Gunnar

Family: Gjukungs · Role: son of Giuki; king · First appears: Elder Edda · The Lay of Hyndla

In the Lay of Hyndla, Gunnar is named as a son of Giuki, brother of Hogni and Gudrun, and brother of Guthorm, who is not of Giuki’s race. In Gripir’s Prophecy, Gripir foretells that Grimhild will urge Sigurd to seek Brynhild for Gunnar, and that Sigurd and Gunnar will exchange forms after swearing oaths with Hogni. In the Fragments of the Lay of Sigurd and Brynhild, Grimhild counsels Gunnar to woo Brynhild and consults Sigurd. Sigurd rides through the flame in Gunnar’s semblance and claims Brynhild; she is delivered to Gunnar as his wife.

In the Third Lay of Sigurd Fafnicide, Sigurd and Giuki’s sons exchange oaths and pledges of friendship. After Brynhild urges Gunnar to have Sigurd slain, Gunnar consults Hogni, who tries to dissuade him because of their oaths. They arrange for Guthorm to kill Sigurd, and in the Fragments of the Lay of Brynhild, Gunnar and Hogni are said to have killed Sigurd with their swords. They take Fafnir’s gold and rule the lands. Gunnar seeks Oddrun’s hand but does not obtain it, then marries Glaumvor. The Slaughter of the Niflungs recounts dissension between the Gjukungs and Atli over Brynhild’s death; Gudrun warns Gunnar and Hogni not to go to Atli.

In the Lay of Atli, Gunnar nevertheless sets out for Atli’s land with Hogni. Gudrun warns him that he has been betrayed and urges him to flee, but he is seized and bound; Hogni protects his hands. After Gunnar says the hidden Niflung gold is beyond Atli’s reach, Atli has him cast into a serpent-filled pen. In the Younger Edda’s account, Gunnar plays a harp with his toes while fettered, but an adder bites him in the breast, and he dies.