Sigmund

Greatest of Völsung's sons; the only man able to draw Odin's sword Gram from the tree Barnstokkr. Sole survivor of Siggeir's massacre of the Vǫlsungar, he lived as an outlaw and, with his son Sinfjötli, took vengeance. Father of Sinfjötli (by Signý), Helgi Hundingsbane (by Borghild) and, posthumously, Sigurd (by Hjördís). Already named in Beowulf as Sigemund the dragon-slayer — a role the later tradition transfers to his son.

Parentage

• father: VölsungEldest son of Völsung.Vǫlsunga saga ch. 2-3 (primary)

Children

• Helgi Hundingsbane
• Sigurd
• Sinfjötli

Powers

• Unharmed by venom touched to the skin
• alone can draw Odin's sword Gram from the tree Barnstokkr

Epithets

• Vǫlsungr Old Norse · Vǫlsungr · patronymic'the Vǫlsung', scion and greatest of Vǫlsung's sonsVǫlsunga saga; Helgakviða Hundingsbana (primary)

Relations

• father: VölsungEldest son of Völsung.Vǫlsunga saga ch. 2-3 (primary)
• sibling: SignýTwin of Signý.Vǫlsunga saga ch. 3 (primary)
• father of: SinfjötliSon by his sister Signý.Vǫlsunga saga ch. 7 (primary)
• father of: Helgi HundingsbaneSon by Borghild.Helgakviða Hundingsbana I, prose (primary)
• father of: SigurdSon by Hjördís, born after Sigmund's death.Vǫlsunga saga ch. 12 (primary)
• spouse: BorghildReciprocal of norse_borghild.spouse (alphabetical family sweep). (auto reciprocal)
• spouse: HjördísReciprocal of norse_hjordis.spouse (alphabetical family sweep). (auto reciprocal)
• enemy: SiggeirReciprocal of norse_siggeir.enemy (alphabetical family sweep). (auto reciprocal)

Sources

• existence: Vǫlsunga saga ch. 3-12 (primary); Beowulf 874-897 (Sigemund the Wælsing, the oldest attestation) (primary)
• sword-from-Barnstokkr: Vǫlsunga saga ch. 3 (primary)