Thor Is The Most Iconic Norse / Germanic God... Now.

But Baldur Was The Worlds Favorite Son.

Jan 26, 2025

Odin was a busy god, having anywhere between 7, and 15 sons depending on how you interpret the Eddas. The 7 most well known of them are not disputed as being his biological children by most scholars, but some of the others may have been adopted, or were wards of a sort. Among the most well known, are Thor, and Baldur, of course. Then we have Hod/Hodr, Vidar, Vali, Hermod, and Sigi. Among them, it is no secret that Baldur was Odin’s favorite.

Baldur, The Prince Of Asgard.

As the favored son of Frigg and Odin, Baldur was set to have inherited the 9 realms. That is until a plot by Loki unfolded, where Baldur’s blind brother Hodr was tricked into killing him. This untimely death was a surprise to everyone. Mainly because Baldur was most famously known as being invulnerable. In fact, people would line up to throw rocks and spears at him, just to watch them bounce off, leaving him unharmed. It was such a a tragedy, that his death and the retribution that followed it, are ultimately what led up to Ragnarok. But, that's getting way too far ahead, and way to fast. To fully paint the picture let's go all the way back to his childhood, where we will start at the very beginning to see what made Baldur so special.

Being born to Odin and Frigg, meant Baldur was a prince. Unfortunately being a prince of Asgard with multiple older brothers, meant that he had to earn the title of the future king. Honestly the fact that his mother was Frigg the current queen certainly helped his chances, but still didn't guarantee it. He had to be loved by the people of Asgard, Midgard, and the other inhabited realms, and he was. He was not only the most physically attractive of the Gods, he was also known to be just, fair, and intelligent beyond all measure. He was also so articulate and charismatic, that it is said the Baldur had the runes on his tongue. The one thing that he wasn't, was fearless and dreams of his own death plagued him. His mother Frigg quickly recognized this, and it worried her.

In a quote from the book, Teutonic Myth and Legend, by Donald A. Mackenzie, [1912] it says..

A Mothers Quest

When Frigg learned that her shining son Baldur was having dreams of his own death, it deeply disturbed her. She began a quest travelling across all of the realms of Gods, Elves, Men, and Giants, to ensure that nothing would harm her favorite son. To do this, she obtained Oaths from everything living and otherwise, that they would not ever harm Baldur. They all agreed, and Baldur was safe, for quite some time Frigg was happy. She returned to Asgard, and for the most part everything was fine. Over this time, Baldur grew up and married Nanna, and became even more loved by everyone. Even after their children were born, and the world got to see their son Forseti grow to be just as kind, and virtuous as his parents, they loved Baldur even more. Forseti over time became a peace keeper, in the form of a mediator. His hall Glitnir was used to reconcile and settle all disputes. Baldur was Loved, his children were loved, and he was invulnerable to harm.

Frigg overlooked something though, in all of her travels she simply forgot to get an oath from mistletoe. A harmless enough plant for sure, at least it was until Loki found out about Frigg’s mistake.

Baldur The Invincible.

In the time that Baldur was blessed with physical invulnerability to all things, he would often walk through the streets as citizens launched rocks, and spears, and striking him with clubs. Every time these objects bounced off, leaving Baldur unharmed, and they all laughed about it.

Eventually Loki discovering the secret of Baldur’s only true weakness, and it was only a matter of time before he hatched a devious plot to exploit it. One day soon after that, Baldur was on one of his walks and like normal, the others were throwing things at him. On the sidelines Loki handed a spear tipped with mistletoe to Hodr. Being none the wiser, Hodr throws it, and it strikes and penetrates Baldur’s chest. Killing him in front of the crowd almost instantly.

Baldur Goes To Hel

Odin and Frigg tasked their son Hermod who was also the messenger of the gods, with riding to Helheim and plead with Hel for Baldur’s release.

He rode Sleipnir for 9 nights to reach the gates of the underworld. Along this journey he had already done the impossible, he made it to Hel in record time, and he convinced the Jotun guardian to let him enter. Next he had to find Hel, and convince her to grant Baldur his freedom and life back. He did all of these things, but still, Hel could not simply say yes. If she did, then everyone would be petitioning her for their loved ones. So she made his release conditional. She agreed to release him, but only if everything went for Baldur.

Hermod had his answer, and he had to bring it back to Odin and Frigg. Before Hermod left though, his brother Baldur approached him. In order to prove his mission was met with bravery, Baldur gave Hermod a piece of proof. He handed his brother Draupnir, the magical golden arm band, and commanded him to return it to their father. Then Hermod armed with Hel’s request, and the proof that he met Baldur, began his long journey back to Asgard.

The Gods welcomed Hermod back, and they instantly sprung into action. Frigg and Odin both sent out fleets of messengers. Their command was to have everything weep for Baldur’s return. Across the 9 realms the weeping began, and it wasn't long before nearly all things were weeping for Baldur. Finally a message reaches the last being not weeping, a cave dwelling giantess named Thokk. This female giant refused to weep, and not only that added a message for the Gods. “I have no use for Baldur, and Hel should keep what she has.”

When this dark message was returned to the Gods, they knew instantly that Thokk, was actually Loki in disguise. They knew that Baldur was doomed to stay in hell until the beginning of Ragnarok. Upon which, he and all other beings in Helheim would break free to fight in the battle. Including the hound that guarded the gates, Garm, and even Hel herself.

As told in Voluspa, Stanzas 1 - 65, this battle came. Just as it was foretold, Baldur was released to fight on the side of the Aesir.

The roosters crowed, the horns blew, and the battle began. One by one the Gods and Heroes, and the opposing Giants fell.

When the war was over and the dust settled, there were only 6 gods who survived. In an odd twist of fate, Baldur was among them. He was joined by 3 of his brothers. Vidar, and Vali both made it, and in the truest story of irony the Nornes could weave, Hodr the brother that killed him survived also. The other 2 surviving Gods were the nephews of Baldur, Thor’s 2 sons Magni and Modi. These 6 Gods saved 2 humans Lif, and Lifthrasir, who with these Gods assistance, were tasked with repopulation.

These are our Ancestors. . . .

Links and Sources :

Baldur The Favorite Son -

Baldur Wiki - (For sources) https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldur

Baldur Goes To Hel - https://sacred-texts.com/neu/tml/tml20.htm

After Ragnarok - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%ADf_and_L%C3%ADf%C3%BErasir