Sigmund

Also known as: King Sigmund · Family: Volsungs · Role: son of Volsung · First appears: Chapter II · Of the Birth of Volsung, the Son of Rerir, who was the Son of Sigi

In Chapter II, Volsung and Ljod had ten sons and a daughter, including the twins Sigmund and Signy. In Chapter III, Sigmund drew the sword from the Branstock and refused to sell it to Siggeir, who grew angry and secretly planned to repay him. After Siggeir attacked and killed Volsung and his men in Chapter V, Sigmund alone survived among his captured brothers: he escaped the stocks and the she-wolf, and Signy hid him in the wild-wood and supplied him. At her counsel he killed her sons, and later she bore their son Sinfjotli and sent him to Sigmund.

In Chapter VIII, Sigmund and Sinfjotli joined forces to avenge Volsung. They escaped imprisonment in a stone barrow and burned Siggeir’s hall; Signy revealed that Sinfjotli was her son and Sigmund’s, then died in the burning. Sigmund returned to his father’s land, drove out the usurping king, and took Borghild as his wife; they had two sons, Helgi and Hamund. When Borghild sought vengeance for her brother’s death, Sigmund refused to drive Sinfjotli away and offered atonement; later he drove Borghild away.

In Chapter XI, Hjordis chose Sigmund, and they were betrothed and wed. In battle against Lyngi, a one-eyed man broke Sigmund’s sword with a bill; Sigmund, Eylimi, and most of their people fell. Wounded, Sigmund refused healing and died at day-dawning, with Hjordis sitting over him. In Chapter XVII, his son Sigurd avenged him.