Ecgþeow
Encyclopedia
Ecgþeow or Edgetho (Proto-Norse *Agiþewaz) or Ecgtheow is a character in the Anglo-Saxon
epic
Beowulf
. He is not mentioned outside the Beowulf manuscript, and it is not known whether he was based on a real person. He belonged to a probably Swedish
family (an ätt, see Norse clans
) called the Waegmundings. He married the daughter of Hreðel
, king of the Geats, and was the father of Beowulf.
His name could be read as ecg + þeow, "edge-servant" (that is, sword
-thane
); alternatively, if his name was a compound of the ancient bahuvrihi
type as were many other Germanic heroic names, it would indicate proficiency with the sword, meaning literally, "whose servant is the sword".
He is first mentioned in Beowulf at lines 262-266, when Beowulf tells the coast-guardian that "My father was known to everyone," calls him a "noble battle-leader", and says that he died after living through "many winters" and that he is remembered well by wise men everywhere.
At lines 372-375, Hroðgar
, the Danish
king, recalls Ecgþeow, remembering that he married King Hreðel's only daughter.
At lines 456-472, Hroðgar recalls the story of how Ecgþeow once came to him for help: he had slain Heaðolaf, a man from another tribe called the Wulfings (probably the rulers of the East Geats). One of the Germanic ways of resolving a blood feud
was either to pay a wergild (Anglo-Saxon
, "man-price") or to be banished. Either Ecgþeow's people could not pay a wergild, or the Wulfings refused to accept it from them; so Ecgþeow had to leave home. He went to Dane-Land; Hroðgar paid the wergild, and Ecgþeow swore oaths of friendship to him.
The Wulfings were probably the same as the Wylfings mentioned in Widsith
, and according to Widsith one of their lords was Helm. Hroðgar married Wealhþeow
, a Helming lady, who thus likely belonged to the Wulfings, and this may explain why Ecgþeow went to Dane-Land particularly. Hroðgar may have been able to use his family ties to persuade the Wulfings to accept the wergild and end the feud.
Hroðgar interprets Beowulf's journey as a son's gratitude for what Hroðgar had done for Beowulf's father.
At lines 2428-2429 we learn that the young Beowulf was fostered and raised in the home of Hreðel starting when he was seven years old; presumably Ecgþeow died when Beowulf was seven.
At lines 461-472 Ecgþeow starts a blood feud by killing Healtholaf and eventually is killed in the feud between his family and Hroðgar's family. It is finally ended when Hroðgar pays the man or death price, thus settling the feud.
At lines 2813-2815 we learn that the thane Wiglaf
is a Waegmunding; therefore his father Weohstan
was in some way related to Ecgþeow.
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
epic
Epic poetry
An epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
. He is not mentioned outside the Beowulf manuscript, and it is not known whether he was based on a real person. He belonged to a probably Swedish
Suiones
The Swedes e, "one's own [tribesmen/kinsmen]"; Old English: Sweonas; , Suehans or Sueones) were an ancient North Germanic tribe in Scandinavia...
family (an ätt, see Norse clans
Norse clans
The Scandinavian clan or ætt was a social group based on common descent or on the formal acceptance into the group at a þing.-History:...
) called the Waegmundings. He married the daughter of Hreðel
Hreðel
Hrethel was the king of the Geats, in Beowulf. He was the son or son-in-law of Swerting and he had three sons Hæþcyn, Herebeald and Hygelac. He also had a daughter who married Ecgþeow and had the son Beowulf....
, king of the Geats, and was the father of Beowulf.
His name could be read as ecg + þeow, "edge-servant" (that is, sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
-thane
Thegn
The term thegn , from OE þegn, ðegn "servant, attendant, retainer", is commonly used to describe either an aristocratic retainer of a king or nobleman in Anglo-Saxon England, or as a class term, the majority of the aristocracy below the ranks of ealdormen and high-reeves...
