It began with Kriemhild having a dream.

Kriemhild was the beautiful daughter of King Dancrat (Guiki) of Burgundy and Uote (Grimhild). She had three brothers, Gunther (Gunnar), Gernot and Giselher, who ruled and shared the kingdom between them. Kriemhild dreamt of a beautiful falcon but was torn apart by two eagles. The dream upset her and she told her mother Uote. Uote interpreted that the falcon represented her husband. However, Kriemhild was still young, and was not interested in falling love with any man. While at Xanten, a city within the kingdom of the Netherlands, Siegfried was newly knighted. There was great celebration because Siegfried was the son of King Siegmund and Sieglind (Hjordis). Siegfried hearing of Kriemhild's great beauty, the young hero decided to woo her. Siegfried's parents were happy with their choice, because they did not trust Kriemhild's three brothers, particularly Hagen, Gunther's powerful vassal. Siegfried won to win the girl through his prowess and deeds. Siegfried arrived with his twelve companions to the Burgundy's capital on the Rhine, called Worms. Only Hagen recognised the young hero. Hagen told Gunther how Siegfried won treasure from the Nibelungs, two brothers and mighty princes named Schilbung and Nibelung. Siegfried killed Schilbung and Nibelung, and captured seven hundred men of Nibelungland. Then the hero wrested the cloak of darkness from Alberich, the treasurer of the Nibelungs. This cloak was called Tarnkappe, would make the wearer invisible. Siegfried became the lord of the Nibelungs' land (Nibelungland). Hagen also told of how Siegfried had killed a dragon and bathed in its blood. His body became invulnerable because of the dragon's blood. Siegfried had only one vulnerable spot in his body, like the Greek hero Achilles. As was soaked from the dragon's blood, a large leaf fell and landed between Siegfried's shoulder blades. Only this area was untouched by the dragon's blood. This was the only vulnerable spot of his skin. Hagen told Gunnar that he would gain a great and powerful ally if he befriended Siegfried. So Gunther and his brothers set about winning Siegfried's friendship. Siegfried stayed with Gunther in Worms. The young hero attended the functions and festivals in Burgundy, with Gunther and his brothers. Kriemhild had only seen the brave warrior from a distance. She had fallen in love Siegfried, but the two had not yet been properly introduced until a year later. When news broke out that the Saxons and the Danes were making war against Burgundy, Siegfried decided to aid Gunther. Liudeger was the king of Saxony, while his brother named Liudegast was the king of Denmark. The combined Saxons and Danish armies had the strength of sixty thousand men, while Gunther's force was no more than a thousand strong. Siegfried advised that Gunther should stay in Worms, while the young guest lead the Burgundian army. Siegfried was the best warrior in the war. In the reconnaissance, Siegfried captured Liudegast and killed twenty-nine Danish knights. Siegfried allowed one survivor to return to the Danish camp with the news of their king's capture. In the battle that followed, fought his way through enemy ranks until he reached King Liudeger of Saxony. They fought until Liudeger recognised the image on Siegfried's shield. Thereupon, Liudeger surrendered himself to Siegfried. Liudeger and Liudegast became prisoners of war, and were shipped to Worms as hostages. Gunther treated his enemy kings magnanimously. A large celebration was held for their victory. After a period, Gunther released Liudeger and Liudegast when they became his vassals.

Wooing of Brunhild During the victory celebration, Siegfried for the first time met Kriemhild. It was Gernot who thought that they would benefit from the marriage between Siegfried and Kriemhild. Siegfried would enjoy Kriemhild's company for days. The hero and the maiden had fallen deeply in love. Siegfried would do anything for Kriemhild's brothers to win her favour. When Gunther heard of the great beauty of Brunhild, Queen of Iceland, the Burgundian king wished to set out to win her. Siegfried advised Gunther against this, because he was aware of queen's great strength. All her suitors, who had wooed Brunhild, met their death when she defeated them in a contest. Hagen advised Gunther to take Siegfried with him. Siegfried agreed to help Gunther win Brunhild, in return that the hero was allowed to marry Kriemhild. Siegfried advised Gunther and everyone else to pretend that Siegfried was a vassal to Gunther when they were in the presence of Brunhild. When they arrived at Isenstein, Brunhild's stronghold in Iceland, the warrior queen immediately recognised Siegfried. She thought that Siegfried had come to woo her. Brunhild seemed willing to marry Siegfried, because he was the most strongest and bravest warrior in the world. She thought that Siegfried would be a worthy husband than any of the other men who had wooed her. Brunhild was terribly disappointed when Siegfried proclaimed that he was Gunther's vassal and that it was Gunther here, who came to woo her. Brunhild only agreed to marry him if Gunther could defeat her in a contest. Brunhild's words angered Gunther and Hagen. Siegfried told Gunther that he would help him through his ordeal. Gunther had to face a Brunhild's spear. Then the Rhenish king must throw a boulder as far as he could, but he must also jump further than the boulder that he would throw. Gunther and his followers were quite dismayed at the size of her spear and the boulder he must throw. The poet informed the readers that even twelve ordinary men could barely lift the stone. When the contest began, Siegfried worn his cloak of invisibility and fought for Gunther. Brunhild threw her large, heavy spear at Gunther. Siegfried holding the shield for Gunther caught the spear. The king and hero would have been skewered had they were not protected by Siegfried's magical cloak. Yet blood spurt from his mouth, where the spear had struck Siegfried. Siegfried hurled Brunhild's spear back at the queen, but with the spear-point reversed, so that only the blunt end of spear struck Brunhild. Brunhild was knocked down to the ground, but was uninjured. She immediately leaped to her feet. Not knowing of the deception, she praised Gunther for his strength. Then Brunhild easily lifted the large rock and hurled the boulder as far as she could. At the same time she released the boulder she leaped after the stone. The stone landed at a great distance, but she easily leapt further than the stone. Gunther and his followers were amazed and afraid of her great strength. Gunther then pretended to lift and throw the stone. It was Siegfried who threw the stone, even at a great distance than Brunhild. Siegfried then leap after the stone, carrying Gunther with him. They flew past the stone. Brunhild was angry that she lost the contest, but conceded that she will marry Gunther. However she refused to leave until she had gathered her vassals and and gave out some of her wealth. Hagen and the other fearing that she would betray them, since they would be heavily outnumbered. Siegfried promised Gunther to gather his men from Nibelungland. Using his

