Beowulf the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland (Götaland in modern Sweden) and later becomes king of the Geats. After a period of fifty years has passed, Beowulf defeats a dragon, but is mortally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory. The full story survives in the manuscript known as the Nowell Codex.
Harald the Old Harald the Old Harald Valdarsson, also known as Harald the Old (, born circa 568) appears only by name in "Hversu Noregr byggðist", but his father, sons and their descendants played a central role in the politics of Scandinavian legends. "Hversu Noregr byggðist" tells that he was the son of Valdar, who was the son of Hróarr (i.e. king Hroðgar of "Beowulf"), and Harald was the father of Halfdan the Valiant and the grandfather of Ivar Vidfamne. "Skjöldunga saga" tells that the same Valdar (i.e. Harald's father) disputed that Rörek, the cousin of Hróarr (Hroðgar) should succeed Hrólfr Kraki (Hroðulf)