Beowulf: the King and His Thane

  Beowulf: the King and His Thane

Greetings, wandering soul! The Ink-stained Archivist invites you into the Library of the Lost—where, for each lost soul, a story might be found. 

You are more than welcome, of course. We—that is, the cats and I—graciously extend to you an offer of hospitality. Guest rights are honored within these hallowed walls. Come now, hang your cloak on the hook by the door and rest by the hearth. Might I offer you a fortifying goblet of mead? It’s no mead of Suttungr, alas—still, I’ve found it to be pleasantly sweet and mild. We’re fast traversing the path toward forming a companionable bond as host and guest. This is quite lovely. 

Bonds and vows, as I’m sure you know, were of the utmost importance in 6th century Scandinavia. Damaging such ties was ruinous indeed—mortally so, in some most unfortunate instances. Oath-breakers risked tarnishing their reputation and honor. A king and their sworn thane—that is to say, their oath-bound servant—relied upon their bond, as it stood as foundational to the stability of society. 

The Oath of Fealty Between King and Thane  

     In eras long bygone, when famed heroes valiantly slew wicked, otherworldly creatures, and judicious and righteous kings held court over glittering mead halls, threads of nobility and honor wove together the tapestry of 6th century Scandinavian society. Those ancient ties that did so powerfully bind, uniting blood-bonded kin and trusted comrades alike, were seamlessly depicted in the famous epic poem Beowulf. Few bonds of fealty were ever as imperative to the fortune and survival of a nation as the one sworn between a king and his thanes. In order for their union to be deemed successful, both a monarch and his thane were expected to possess certain distinguished qualities. The ideal king should aspire to be wise and generous, and his thane must prove a loyal ally and skilled fighter. Adhering to these coveted traits was crucial to maintaining the strength and inviolability of this reciprocal relationship. In return, a king and his warriors would reap glorious rewards and accolades. If either a warrior or a king failed to uphold his portion of this agreement, however, he should anticipate no boons or privileges granted to him. Therefore, in order for the bond shared between king and thane to be mutually beneficial, both parties must aspire to embody essential qualities, lest they risk the deterioration of this bond and the destruction of their reputation.

The Ideal Monarch 

Wise and generous, their realms protected and preserved from the untold dangers of foreign invasion or ferocious monsters, these Germanic kings who were held in highest esteem by their own people, as well as the narrative within Beowulf itself, stand as proud examples of the ideal monarch. Wisdom, a trait attributed to Beow, Hrothgar, and Beowulf, is emphasized at various points throughout the text. The son of Shield, Beow, who served as ruler of the Danes upon his father’s death, is described as “prudent” even as a “young prince,” known for sharing his resources “freely while his father” still reigned (lines 20–23). Beow’s strategically altruistic actions, though also likely pursued as a display of generosity, more importantly secured him the favor of the Danes long before he assumed his father’s vacated role. Hrothgar, a descendant of Shield and Beow, was similarly praised for his wisdom and generosity. Aware that his time of valor in combat was far behind him, King Hrothgar entrusted brave Beowulf with the task of defeating the beast who had plagued his hall, dubbed Heorot, for twelve winters (607–10). King Hrothgar later proceeded to praise Beowulf as “Prudent and resolute” (1708), almost as if to foreshadow the famed Geat warrior’s future ascension. Hrothgar’s generous gift of words was matched by his material generosity, as he frequently distributed his “God-given goods to young and old” (72). With the excellent example set by Hrothgar, Beowulf, in his eventual role as king of the Geats, was known for his “open-handedness” (2885). King Beowulf “showered” his thanes with gifts, most notably bestowing upon them the helmets and mail-shirts they wore into battle alongside him (2866–68). As exemplified by the monarchs described above, a king who deftly adopts a shrewd, generous nature is more likely to engender the respect and loyalty of their subjects and oath-bound servants. A king’s shrewdness was perhaps most evident in his apt appointment of honorable, highly trained warriors who were deserving of their liege’s gifts.

The Ideal Thane 

Faithful and practiced in the art of combat, a king’s most decorated thanes were responsible for loyally safeguarding their king and his lands from all who would threaten their welfare. To achieve these ends, a king must be assured of each of his thane’s martial prowess. The emphasis placed upon martial prowess within Beowulf is evident in the characters of Wiglaf and Beowulf. The latter’s accomplishments while serving as his uncle’s thane speak for themselves: before arriving on the shores of Denmark, Beowulf was celebrated for his “awesome strength” (418), which aided him while he “battled and bound five beasts, Raided a troll-nest,” and “Slaughtered sea-brutes” (420–22). When it came time for Beowulf, as Geatland’s king, to select those who would accompany him to slay the fearsome dragon terrorizing his people, he chose those “he considered… the best/ Of his arms-bearing thanes,” favoring these special few for their superior combat capabilities (2639–42). Wiglaf especially was deemed, and proved himself to be through his faithful assistance of his king, a “well-regarded Shylfing Warrior” 2602–03). Indeed, it was Wiglaf’s loyalty that distinguished him from the ten “tail-turners” who abandoned their elderly king in his time of direst need (2848). Throughout the events of “Beowulf Attacks the Dragon” and “Beowulf’s Funeral,” loyal Wiglaf single-handedly aided his king in his battle against the dragon, brought forth beneath his king’s gaze the treasure for which he braved the serpentine beast’s ire, and, ultimately, organized his king’s funeral rites and all related tasks issued in his lord’s final moment (2630–3136). Beowulf, like countless other kings, was able to rely on the unconditional support of at least one of his thanes, which enabled him to effectively protect his people, even as his vitality waned. 

