page_title: Swedish–Geatish wars
section_title: The first war in Beowulf
hierarchical_section_title: Swedish–Geatish wars / The first war in Beowulf
caption_attribution_description: Svärdfäste från Valsgärde gravfält
context_page_description: The Swedish-Geatish wars refer to semi-legendary 6th century battles between Swedes and Geats that are described in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf. Little has survived of such battles in the Norse sagas, and later 11th century-13th century wars between Swedes and Geats, notably involving the Geatish clans House of Stenkil and House of Sverker, are referred to as Swedish civil wars.
context_section_description: The Anglo-Saxon epic relates that the Swedes did not keep the peace when the Geatish king Hreðel had died, because the Swedish king Ongenþeow's sons (i.e. Ohthere and Onela) had grown up and were eager to fight.
  Þa wæs synn and sacu      Sweona and Geata,
  ofer wid wæter      wroht gemæne,
  here-nið hearda,      syððan Hreðel swealt,
  oððe him Ongenþeowes      eaferan wæran
  frome fyrd-hwate,      freode ne woldon
  ofer heafo healdan,      ac ymb Hreosna-beorh
  eatolne inwit-scear      oft gefremedon.
  There was strife and struggle 'twixt Swede and Geat
  o'er the width of waters; war arose,
  hard battle-horror, when Hrethel died,
  and Ongentheow's offspring grew
  strife-keen, bold, nor brooked o'er the seas;
  pact of peace, but pushed their hosts
  to harass in hatred by Hreosnabeorh.
  The Geats under their new king Hæþcyn captured the Swedish queen, but old king Ongenþeow saved her, at a hill fort called Hrefnesholt, although they lost her gold. Ongenþeow killed Hæþcyn, and besieged the Geats at Hrefnesholt. The Geats were, however, rescued by Hygelac, Hæþcyn's brother, who arrived the next day with reinforcements. Having lost the battle, but rescued his queen, Ongenþeow and his warriors returned home:
  Wæs sio swat-swaðu      Sweona and Geata,
  wæl-ræs wera      wide gesy¯ne,
  hu þa folc mid him      fæhðe towehton.
  Gewat him þa se goda      mid his gædelingum,
  frod fela geomor      fæsten secean,
  eorl Ongenþio      ufor oncirde;
  The bloody swath of Swedes and Geats
  and the storm of their strife, were seen afar,
  how folk against folk the fight had wakened.
  The ancient king with his atheling band
  sought his citadel, sorrowing much:
  Ongentheow earl went up to his burg.
  However, the war was not over. Hygelac, the new king of the Geats, attacked the Swedes: 
  ...Þa wæs æht boden
  Sweona leodum,      segn Higelace.
  Freoðo-wong þone      forð ofereodon,
  syððan Hreðlingas      to hagan þrungon.
  ...Yet after him came
  with slaughter for Swedes the standards of Hygelac
  o'er peaceful plains in pride advancing,
  till Hrethelings fought in the fenced town.
  The Geatish warriors Eofor and Wulf Wonreding fought together against the hoary king Ongenþeow. Wulf hit Ongenþeow's head with his sword so that the old king bled over his hair, but the king hit back and wounded Wulf. Then, Eofor retaliated by cutting through the Swedish king's shield and through his helmet, giving Ongenþeow a death-blow. Eofor took the Swedish king's helmet, sword and breastplate and carried them to Hygelac. When they came home, Eofor and Wulf were richly awarded, and Eofor was given Hygelac's daughter. Because of this battle, Hygelac is referred to as Ongenþeow's slayer.
caption: Vendel era sword from Valsgärde.
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