Beowulf (22 page)

Members of the royal families, other important names, and names appearing more than once

A
ESCHERE:
Hrothgar's beloved counselor, carried away by Grendel's mother.

B
EAW:
Son of Scyld Scefing; father of Healfdene.

B
EOWULF:
Hero of the poem; both a Waegmunding and a Geat by birth (see genealogies).

B
RECA:
Beowulf's companion in a daring youthful swimming contest described by both Unferth and Beowulf.

C
AIN:
Biblical son of Adam and slayer of his brother, Abel; begetter of monsters.

D
AEGHREFN:
A warrior of the Hugas killed by Beowulf during Hygelac's fatal expedition to the Rhine; Beowulf apparently took his sword, Naegling, and used it until his death day.

E
ADGILS:
Swedish prince, son of Ohthere; later Swedish king.

E
ANMUND:
Brother of Eadgils; slain by Wiglaf's father, Weohstan, who served Eanmund's uncle, Onela, for a time.

E
CGLAF:
Father of Unferth.

E
CGTHEOW:
Beowulf's father, a Waegmunding who married Hygelac's sister.

E
OFOR:
Geatish warrior; slayer of Ongentheow; brother of Wulf.

F
INN:
Frisian king, married to the Danish princess Hildeburh; initiated the Battle of Finnsburuh when Hildeburh's brother Hnaef came to his court for a visit; later killed by Hengest.

F
ITELA:
In
Beowulf
, nephew of Sigemund the dragon slayer.

F
RANKS:
Prominent West Germanic tribe.

F
REAWARU:
Hrothgar's daughter; betrothed to Ingeld, prince of the Heathobards.

F
RISIANS:
Prominent West Germanic tribe.

F
RODA:
King of the Heathobards; father of Ingeld.

G
RENDEL:
Anthropomorphic monster who ravaged Heorot for twelve years; killed by Beowulf and avenged by Grendel's Mother, also killed by Beowulf. Both were descendants of Cain by way of Noah's son Ham, according to early medieval tradition.

H
AERETH:
Father of Hygd.

H
AETHCYN:
Elder brother of Hygelac; accidentally killed his brother Herebeald with an arrow, causing his father, Hrethel, to die of grief.

H
ALGA:
Younger brother of Hrothgar; father of Hrothulf; dead before Beowulf's arrival at Heorot.

H
EALFDENE:
Father of Hrothgar; son of Beaw.

H
EARDRED:
Son of Hygelac; a young boy when Hygelac was killed, became king of the Geats under Beowulf's protection; was later killed for harboring Swedish fugitives Eanmund and Eadgils.

H
EATHOBARDS:
Germanic tribe to which Ingeld belonged.

H
EMMING:
Kinsman of Offa.

H
ENGEST:
Leader of the Danes after Hnaef's death at the Battle of Finnsburuh.

H
EOROGAR:
Elder brother of Hrothgar; dead before Beowulf's arrival at Heorot.

H
EOROT:
Splendid meadhall built by Hrothgar and ravaged by Grendel.

H
EOROWEARD:
Son of Hrothgar's elder brother, Heorogar.

H
EREBEALD:
Eldest son of Hrethel; older brother of Hygelac; accidentally killed by Haethcyn, his younger brother.

H
EREMOD:
Early Danish king who turned against his people and died without an heir, leaving the Danes kingless until the arrival of Scyld Scefing.

H
ETWARE:
Frankish people on the lower Rhine; engaged in battle against Hygelac.

H
NAEF:
Hildeburh's brother, slain by his brother-in-law Finn.

H
OC:
Danish king; father of Hnaef and Hildeburh.

H
ONDSCIOH:
Geatish warrior devoured by Grendel in Heorot.

H
REFNAWUDU
/H
REFNESHOLT:
(alternate names meaning “Ravenswood”); forest in Sweden, scene of a Geat-Swede battle.

H
REOSNABEORH:
Hill in Götland; scene of a Geat-Swede battle.

H
RETHEL:
Geatish king; father of Hygelac.

H
RETHRIC:
Young son of Hrothgar and Wealhtheow.

H
RONESNAES:
Headland in Götland; site of Beowulf's barrow.

H
ROTHGAR:
Danish king; builder of Heorot.

H
ROTHMUND:
Young son of Hrothgar and Wealhtheow.

H
ROTHULF:
Son of Halga.

H
RUNTING:
Unferth's sword, loaned to Beowulf for his fight with Grendel's mother.

H
UGAS:
A Frankish people.

H
YGD:
Wife of Hygelac.

H
YGELAC:
King of the Geats; uncle of Beowulf.