Hrothgar

Family: Danes · Role: king of the Danes, Healfdene's son · First appears: Section I

In Section I, Healfdene had four children, including Hrothgar, and Hrothgar ordered the building of Heorot, where he distributed treasure at banquets. In Section II, Grendel harried him for “Twelve years' tide”; in Section VII, Hrothgar recalled that his elder brother Heorogar was dead when he first ruled the Danes, and that he had settled Ecgtheow’s feud with the Wylfings by sending treasures.

In Section V, Wulfgar served as Hrothgar’s messenger, and in Section IX his queen, Wealhtheow, greeted guests at Heorot. Hrothgar entrusted the hall to Beowulf and charged him to guard it. After Beowulf reported Grendel’s defeat in Section XIV, Hrothgar rewarded him in Section XV with a banner, armor, a sword, and eight coursers, granting him power over the war-steeds and weapons. At Heorot, Hrothulf sat with his uncle, and Unferth sat at Hrothgar’s feet.

In Section XX, Hrothgar told Beowulf that his adviser Aeschere was dead; in Section XXI, Beowulf urged him to rise and follow the trail, and Aeschere’s head was found by the flood. In Section XXIV, Beowulf laid the golden hilt before Hrothgar. Hrothgar later praised Beowulf for bringing peace between the Geats and Danes and gave him twelve treasures to carry home. In Beowulf’s report to Hygelac in Section XXVIII, he told that Hrothgar had promised his daughter Freawaru to Froda’s son to settle a feud, and had rewarded Beowulf for his fights with gold and other gifts; in Section XXIX, Beowulf said Hrothgar had given him war-gear and asked him to tell its story to Hygelac.