Hrothgar’s Family Tree

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Family

• Wealhtheow(spouse),Hrethric(child),Hrothmund(child)— Marriage

  Hrothgar and his queen Wealhtheow rule the Danes from Heorot, their sons Hrethric and Hrothmund the hope of the Scylding dynasty whose future weighs on the queen's mind as she entreats Beowulf's protection.

• Healfdene(parent)

  Healfdene, the fierce old king of the Danes, fathered Hrothgar and his brothers, passing on the Scylding line that would build Heorot and endure Grendel's terror.

Enemy of

• Grendel

  Grendel terrorized Hrothgar's mead hall Heorot for twelve years, attacking by night and devouring warriors in their sleep. No weapon could harm the monster, and Hrothgar's kingdom was humiliated until Beowulf arrived from Geatland.

Rules over

• Heorot

  Hrothgar built Heorot as the grandest mead hall of the Danes, a seat of royal power and fellowship where he dispensed rings and ruled his people, until Grendel's nightly raids turned it into a hall of dread.

Associated with

• Beowulf

  Beowulf crossed the sea to repay a debt his father Ecgtheow owed Hrothgar, who had once settled Ecgtheow's blood-feud with the Wulfings. Beowulf freed Hrothgar's hall from Grendel and his mother, and the old king wept when the young hero departed.