magic cloak, Siegfried left Isenstein, found a bark (boat) and rowed across the sea to Nibelungland. Siegfried had to fight and overcome the gatekeeper and Alberich, the dwarf and treasurer of Nibelungland. Then, Siegfried gathered a thousand of the best warriors, and returned to Isenstein. Brunhild reluctantly left her home for a new home in Worms, with her future husband. A double marriage was arranged, because Siegfried and Kriemhild were to be married on the same day, with Brunhild and Kriemhild's brother. Only Brunhild was unhappy at the wedding, because she was still in love Siegfried. Siegfried and Kriemhild enjoyed their wedding night, but the same could not be said for Gunther and Brunhild. Not only did Brunhild resist her new husband trying to make love to her; Brunhild easily overpowered Gunther. The new queen bound him with her girdle and suspended him high on the wall peg, while she slept on their bed. Gunther was totally embarrassed how his wife had easily manhandled him. In the morning, Brunhild released him and threatened to do the same each night, if he tried to make love to her. Gunther regretted that he had ever married her. When Siegfried found out Gunther's problem with his new wife, he again promised to help the king.

Death of Siegfried In Burgundy, Brunhild was still unhappy with her marriage with Gunther. Brunhild also thought that it was strange that Gunther had allowed Kriemhild to marry Siegfried, whom she believed was a vassal to her husband. She still did not realise the deception of how Siegfried won her for Gunther. Brunhild wanted to know the truth about Siegfried's status and persuaded Gunther to invite his sister and Siegfried for the coming festival. Siegfried returned to Burgundy with his wife and son. His father also attended the festival with them. In the festival, Gunther had treated Siegfried as an equal, which surprised Brunhild. Still thinking that Siegfried was only her husband's vassal; she treated Kriemhild as inferior to her. This led to quarrels between the two queens. When Brunhild confronted Kriemhild that Siegfried was her husband's vassal, the other queen claimed that Siegfried was not only her brother's equal, but a hero who was stronger and braver than her own brother. Neither queen would back away from their claims. This finally led to Kriemhild revealing that it was her husband overcame Brunhild. Kriemhild also (falsely) believed that her husband had taken Brunhild's virginity. Brunhild was not only angry at her sister-in-law's claim; she was also humiliated and embarrassed. Especially when Kriemhild foolishly revealed the ring and girdle she had received from Siegfried. Her quarrel with Kriemhild, had distressed and shocked the queen, that she demanded the truth from Gunther. She demanded that Gunther to punish Siegfried and Kriemhild. Gunther had no choice but to confront Siegfried. Siegfried swore that he had never boasted of being Brunhild's first man. Gunther immediately dropped charges against his brother-in-law. But this did not satisfy Brunhild's demands for vengeance. Hagen, who did not like Brunhild when they first met, now promised the queen that he willing to plot against Siegfried's downfall. At first, Gunther was reluctant to turn against Siegfried, since the hero had helped him win his war and his wife for him. But Hagen managed to persuade his king that it was best for Siegfried to die. It seemed Hagen envied Siegfried's great wealth, power and prowess. Though Hagen was Gunther's best warrior, Hagen was really no match for Siegfried. First, Gunther would announce false news that Liudeger and Liudegast was going to invade his land again, and was to ask Siegfried for aid. Which Siegfried had readily agreed. Hagen then went to Kriemhild, to find out if Siegfried had any weakness. Kriemhild, unaware of her brother's henchman of treachery, she disclosed that Siegfried's only weakness was small area on the hero's back, between the shoulder blades. Hagen lied to her, saying that he would protect her husband back in battle. Kriemhild, who was reassured by Hagen's words, told the villain that she would sew a patch on Siegfried's tunic, so that Hagen knows what area to protect. The day Siegfried was about to set out with the army, Gunther gave another false news that Liudeger and Liudegast had withdrawn all claims to his land. Instead, Gunther invited Siegfried on a hunting trip. Remembering her dream Kriemhild had a feeling of foreboding. She failed to persuade Siegfried to stay with her, rather than go hunting with her brother. Kriemhild began to suspect treachery from Hagen and her brother. During the long day of hunting in the woods, Siegfried killed a bear with a sword. During lunch Hagen had secretly salted the food, to make Siegfried thirsty. Hagen also ensured that the servants left behind the wine. Hagen challenged Siegfried to a race to a spring beyond the hills. Here, they may drink to quench their thirsts. Siegfried eagerly agreed and told them he would give them a chance by carrying all his equipment and weapons, while Gunther and Hagen can run in their tunics. Siegfried easily outran his brother-in-law and Hagen, and reached the spring before the two. However, he let Gunther drink first. Siegfried stood his spear and sword against his tree, before taking off his armour.

