Sigmund

In Germanic mythology, Sigmund emerges as a foundational hero whose exploits form the backbone of the Völsunga saga, one of the most influential cycles in Norse legend. Born to the mighty warrior Völsung and his wife Hljod, Sigmund and his twin sister Signý stand at the heart of a tale filled with tragedy, vengeance, and supernatural power.

Sigmund's legend is marked by extraordinary feats that separate him from ordinary mortals. As a scion of the Völsung line—descendants of Odin himself—Sigmund possesses superhuman strength and resilience. His defining achievement comes when he alone succeeds in drawing a magical sword from the Branstock, a massive tree growing through the center of his father's hall. This sword, plunged into the tree by a mysterious one-eyed wanderer (Odin in disguise), becomes Sigmund's birthright and symbol of his heroic destiny.

After the treacherous slaughter of Völsung and his sons by his brother-in-law King Siggeir, Sigmund survives in the wilderness, sustained by his sister Signý's secret aid. Together they plot a decades-long revenge, culminating in Siggeir's death and the destruction of his kingdom.

In his later years, Sigmund rules as a powerful king until falling in battle when Odin himself appears to shatter his legendary sword. Before his death, he entrusts the fragments to his pregnant wife Hjördís, prophesying that their unborn son will reforge the weapon and achieve even greater glory.

Though most famously known as the father of the dragon-slayer Sigurð (Siegfried), Sigmund's own tale stands as a complete heroic cycle independent of his son's more widely known adventures. His story represents themes of divine lineage, the consequences of oath-breaking, and the inescapable nature of fate that characterize Germanic heroic literature.