Sinfjotli

Also known as: Sinfjofli · Family: Volsungs · Role: son of Signy and Sigmund · First appears: Chapter VII · Of the Birth of Sinfjotli the Son of Sigmund

In Chapter VII, Signy gave birth to Sinfjotli, her son by Sigmund, and later sent him to Sigmund’s earth-house. In Chapter VIII, Sigmund judged him too young for revenge and meant to harden him with deeds. After they put on wolf-skins and could not remove them, Sigmund bit him in the throat when Sinfjotli had killed eleven men without calling for help; once freed, they burned the skins. Sinfjotli then slew Signy’s two children at her urging.

When Siggeir imprisoned Sinfjotli and Sigmund in a stone barrow, Signy secretly gave him Sigmund’s sword, and the two escaped. They burned Siggeir’s hall and faced him, with Sigmund declaring, “all the Volsungs are not yet dead.” Signy then revealed that Sinfjotli was the son of both her and Sigmund, and that she had worked to avenge Volsung. When Helgi went to war, Sinfjotli shared command with him.

In Chapter X, Sinfjotli slew a king while fighting over a woman both he and the king’s brother desired. At a feast, Borghild gave him a poisoned drink; he drank and fell dead.