While Siegfried took a drink from the spring, Hagen quickly hid Siegfried's sword (Balmung) and picked up the hero's javelin. With patch on the hero's tunic, which revealed his vulnerable area, Hagen was able to drive the spear unerringly into Siegfried's back, between the shoulder blades. The spear reached Siegfried's heart. Though, Hagen had treacherously stabbed him in the back, Gunther's henchman fled in terror from the mortally wounded hero. In anger, Siegfried leaped to his feet to avenge himself, but could not find his sword. Taking his shield with him, he pursued and caught up with his enemy. Siegfried bashed Hagen with his shield. Without his sword, Siegfried could not kill his Hagen. Soon, Siegfried collapsed from blood loss, apparently dying from his wound. Some of those people, who were loyal to the hero, mourned for him. Gunther also arrived, wept and mourned for Siegfried. Siegfried rebuked Gunther for his tears, because he knows that his brother-in-law was treacherous. Hagen did not care if Kriemhild knew of his treachery, took Siegfried's body back to the palace and set it at the threshold. When Kriemhild woke up before dawn, one of her servants discovered the body. Kriemhild knew immediately that the body was her husband's. According to an older manuscript of the Nibelungenlied, Brunhild laughed when she heard Kriemhild's laments, which this poem had left out. Kriemhild was inconsolable over Siegfried's death, and knew that Hagen and Brunhild were responsible for the murder. News soon reached Siegmund of his son's death, who became distraught. The men of Nibelungland swore vengeance. Kriemhild knew that her father-in-law could not hope to defeat her brothers, dissuaded him from

Attila (Etzel) Attila or Etzel was king of the Huns, in Hungary, where he ruled a large empire that included Austria and Germany. Attila was known in the Norse myths as Atli, but he was historically derived from Attila the Huns. In the German legend, Attila (Etzel) was the son of Osid, the king of Frisia. Attila was the brother of Ortnid. When Milias, the king of the Huns, had died, Attila won Hunland through ruthless conquest. Attila then moved the Hunnish capital from Valterborg to Susa. Attila had many powerful advisers. Among his vassals were the hero Dietrich and Rudiger. It has been mentioned several times in the Nibelungenlied, Etzel (Attila) had once held Hagen and Waltharius of Aquitaine as hostages. This is how Hagen met Dietrich and became his friend. Attila was first married to Helche, who called Erka in Thirekssaga. According to Thirekssaga, Erka (Helche) was the daughter of Osantrix, king of Vilkinaland, and of Oda, daughter of King Milias of Hunland. Attila had won Erka through trickery. His ambassador to Osantrix, named Duke Rudolf, but used the name Sigifred or Sigurd when he offered services to Osantrix for two years. Osantrix not realising Rudolf/Sigurd was Attila's agent, infiltrated his court. Then Rudolf won audience with Erka, who secretly agreed to marry Attila. When the time was ripe, Rudolf spirited Erka away to Hunland, where she married Attila. A long feud between Attila and Osantrix erupted. In the Nibelungenlied, Helche had a niece named Herrat, and Herrat was betrothed to Dietrich. When Helche died, Helche had warned her husband not to marry Kriemhild (Gudrun or Grimhild), but his advisers forgotten her warning and told him that Burgundian princess was also widow; they suggested that Etzel should marry Kriemhild. Attila agreed and sent his vassal Rudiger as adviser. Etzel did not realised that Kriemhild had only marry him to get her revenge upon Hagen and Gunther, as well recover the Nibelung treasure that belong to her first husband. Only the death of his son Ortlieb and some of his faithful vassals, had turned the king against Burgundian guests. Though, Rudiger tried to remain neutral between the conflict, Kriemhild demanded that he avenge her, while Etzel called upon Rudiger's oath of fealty, to fight against the Burgundians. When Dietrich had captured Gunther and Hagen, he asked Kriemhild to spare their lives. But Kriemhild had her brother and her enemy killed when Dietrich went to fetch the king (Etzel). Seeing Kriemhild decapitating Hagen, upsetted Etzel and Dietrich. They didn't believe that a warrior of calibre deserved to die at the hand of a woman. With Etzel's consent, Hildebrand cut down Kriemhild, which ended the epic with her death. In the Nibelungenlied and other German epics, Etzel was portrayed as a noble and generous king, unlike his Norse and historical counterparts. This was because the German poets see Etzel and the Huns as German people, not the barbarians from steppe of Central Asia. In the Volsunga Saga and the Thirekssaga, it was Atli (or Attila) who wanted Sigurd's treasure, not his wife Gudrun (Kriemhild or Grimhild). Gudrun was more loyal to her brothers than to her husband Atli in these sagas. In the Volsunga saga, Atli had Hogni's heart cut out and Gunnar thrown into a snake pit (the same as in Thirekssaga), when they refused to disclose the location of the treasure. Gudrun avenged her brothers' death, by killing a wine-intoxicated Atli, with a sword, before setting fire to the palace. (In the Thirekssaga, Atli allowed Thireks (Dietrich) execute his wife Grimhild (Gudrun or Kriemhild) for causing so many deaths.) The Volsunga Saga and the heroic poems in the Poetic Edda, were probably more closer to the historical Attila (died in AD 453) than the Etzel in the Nibelungenlied. Atli was more like Attila, because the real Hunnish king was known for his brutality and greed, especially for gold. Though, the real Gunther ("Guntharius") was contemporary to Attila, Guntharius was not killed by Attila's Huns, but by the Hunnish mercenaries led by the Roman general, Aetius (AD 437). See Atli in Norse Heroes and About Norse Myths for the real Attila. See also Gudrun in the Volsunga Saga.

