On this page, I will give an extended summary of Thidrekssaga chapters 395-441.
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)
| History of | Ermenrik and Sibich |
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| History of | Elsung's uncle |
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Jarl Elsung of Babilonia notices them. He wants to take revenge for his uncle , who has been killed by Samson, Dietrich's grandfather. Thus, Elsung calls up some men and pursues them. Hildebrand, however, notices the pursuers and after a battle of words, a battle of swords breaks loose, in which Dietrich and Hildebrand kill all their enemies.
Hildebrand meets Amelung and fights him. Amelung surrenders and tells Hildebrand that Ermenrik is dead and Hildebrand's son Alebrand is jarl of Bern. Next, Hildebrand speaks to Konrad Ludwig's son and hears Sibich has succeeded Ermenrik. Since no one is really happy with him, all eagerly proclaim Dietrich their king.
Dietrich and Hildebrand press on to Bern and Hildebrand meets Alebrand just outside the gates. He asks for his name and Alebrand asks Hildebrand the same. Both refuse, making a fight necessary. Hildebrand defeats his son, who surrenders. When Hildebrand lowers his guard, Alebrand tries to sneak up on him. Hildebrand gives him some fatherly advice and a fatherly beating.
They enter Bern. An overzealous guard tries to kill Hildebrand, for which he is summarily executed by Alebrand. Then Alebrand calls the warriors and asks if they want Sibich or Dietrich for their king. Answer: Dietrich!!
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Dietrich has a statue of himself set up in Rome. He and Hildebrand become christians. Then Hildebrand dies of old age.
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This part is generally considered to be an interpolation
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Dietrich finds out about this. He wants to punish the bandits, but on the way he meets a dragon and a lion fighting each other. Dietrich immediately attacks the dragon to help the lion, but his sword breaks (not Eckisax, Dietrich has left his best sword at home). Dietrich grabs a small tree and pulls it loose to use for a weapon, but he is too slow. The dragon grabs both him and the lion and takes them to its lair. It feeds its young with the lion, saving Dietrich for later. Dietrich happens to find a sword and kills the dragon and its spawn. Then he finds some armour. In the forest, Dietrich finds a horse, which flees. Dietrich runs after it and captures it. Then he resumes his journey to Hertnit's castle.
The weapon, armour and horse Dietrich has found, are of course Hertnit's. Therefore Isolde, when seeing him, thinks he is Hertnit. Elated by this, she commands her knights to sally. Powerfully aided by Dietrich, they manage to disperse the bandits. "Thus it went, as always when there is no leader: though the men may be brave, they still lose the fight."
Dietrich explains everything and marries Isolde.
| Follow | Dietrich |
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| History of | Attila and Aldrian |
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| History of | Brunhild |
| A |
One day when he is twelve years old, Aldrian stares into the fire and does not even notice when a glowing coal burns through his shoe. Attila asks him what he is doing and Aldrian explains that he was thinking how happy Attila ought to be to have his table filled with wine and white bread. Soon, a day will come when Attila would gladly eat coarse bread and drink water. Attila laughs and says his days of campagining are over.
Then Aldrians starts to slyly insinuate and finally makes Attila promise half of his kingdom to the man leading him to the fabled Nibelungenhort. When Attila has made this promise, Aldrian tells him he knows the location of the treasure and has the key to the doors.
Some days later, they set out. Aldrian leads Attila to a large cave, closed off by three doors. Aldrian produces the key and opens the door. Attila comes after him and greedily runs to the treasure. Then Aldrian closes the door again. Attila is trapped.
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Then Aldrian goes to Brunhild and tells her what he has done to avenge her husband. In gratitude, she gives him some warriors. He conquers Nibelungenland and becomes jarl.
Since that time, no one but Aldrian knew the location of the treasure, and he has never told anyone. After Attila's death, Dietrich becomes king of Hunnenland.
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| History of | Dietrich |
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| History of | Heime |
| History of | Aspilian Nordian's son |
| A |
One day, the giant Aspilan demands some estates belonging to the monastery. When the abbot complains, the giant allows a fight to be held. But who shall fight for the monastery?
Heime decides to fight and demands his sword Nagelring and his horse Rispa. There are some problems locating them, but finally he gets his gear and kills the giant.
Dietrich hears of the fight, which sounds like Heime to him. He visits the monastery and recognizes his former hero. At first, Heime resists the lure of the world, but when Dietrich speaks at length about their shared youth, Heime gives in. He re-enters Dietrich's service.
His first advice is to make the monastery pay a goodly tribute. Dietrich agrees and sends Heime hither. Heime explains Dietrich's request to the abbot and cuts his protests short by cutting his head. Then he slaughters a good part of the monks, takes all the gold he can find and returns to Bern.
Next on the taxroll is a giant. Heime goes to him, but understimates him and is killed. Dietrich, on hearing this, kills the giant.
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| History of | Witig |
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| A |
At the end of his life, Dietrich decides to kill Witig in revenge for his brother and Attila's sons. He secretly leaves Bern and travels to the island. The ferryman refuses to take him there and Dietrich leaves. He goes to a town and has a doctor pull out one of his eyes. Then he returns. The ferryman does not recognize him and brings him to Witig's isle.
Dietrich sneaks into Witig's home and takes Mimung. Then he wakes Witig and they fight. Dietrich kills Witig, but is badly wounded himself.
Dietrich tries to return home. He throws Mimung into a streamlet or lake and in the town of Hoffert he collapses. There he lies for a while and dies. His two companions, have sworn not to tell anyone about him, so the general opinion is that he has died as described under Version I.
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