The Inheritance That Led to War

Why did a dispute over an inheritance lead to war?

After Heidrek's death, Hlod visits his brother Angantyr, who has become king of the Goths, to claim his inheritance. He wants half of everything: livestock, people, land and treasure. Angantyr refuses both to divide the sword Tyrfing in two and to hand over half the inheritance.

Instead, he offers great treasures and the right to rule 1/3 of the kingdom. But old Gizur mocks Hlod, saying that this is quite enough for a slave woman's son. Furious, Hlod returns to the land of the Huns. The following spring, a vast army of Huns gathers and marches into the land of the Goths.

Heidrek's daughter Hervor spots the enemy army from the fortress she has been charged with defending. She gathers soldiers and fights, but the enemy greatly outnumbers them, and she falls. In time, Angantyr also leads his army into battle. They fight for 8 days without a victory. No one knows how many have fallen.

With Tyrfing in his hand, Angantyr charges the enemy. The brothers cross swords, and Hlod falls. The victorious king finds his brother among the dead and laments that he has killed him. His final words are that the judgment of the Norns is cruel.

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