Siegmund

Son of the Chief God Wotan in the guise of Walse, twin brother to Sieglinde, half-brother of the Valkyries and father of Siegfried.

He is of the Walsung line, sired by Wotan under the name Walse to reclaim the ring from the Giant Fafner, the Gods being unable to due to Wotan's agreement with the Giants. While Siegmund and Wotan were hunting, their house was burnt. Siegmund's mother was killed and Sieglinde was taken. Siegmund was abandoned by his father and causes trouble when he meets people, being contemptuous of laws due to his father's manipulation. When he tried to stop a girl being forced into marriage, he was pursued by the kin of those he slew in the process. Siegmund came to the house of his brother-in-law Hunding, who was among those pursuing him. Siegmund called himself Woeful and told his story. Hunding said he would let Siegmund stay for the night but next day they would fight. However Sieglinde shows Siegmund where his father left a sword in a tree for him. Siegmund draws it and calls it Nothung. Siegmund elopes with Sieglinde. Wotan tells his daughter Brunnhilde to protect his son against Hunding, but his wife Fricka forces Wotan to agree to Siegmund's death for his adultery and incest. Wotan says Siegmund could save the gods by taking the ring, but Fricka says he is not a free hero due to Wotan's manipulation. Wotan agrees to prevent going against the law that gives him power. Brunnhilde sees Siegmund's love for his sister and tries to protect him when Hunding finds him but Wotan breaks Nothung with his spear. Siegmund is killed by Hunding with his spear. However he has impregnated Sieglinde, who later gives birth to the hero Siegfried.