According to Thirekssaga, Attila's death was different to that of Atli in the Volsunga saga. After the hero Thidrek (Dietrich) returned to his own kingdom, Aldrian (Niflung), the son of Hogni (Hagen) decided to lure Attila to his death, because the king had married Aldrian's vengeful aunt Grimhild (Kriemhild or Gudrun), who was largely responsible for his father's death. Since Grimhild was already dead, the boy decided that he would avenge his father's death with Attila's. Aldrian was only twelve. He became Attila's foster son, after Hogni's death. Attila, on the other hand, was an aged ruler of Hunland. Aldrian told the king where the treasure of Sigurd (Niflung treasure) was hidden. Aldrian promised to take Attila to the treasure, if the king would come alone with him and not disclose where they were going. Attila unsuspecting of treachery, followed his foster son through the forest to the cave. This cave was in the mountain, with strong doors. The cave contained treasures of Gunnar and

Brunhild Brunhild (Brynhild) was the warrior-queen of Iceland. Brunhild dwelled in the fortress called Isenstein. Brunhild was a queen of superhuman strength. Her strength comes from her maidenhood. If she were to lose her virginity, then she would lose her superhuman strength. Her prodigious strength had even surprised Siegfried. She was able to lift and throw a large boulder that twelve men would have difficulty in lifting. Unlike the Volsunga Saga, Siegfried was not in love with Brunhild, nor did he promise to marry the Amazonian queen. Siegfried was only in love with Kriemhild, Gunther's sister. Her beauty had won her many suitors, but she didn't want a husband, so she challenged each suitor to a contest of strength. Any man, who loses the contest, would lose his life. Such was the situation, when Gunther pressed his claim. However Siegfried and his companion arrived in her kingdom, she thought her suitor was Siegfried. She seemed interested in being Siegfried's wife, and was disappointed when he did not come as her suitor. Siegfried and Gunther deceived her several times, in the story. She was told that Siegfried was Gunther's vassal. It was Siegfried who overcame her for Gunther in a contest. Siegfried had the cloak of invisibility, to defeat Brunhild. Brunhild had no choice but to marry Gunther. Brunhild had to

give up her kingdom, and moved to Worms, Gunther's capital in Burgundy. Brunhild would not allow Gunther to take her virginity, so he bound her husband with her girdle, and hang Gunther on the peg on the wall. Brunhild only released him at dawn. So Gunther asked for his brother-in-law's aid. Gunther switched place with Siegfried in the dark bedroom. Siegfried again overcame her with his own strength, to allow Gunther to take her virginity. Brunhild lost her superhuman strength from her being deflowered by Gunther. When Siegfried had overcome her, Siegfried had foolishly stole her ring and her girdle, and had given them to Kriemhild. (Note that in the Thirekssaga, after three humiliating nights of hanging on the wall, Gunnar (Gunther) ask for Sigurd's help (Siegfried's). Sigurd overpowered Brynhild. It was actually Sigurd, who deflowered Brynild (Brunhild) for Gunnar (Gunther), so that she would lose her superhuman strength.) After Siegfried returned home to the Netherlands with Kriemhild, Brunhild was curious to know why her husband allowed his sister to marry Siegfried. Unaware of the deception, Brunhild thought that Kriemhild was marrying beneath her station, that her sister-in-law was married to a vassal, instead of a king. Brunhild was becoming suspicion of Kriemhild's marriage. Ten years after their marriage, she persuaded her husband to invite Siegfried and Kriemhild to a festival, because she was still curious about Siegfried's true status. Conflicts arose from the two queens. Brunhild was surprised that Kriemhild treated her as an equal,

