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The Danish king, Healfdene, had three sons, whose names all began with h, Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga, and one daughter of uncertain name (55-60). After the deaths of first Healfdene and then Heorogar (442), Hrothgar became king. According to the Beowulf-poet, it is while Hrothgar is king of the Danes that Beowulf fights with the monster Grendel. Hrothgar's wife, Wealtheow gives Beowulf a necklace that the poet compares to the legendary necklace of the Brosings (1205). Hrothgar and his two brothers had the following children: Heorogar had a son, Heoroward (2147); Hrothgar had two sons, Hethric and Hrothmund (1195), and a daughter, Freawaru (2012); and Halga had a son, Hrothulf (1188).
In an attempt to ensure peace with the Heothobard tribe, Hrothgar married his daughter, Freawaru, to the Heothobard prince, Ingeld (2053). As Beowulf predicted, this strategy was not successful. The Heothobards attacked the Danes (76) and were defeated by Hrothgar and his nephew Hrothulf.
After Hrothgar's death, the cousins fought over the throne, killing each other off and burning the beer-hall, Heorot, to the ground (75, 773).
Heremod, another Danish king, is cited as an example of a bad ruler (891, 1713). He apparently ruled at some time prior to Healfdene, but his exact place in the history is uncertain.
After the fight with Grendel, stories are told as entertainment. The first describes how Sigmund, a hero of Germanic legend, killed a dragon (864-91). Beowulf is likened to the hero, Sigmund, and contrasted with the bad Danish king, Heremod (907-910).
A second story describes a past conflict between the Danes and the Frisians (1058-1162). Hnaef, the king of the Danes, was visiting his sister, Hildeburh, who was married to Finn, the king of the Frisians. Hnaef and his soldiers were attacked by the Frisians and in the battle Hnaef was killed, and on the other side, his nephew, Hildeburh's son, was killed. So many soldiers were killed on both sides that neither side was able to claim a decisive victory, and as winter came before they could make their escape, the Danish survivors were unable to return home. They drew up an uneasy truce with Finn and spent the winter in his hall. When spring came, the Danes killed Finn and returned to Denmark with Hildeburh.
Hrethel was the king of the Geats, a tribe in what is now Sweden. He also had three sons whose names began with h and a daughter. According to the Beowulf-poet, Beowulf, the legendary hero of the poem, was the son of Hrethel's daughter.
Hrethel's eldest son, Herebeald, was accidentally killed by the second son, Haethcyn (2429-37). After Hrethel's death (2464), Haethcyn became king.
In a battle with the Swedes, Haethcyn was killed (2475,6, 2915), and his soldiers retreated into the forest of Ravenswood (2923-4). They were rescued the next day by the third brother, Hygelac, who arrived with reinforcements (2930-4). The Swedes were defeated and their king, Ongentheow, was killed (2969).
After Haethcyn's death, Hygelac became king of the Geats, and according to the Beowulf-poet, he was king at the time of Beowulf's expedition to fight Grendel. Hygelac's wife, Hygd, is contrasted favorably with Modthrytho, a queen of the Angles (1915-51).
Hygelac was killed when he attacked the Franks in 521 AD (1208-1221, 2343-8). His son, Heardred, became king of the Geats (2369-70).
Ongentheow's son, Onela, became king of the Swedes. Onela's nephews, Eanmund and Eadgils, rebelled against their uncle and were driven into exile. They were taken in by Heardred. Onela then attacked the Geats, killing Eanmund and Heardred (2378-80). Eadgils escaped.
According to the Beowulf-poet, Beowulf became king of the Geats after the death of Heardred (2382), and Beowulf helped Eadgils become king of the Swedes (2384-9).
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