Völsungars

The Völsungar, or the Völsungs, are a legendary Norse dynasty whose story is primarily chronicled in the Völsunga Saga, a 13th-century Icelandic prose work. This saga draws upon earlier Germanic heroic poetry and forms a crucial part of the Norse mythological cycle. The Völsungar are known for their tragic fate, driven by fate, vengeance, and the curse associated with the treasure of the dwarf Andvari.

The lineage begins with Völsung, a king of the Huns, who had a son named Sigmund. Sigmund is a central figure, renowned for his strength and his possession of the magical sword Gram, which was once thrust into the trunk of a tree by Odin. His life is marked by constant strife and the loss of his family. His son, Sinfjötli, shares in many of his adventures, and together they engage in various heroic deeds and feuds.

The saga's most famous descendant is Sigurd, son of Sigmund and the sorceress Borghild. Sigurd is a legendary dragon-slayer, famed for defeating Fafnir and acquiring the cursed ring Andvaranaut. His life is a tapestry of love, betrayal, and ultimately, a violent end, intricately linked to the fate of the Völsung family. The Völsungar's story explores themes of honor, loyalty, destiny, and the destructive nature of greed and vengeance.