Dietrich von Bern (Thirek) Dietrich of Verona was a popular German hero, also known as the Dietrich von Bern. Dietrich appeared in a number of medieval German heroic poems, known collectively as Dietrichsage. The Dietrichsage became entwined with Nibelungen legend, such as in the German epic

Nibelungenlied and in the Norwegian saga called Thirekssaga (Thidrekssaga). Dietrich appeared in poems called Dietrichs Flucht ("Dietrich's Flight"), Die Rabenschlacht ("The Battle of Ravenna"), Alpharts Tod ("Alphart's Death"). Dietrich also appeared in the Waltharius. In the Thirekssaga, he was known as the hero, Thirek (Thidrek), the son of King Thetmar of Bern and of Odila. The Thirekssaga by far gives the fullest account of Dietrich/Thidrek, from childhood to his death, portraying him as a greater hero than even Sigurd (Siegfried). In a way, Thirek was like King Arthur, who was leader of the Round Table. Thirek had similarly became friend of many great warriors, like Hildebrand, Vidga (Witege), Heimir, Sigurd, Gunnar, Hogni and many others. But unlike Arthur, Thirek remained in the forefront of the battles and adventures; whereas Arthur's role had reduced as a passive king, while his knights goes off on perilous quests. However, Dietrich was derived from the historical figure, named Theodoric the Great, the Ostrogoth king of Italy. Theodoric ruled after Odoacer (AD 493), another Ostrogoth king. It was Odoacer who ended the Roman Empire in the West in AD 476, and was the first to establish the kingdom of Italy. Odoacer was Theodoric's true enemy, not Ermanaric as in the German legend, because Ermanaric had died a century earlier, in c. AD 376. Theodoric died in AD 526, a year before Justinian the Great began his reign in Byzantine. The kingdom of Italy didn't last after Theodoric's death. In the Dietrichsage, Theodoric was evolved into a romanticised German hero. According to the Ermanaric Ermanaric was another historical figure, who was later shrouded in legend. As a historical figure, Ermanaric was an Ostrogoth king whose kingdom was located in present day Ukraine. Ermanaric was killed in AD 375, when the Huns invaded and overan his kingdom. According to the Icelandic legend that can be found in the Volsunga Saga, where Ermanaric was known as Jormunrek, the king of the Goths. The Norse legend was almost identical to the historical account in the historical account written by Jordanes, titled The Origin and Deeds of the Goths (mid-6th cenutry AD). According to Jordanes, the tribe of the Rosomoni had betrayed Ermanaric when the Huns first invaded his kingdom. Ermanaric in reteliation, captured the Rosomoni chieftain's wife, Sunilda, where her limbs were torn apart by wild horses. Sunilda's brothers, Sarus and Ammius, attempted to assassinate Ermanaric, receiving a serious sword wound to the side. Though, Ermanaric had

survived, the Gothic king couldn't prevent Balamber, the king of the Huns, from conquering his kingdom. Ermanaric died at the age of 110. What is similar to the Volsunga Saga, was how Jormunrek (Ermanaric) put to death Swanhild (Sunilda), the daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun, and how Swanhild's brothers tried unsuccessfully to avenge her death. See the Volsunga Saga, Jormunrek and Swanhild. In German oral tradition and legend, it was a different story about Ermanaric. Ermanaric had

Gernot Gernot was the second son of Dancrat and Uote. Gernot was the co-ruler of Burgundy, sharing the kingdom with his brothers, Gunther and Giselher. Gernot was also the brother of Kriemhild. In the Norwegian epic, Thirek Saga, he was called Gernoz. Gernot and his brothers befriended Siegfried when he came to their kingdom. After the war against the Saxons, it was Gernot who advised Gunther that a marriage between Siegfried and their sister would benefit their prestige and kingdom. Though, Gernot and Giselher protest against Hagen's plot to murder Siegfried, they did nothing to warn the hero. After Siegfried's funeral, like Gunther, Gernot did not protect his sister from Hagen's machination, when Hagen stole the Nibelung treasure. Gernot joined his brothers and Hagen to visit Kriemhild in Hungary. Despite the portent of doom in the visit, they went to Hungary, knowing that their sister was plotting against them. During their stop at Pochlarn, Rudiger gave Gernot a magnificant sword, as a gift before they continue their journey to Hungary. Gernot and his brothers tried to unsuccessfully to the fighting between the Hagen and the Hunnish warriors, but when they saw that the Hunnish knights might overwhelm their warriors, so they set about rescuing Hagen and Burgundians. Gernot and Rudiger killed one another on the last day of fighting. Rudiger was killed by the sword that he had given Gernot as a gift before their departure from Pochlarn to Hungary. Giselher Giselher was the youngest son of Dancrat and Uote. In the Thirek Saga, he was called Gislher. Giselher was the co-ruler of Burgundy, sharing the kingdom with his brothers, Gunther and Gernot. Giselher was also the brother of Kriemhild. Of the three brothers, Kriemhild loved him the most. Though, Giselher was opposed to Hagen's plan of murdering Siegfried, he also did not do anything to prevent it. Giselher thought that Siegfried had done a great deal for Gunther and Burgundy, such as helping them win the war against the Saxons and win Brunhild for Gunther, so that Siegfried did not deserve this betrayal. Upon Siegfried's death, Giselher wanted his sister to stay in his own palace, rather than that she lived in the Netherlands with her father-in-law, Siegmund. Uote and her sons tried to comfort the inconsolable widow. Giselher had also promised Kriemhild to become her protector. Yet he had failed to protect her property, when Hagen stole her Nibelung treasure. If anything, he and his brothers were more interested in protecting Hagen than their own sister. When Etzel (Atli) wish to take a new wife, Giselher along with his mother and brothers, had also

