Kullervo

Son of Kalervo

Tragic Hero in the Kalevala

Karelian / Finnish Mythology

Kullervo is a hero in the Kalevala who embodies vengeance, wrath, hardship, tragedy, and sorrow. His Cantos (runes) are recited by Väinämöinen as a cautionary tale of what happens when children are mistreated.

Kullervo’s Family

The majority of Kullervo’s story revolves around his family and their troubles. His father and uncle are in a longstanding feud, which leads to chaos and trouble in the hero’s life.

• Father: Kalervo
• Uncle: Untamo
• Sister: Maiden with a Silver Brooch
• Mother: Untamala
• Second Sister: Unnamed

There are several variations of the story of Kullervo, each of which has the same themes and ultimate ending, but the details may vary between each account.

Relics Possessed by Kullervo

Kullervo possesses a magical broadsword that Ukko gave him. As he quests for revenge, the vengeful character prays to Ukko for a sword to dispatch his enemies. Ukko grants the wish, and Kullervo’s blood-thirsty quest for vengeance begins.

This sword also possesses the power to kill the hero, who previously appeared as immortal.

Kullervo’s Tragic Story

The story of this tragic hero begins with a feud between his father, Kalervo, and his uncle, Untamo. After some minor skirmishes, the feud escalates. Untamo slaughters the entire Kalervo tribe except for one pregnant maiden, Untamala. Ultimately, Untamala gives birth to Kullervo in captivity.

Kullervo displays his tendencies for revenge at just 3 months old. As a baby, his vows for vengeance and the destruction of Untamo’s tribe are heard by his uncle. Consequently, Untamo seeks to dispatch the young boy. First, he attempts to drown the boy, but the boy survives. Next, Untamo sets the boy on fire. However, to his dismay, the boy is unscathed. Finally, the vicious uncle attempts to hang Kullervo, but his neck is too strong and he survives the attempt.

Untamo’s Attempts to Exploit Kullervo’s Magical Abilities

After the attempts to murder the child, it becomes apparent that Kullervo possesses supernatural abilities. Untamo sees an opportunity to exploit the young boy and seeks to employ his magical powers.

Initially, Untamo assigns Kullervo to watch over a baby. Possessing superior strength and still a boy himself, Kullervo accidentally rocks the baby’s cradle too violently, resulting in its death. Seeing this, Untamo decides to put the boy to work elsewhere.

Next, Kullervo is tasked to chop wood. This task would certainly benefit from his great strength. However, the reckless boy swung the axe too carelessly, chopping down a large section of forest. The wood felled was in shambles and far greater than the need of the tribe. Yet again, Kullervo made matters worse for Untamo and the tribe.

Finally, Untamo set Kullervo on a task to go fishing. But the boy had no interest in work and little patience. He ripped the nets from the lake with such force it tore the nets and damaged the boat along with its equipment. Seeing that the boy was a lost cause, Untamo decides to sell him as a slave to Ilmarinen, the Eternal Blacksmith.

Maiden of Pohjola’s Disdain of Kullervo

The Maiden of Pohjola became a bitter and disdainful woman after marrying Ilmarinen. Her resentment for her husband arose from leaving the beloved Northlands. When Kallervo enters their home, she notices his reckless nature and the misfortune that follows him. To her, the servant boy is just a disruption in her household, fueling her resentment even more.

Knowing that his only possession is the knife from his slain family. Ilmarinen’s wife concocts a plan to sabotage the boy. She bakes a stone into a loaf of bread and offers it to the young boy one day when he comes back from herding their cows. As he attempts to cut into the loaf, Kullervo’s family knife is broken. He becomes infuriated by the insult and swiftly calculates his revenge on the cruel woman.

Kullervo herds the cows into the forest and summons a pack of bears and wolves. Next, he uses his magic to transmute them into cows and herds them back to the farmhouse. Finally, he tells the cruel woman to milk the cows.

Upon entering the pasture, the cows transform back into the beasts and maul Ilmarinen’s wife. After her death, Kullervo leaves the farm and begins to return to his homelands.

Kullervo Reunites With His Family

On his journey through the wilderness, the young runaway encounters an old hag. She advises him that his family actually survived the attack from Untamo. Delighted, he sets out to return to his ancestral homelands and reunites with his family.

Kullervo is greeted by his mother, father, and sister. However, he learns that he has another sister who has gone missing. Kalervo, Kullervo’s father, puts his son to work rowing their fishing boat. Kullervo asks if he should do so with all his might, and subsequently shatters the boat’s aspen ribs. With the boat severely damaged, Kalervo assigns his son to thresh the water.

Similarly, Kullervo threshes the water with all his might, splitting the nets and mangling the fish into chum. Again, Kalervo sees his son as unfit to fulfill this task. Unable to find suitable work for the careless Kullervo, his father sets him on a task to pay the family’s taxes.

Kullervo’s Sister Dies

After paying the debts, he begins his return home from Pohjola. Kullervo spots a beautiful maiden from his sleigh. As he stops, he attempts to court the woman. She swiftly rejects him, wishing death and sickness upon his sleigh.

Further down the road, the traveler encounters another maiden. His requests to have the woman enter his sleigh are met again with harsh words. This maiden wishes Tuoni the chance to ride with the brash traveler.

As he continues home, he comes across another maiden with a silver brooch, indicating she is of poor standing. Again, Kullervo attempts to seduce the maiden but is rebuked. After this reproach, Kullervo snatches the woman and drags her into his sleigh.

The maiden with the silver brooch creates a commotion in the sleigh, spurring Kullervo to open his coffers of silver and revealing his finest fabrics. With some cunning words, the traveler convinces the maiden to lie in bed with him.

In the morning, the maiden with the silver brooch asks what family Kullervo hails from. Horror fills the maiden upon hearing he is the son of Kalervo. She, too, is the middle daughter of Kalervo. The maiden wearily tells her story of why she ran away and swiftly jumps out of the sleigh and into a nearby river with swift rapids. The whirlpool to Tuonela ultimately takes the life of Kullervo’s sister.

This encounter drives Kullervo into a rage.

Kullervo’s Demise

Stricken with grief and rage, the vengeful nature of Kullervo re-emerges. He vows revenge upon Untamo. Despite his family’s attempt to dissuade him, the foolhardy Kullervo sets out upon his mission. Only his mother said she would mourn his death.

During his quest for retribution, the vengeful Kullervo asks Ukko for a magical sword. His request is granted, and he receives a broadsword with great power. As he journeys to Untamo’s village, three separate messengers hail him. Each tells him of the death of one of his family members. Each messenger is addressed with indifference and dismissed.

Kullervo reaches Untamo’s lands and lays waste to the entire tribe. He spares no woman or child before razing the lands to the ground. Once he returns home, he finds his family’s house abandoned. Distraught, he sets out to the spot where his sister jumped into the rapids.

Despite his magical ability of immortality, Kullervo prays to Ukko to allow the magical broadsword to take his life. The broadsword, eager to spill his blood, accepts. The tragic hero throws himself on the magical sword, finally ending his own life.