Hrethel

King of the Geats; father of Herebeald, Hæthcyn, and Hygelac and of the daughter who married Ecgtheow and bore Beowulf. Foster-reared the young Beowulf at his court. His grief at the accidental killing of his eldest son Herebeald by Hæthcyn is one of the poem's great elegiac passages.

Children

• Haethcyn
• Herebeald
• Daughter of Hrethel
• Hygelac

Domains

• kingship of the geats
• fostering of the hero

Relations

• father of: HygelacBeowulf, ll. 2434-2443 (primary)
• father of: HerebealdBeowulf, ll. 2434-2443 (primary)
• father of: HaethcynBeowulf, ll. 2434-2443 (primary)
• father of: Daughter of HrethelBeowulf, ll. 373-375 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Beowulf, ll. 373-375, 2425-2471 — Hrethel, king of the Geats, father of Hygelac and grandfather of Beowulf (primary)