Hygelac, son of Hrethel, was king of the Geats, and uncle of
Beowulf, his sister's son. He was the reigning king of Beowulf's
fellow countrymen the Geats during the greater part of the action
of the poem. Beowulf is often called 'Hygelac's kinsman,' and when
he went forth to his battle with Grendel's mother (Chapter XXII.),
he bade Hrothgar in case of his death send the treasures he had
given to him to Hygelac. Hygelac married Hygd, who is presented to
us as a good Queen, the daughter of Hæreth. She was 'very young,'
'of noble character,' and 'wise.' She is compared, to her advantage,
with Thrytho, who was a shrewish woman. No one dared to look upon
her except her husband. However, her second husband, Offa, seems
to have 'tamed the shrew' (see p. 120). Hygelac has been identified
with Chocilaicus, who was killed in the famous raid on the Chatuarii
referred to in the Historia Francorum and the Gesta Regum, who are
identified with the Hetware of this poem (see p. 143 and Appendix I.).
The famous raid of Hygelac upon the Hetware in which he met his death
is referred to five times in the poem, as follows: Chapters XVIII.,
p. 83; XXXI., p. 134; XXXIII., p. 142; XXXV., p. 151; XL., p. 172.
On the death of Hygelac his son Heardred succeeded to the throne
(Chapter XXXI., p. 134); and, after a brief interval, he was killed
in battle by Onela (see Appendix IX.). Then Beowulf succeeded to the
throne of the Geats (Chapter XXXI., p. 134). Hygelac died between
a.d. 512 and 520. Beowulf died about 568. He reigned fifty years.