tried to marry her off to the powerful heathen king from Hungary. Reluctantly, Kriemhild agreed to the marriage proposal only because she saw that she could gain her revenge, since her brothers failed to protect her from Hagen. When Etzel invited Giselher and his brothers to a festival, Hagen was against the visit. Giselher and his brothers refused to listen to Hagen. During their stop in Pochlarn, Giselher married Rudiger's unnamed daughter. Giselher left his new wife behind, while he went to Hungary with his brother. Giselher was supposed to take his wife back to Burgundy after visiting his sister at the midsummer festival. Rudiger accompany his new son-in-law to Hungary; neither would return home. Nor would Giselher ever consummate his marriage with his new wife. Upon their arrival at Etzel's palace, Kriemhild would only welcomed Giselher with a warm kiss. However, he would die from his sister's machination and revenge. During the battle between the Nibelungs and the Huns, Giselher had distinguished himself in the Gunther Gunther (Gunnar) was the son of Dancrat and Uote (Uta). Gunther ruled as the king of Burgundy with his two brothers, Gernot and Giselher. Gunther was also the brother of Kriemhild (Gudrun or Grimhild). His loyal henchman was his uncle, Hagen of Troneck (though, in the Thirekssaga, Hogni was his half-brother, while in the Volsunga Saga, Hogni was his brother). At Hagen's advice, Gunther befriended Siegfried, the hero from the Netherlands, who helped him in the war against the Saxons and Danes. Gunther agreed to marriage between his sister and Siegfried, in return that Siegfried would help him win Brunhild, the warrior-queen of Isenstein, in Iceland. Though, Gunther showed himself as a great warrior in the second half of the poem, his strength was no match for Brunhild. The only way Gunther could marry her, if he could defeat Brunhild in a contest of strength. Gunther and his followers would die if he were to lose. Gunther only defeated Brunhild, because of Siegfried's strength, and that the hero was also invisible. Brunhild had no choice but to marry her. The marriage to Brunhild proved to be unhappy and would sealed the doom for him and his family. On the wedding night, Brunhild humiliated Gunther by tying her husband with her girdle and hanging him in the wall, until dawn. Again, Gunther gained Siegfried's help and the hero pretending to be her husband, overcame the warrior-queen with his own strength, until she had surrendered to her husband (Siegfried in disguise). Before he let Gunther make love to his wife, Siegfried took Brunhild's ring and girdle (as trophy?), and gave them to Kriemhild. Gunther took Brunhild's virginity, thereby reducing her strength to that of an ordinary mortal woman. When Brunhild found out the secret from his sister that it was Siegfried who won her with his

strength for Gunther, she demanded revenge from her husband. Hagen agreed to assassinate Siegfried. At first, Gunther was reluctant, but finally agreed to Hagen's plan. When Siegfried lied dying in the forest, Gunther wept for his brother-in-law, but Siegfried accused him of treachery and hypocrisy. The hero foretold Gunther's death and the destruction of his kingdom. Kriemhild knew that his brother was involved in her husband's death, but they were reconciled at Hagen's advice, only because Hagen wanted the fable Nibelung treasure brought to Worms. When Kriemhild started giving away the treasure, this irritated Hagen, who was determined to steal her treasure. Gunther knew of Hagen's plan, but look the other way. To ensure that Kriemhild could not use the treasure, Hagen sank the treasure into in the Rhine River. But later in the poem, all three brothers knew of the treasure location, and they had sworn not to reveal its location while one of the kings was still alive. Hagen was against the marriage between Kriemhild and Etzel, the king of Hungary. Hagen feared that Kriemhild would have powerful allies that will destroy him and the brothers. Gunther and his brothers dismiss Hagen's claim and approved with marriage. When Etzel invited Gunther and his brothers to a midsummer festival, Hagen was against the visit. They would not be persuaded from visiting their sister. So Hagen decided to accompany the brothers with armed escort. Upon arrival to Etzel's capital, Gunther realised that his sister was plotting to kill Hagen, even bring destruction upon her brothers and people. Hagen inflamed the situation, when Hagen killed Hagen Hagen was lord of Troneck. Hagen was the son of Aldrian, and his brother was Dancwart. Hagen was also a kinsman (uncle) of Burgundian kings and Kriemhild. Hagen was renown as a loyal vassal and henchman of Gunther (Gunnar) in the Nibelungenlied. Hagen often advised Gunther in many issues or policies. In the Nibelungenlied (as well as in the Thirekssaga), the poem allude to the time when Hagen served as hostage to Etzel with the hero Waltharius (Walter) of Aquitaine. This is told in full in the heroic poem of Waltharius. It was Hagen who advised Gunther to befriend Siegfried. It was his advice would be tragedy and destruction upon the Burgundian royal house. When the Queen Brunhild demanded revenge, it

