Randver

Family: Goths · Role: son of Jormunrek · First appears: Chapter XLI · Of the Wedding and Slaying of Swanhild

In Chapter XLI, Randver, son of Jormunrek, and Swanhild speak sweetly to one another and declare their love. Bikki accuses them of betraying Jormunrek, and the king orders his son hanged. On seeing a plucked hawk, Jormunrek bids that Randver be released, but Bikki has already had him killed.

The Whetting of Gudrun tells how Bikki counsels Randver to take Swanhild, and how, after Bikki informs Jormunrek, the king has Randver hanged and Swanhild trampled by horses.

Relationship record

Life events

• Randver and Swanhild declare their love for one another.(Chapter XLI · Of the Wedding and Slaying of Swanhild)
  • With: Swanhild
  • “Good seemed that word to the heart of the king's son, and he spake to her with sweet words, and she to him in like wise.”
• Bikki accuses Randver and Swanhild of betraying Jormunrek.(Chapter XLI · Of the Wedding and Slaying of Swanhild)
  • With: Jormunrek Swanhild Bikki
  • “So they came aland and go unto the king, and Bikki said unto him, ‘Meet and right it is, lord, that thou shouldst know what is befallen, though hard it be to tell of, for the tale must be concerning thy beguiling, whereas thy son has gotten to him the full love of Swanhild, nor is she other than his harlot; but thou, let not the deed be unavenged.’”
• Jormunrek orders Randver hanged; when he sees the plucked hawk he bids him delivered from the gallows, but too late.(Chapter XLI · Of the Wedding and Slaying of Swanhild)
  • With: Jormunrek
  • “and when the king saw it, then he said, ‘Now may folk behold that he deemeth my honour to be gone away from me, even as the feathers of this hawk;’ and therewith he bade deliver him from the gallows.”
• Before the king's word can save him, Bikki has wrought his will and Randver is dead.(Chapter XLI · Of the Wedding and Slaying of Swanhild)
  • With: Bikki
  • “But in that while had Bikki wrought his will, and Randver was dead-slain.”
• In the Whetting of Gudrun, Bikki counsels Randver to take Swanhild, and the young folk agree.(Edda · The Whetting of Gudrun)
  • With: Bikki Swanhild
  • “and gave such counsel to Randver, the king's son, as that he should take her; and with that counsel were the young folk well content.”
• In the Whetting of Gudrun, after Bikki tells the king, Jormunrek has Randver hanged and Swanhild trampled by horses.(Edda · The Whetting of Gudrun)
  • With: Jormunrek Bikki Swanhild
  • “Then Bikki told the king, and the king let hang Randver, but bade Swanhild be trodden under horses' feet.”

Chapter XLI · Of the Wedding and Slaying of Swanhild

• parent: Jormunrek “Jormunrek was the name of a mighty king of those days, and his son was called Randver.”
• courtship with Swanhild “Good seemed that word to the heart of the king's son, and he spake to her with sweet words, and she to him in like wise.”
• enemies with Jormunrek “wherefore he, who might nowise still the wrath within him, cried out that Randver should be taken and tied up to the gallows-tree.”
• enemies with Bikki “But in that while had Bikki wrought his will, and Randver was dead-slain.”
• admired: Swanhild “Good seemed that word to the heart of the king's son, and he spake to her with sweet words, and she to him in like wise.”

Edda · The Whetting of Gudrun

• admired: Swanhild “and gave such counsel to Randver, the king's son, as that he should take her; and with that counsel were the young folk well content.”
• enemies with Jormunrek “Then Bikki told the king, and the king let hang Randver”
• parent: Jormunrek “Randver, the king's son”

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Extracted from the original text of The Story of the Volsungs. Made with Rho MD.