); alternatively, if his name was a compound of the ancient bahuvrihi
Bahuvrihi
A bahuvrihi compound is a type of compound that denotes a referent by specifying a certain characteristic or quality the referent possesses. A bahuvrihi is exocentric, so that the compound is not a hyponym of its head...
type as were many other Germanic heroic names, it would indicate proficiency with the sword, meaning literally, "whose servant is the sword".
He is first mentioned in Beowulf at lines 262-266, when Beowulf tells the coast-guardian that "My father was known to everyone," calls him a "noble battle-leader", and says that he died after living through "many winters" and that he is remembered well by wise men everywhere.
At lines 372-375, Hroðgar
Hroðgar
Hroðgar, King Hroþgar, "Hrothgar", Hróarr, Hroar, Roar, Roas or Ro was a legendary Danish king, living in the early 6th century....
, the Danish
Daner
The Danes were a North Germanic tribe residing in modern day Denmark. They are mentioned in the 6th century in Jordanes' Getica, by Procopius, and by Gregory of Tours....
king, recalls Ecgþeow, remembering that he married King Hreðel's only daughter.
At lines 456-472, Hroðgar recalls the story of how Ecgþeow once came to him for help: he had slain Heaðolaf, a man from another tribe called the Wulfings (probably the rulers of the East Geats). One of the Germanic ways of resolving a blood feud
Blood Feud
"Blood Feud" is the twenty-second and final episode of The Simpsons second season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on July 11, 1991. In the episode, Mr. Burns falls ill and desperately needs a blood transfusion. Homer discovers Bart has Burns' rare blood type and urges...
was either to pay a wergild (Anglo-Saxon
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
, "man-price") or to be banished. Either Ecgþeow's people could not pay a wergild, or the Wulfings refused to accept it from them; so Ecgþeow had to leave home. He went to Dane-Land; Hroðgar paid the wergild, and Ecgþeow swore oaths of friendship to him.
The Wulfings were probably the same as the Wylfings mentioned in Widsith
Widsith
Widsith is an Old English poem of 144 lines that appears to date from the 9th century, drawing on earlier oral traditions of Anglo-Saxon tale singing. The only text of the fragment is copied in the Exeter Book, a manuscript of Old English poetry compiled in the late 10th century containing...
, and according to Widsith one of their lords was Helm. Hroðgar married Wealhþeow
Wealhþeow
Wealhþēow is a legendary queen of the Danes in the Old English poem, Beowulf, first introduced in line 612.-Character overview:She is the Wulfing queen of the Danes. She is married to Hroðgar, the Danish king and is the mother of sons Hreðric and Hroðmund and also of daughter Freawaru. The meaning...
, a Helming lady, who thus likely belonged to the Wulfings, and this may explain why Ecgþeow went to Dane-Land particularly. Hroðgar may have been able to use his family ties to persuade the Wulfings to accept the wergild and end the feud.
Hroðgar interprets Beowulf's journey as a son's gratitude for what Hroðgar had done for Beowulf's father.
At lines 2428-2429 we learn that the young Beowulf was fostered and raised in the home of Hreðel starting when he was seven years old; presumably Ecgþeow died when Beowulf was seven.
At lines 461-472 Ecgþeow starts a blood feud by killing Healtholaf and eventually is killed in the feud between his family and Hroðgar's family. It is finally ended when Hroðgar pays the man or death price, thus settling the feud.
At lines 2813-2815 we learn that the thane Wiglaf
Wiglaf
Wiglaf is a character in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf. He is the son of Weohstan, a Swede of the Wægmunding clan who had entered the service of Beowulf, king of the Geats. Wiglaf is called Scylfing as a metonym for Swede, as the Scylfings were the ruling Swedish clan...
is a Waegmunding; therefore his father Weohstan
Weohstan
Weohstan, Wēohstān or Wīhstān is a legendary character who appears in the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf and scholars have pointed out that he also appears to be present in the Norse Kálfsvísa.In both Beowulf and Kálfsvísa, Weohstan fought for his king Onela...
was in some way related to Ecgþeow.