was Hagen who first plotted against Siegfried, while the brothers looked away. Hagen discovered Siegfried's weakness from Siegfried's wife, Kriemhild. Hagen plunged Siegfried's spear in the hero's back. Though, Kriemhild accused him of her husband's death, he did not care, and Kriemhild was powerless to act against Hagen. Her brothers' failure to punish Hagen, she would wreak destruction and death upon her brothers and their warriors. Hagen had further antagonised Kriemhild, when he stole her Nibelung treasure, which she had inherited from her husband. Her brothers again failed to protect her, which Kriemhild bitter and more vengeful. Kriemhild reluctantly accepted marriage proposal from Etzel, a powerful, heathen king from Hungary. Hagen opposed this marriage, since he knew that Kriemhild would gain powerful allies in Hungary. Thirteen years after her marriage to Etzel, Kriemhild contrived her brothers to visit her, hoping to avenge Siegfried's death. Hagen once again, opposed the kings' decision, but was powerless to prevent them. Hagen and many of Burgundian most powerful vassals joined the kings' visit to Hungary. None of them would ever return. Upon their arrival in Etzel's capital, Dietrich immediately warned Hagen of Kriemhild's treachery. Hagen inflamed the situation in Kriemhild from his refusal to pay any respect to the queen. The situation grew, when Kriemhild encouraged her son Ortlieb, to slap Hagen's face. Hagen Kriemhild Krimehild was the wife of Siegfried (Sigurd) and Etzel (Atli). Kriemhild (Grimhild or Gudrun) was the beautiful daughter of King Dancrat (Guiki) of Burgundy and Uote (Grimhild). She was the sister of Gunther, Gernot and Giselher. (In the Volsunga Saga, Hogni (Hagen) was her brother, while the Thirekssaga say that Hogni was her half-brother.) The story began with her vision of her future husband in a form of a falcon, but two eagles (Gunther and Hagen) destroyed her falcon. When Siegfried arrived at Worms, Kriemhild only saw the young hero from a distance. She had fallen in love Siegfried. It was only after the war against the Saxons (a year later) that Kriemhild was introduced to Siegfried. Gunther allowed Siegfried to marry Kriemhild if the hero help him to win Brunhild's hand in

marriage. Brunhild was the warrior queen from Isenstein. The tragedy was that Siegfried had foolishly allowed his pride to take a ring and girdle that belonged to Brunhild. Kriemhild had allowed her to be drawn into argument over precedence, and had mistakenly believed that Siegfried had taken Brunhild's virginity, not her brother. Since Kriemhild had Brunhild's ring and girdle in her possession, then everyone else would also believed Kriemhild's claim over who took Brunhild's virginity. This led to Hagen and Gunther conspiring to murder Siegfried. Hagen had managed to deceive Kriemhild into disclosing Siegfried's weakness. Then Hagen had plunged the spear into Siegfried's back, as the unsuspecting hero drank water from the river. Kriemhild was inconsolable over Siegfried's death and knew Hagen and her brother Gunther were responsible for her husband's murder. To further antagonised Kriemhild, Hagen stole her inheritance, the Nibelung treasure. Hagen sank the treasure into the Rhine. Neither Gunther nor her younger brothers had bothered to punish Hagen for Siegfried's death, or stealing their sister's treasure. Her family insisted that she marry Etzel, a heathen king, while she was a Christian. Seeing that her younger brothers, Kriemhild decided to win allies away from her home, so she agreed to marry Etzel. Rudiger of Pochlarn, Etzel's ambassador had given his promise to protect and avenge her from any wrongdoings against her. Among the stops, Kriemhild visited Rudiger's wife and unnamed daughter. Kriemhild gave her