Rewards Promised to the Thane

 In exchange for his loyalty and martial prowess, a thane could expect to be handsomely rewarded and welcomed amongst his fellow worthy warriors at the feasting table. In “A Celebration at Heorot,” Hrothgar, his Geat guests, and his trusted thanes celebrate Grendel’s demise. The Danish king then gifted Beowulf, his peoples’ savior, with fabulous treasures in gratitude for his aid (1013–49). As king, Beowulf continued the tradition of lavishing boons upon the most loyal and skilled thanes under his command, and mead and merriment abounded in his realm (2633–42). Those festivities organized after great triumphs were just as much a reward as the wealth and weaponry granted to the prevailing heroes. Not only do they symbolize the hard-won triumph earned in combat itself, they also honor the fulfillment of the inherent promise forged between a king and his thane. 

Services Provided to the King

Equally invaluable is the support a thane pledged to their king. Be it in the form of moral support or military support, the services provided to a king are chief among the reasons why a ruler might elect to secure for himself a circle of thanes. In Beowulf, both the titular character and the paragon of kingly uprightness Hrothgar enjoyed the benefit of moral support from their most trusted thanes. Aeschere the thane was honored as Hrothgar’s “soul mate,” was his friend, “right-hand man,” and mentor (1325–29). His untimely death devastated Hrothgar; the weight of this loss and Hrothgar’s reaction to it further highlighted the integral role he served in his king’s court. Wiglaf’s support of Beowulf was even more emphasized in the text than Aeschere’s support of Hrothgar. Aware of his aged king’s flagging powers, Wiglaf uttered words of encouragement, reminding Beowulf of his ideals and of his honor, thus bolstering him to accomplish his daunting task (2662–68). Soon afterward, Wiglaf joined his king in combat, combining his military might with Beowulf’s, plunging his sword into the dragon’s vulnerable belly (2675–2701). Wiglaf’s martial support was invaluable in the preservation of Beowulf’s reputation as a warrior; he ensured his king died with his honor intact, even at the cost of his life. Whether a thane chooses to support his king via combat or counsel, his impact on the outcome of his king’s endeavors is undeniable. 

When this Bond is Severed 

 When the aforementioned qualities are not prioritized by a king and his thane, certain regrettable failings—notably, cruelty and cowardice—dare threaten to fray their bond. Unfortunately for the likes of King Beowulf and the comrades of the Danish ruler Heremond, not all unions between a lord and a warrior can be as mutually fulfilling and rich as those enjoyed by Wiglaf and Beowulf and Aeschere and Hrothgar. The balance that must be maintained by he who rules is tenuous, as Shield, the legendary founder of the Danish line, knew well. His reputation as a monarch who was generous and terrifying in equal measure illustrates just how fastidiously a ruler must tread if he is to be honored by both his contemporaries and those who would study his exploits in years to follow (4–26). Worse, the Danish king Heremond was nowhere near as canny or conscientious as Shield. Instead of governing his lands and guiding his people with a firm fist and open hand, he brought “only death and destruction” (1712). Remembered by future generations only for his bloodthirsty and selfish nature, Heremond did not honor the Danes with rings, instead carousing and killing his comrades (1709–20). Cowardice, too, decays the bond between a lord and his warriors. “A warrior will sooner/ Die than live a life of shame,” bravely proclaimed Wiglaf to those who had assembled to defeat the dragon (2890–91). Sadly, he and his lord were accompanied that day by ten dishonorable “battle-dodgers” who disrespected their vows and betrayed their king in his moment of greatest peril (2848). Their cowardice contributed to the forthcoming events, in which Beowulf and Wiglaf struggle to slay the dragon, culminating in the storied warrior-king’s death. 

A Foundation in Fealty

In order for the solemn bond between a king and his thane to thrive and prove equally fruitful for all concerned, both the king and his thane must exemplify certain qualities. Monarchs, burdened with authority, must don the mantle of wise, generous liege and remain steadfast and fair in their dealings with their subjects. Their chosen warriors, selected for their faithfulness and aptitude for combat, are well compensated by their grateful lords. Warriors repay their king in kind with unfailing moral and military support. Paradigmatic examples of these bonds—like those of Beowulf and  Wiglaf and of Hrothgar and Aeschere—serve as inspiration for similar relationships within the epic poem and further separate them from the flawed depictions of the monarch-warrior relationship. The aforementioned qualities, notably coveted by the society depicted in Beowulf, as well as their accompanying responsibilities, are paramount in maintaining balance within the monarch-warrior relationship, which, in turn, is essential to the security and prosperity of a Scandinavian kingdom. Without this sacred contract upheld between lord and thane, their nation, their home, might very well fall to ruin.  

Ah, brave traveller, you appear to be dozing where you sit. As your magnanimous host, might I humbly offer you a bed in which to rest for the evening? My beloved library would be delighted to conjure you a room. 

But I understand, dear wanderer: you really must be on your way. You’ve beasts of your own to slay.  Go with my well wishes and a belly full of mead.  May your prowess in battle match that of Beowulf’s in his prime. 

If you’ve enjoyed this moment of literary mischief, please consider subscribing to Myths and Mischief. Each time we publish a new article, an enigmatic, technologically-skilled wizard will promptly notify you. But please, I beg you not to make me explain how any of that nonsense is accomplished; I would hardly know where to begin, I’m afraid. 

Your Ink-stained Archivist bids you farewell. 

Work Cited

Beowulf. The Norton Anthology for English Literature, edited by Steven Greenblatt, 10th ed., vol. A, Norton, 2018, pp. 42–109. 

Rockwell Kent | Beowulf and the Dragon (1931) | Artsy. (n.d.). 

Yale University Press. (2022, April 12). The Lives of Beowulf.