Hreðel

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Hreðel, or Hrethel, Proto-Norse *Hrōþilaz or *Hrōþila [1], was the king of the Geats, in Beowulf. He was the maternal grandson or maternal nephew of Swerting and he had three sons Hæþcyn, Herebeald and Hygelac. He also had a daughter who married Ecgþeow and had the son Beowulf.

Hreðel died of grief when his oldest son Herebeald was killed by his own brother Hæþcyn in a hunting accident, a death that could not be avenged. He was succeeded by Hæþcyn.

Preceded by
Swerting		 King of the Geats Succeeded by
Hæþcyn		 
                                 Hreðel
                                    |
             ---------------------------------------------
             |              |             |              |
          Herebeald       Hæþcyn       Hygelac        daughter       Ecgþeow
                                          |              |              | 
                                          |              ----------------
                          Hygd            |                       |
                            |             |                    Beowulf 
                            --------------                   
                                   |
                            --------------
                            |             |
                         Heardred      daughter       Eofor
                                          |            |
                                          --------------
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