# Lemminkainen — The Kalevala character guide > Lemminkainen in The Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot. **Role:** major **Also known as:** the reckless Lemminkainen, Kaukomieli, wild Lemminkainen, the fearless Lemminkainen, the warlike Lemminkainen, the merry Lemminkainen, the hardy Lemminkainen, the artful Lemminkainen, young Lemminkainen, the lively Lemminkainen, the mighty Lemminkainen, brave Kaukomieli, wild Kaukomieli, Lempo, Son of Lempo, cruel Lempo **First appearance:** 0014-rune-xi-lemminkainen-s-lament ## Snapshot Reckless hunter and charmer who laughs at danger, he chases Louhi's daughter through fire and forest with more bravado than sense. ## Who they are Lemminkainen is the wild adventurer of Kalevala, a singing hunter whose charm and daring make him both beloved and infuriating. His flaw is his own confidence: he accepts Louhi's impossible trials, from the moose of Hisi to the flaming horse, certain his luck will hold. His exploits inject reckless energy into the epic's middle runes, testing the limits of heroism and setting up the resurrection story that defines him. ## Relationships ### [Ahti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/ahti) _friendship_ Ahti is an alternate name or epithet for Lemminkainen, representing the same character in different contexts. ### [Wainamoinen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/wainamoinen) _friendship_ Lemminkainen and Wainamoinen are fellow heroes who often travel together and aid each other in battles. ### [Ilmarinen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/ilmarinen) _friendship_ Ilmarinen and Lemminkainen are comrades in arms, working together on various heroic exploits. ### [Louhi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/louhi) _rivalry_ Lemminkainen repeatedly clashes with Louhi, who tries to thwart his attempts to marry her daughter. ### [Kyllikki](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/kyllikki) _romantic_ Kyllikki is Lemminkainen's wife, whom he abducts and later struggles to keep faithful. ### [Sahri](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/sahri) _romantic_ Sahri is one of Lemminkainen's many lovers, representing his philandering nature. ### [Ilmarinen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/ilmarinen) _friendship_ Ilmarinen and Lemminkainen are comrades in arms, working together on various heroic exploits. ### [Sahri](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/sahri) _romantic_ Sahri is one of Lemminkainen's many lovers, representing his philandering nature. ### [Ilmarinen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/ilmarinen) _friendship_ Ilmarinen and Lemminkainen are comrades in arms, working together on various heroic exploits. ### [Wainamoinen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/wainamoinen) _friendship_ Lemminkainen and Wainamoinen are fellow heroes who often travel together and aid each other in battles. ### [Kyllikki](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/kyllikki) _romantic_ Kyllikki is Lemminkainen's wife, whom he abducts and later struggles to keep faithful. ### [Louhi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/louhi) _rivalry_ Lemminkainen repeatedly clashes with Louhi, who tries to thwart his attempts to marry her daughter. ## In the story ### [The Kalevala](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/the-kalevala) Reckless adventurer, part of the epic's cast. ### [Proem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/proem) Referenced as Kaukomieli, from whose sword the legends came; also said to have died in the games. ### [Rune VIII: Maiden of the Rainbow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-viii-maiden-of-the-rainbow) Not directly present, but referenced in the context of the broader narrative. ### [Rune XI: Lemminkainen’s Lament](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xi-lemminkainen-s-lament) The reckless hero who woos and forcibly abducts Kyllikki, ignoring his mother's advice. ### [Rune XII: Kyllikki’s Broken Vow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xii-kyllikki-s-broken-vow) Enraged by Kyllikki's broken vow, he resolves to go to war in Northland, ignoring his mother's warnings. ### [Rune XIII: Lemminkainen's Second Wooing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xiii-lemminkainen-s-second-wooing) The reckless hero attempts to woo Louhi's daughter and undertakes the impossible task of capturing the Hiisi moose. ### [Rune XIV: Death of Lemminkainen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xiv-death-of-lemminkainen) The reckless hero undertakes three tests set by Louhi: capturing the moose of Hisi, bridling the flaming horse, and hunting the swan of Tuoni; he succeeds in the first two but meets his death at the river of Tuoni. ### [Rune XV: Lemminkainen’s Restoration](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xv-lemminkainen-s-restoration) The hero who was killed in Tuonela while hunting the swan; restored to life by his mother. ### [Rune XX: The Brewing of Beer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xx-the-brewing-of-beer) Referred to as wild and trouble-making; explicitly excluded from the wedding invitation by Louhi. ### [Rune XXVI: Origin of the Serpent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxvi-origin-of-the-serpent) The reckless hero, also called Kaukomieli, determines to go to Pohyola's wedding despite his mother's warnings, boasting of his magic and sword. ### [Rune XXVII: The Unwelcome Guest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxvii-the-unwelcome-guest) Arrives uninvited to the feast, insults the host, kills him in a duel, and spits his head on a picket. ### [Rune XXVIII: The Mother’s Counsel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxviii-the-mother-s-counsel) Flees from Pohyola after a deadly fight, transforms into an eagle, and seeks his mother's counsel. ### [Rune XXIX: The Isle of Refuge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxix-the-isle-of-refuge) The reckless hero flees to the Isle of Refuge, uses magic to enchant the island, spends three summers with the maidens, and returns home to find his mother's dwelling destroyed. ### [Rune XXX: The Frost-Fiend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxx-the-frost-fiend) Reckless hero determined to avenge his mother; uses magic to defeat the Frost-fiend. ### [Rune XXXIX: Wainamoinen's Sailing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xxxix-wainamoinen-s-sailing) Joins the expedition after recognizing the vessel, offering his skills in warfare. ### [Birth of the Harp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xl-birth-of-the-harp) Attempts to free the vessel and later tries to play the harp, but fails to produce concord. ### [Rune XLII: Capture of the Sampo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xlii-capture-of-the-sampo) Rows the war-ship, enters the mountain to retrieve the Sampo, plows its roots with an ox, and sings discordantly, awakening a crane that alerts Louhi. ### [Rune XLIII: The Sampo Lost in the Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xliii-the-sampo-lost-in-the-sea) Climbs the mast to scout, fights Louhi's eagle form, and is reminded of his broken promise to his mother. ### [Rune XLIX: Restoration of the Sun and Moon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xlix-restoration-of-the-sun-and-moon) The reckless hero who boasts he could have helped Wainamoinen break into the cavern. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters/lemminkainen - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_kalevala_se/characters