A summary of the Thidrekssaga, part 4

On this page, I will give an extended summary of Thidrekssaga chapters 171-275.

  1. Bertangaland
  2. Siegfried & Grimhild; Gunther & Brunhild
  3. Herbort and Hilda
  4. Walther and Hildegund
  5. Iron and Isolde

I disclaim all attempts to scientifically study the saga on basis of this summary alone.
For easy reference, I have divided the saga into small parts. I do largely, but not entirely, follow the division of Von der Hagen. I also give the chapter-numbering of the Membrame-manuscript.
For a discussion of the internal (in)consistency of the saga, see Boer. (2nd href)


16: Bertangaland (Ths. 171-222)

History of Dietrich, Witig and Heime
History of Hildebrand and Hornboge
History of Fasold and Sintram
History of Detlef
History of Amelung and Herbrand
History of Wildeber
History of Hagen
History of Siegfried
History of Etger

D
ietrich now has gathered twelve Heroes around his person: Hildebrand, Heime, Hornboge, Witig, Fasold, Sintram, Detlef, Amelung, Wildeber, Herbrand, Hagen and king Gunther.

First, the saga describes in excessive detail the coats of arms and appearance of Dietrich, his heroes and Siegfried.

The heroes are gathered at a banquet in Bern and Dietrich boasts that never before so many brave heroes have gathered under so splendid a king. Then Herbrand the Well-Traveled rises and warns Dietrich not to be so vain. Herbrand has heard of another hero, who might even be mightier than the great Dietrich von Bern. He is standard-bearer to king Isung of Bertangaland, who is no mean warrior himself, and who has sired eleven brave and strong sons. Nevertheless their standard-bearer is superior to them all. His name is Siegfried!

Of course, Dietrich immediately decides to fight him. His heroes can come along: there is one Isung-son for each and king Isung himself for king Gunther. His proposal is immediately accepted and Herbrand guides them towards Bertangaland.

T
he heroes come near a forest, in which the giant Etger Nordian's son lives. Witig demands, and gets, the honour of killing him. First, the saga recapitulates the blood-relation between them: Etger's father was brother to Witig's grandfather. Witig enters the forest and kills Etger. Then he cuts out his tongue and covers his own face with Etger's blood. He staggers to the edge of the forest and calls out all is lost: the giant has defeated him. Immediately, all heroes but Dietrich flee. Only Dietrich understands this little practical joke and he and Witig have a good laugh.

After this they enter Bertangaland and are seen by Siegfried, who immediately notifies Isung by giving endless descriptions of the heroes' coat-of-arms. Then he returns to the heroes' camp and demands a toll. Lots are drawn and Amelung loses his horse.

Amelung wants his horse back and demands another horse to pursue Siegfried. His father Hornboge refuses, but Witig borrows his horse. Amelung challenges Siegfried, who asks for his name. Amelung refuses and loses the fight (and Witig's horse). Then Siegfried again asks for his name, although he has already cleverly deduced this must be his blood-relation Amelung. When Amelung admits this, Siegfried gives him back the horses and makes Amelung bind him to a tree, so that everyone will think Amelung has defeated him.

T
hen the challenge is officialy made and accepted. The tournament begins, but succesively Heime, Herbrand, Wildeber, Sintram and Fasold are defeated and bound to trees. Amelung is next, but before he fights, he sharply criticizes Dietrich for leading them into this disaster. He then goes on to win his fight. As a ransom for Isung's son, he demands and gets Herbrand's and Fasold's release.

Next, Hornboge and Hagen are defeated and bound. Then Detlef enters the field and fights the longest fight until now. He ends by narrowly defeating his opponent and releases Hagen. Then Hildebrand is defeated, followed by king Gunther, who fights king Isung himself.

Finally, Witig enters the list and defeats the last Isung-son. By threatening to kill his opponent, he manages to obtain the release of all bound heroes. Then Dietrich himself draws his sword and fights Siegfried.

T
he fight goes on for two days, and at twilight on the second day it becomes clear that Dietrich cannot win. The next day, he asks Witig to lend him Mimung. Siegfried demands that Dietrich swear he will not use Mimung. Dietrich puts Mimung's point into the ground and makes the hilt lean against his legs. Then he swears that Mimung's point is not above the ground and its hilt in no man's hand. Siegfried is content. Dietrich defeats Siegfried with Mimung. Siegfried declares himself Dietrich's follower.

Follow Hildebrand, Wildeber and Heime
Follow Witig
Follow Detlef and Fasold
Follow king Isung
Up


17: Marriages (Ths. 223-230)

History of Brunhild

A
melung marries Isung's daughter. Dietrich and his heroes return to Bern. Hornboge, Amelung, Sintram and Herbrand leave Dietrich to become his vassals in their home countries.

Siegfried marries Grimhild, sister to Hagen and Gunther. Furthermore, Siegfried advises Gunther to marry Brunhild. Gunther agrees and he, Hagen, Siegfried and Dietrich set out. At first, Brunhild indignantly refuses and says something that might point to some romantic involvement with Siegfried during his first stay at Seegard. Later, Dietrich persuades Brunhild to marry Gunther after all.

During their first night, Brunhild does not suffer Gunther to enter her bed. Instead, she hangs him on a nail in the wall. The next two nights are the same.

Gunther tells Siegfried everything and Siegfried explains: as long as Brunhild remains a virgin, her strength is greater than that of any man, except (of course) Siegfried. Siegfried offers Gunther to take his place and during the next night he deflowers Brunhild. As a souvenir, he takes a ring from her arm.

Follow Siegfried and the Nibelungen
Up


18: Herbort and Hilda (Ths. 231-240)

History of Detlef and Fasold
History of the Queen with the Nine Daughters

This part is generally considered to be an interpolation

D
ietrich sends his nephew Herbort to the court of king Artus of Bertangaland, to ask for the hand of his daughter Hilda. Herbort wants her for himself and makes a drawing of Dietrich, which so shocks the princess that she runs off with him.

Then Dietrich, Detlef and Fasold each marry one of the Nine Daughters of the Queen of the Drekanfels. Fasold and Detlef jointly rule the kingdom of the Queen.

Follow Dietrich
Follow Detlef and Fasold
Up


19: Walther and Hildegund (Ths. 241-244)

History of Hagen
History of Attila

This part is the only one that is not in its chronological place. It describes events taking place at a much earlier date than the previous chapters. Hagen loses his eye in this part, while he has already been described as having only one eye in the Bertangaland-part. Walther is not yet jarl of Gerimsheim.

W
alther and Hildegund are both hostages at the court of Attila. Walther is hostage for his family: Ermenrik and Dietrich. Hildegund is hostage for her father: king Osantrix. They love each other dearly.

They decide to run. Attila immediately sends Hagen after them, with 11 knights. Walther kills all the knights and when Hagen suddenly appears, throws a bone of a boar in his eye. Hagen loses the eye. Walther and Hildegund escape.

Follow Hagen
Follow Walther
Follow Attila
Up


20: Iron and Isolde (Ths. 245-275)

History of Witig
History of Ake
History of Ermenrik

This part, too, is generally considered to be an interpolation.

V
ery boring adventures of the kings Iron and Appolonius, sons of king Artus. They insist on hunting in each other's forests. Finally, Iron seduces the wife of Ake, Dietrich's uncle. Ake kills him and Dietrich, who finds his body, buries him.

Shortly after, Ake dies. Witig marries his widow, who is also one of the Nine Daughters. Ermenrik agrees on Witig becoming his follower and warding Ake's sons.

 

Load the fifth part of the summary.