The Danes |
The Danes were residents of Denmark. Hroðgar's Heorot is likely to have
been located on the island of Sjaelland near the present day city of
Roskilde.
The Scylding line is known through Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon sources;
the Anglo-Saxon king Cnut (1016-1042, a period coincident with
the composition of the Beowulf manuscript) is known to have
descended from this line. The poem Widsið, with its catalogue of
Germanic kings, list Hroðgar and Hroðulf as co-rulers of the Danes
at Heorot, and of the marriage arrangement with Ingeld of the
Heaðo-Bards.
The Danes are referred to as the Dena, Beorht-Dena (Bright-), Gar-Dena (Spear-),
Hring-Dena (Ring-, Corselet-), East-Dena, Norð-Dena (North-), Suð-Dena
(South-), West-Dena, Scyldings (Sons of Scyld), Ar-Scyldingas (Honour-),
Here-Scyldingas (Army-), Sige-Scyldingas (Victory-), Þeod-Scyldingas
(People-), and Ingwines (Ing's Friends).
The Heaðo-Bards : The Heaðo-Bards were a Germanic tribe who were at war with the Danes. Hroðgar had given his daughter Freawaru to the Heaðo-Bard leader's son, Ingeld, as a pact of peace. But, war between then broke out once again and is recounted in the poem Widsið. |