Helgi Hundingsbane
The young hero of the First Lay who kills Hunding and answers Sigrun's appeal.
Overview
Helgi is the son of Sigmund and Borghild, and brother to Sinfjotli. Helgakvitha Hundingsbana I first has him kill Hunding, then lead a fleet against Hothbrodd after Sigrun names the pledge imposed on her. The lay does not supply a fully reconcilable genealogy or calendar for these conflicts.
Key facts
Named and takes the field
Sigmund names him; the lay later places his battle with Hothbrodd at unlocatable Frekastein.
Blood-debt follows
After Hunding's death, the lay immediately turns to his sons' demand for requital from Helgi.
Relationships
- Sigmundfather of
The poem calls Helgi the son of Sigmund.
- Borghildmother of
At Helgi's birth, the poem calls him Borghild's son.
- Nornsshape the fate of
At Helgi's birth, the Norns allot him fame and a course of life.
- Hundingkills
Helgi kills Hunding when he is fifteen.
- Sons of Hundingdemand redress from
Hunding's sons demand payment from Helgi for their father and property.
- Sons of Hundingkills
At the battle of Logafjoll, Helgi kills Hunding's sons.
- Sigrunpromises to fight for
Helgi answers Sigrun that he will meet the matter in battle before she is taken unwillingly.
- Sinfjotlibrothers
The poem calls Sinfjotli Helgi's brother.
- Sigrunaids in the storm
When waves threaten the fleet, Sigrun aids Helgi and his men.
- Hothbrodddefeats and kills
Helgi defeats Hothbrodd in the battle at Frekastein.
- Dagkills with a spear
At Fjoturlund, Dag pierces Helgi with Odin’s spear.
- Fjoturlundfalls here
Both the prose and Dag’s report place Helgi’s death at Fjoturlund.
- Odinreceives in Valhalla
An inserted prose passage says Helgi reaches Valhalla, where Odin asks him to rule all things with him.
Story appearances
- The First Lay of Helgi HundingsbaneHero drawn by fate into conflict
Helgi links the lay from birth and blood-debt through promise to battle, but victory does not erase the conflict's cost.
- Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II: Dag and the MoundFigure or place in the Dag, mourning, and mound-visit sequence
The young hero of the First Lay who kills Hunding and answers Sigrun's appeal.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.