Heaðobard

The Heaðobards or Heathobards (Old English: "Heaðobeardan", Old Low German: "Headubarden") meaning "the Warlike Bards" [http://runeberg.org/nfbj/0531.html The article "Hadubarder" in "Nordisk familjebok" (1909).] ] ) were possibly a branch of the Langobards [http://runeberg.org/nfbj/0531.html The article "Hadubarder" in "Nordisk familjebok" (1909).] ] , and their name may be preserved in toponym Bardengau, in Mecklenburg, Germany [http://runeberg.org/nfbj/0531.html The article "Hadubarder" in "Nordisk familjebok" (1909).] ] .

They are mentioned in both "Beowulf" and in "Widsith", where they are in conflict with the Danes. However, in the Norse tradition the Heaðobards had apparently been forgotten and the conflict is instead rendered as a family feud [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14878 "The Relation of the Hrolfs Saga Kraka and the Bjarkarimur to Beowulf" by Olson, 1916, at Project Gutenberg] ] , or as a conflict with the Saxons, where the Danes take the place of the Heaðobards [http://runeberg.org/nfcf/0547.html The article "Starkad" in "Nordisk familjebok" (1909).] ] .

"Beowulf"

In "Beowulf", the Heaðobards are involved in a war with the Danes. When Beowulf reports on his adventure in Denmark to his king Hygelac, he mentions that Hroðgar had a daughter, Freawaru [Lines 2000-2069.] . Since Froda had been killed by the Danes, Hroðgar sent Freawaru to marry Ingeld, in an unsuccessful attempt to end the feud [Lines 2027-2028.] . An old warrior urged the Heaðobards to revenge [Lines 2042-2067.] , and Beowulf predicts to Hygelac that Ingeld will turn against his father-in-law Hroðgar [Lines 2067-2069.] . In a version given in the Danish chronicle "Gesta Danorum", the old warrior appears as Starkad, and he succeeded in making Ingeld divorce his bride and in turning him against her family [http://runeberg.org/nfcf/0547.html The article "Starkad" in "Nordisk familjebok" (1909).] ] . Earlier in the "Beowulf" poem, the poet tells us that the hall Heorot was eventually destroyed by fire [Lines 80-85.] , see quote (Gummere's translation [" [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/981 Modern English translation] " by Francis Barton Gummere] ):

It is tempting to interpret the new war with Ingeld as leading to the burning of the hall of Heorot, as Sophus Bugge did [http://runeberg.org/nfbj/0531.html The article "Hadubarder" in "Nordisk familjebok (1909).] ] , but the poem separates the two events (by a "ne wæs hit lenge þā" meaning "nor far way was that day when", in Gummere's translation).

"Widsith"

Whereas "Beowulf" never dwells on the outcome of the battle with Ingeld, the possibly older poem "Widsith" refers to Hroðgar and Hroðulf defeating the Heaðobards at Heorot [Lines 45–59.] :

References