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Hygelac (King of the Geats)

Type Figure Region Scandinavia Time c. 475–516 Also known as Hygelac、Higelac、Chlochilaicus、Huiglaucus、Chochilaicus

Hygelac (c. 475–c. 516), king of the Geats (in present-day southern Sweden) and a central figure in the epic Beowulf, uncle and king of Beowulf;…

Timeline

  1. c. 500–515Götaland · southern SwedenHygelac ruled Götaland as king of a Scandinavian Germanic tribe. According to the epic Beowulf, he was the uncle and lord of the hero Beowulf, and the two were very close. Hygelac led a Norse warrior culture centered on sea raiding and tribal warfare, and the Geats under his rule were in long-standing conflict with the Swedes (Svear).
  2. c. 515–516Frisian coast · FrisiaHygelac led a large fleet to raid the Frankish coast (Frisia), and while attempting to withdraw after gaining great wealth, his forces were intercepted by the army of Frankish king Theuderic I. Hygelac was killed in the fierce fighting and his fleet was destroyed. Gregory of Tours recorded this battle in both the Historia Francorum and the Liber Historiae Francorum, naming its leader 'Chlochilaicus'—a key historical corroboration of Beowulf.

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