Ongentheow
Family: Swedes · Role: king · First appears: Section XXVIII
In Section XXXIII, Beowulf tells that at morn Eofor killed Ongentheow in battle, striking through his war-helm. In Section XXXVIII, the messenger tells that at Ravenswood Ongentheow slew Haethcyn during the Geats’ conflict with the Scylfings; the poem also calls Ohtere his child.
In Section XXXIX, the messenger tells that Ongentheow tested Hygelac’s prowess, then retreated to his earth-walls. Wulf Wonreding struck him and drew blood; Ongentheow split Wulf Wonreding’s helmet and wounded him. After Wulf Wonreding fell, Eofor struck Ongentheow with a broad sword, and the king sank fatally hurt.
Relationship record
Life events
- Beowulf tells that Eofor killed Ongentheow in battle.(Section XXXIII)
- With: Eofor
- “At morn, I heard, was the murderer killed by kinsman for kinsman, with clash of sword, when Ongentheow met Eofor there. Wide split the war-helm: wan he fell, hoary Scylfing; the hand that smote him of feud was mindful, nor flinched from the death-blow.”
- The messenger tells that Ongentheow slew Haethcyn during the Geats' conflict with the Scylfings.(Section XXXVIII · 📍 Ravenswood)
- With: Haethcyn
- “how Ongentheow reft at Ravenswood Haethcyn Hrethling of hope and life”
- The messenger tells that Ongentheow retreated to his citadel after testing Hygelac's prowess.(Section XXXIX)
- With: Hygelac
- “He had tested Hygelac's hardihood, the proud one's prowess, would prove it no longer, defied no more those fighting-wanderers nor hoped from the seamen to save his hoard, his bairn and his bride: so he bent him again, old, to his earth-walls.”
- The messenger tells that Wulf Wonreding struck Ongentheow and drew blood.(Section XXXIX)
- With: Wulf Wonreding
- “In ire, at the king Wulf Wonreding with weapon struck; and the chieftain's blood, for that blow, in streams flowed 'neath his hair.”
- The messenger tells that Ongentheow struck Wulf, splitting his helmet and wounding him.(Section XXXIX)
- With: Wulf Wonreding
- “Nor swift enough was the son of Wonred answer to render the aged chief; too soon on his head the helm was cloven; blood-bedecked he bowed to earth, and fell adown; not doomed was he yet, and well he waxed, though the wound was sore.”
- The messenger tells that Eofor struck Ongentheow, who sank fatally hurt.(Section XXXIX)
- With: Eofor
- “Then the hardy Hygelac-thane, when his brother fell, with broad brand smote, giants' sword crashing through giants'-helm across the shield-wall: sank the king, his folk's old herdsman, fatally hurt.”
Section XXVIII
- enemies with Hygelac “where the battle-king young, his burg within, slayer of Ongentheow, shared the rings,”
Section XXXIII
- enemies with Eofor “At morn, I heard, was the murderer killed by kinsman for kinsman, with clash of sword, when Ongentheow met Eofor there.”
Section XXXVIII
- enemies with Haethcyn “how Ongentheow reft at Ravenswood Haethcyn Hrethling of hope and life,”
- child: Ohtere “Soon the sage old sire of Ohtere, ancient and awful, gave answering blow;”
Section XXXIX
- enemies with Wulf Wonreding “In ire, at the king Wulf Wonreding with weapon struck; and the chieftain's blood, for that blow, in streams flowed 'neath his hair.”
- enemies with Eofor “Then the hardy Hygelac-thane, when his brother fell, with broad brand smote, giants' sword crashing through giants'-helm across the shield-wall: sank the king, his folk's old herdsman, fatally hurt.”
- enemies with Hygelac “He had tested Hygelac's hardihood, the proud one's prowess, would prove it no longer,”
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Extracted from the original text of Beowulf (Gummere's translation). Made with Rho MD.