Dietrich von Bern and the Nibelungen

On this page, I will give a short summary of the stories about Dietrich von Bern, Siegfried and the Nibelungen.

Note to specialists on Ancient Germanic matters:
To prevent non-specialists from becoming utterly confused, I use the German names of the heroes throughout this site, even when referring to Scandinavian saga's and poems.

Dietrich von Bern is mentioned in many poems of the German Middle Ages. He is king of Bern and a mighty warrior. He fights in many battles, rescues princesses and wins a grand tournament.

In German literature, there is no single poem to describe his entire life. The Old-Norse Thidrekssaga does, however. At a later page, I will summarize his life and deeds as recorded by this saga.

Load the page summarizing Dietrich's deeds.

The Nibelungen are best known from the 13th century German Nibelungenlied, but there are Scandinavian poems of their deeds, too.

The Nibelungenlied tells the following:

• The Nibelungen are a family of kings, who marry their sister Grimhild to the Great Hero Siegfried. Siegfried helps Gunther, king of the Nibelungen, to conquer his bride: the redoutable Brunhild.
  Confusingly, in the first part of the story the Nibelungen are called Burgundians.
• Later, Siegfried is murdered by Hagen, uncle to the Nibelungen. Grimhilds swears bloody revenge. She remarries Attila the Hun and seven years later she invites her family to come to Attila's court for a banquet. There a fight breaks loose in which the Nibelungen die. Dietrich von Bern, then living at Attila's court, defeats Hagen.

The Scandinavian poems differ from the Nibelungenlied in several respects:

• Siegfried meets Brunhild before marrying Grimhild. They may (or may not) exchange marriage-vows. On arriving at the Nibelungen-court, Siegfried is administered a love philter making him forget Brunhild and love Grimhild, whom he marries.
• The reason for Attila to attack the Nibelungen differs from that in the Nibelungenlied: Attila greedily wants to own their treasure. Before the Nibelungen arrive, Grimhild tries to warn them. Later, she avenges them.

Continue the Introduction.