Hygd
Anglo Saxon · mortal · heroic age · mortal
Hygd, daughter of Hæreth, queen of the Geats as wife of King Hygelac and mother of Heardred. In Beowulf she is the exemplary young queen — wise, gracious and generous with treasure — set against the cautionary tale of the proud queen Modthryth. After Hygelac's death in the Frisian raid she offers the kingdom and hoard to Beowulf, judging her own son Heardred too young to defend the Geats against the Swedes; Beowulf declines and supports Heardred's kingship. Her father Hæreth is named only patronymically ('Hæreþes dohtor') and is not separately entered. She materialises the maternal node of Heardred, who previously recorded only his father Hygelac.
Children
Domains
- queenship and the mead hall
- counsel and succession
Powers
- Weave peace and dispense the hall's treasure as queen
- Weaves peace and dispenses treasure as queen of the Geats
- Offers Beowulf the throne over her own son