Hygelac

Background
Hygelac (b. Mid 400s), son of Hrethel, is King of the Geats [1]. When Hygelac was young his oldest brother Herebeald was accidentally killed by his other brother Haethcyn in an archery accident. Hygelac assumes the throne when King Haethcyn is killed in battle against the Swedes before the events of Beowulf take place. The Swedish King Ongentheow is the one who kills his brother and while he is not the one who kills Ongentheow, he is still given the title “Ongentheow’s killer.”

During the early years of his rule, he names Beowulf to be one of his thanes. When Beowulf returns from his adventure, Hygelac bestows upon him gifts of land and gold, along with naming him in the line of succession for the throne.

Several years Beowulf defeats Grendel and returns home Hygelac leads his people to raid the Frisans in 516 C.E. It is during this battle that Hygelac is killed and his son Heardred assumes the throne.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Hygelac is described as honest, fair, and honorable. His strength comes from the loyalty of his thanes and other warriors. he way in which Beowulf defends his honor during his meeting with Hrothgar shows how strong the loyalty from his warriors is. Like all men he becomes weaker as he grows older and is susceptible to death from any mortal weapon.

Role in Beowulf
Hygelac is Beowulf's king and uncle. His role is mostly a background one, he provides the support for Beowulf and welcomes him back after he defeats Grendel and Grendel's mother. When Beowulf was a boy, his father Ecgtheow dies, he is then taken in by King Hygelac as a ward. Hygelac is responsible for making Beowulf one of his thanes and giving him pieces of land and great gifts.

Old English
Higelac Geata,

nefa Swertinges, nyhstan siðe,

siðþan he under segne sinc ealgode,

wælreaf werede; hyne wyrd fornam,

syþðan he for wlenco wean ahsode, fæhðe to Frysum. (1202-1207)

Ic ðæs modceare

sorhwylmum seað, siðe ne truwode

leofes mannes; ic ðe lange bæd

þæt ðu þone wælgæst wihte ne grette,

lete Suðdene sylfe geweorðan

guðe wið Grendel. Gode ic þanc secge þæs ðe ic ðe gesundne geseon moste. (1992-1998)

Het ða eorla hleo in gefetian,

heaðorof cyning, Hreðles lafe

golde gegyrede; næs mid Geatum ða

sincmaðþum selra on sweordes had;

þæt he on Biowulfes bearm alegde

ond him gesealde seofan þusendo,

bold ond bregostol. Him wæs bam samod

on ðam leodscipe lond gecynde,

eard, eðelriht, oðrum swiðor

side rice þam ðær selra wæs. (2190-2196)

Wæs sio wroht scepen

heard wið Hugas, syððan Higelac cwom

faran flotherge on Fresna land,

þær hyne Hetware hilde genægdon,

elne geeodon mid ofermægene,

þæt se byrnwiga bugan sceolde,

feoll on feðan, nalles frætwe geaf

ealdor dugoðe. Us wæs a syððan

Merewioingas milts ungyfeðe. (2914-2921)

Modern English
“Hygelac the Geat, grandson of Swerting, wore this neck-ring on his last raid; at bay under his banner, he defended the booty, treasure he had won. Fate swept him away because of his proud need to provoke a feud with the Frisians.” (Heaney 1202-1207)

“Your undertaking cast my spirits down, I dreaded the outcome of your expedition and pleaded with you long and hard to leave the killer be, let the South-Danes settle their own blood-feud with Grendel. So God be thanked I am granted this sight of you, safe and sound." (Heaney 1992-1998)

“The battle-famed king, bulwark of his earls, ordered a gold-chased heirloom of Hrethel's to be brought in; it was the best example of a gem-studded sword in the Geat treasury. This he laid on Beowulf's lap and then rewarded him with land as well, seven thousand hides, and a hall and a throne.” (Heaney 2190-2196)

“Hostility has been great among the Franks since Hygelac sailed forth at the head of a war-fleet into Friesland: there the Hetware harried and attacked and overwhelmed him with great odds. The leader in his war-gear was laid low, fell amongst followers; that lord did not favour his company with spoils. The Merovingian king has been an enemy to us ever since.” (Heaney 2914-2921)

Historical Importance
Unlike the other characters in Beowulf, historians have come to consensus that Hygelac was in fact a real king. It has been dated back that in 516 C.E. a Danish king lead a raid against the Hetware in an area the modern Lower Rhine area [2]. An account of the raid comes from Historia Francorum by Gregory of Tours written in 594 C.E. describes the battle and Hygelac's death; "When Theuderic heard that his land had been invaded by foreigners, he sent his son Theudebert to those parts with a powerful army and all the necessary equipment. The Danish King was killed, and the enemy fleet was beaten in a naval battle and all the booty was brought back on shore once more." [3]

Name Etymology
The name Hygelac stems from several languages; "Chlochilaicus" (Latin), "Hugleikr" (Old Norse), and "Hugilaikaz" (Proto-Germanic). It is also considered the Hygelac wasn't a name in the first place, it was simply a title used to describe the king. Hygelac could have been used to describe the great size of the Scandinavian compared to what the Frisians looked like.