Siegfried The hero of the Nibelungenlied. Siegfried was the son of Siegmund (Sigmund), the king of the Netherlands, and Sieglind (Sisibe or Hjordis). His counterpart was the hero Sigurd, who appeared in many of the Icelandic and Scandinavian sagas, such as the Volsunga Saga. Siegfried was knighted at the age of eighteen. Siegfried hearing of Kriemhild's great beauty, the hero decided to woo Kriemhild. Siegfried also hoped to win fame and glory through his own prowess in warfare. Siegfried became lord of Nibelungland, after killing the two brothers, Schilbung and Nibelung. Siegfried gained the Nibelungs' treasure and the cloak of darkness (Tarnkappe) from Alberich, the dwarf and Nibelungs' treasurer. Siegfried also possessed the sword Balemung and the horse. Siegfried skin became invulnerable when he killed a dragon and was bathed in the dragon's blood. The only vulnerable spot on his body was on his back where a large leave covered fell on his back between his shoulders. Only Kriemhild knew of her husband's weakness. Hagen would later tricked Kriemhild to reveal this weakness to him. When Siegfried arrived in Worms, a city in Burgundy, Gunther won his friendship. Though he sought to woo Gunther's sister, he did not see her until a year later. They were only formerly introduced, after helping the king to win the war against the Saxons and the Danes, when Siegfried captured the two kings. Siegfried fell in love with Kriemhild, and her brothers approved of the marriage, if the hero would help Gunther win Brunhild in marriage. Siegfried does so by defeating the warrior-queen, using his magic cloak, Tarnkappe. Brunhild thought she was contesting Gunther. There was a double wedding. Whereas Siegfried's marriage was happy, Gunther was humiliating. When Gunther had tried to make love to his new wife, Brunhild fought him, bound the king, and hanged the king up on the wall. Gunther was no match for Brunhild's superhuman strength. Again, Siegfried had to secretly overcome Brunhild for Gunther. When Brunhild finally submitted to husband, Siegfried stole her ring and girdle, gave them to Kriemhild. The ring and girdle became symbols of their deception over Brunhild. Siegfried returned home in Xanten (Netherlands) with his new wife, when Siegmund share the kingdom with his son. Siegmund and his wife treated Kriemhild like their own daughter. Siegfried and Kriemhild had a son, which they named after Gunther (Gunther II). Ten years later, Gunther invited them to festivity in Worms. Brunhild was curious of Siegfried's status, because when she had first met Siegfried and Gunther they had told her Siegfried was her husband's vassal. Yet, Gunther and his brothers treated Siegfried as an equal. Not realising of this deception, she became involved in argument with Kriemhild over precedence. The quarrel climaxed with total humiliation for Brunhild. Kriemhild told Brunhild that Siegfried was the man who overcame her strength in the contest, not Gunther, and that Siegfried had taken her virginity (not true). Kriemhild proved this, by revealing the ring and the girdle that Siegfried had taken from Brunhild. Outraged and humiliated, Brunhild demanded punishment for Siegfried and Kriemhild. Hagen

agreed. Hagen believed that Siegfried earned death for the deception and betrayal. Together with Gunther, they plotted Siegfried's assassination. Hagen tricked Kriemhild into revealing Siegfried's weakness, and then they lured the hero into woods, on the pretence of a hunting trip. As Siegfried drank water from the spring, Hagen hid the hero's sword, before plunging a javelin into Siegfried's back. Even though mortally wounded, Siegfried pursued and attacked Hagen, until his strength gave out and he died. Siegfried prophesied Gunther's own death. Kriemhild was inconsolable, and knew that Gunther and Hagen were responsible over her husband's death. At the funeral, Siegfried's wound bled again, revealing his killer, when Hagen stood before Siegfried's bier. Siegmund Siegmund was the king of the Netherlands. Siegmund was the husband of Sieglind (Sisibe or Hjordis), and the father of Siegfired. Siegmund ruled in the city of Xanten, as his capital. Siegmund did not like his son's plan to woo Kriemhild of Burgundy, but the old king was resigned to his son's desire. Yet, when Siegfried married her, Siegmund loved Kriemhild as if she was his own daughter, when she was living in Xanten. Siegmund became the grandfather of Gunther II. Siegmund mourned his son's death. Kriemhild prevented fighting between Siegmund and her brothers. Kriemhild promised to her father-in-law that she would avenge Siegfried's death. Siegmund tried to persuade Kriemhild to return with him, rather than stayed with very people, who plotted and murdered his son and her husband, but she refused, on the ground that she has no blood relatives in the Netherlands. However, she gave her son to Siegmund, to raise and rule after the old king. In Norse myths, he was called Sigmund and he was the son of Volsung. Signy was his twin sister, and they appeared in the first part of the saga. Sigmund became the father of Sinfjotli by his sister Signy; Helgi and Hamund by Borghild; and Sigurd by Hjordis. Sigmund played a significant role in the Volsunga Saga. Sigmund drew the sword from the tree, Branstock; avenging his father and brothers' death in Gothland; banishing his wife Borghild for the death of Sinfjotli; and his death in the war against Hundings (sons of Hunding). Sigmund (Siegmund) had died before Sigurd (Siegfried) was born, but in the Nibelungenlied, he had outlived his son.