Beowulf emphasizes the importance of loyalty. Beowulf is fiercely loyal, as seen in his allegiance to his king Hygelac, to his host Hrothgar, to his own faithful men, such as Wiglaf, and to his Geatish citizens. Although he could have easily seized the throne from Hygelac or Hrothgar, he is much too loyal to wage a battle against a friend. Nowhere does the reader find Beowulf acting contrary to the ideal of loyalty. As a Nordic- Germanic warrior, he believes in avenging the death of a friend or kin; and as a just king, he believes in loyalty to his subjects and protecting his people from harm. A successful king won from his followers complete loyalty. Their duty was to defend him in battle, even to give up their own lives to defend or avenge his. (This would have made the actions of Beowulf's followers in the dragon episode even more shocking to the listeners.) In return, the king gave his followers gifts from the spoils of war. Royal generosity was one of the most important aspects of the king's character; it symbolized that his retainers deserved what they were given because of their loyalty, and showed that the king was worthy of such loyalty