Inside the story
Meet Hrethel
Hrethel is the old Geatish king and grandfather of Beowulf. He fostered Beowulf from the age of seven and treated him as a son, while ruling as the father of Higelac and the head of his royal family.
A character in Beowulf
Hrethel
Beowulf by Unknown
The old Geatish king who fostered Beowulf from the age of seven and treated him as a son; grandfather of Beowulf and father of Higelac, who died of grief over kin-slaying among his sons.
Also known as: the hero-king, the jewel-prince, the hoar-headed hero
