Svanhild

Also known as: Swanhild · Family: Volsungs · Role: daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun · First appears: Elder Edda · The Third Lay of Sigurd Fafnicide · Part 2

In the Third Lay of Sigurd Fafnicide, Brynhild foretells that Gudrun will bear and rear Svanhild, daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun, and send her from the land. In Gudrun’s Incitement, Svanhild is reared and given in marriage to Jormunrek. In the Younger Edda’s Poetical Diction, Jormunrek sends his son Randver to ask for her hand, and Svanhild is delivered to him.

In Gudrun’s Incitement, Bikki urges Randver to take Svanhild, then reveals this to Jormunrek, who has Randver hanged and Svanhild trampled beneath horses’ feet. In the Lay of Hamdir, Gudrun tells Svanhild’s brothers Hamdir and Sorli that their sister was killed by horses. In the Younger Edda, Gudrun urges her sons to avenge Svanhild.