- Heardred
Heardred (
Proto-Norse *"Hardurdaz" [http://www.sofi.se/SOFIU/lup/urnord.pdf] ), d. ca530 , is the son ofHygelac ,king of the Geats , and his queenHygd , in "Beowulf ". After Hygelac's death, in Frisia, Hygd wants to make Hygelac's nephew Beowulf, king of Geatland, as she fears that the young Heardred won't be able to defend his people. Beowulf, however, declares his trust in the young man and Heardred is proclaimed king.However, further north in Sweden (then restricted to
Svealand ), the Swedish kingOhthere dies and is succeeded by his younger brotherOnela . Ohthere's sonsEadgils andEanmund flee to theGeats and are received by Heardred. This makes Onela attack the Geats to neutralize his nephews, and to avenge his fatherOngentheow , who had been killed by the Geats. During the battle Heardred is killed. Eanmund is slain by his kinsmanWeohstan .Heardred is succeeded by his cousin
Beowulf , who avenges Eanmund by helpingEadgils killOnela , an event which also appears in Scandinavian sources.
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