What Is The Comitatus Bond In Beowulf

Beowulf

Beowulf translated by Seamus Heaney is a poem that was written in Anglo-Saxon, or Old English. It is about a Scandinavian Prince, Beowulf, who is the “biggest presence among the warriors of the Geats,” and he goes to help the Danes fight off a man eating monster called Grendel, he ends up fighting Grendel’s mother, and he rules for 50 years as king before he ends up fighting a dragon. (Heaney XI). Comitatus is one of the major themes in Beowulf and it is shown constantly throughout the entire book. It is the idea of the Anglo-Saxon culture that warriors show loyalty toward their lord by protecting him through all times at any cost. The reader notices how the Comitatus relationship is shown from Beowulf’s point of view, Grendel’s mother

point of view, and how its traditional values seemed to become lost in the Anglo-Saxon world.
As the reader follows Beowulf’s journey, the Comitatus bond is noticed from the beginning to the end of the poem.

For example, when Beowulf hears of Grendel is in Geatland, “Beowulf announced his plan to sail the swan’s road and search out that king, who needed defenders. He, along with fourteen others boarded the boat as captain,” and they went on their way (199-208).This demonstrates that Beowulf now trusts his men, and he risks his own life to go help Hygelac. This also represents a type of Comitatus not only with Beowulf and his men, but also Beowulf and his men as a whole towards Hygelac since Hygelac’s men cannot fulfill their Comitatus bond between them and Hygelac. This is why Beowulf is seen as a hero because in Anglo-Saxon society, fulfilling the Comitatus bond and doing it well shows great courage and

respect.
Similarly, in Beowulf, the readers see the life of Grendel and Grendel’s mother and how Comitatus is still demonstrated through them even though they are the antagonists of the story. Grendel’s mother was the next in line after she heard about her son, and she “had sallied forth on a savage journey, grief-racked and ravenous, desperate for revenge” (1276-1278). Of course what mother would not be upset if she found out her son was murdered, even if he deserved it. That quote explains how she is very angry and she plans on getting revenge with Beowulf. This is also great example of the Anglo-Saxon society and how they valued their “family” or “lord.” This is the way of Grendel’s mother showing Comitatus for her son.
However, aside from the many examples of the relationship between lord and loyal warriors, towards the end of Beowulf, the warriors show a decline in the traditional Anglo-Saxon cultural value, such as Comitatus.

Towards the beginning of the story when Beowulf fights Grendel and Grendel’s mother, the reader sees that the warriors help, but at the end of Beowulf when he is fighting the dragon, he has “no help or backing was to be had then from his high-born comrades; that hand-picked troop broke ranks and ran for their lives to safety of the wood” (2596-2599). This demonstrates the deterioration of the Comitatus bond between Beowulf and his warriors. They left him in battle by himself, but this did give Beowulf a chance to show Comitatus himself towards his warriors, even though they betrayed

him.
In conclusion, Beowulf and his warriors showed a Comitatus bond throughout the entire poem and Beowulf got a chance to prove himself, not that he needed it, and he succeeded at doing what he planned on doing. Although there was a decline in Comitatus toward the end of the story, it says something that Wiglaf was the only warrior to stand by his king’s side the entire time. He is the example of a true hero and warrior.