Heardred

Family: Geats · Role: king · First appears: Section XXIX

In Section XXIX, the poem tells that in later years Hygelac perished and Heardred, too, was slaughtered in battle. Section XXIX calls him “Hereric's nephew.”

Looking back, Section XXXI tells that after Hygelac’s death, Hygd offered Beowulf the hoard, realm, rings, and royal seat, but he upheld Heardred with helpful words and honor rather than rule in his place. Beowulf supported him until he grew older and wielded the Weder-Geats. The poem also tells that Heardred gave shelter to the sons of Ohtere, and that “the blade's fell blow” came to Hygelac’s son from the son of Ongentheow. When Heardred fell, Beowulf became lord of the Geats.

Relationship record

Life events

• In later years Hygelac perished, and Heardred too fell in battle.(Section XXIX)
  • With: Hygelac
  • “with harryings horrid, that Hygelac perished, and Heardred, too, by hewing of swords under the shield-wall slaughtered lay,”
• Looking back, the poem tells that Hygd offered Beowulf the hoard, realm, rings, and royal seat, but he supported Heardred as ruler.(Section XXXI)
  • With: Hygd Beowulf Hygelac
  • “where Hygd made him offer of hoard and realm, rings and royal-seat, reckoning naught the strength of her son to save their kingdom from hostile hordes, after Hygelac's death. No sooner for this could the stricken ones in any wise move that atheling's mind over young Heardred's head as lord and ruler of all the realm to be: yet the hero upheld him with helpful words,”
• Looking back, the poem tells that Beowulf supported Heardred until he grew older and ruled the Weder-Geats.(Section XXXI)
  • With: Beowulf
  • “yet the hero upheld him with helpful words, aided in honor, till, older grown, he wielded the Weder-Geats.”
• Looking back, the poem tells that Heardred sheltered the sons of Ohtere, and was killed by the son of Ongentheow.(Section XXXI)
  • “For shelter he gave them, sword-death came, the blade's fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac;”
• Looking back, the poem tells that after Heardred fell, Beowulf became lord of the Geats.(Section XXXI)
  • With: Beowulf
  • “house and home when Heardred fell, leaving Beowulf lord of Geats and gift-seat's master.”

Section XXIX

• elder kin: Hereric “in arms o'erwhelming Hereric's nephew.”

Section XXXI

• parent: Hygelac “the blade's fell blow, to bairn of Hygelac;”
• parent: Hygd “reckoning naught the strength of her son to save their kingdom from hostile hordes, after Hygelac's death.”
• mentor: Beowulf “yet the hero upheld him with helpful words, aided in honor, till, older grown, he wielded the Weder-Geats.”

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