
Ing-wine (gen. Ingwina, 1045, 1320), friends of Ing, the first king of the
East Danes. The Danes are so called, 1045, 1320.
Mere-wīoingas (gen. Mere-wīoinga, 2922), as name of the Franks, 2922.
Nægling, the name of Bēowulf's sword, 2681.
Offa (gen. Offan, 1950), king of the Angles (Wīdsīð, 35), the son of
Gārmund, 1963; married (1950) to Þrȳðo (1932), a beautiful but cruel
woman, of unfeminine spirit (1932 ff. ), by whom he has a son, Ēomǣr, 1961.
Ōht-here (gen. Ōhtheres, 2929, 2933; Ōhteres, 2381, 2393, 2395, 2613), son
of Ongenþēow, king of the Swedes, 2929. His sons are Ēanmund (2612) and
Ēadgils, 2393.
Onela (gen. Onelan, 2933), Ōhthere's brother, 2617, 2933.
Ongen-þēow (nom. -þēow, 2487, -þīo, 2952; gen. -þēowes, 2476, -þīowes,
2388; dat. -þīo, 2987), of the dynasty of the Scylfings; king of the
Swedes, 2384. His wife is, perhaps, Elan, daughter of the Danish king,
Healfdene (62), and mother of two sons, Onela and Ōhthere, 2933. She is
taken prisoner by Hæðcyn, king of the Gēatas, on an expedition into Sweden,
which he undertakes on account of her sons' plundering raids into his
country, 2480 ff. She is set free by Ongenþēow (2931), who kills Hæðcyn,
2925, and encloses the Gēatas, now deprived of their leader, in the
Ravenswood (2937 ff. ), till they are freed by Hygelāc, 2944. A battle then
follows, which is unfavorable to Ongenþēow's army. Ongenþēow himself,
attacked by the brothers, Wulf and Eofor, is slain by the latter, 2487 ff. ,
2962 ff.
Ōs-lāf, a warrior of Hnæf's, who avenges on Finn his leader's death, 1149
f.
Scede-land, 19. Sceden-īg (dat. Sceden-īgge, 1687), O. N. , Scān-ey, the most
southern portion of the Scandinavian peninsula, belonging to the Danish
kingdom, and, in the above-mentioned passages of our poem, a designation of
the whole Danish kingdom.
Scēf or Scēaf. See Note.
Scēfing, the son (? ) of Scēf, or Scēaf, reputed father of Scyld, 4. See
Note.
Scyld (gen. Scyldes, 19), a Scēfing. 4. His son is Bēowulf, 18, 53: his
grandson, Healfdene, 57; his great-grandson, Hrōðgār, who had two brothers
and a sister, 59 ff. --Scyld dies, 26; his body, upon a decorated ship, is
given over to the sea (32 ff. ), just as he, when a child, drifted alone,
upon a ship, to the land of the Danes, 43 ff. After him his descendants
bear his name.
Scyldingas (Scyldungas, 2053; gen. Scyldinga, 53, etc. , Scyldunga, 2102,
2160; dat. Scyldingum, 274, etc. ), a name which is extended also to the
Danes, who are ruled by the Scyldings, 53, etc. They are also called
Ār-Scyldingas, 464; Sige-Scyldingas, 598, 2005; Þēod-Scyldingas, 1020;
Here-Scyldingas, 1109.
Scylfingas, a Swedish royal family, whose relationship seems to extend to
the Gēatas, since Wīglāf, the son of Wīhstān, who in another place, as a
kinsman of Bēowulf, is called a Wǣgmunding (2815), is also called lēod
Scylfinga, 2604. The family connections are perhaps as follows:--
Scylf.
|
------------------------
Wǣgmund. . . . . . . .
| |
------------------ ----------
Ecgþēow. Wēohstān. Ongenþēow.
| | |
-------- -------- ---------------
Bēowulf. Wīglāf. Onela. Ōhthere.
|
-----------------
Ēaumund. Ēadgils.
The Scylfings are also called Heaðo-Scilfingas, 63, Gūð-Scylfingas, 2928.
Sige-mund (dat. -munde, 876, 885), the son of Wæls, 878, 898. His (son and
) nephew is Fitela, 880, 882. His fight with the drake, 887 ff.
Swerting (gen. Swertinges, 1204), Hygelāc's grandfather, and Hrēðel's
father, 1204.
Swēon (gen. Swēona, 2473, 2947, 3002), also Swēo-þēod, 2923. The dynasty of
the Scylfings rules over them, 2382, 2925. Their realm is called Swīorice,
2384, 2496.
Þrȳðo, consort of the Angle king, Offa, 1932, 1950. Mother of Ēomǣr, 1961,
notorious on account of her cruel, unfeminine character, 1932 ff. She is
mentioned as the opposite to the mild, dignified Hygd, the queen of the
Gēatas.
Wæls (gen. Wælses, 898), father of Sigemund, 878, 898.
Wǣg-mundingas (gen. Wǣgmundinga, 2608, 2815). The Wǣgmundings are on one
side, Wīhstān and his son Wīglāf; on the other side, Ecgþēow and his son
Bēowulf (2608, 2815). See under Scylfingas.
Wederas (gen. Wedera, 225, 423, 498, etc. ), or Weder-gēatas. See Gēatas.
Wēland (gen. Wēlandes, 455), the maker of Bēowulf's coat of mail, 455.
Wendlas (gen. Wendla, 348): their chief is Wulfgār. See Wulfgār. The
Wendlas are, according to Grundtvig and Bugge, the inhabitants of Vendill,
the most northern part of Jutland, between Limfjord and the sea.
Wealh-þēow (613, Wealh-þēo, 665, 1163), the consort of King Hrōðgār, of the
stock of the Helmings, 621. Her sons are Hrēðrīc and Hrōðmund, 1190; her
daughter, Frēawaru, 2023.
Wēoh-stān (gen. Wēox-stānes, 2603, Wēoh-stānes, 2863, Wih-stānes, 2753,
2908, etc. ), a Wǣgmunding (2608), father of Wīglāf, 2603. In what
relationship to him Ælfhere, mentioned 2605, stands, is not
clear. --Wēohstān is the slayer of Ēanmund (2612), in that, as it seems, he
takes revenge for his murdered king, Heardrēd. See Ēanmund.
Wīg-lāf, Wēohstān's son, 2603, etc. , a Wǣgmunding, 2815, and so also a
Scylfing, 2604; a kinsman of Ælfhere, 2605. For his relationship to
Bēowulf, see the genealogical table under Scylfingas. --He supports Bēowulf
in his fight with the drake, 2605 ff. , 2662 ff. The hero gives him, before
his death, his ring, his helm, and his coat of mail, 2810 ff.
