Hygd
Hygd, introduced in line 1925 of the poem Beowulf, is the wife of King Hygelac of Geatland. She is the daughter of Hæreth.[1]
After
Modþryð
(who appears in line 1932).
Beowulf gives her three horses and a magnificent
Brisingamen, the necklace of the goddess Freyja
) that he received from Wealhþeow.
Hygd shows her wisdom and love for the
Swedes. Beowulf, however, talks in favour of young Heardred and convinces her to proclaim him King of the Geats
instead.
Two Swedish princes, Eadgils and Eanmund, arrive and ask for protection as their uncle Onela had usurped the Swedish throne. Heardred graciously offers them his protection, which leads to a Swedish invasion in which Heardred is slain. The Swedish warrior Weohstan kills Eanmund, and Beowulf can no longer refuse Hygd's offer of kingship.
Hrethlings
Further reading
- Osborn, Marijane (Summer–Autumn 2001). ""The Wealth They Left Us":Two Women Author Themselves through Others' Lives in Beowulf". The Heroic Age: A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe, heroicage.org, Issue 5.
- Porter, Dorothy (Summer–Autumn 2001). "The Social Centrality of Women in Beowulf: A New Context". The Heroic Age: A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe, heroicage.org, Issue 5. Archived from the original on August 19, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
References
- ISBN 0544442784)
- ^ Porter, Dorothy (Summer–Autumn 2001). "The Social Centrality of Women in Beowulf: A New Context". The Heroic Age: A Journal of Early Medieval Northwestern Europe, heroicage.org, Issue 5. Archived from the original on August 19, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
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