Cursed Magical Dainsleif Sword Of King Hogni And Legendary Battle That Continues Until The Coming Of Ragnarok

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - A sword similar to Tyrfing, described in our earlier article on Ancient Pages, is Dainsleif. It was made by Dain, one of the dwarfs mentioned in the Voluspá, one of the poems of the Poetic Edda.

According to Snorri Sturluson, the cursed sword Dainsleif (Dáinsleif) belonged to king Högni. Like Tyrfing and other formidable and magical weapons, Dainsleif caused serious wounds that could never be healed.

This dangerous weapon could kill instantly; only one blow from Dainsleif was always deadly. Once drawn by its holder, the sword had only one goal – to destroy it before it could return to the sheath again.

The history of the magical weapon 'Dainsleif' is not known, but an ancient belief says that the name initially symbolized the sword as a grave gift (or "Dain's heirloom" and was not only related to the dwarf, Dain, who created it. However, the sword possesses specific, powerful, magical abilities similar to Tyrfing. It may have been associated with Valhalla, the Hall of Dead warriors who died a heroic death.

The sword is mentioned in the story recounted in the Prose of Edda. The story is about the legendary warrior king Hogni, his beautiful daughter, Hild (Hildr), and the never-ending Battle of the Hjadnings, also known as the "Battle of the Followers of Hedin."

In his "Legends of Gods and Heroes," Peter A. Munch writes:

"….Once upon a time, when Hogni had gone to a meeting of kings, his daughter was taken captive by king Hedin Hjarrandason.

It is believed the Gotland's stones tell an Icelandic saga about the abduction of King's daughter, Hild. Viking Age stones are located in Stora Hammars, Lärbro parish, Gotland, Sweden. Image credit: bungemuseet.se

As soon as Hogni learned about what happened, he set out at the head of his soldiers in pursuit of Hedin. He got the news that Hedin had taken flight toward the north, but when Hogni reached Norway, he was told that Hedin had shaped his course over the western seas. .."

Hogni decided to continue his pursuit and finally found Hedin off the island of Haey [modern Hoy in Orkney, Scotland].

"Hild went to her father and offered him terms of peace in Hedin's name; or, in case he refused, an alternative struggle for life or death."

Once again, the abductor of Hild, Hedin, offered new peace terms proposing compensation in the form of a heap of gold. King Hogni disagreed; he was ready to use his powerful Dainsleif and kill the abductor to rescue his daughter. Hogni refused to accept the proposed terms; the two kings prepared their warriors to battle on the island.

This fragment of the Gotland's stone may depict Hild, the daughter of Hogni involved in the eternal battle with Hedin, the king. Image credit: Berig - CC BY-SA 3.0

So he answered:

"It is too late; I have already drawn the sword Dainsleif, forged in the smithy of the Dwarfs; each time it is bared, some man must lose his life; its stroke can never be arrested, and the wounds it makes are never healed."

A battle began, and the two kings fought the whole day, with many casualties. At night, when Hogni and Hedin returned to their ships, Hogni's daughter stayed on the battlefield and began resurrecting all the fallen warriors using her magic incantations.

The next day, the kings began their struggle again, involving all those who had been slain the day before.

Perhaps the Battle of the Hjadnings was not eternal, but it continued daily for 143 years, according to some sources.

"All who fell and all weapons and shields that were left on the field turned to stone, but as each new morning broke, the slain rose up armed and ready for the fray."

The eternal fights of the magically revived warriors can be compared to the battles and glorious life of the einherjar, the souls of warriors in Valhalla who enjoy daily fighting.

The Battle of the Hjadnings had to continue until the coming of the Twilight of the Gods.

This terrible time - the Ragnarok, is the ultimate war between the gods and the giants at the end of time.

Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com  Senior Staff Writer

Updated on November 28, 2022

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