Onela

Background
Onela was the youngest son of Ongentheow, brother of Ohthere, and Uncle of Eanmund and Eadgils. He was married to the daughter of Halfdane and sister of Hrothgar. He became the king of Sweden following the passing of his brother.

Onela can be seen is some Norse and Scandinavian mythology as a Norwegian king by the name Áli (Old Norse for Onela).

Role in Beowulf
Onela's main role in Beowulf is starting the Swedish-Geatish wars. He and his brother Ohthere score a major victory in pillaging Geatland after the death of King Hrethel. In response, Haethcyn (Hrethel's son) captures Onela's mother. Ongentheow rescues his wife and kills Haethcyn. Hygelac gets revenge for the death of his brother Haethcyn, as his men kill Ongentheow. Onela later steals the throne after the death of his brother and banishes his nephews Eanmund and Eadgils, who seek refuge with the Geats. Heardred (Hygelac's son) takes in Onela's nephews. Onela raids Heardred's kingdom and kills him, allowing Beowulf to become king. Weohstan, thane to Onela, kills Eanmund. Eadgils returns to Sweden aided by Beowulf and kills his uncle. It is speculated that Onela may have killed his brother to become king.

Strengths

 * Strong warrior
 * Fought through any means necessary to get what he wanted
 * Strived for power

Weaknesses

 * Created many enemies, leading to his downfall

Lines
(59-63)


 * "He was four times a father, this fighter prince: one by one they entered the world, Heorogar, Hrothgar, the good Halga and a daughter, I have heard, who was Onela's queen, a balm in bed to the battle-scarred Swede."

(2084-2090)


 * "That marked the end for Hygelac's son: his hospitality was mortally rewarded with wounds from a sword. Heardred lay slaughtered and Onela returned to the land of Sweden, leaving Beowulf to ascend the throne, to sit in majesty and rule over the Geats."

(2391-2396)


 * "In days to come, he contrived to avenge the fall of his prince; he befriended Eadgils when Eadgils was friendless, aiding his cause with weapons and warriors over the wide sea, sending him men. The feud was settled on a comfortless campaign when he killed Onela."

(2614-2619)


 * "He carried the arms to the victim's kinfolk, the burnished helmet, the webbed chain-mail and that relic of the giants. But Onela returned the weapons to him, rewarded Weohstan with Eanmund's war-gear. He ignored the blood-feud, the fact that Eanmund was his brother's son."

(2928-2932)


 * "The return blow was quickly struck by Oh there's father. Old and terrible, he felled the sea-king and saved his own aged wife, the mother of Onela and of Ohthere, bereft of her gold rings"