Aesir-Vanir War

The war between the Aesir and the Vanir, two tribes of Norse Gods ultimately resulted in the unification of the two races into a single tribe of gods.  Information about the war appears in the Voluspa, a poem in the Poetic Edda, in the Prose Edda and in the Ynglinga saga.

The war broke out between the Aesir and Vanir when the Aesir tortured the Vanir Goddess, Gullveig.  The Aesir bound Gullveig in Odin’s Hall and pierced her with spears.  They burnt her three times in a magical fire, but each time she was reborn.

The Vanir demanded “wergild” (reparations) from Aesir for torturing one of their own and requested equal status to the Aesir.  Instead of meeting the Vanir’s demand, the Aesir waged war against the peaceful Vanir.

The Vanir, however, gained the upper hand in war.  As the Aesir suffered defeat after defeat, they agreed to end the hostility and granted the Vanir equal status.  The peace as followed by a ritual where the two sides each spat in a vessel.  From the combined saliva in the vessel, a man was created, called Kvasir.  Kvasir was so wise that no one could ask him any question to which he did not know the answer.  Kvasir was murdered and his blood became the Mead of Poetry.

This was followed by hostage exchange, to ensure that peace was kept.  The Vanir sent Njord and his song Frey.  The Vanir received Hoenir and Mimir.

At first the Vanir were happy with the exchange and believed Hoenir to be as wise as Mimir.  The Vanir soon discovered otherwise, that Mimir had been secretly giving Hoenir advice.  They felt cheated and decapitated Mimir, returning the head to the Aesir.  Fortunately the Aesir did not retaliate in kind, but instead had the head preserved and used to gain knowledge.  All the gods of the Vanir were subsequently integrated with the Aesir.