Guthorm

Also known as: Gothorm / Guttorm · Family: Gjukungs · Role: stepson of Giuki · First appears: Elder Edda · The Lay of Hyndla

In the Lay of Hyndla, Guttorm is named as brother to Gunnar and Hogni, though not of Giuki’s race. The Poetical Diction calls Gothorm Giuki’s stepson and names Grimhild as his mother; the Fragments of the Lay of Sigurd and Brynhild also list Guthorm among her sons. In Gripir’s Prophecy, Gripir foretells that Gudrun will be furious when her brothers resolve on Sigurd’s death.

In the Third Lay of Sigurd Fafnicide, Gunnar and Hogni plan to have their younger brother Guthorm kill Sigurd, since he is free of sworn oaths to him. The Fragments say they offer him gold and a realm; the Poetical Diction says Brynhild urged them to arrange the killing through him. Guthorm attacks Sigurd while he is sleeping, but Sigurd throws Gram and kills him. In the Second Lay of Gudrun, Gudrun says her brothers caused Sigurd’s death and reports that his body lay beyond the river, slain by Guthorm.