Hrothulf

Hrothulf (Old Norse: Hróðúlfr or Hróthúlfr; also anglicized as Hrothulf) is a legendary figure in Norse and Anglo-Saxon heroic literature. The given name combines elements meaning fame or glory and wolf, a common type of compound in early Norse naming.

Attestations and variants: The figure is best known from Beowulf, where he is described as the nephew of King Hrothgar and a Danish prince. In Beowulf, his life is not developed in detail, but a narrative about his early years appears within the Danish royal lineage, used to explore themes of leadership and succession. In medieval Norse sources, especially in sagas such as Hrólfs saga kraki, a figure named Hróðúlfr or Hrothulf appears with variant genealogies and deeds, reflecting differences in tradition and transmission.

Role and interpretation: Across sources, Hrothulf often functions as a foil to ideal kingship. He is depicted as a young prince whose rise to power is treated with ambivalence, and his example is used to discuss the hazards and responsibilities of political ambition, loyalty, and governance. Because the character appears only briefly in Beowulf and with divergent details in saga literature, scholars emphasize that there may be multiple versions of a single legendary figure or overlapping motifs rather than a single, consistent biography.

Scholarly context: Hrothulf is typically examined within the broader framework of early Germanic heroic tradition and the way oral narratives were adapted into written form. The character illustrates how different texts preserve similar names and themes while alteringlineages and deeds to fit particular cultural and political concerns.