The Hygelac reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Hygelac

Hygelac, Hugleikr, is the name given to the king of the Geats in the first part of Beowulf.

In Beowulf he goes on a viking raid to Frisia, and dies.

Hygelac has been identified with Chlochilaicus, king of the Geats (Rex Getarum, in Liber Monstrorum), or the Danes (in the Historiae Francorum of Gregory of Tours, III, 3.), who invaded Gaul in the early sixth century, and was killed by Theudebert, son of Theuderic, king of the Franks.

The double identification of Hygelac as either Dane or Geat is not suprising. Dane seems to have been used as a generic term for Scandinavians (cf. Danish toungue).

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