Hrethel

Hrethel's name appears with both the root vowel ⟨e⟩ and ⟨æ⟩ and with both the consonant ⟨þ⟩ (i.e. the phoneme /θ/, pronounced [ð] in Old English) and ⟨d⟩ (which would ordinarily represent the phoneme /d/).[2] This is thought to be due to an early manuscript of Beowulf writing the root vowel using the early graphs ⟨œ⟩ (for the vowel resulting from the i-mutation of Common Germanic /o:/) and ⟨d⟩ (for the phoneme /θ/, pronounced [ð]). Later scribes misread the former as ⟨æ⟩ and failed to recognise that the latter represented the sound [ð] rather than [d].[3]

The name also appears as a genitive weak noun, in the half-line "þæt is Hrǣdlan lāf" ('that is Hrǣdla's bequest'). Rendered in ordinary Late West Saxon spelling and in nominative form, this form of the name would presumably have been *Hrēðla.[4]

Hrethel is married to a sister or daughter of Swerting (Hygelac is the nefa of Swerting) and he has three sons: Hæþcyn, Herebeald and Hygelac. He also has a daughter who marries Ecgþeow and has the son Beowulf.[5]

Hrethel fosters Beowulf (his grandson) by taking him into his royal household aged seven.[6] Fostering was a common Germanic practice and does not indicate Beowulf's father, Ecgþeow did not want to raise him; indeed, the practice was intended to further improve relations between families and family members, and create close ties of obligation, affection and shared responsibility. As an adult, Beowulf expresses his gratitude to his foster-father explicitly:

Hreðel dies of grief when his oldest son Herebeald is killed by his own brother Hæþcyn in a hunting accident, a death that could not be avenged. He is succeeded by Hæþcyn.[8]