Characters
1. Swedes
- 1. Ongentheow, King of the Swedes.
- 2. Onthere,
- his two sons.
- 3. Onela,
- 4. Eadgils,
- two sons of Ohthere.
- 5. Eanmund,
| 2. Onthere, |  | his twosons. |
| 3. Onela, |
| 4. Eadgils, | | two sonsof Ohthere. |
| 5. Eanmund, |
2. Geats, &c.
- 6. Hæthcyn, King of Geats.
- 7. Hygelac, King of Geats.
- 8. Heardred, King of Geats.
- 9. Beowulf, King of Geats.
- 10. Eofor,
- two Geat warriors.
- 11. Wulf,
| 10. Eofor, | | two Geatwarriors. |
| 11. Wulf, |
Ongentheow was a King of the Swedes. The Swedes are also called Scylfings in the poem. The origin of the word ‘Scylfing’ is doubtful. Ongentheow went to war with Hæthcyn, King of the Geats and brother of Hygelac; and Ongentheow, who was well advanced in years, struck down his foe (Chapter [XL]., p. 173) at the battle of Ravenswood. This was the first time that the Swedes invaded the Geats. The Geats retreated into the Ravenswood at nightfall, but with the dawn they heard the horn of Hygelac ‘as the good prince came marching on the track.’ Ongentheow now was alarmed, for Hygelac’s prowess in battle was far-famed. He withdrew into some fortification, and was attacked by the Geats. Two brothers, Eofor and Wulf, assailed the veteran warrior. He defended himself with great vigour and killed Wulf; but Eofor came to the help of his brother and dealt Ongentheow his death-blow over the guard of his shield.
Ongentheow’s two sons were Onela and Ohthere. Ohthere had two sons, Eanmund and Eadgils.