Healfdene

Family: Danes · Role: chieftain · First appears: Section I

In Section I, after Beowulf the Scylding died, Healfdene succeeded him as ruler. “Then, one after one,” four children were born to him, including Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga.

In Section XVI, Hnaef is described as Healfdene’s hero, fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter.

Relationship record

Life events

• Healfdene succeeded Beowulf the Scylding as ruler.(Section I)
  • With: Beowulf the Scylding
  • “leader beloved, and long he ruled in fame with all folk, since his father had gone away from the world, till awoke an heir, haughty Healfdene, who held through life,”
• Healfdene had four children, including Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga.(Section I)
  • With: Heorogar Hrothgar Halga
  • “Then, one after one, there woke to him, to the chieftain of clansmen, children four: Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;”

Section I

• child: Heorogar (The passage names three of Healfdene's four children.) “Then, one after one, there woke to him, to the chieftain of clansmen, children four: Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;”
• child: Hrothgar (The passage names three of Healfdene's four children.) “Then, one after one, there woke to him, to the chieftain of clansmen, children four: Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;”
• child: Halga (The passage names three of Healfdene's four children.) “Then, one after one, there woke to him, to the chieftain of clansmen, children four: Heorogar, then Hrothgar, then Halga brave;”
• parent: Beowulf the Scylding “in fame with all folk, since his father had gone away from the world, till awoke an heir, haughty Healfdene, who held through life,”

Section III

• child: Hrothgar “THUS seethed unceasing the son of Healfdene”

Section IV

• child: Hrothgar “to Healfdene's son,”

Section V

• child: Hrothgar “I am seeking to say to the son of Healfdene”

Section VII

• child: Heorogar “my elder brother, had breathed his last, Healfdene's bairn: he was better than I!”

Section IX

• child: Hrothgar “the son of Healfdene hastened to seek rest for the night;”

Section XV

• child: Hrothgar “when to hall proceeded Healfdene's son: the king himself would sit to banquet.”

Section XVI

• vassal: Hnaef “Healfdene's hero, Hnaef the Scylding, was fated to fall in the Frisian slaughter.”

Section XXII

• child: Hrothgar “Have mind, thou honored offspring of Healfdene gold-friend of men, now I go on this quest,”

Section XXIV

• child: Hrothgar “Hrothgar spake -- the hilt he viewed, heirloom old, where was etched the rise of that far-off fight when the floods o'erwhelmed, raging waves, the race of giants (fearful their fate!), a folk estranged from God Eternal: whence guerdon due in that waste of waters the Wielder paid them. So on the guard of shining gold in runic staves it was rightly said for whom the serpent-traced sword was wrought, best of blades, in bygone days, and the hilt well wound. -- The wise-one spake, son of Healfdene; silent were all: --”

Section XXVI

• child: Hrothgar “To him in the hall, then, Healfdene's son gave treasures twelve, and the trust-of-earls bade him fare with the gifts to his folk beloved,”

Section XXVIII

• child: Hrothgar “where Healfdene's kinsman high-renowned, soon as my purpose was plain to him,”

⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →

Extracted from the original text of Beowulf (Gummere's translation). Made with Rho MD.