Nibelungenlied

Anonymous

Nibelungenlied

Anonymous
59 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel/Book in Verse
Adult
Published in 1200

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Kriemhild is a beautiful Burgundian princess living under the protection of her royal brothers in Worms. Early in her life, she insists she will never marry, believing that romantic attachment only brings sorrow. She changes her mind when the legendary Prince Siegfried arrives at court. She practices strict courtly etiquette but possesses a fierce, unyielding loyalty to the people she loves.

Key Relationships

Sister of Gunther

Sister of Gernot

Sister of Giselher

Daughter of Uote

Romantic interest of Siegfried

Sister-in-law of Brunhild

Liege lady of Hagen

Siegfried is the bold and immensely powerful crown prince of the Netherlands. He possesses near-invulnerability after bathing in the blood of a dragon he vanquished. He originally travels to Burgundy with plans to conquer the territory by force, but he shifts his strategy upon falling in love with Kriemhild. He owns a vast treasure hoard and a magic cloak that grants him invisibility and the strength of a dozen men.

Key Relationships

Suitor to Kriemhild

Son of Siegmund

Son of Sieglind

Friend of Gunther

Ally of Hagen

Master of Alberich

Hagen of Troneck is King Gunther's most formidable and trusted vassal. He possesses a terrifying gaze, a broad chest, and hair flecked with grey. He places the utmost importance on his sovereign's honor and views any slight against the Burgundian royal family as a personal insult. He operates with shrewd intelligence and evaluates every newcomer as a potential threat to his lords.

Key Relationships

Loyal vassal of Gunther

Brother of Dancwart

Suspicious ally of Siegfried

Protector of Brunhild

Brunhild is the warrior Queen of Iceland. She wields supernatural strength and refuses to marry any man who cannot defeat her in tossing a boulder, leaping, and throwing a javelin. She holds strict views on social hierarchy and status, which causes significant friction when she interacts with visitors at court. She demands respect for her position and reacts harshly to perceived insults.

Key Relationships

Suitor to Gunther

Acquaintance of Siegfried

Rival of Kriemhild

Gunther is the King of Burgundy and the eldest brother of the royal family. He acts hospitably toward visitors and commands a massive army, yet he frequently relies on the strength and counsel of stronger warriors. He decides to woo the formidable Queen Brunhild of Iceland, a task that requires him to seek outside assistance to survive her lethal games.

Key Relationships

Brother of Kriemhild

Brother of Gernot

Brother of Giselher

Son of Uote

Suitor to Brunhild

Friend of Siegfried

Liege lord of Hagen

Rüdiger of Pöchlarn is a wealthy and highly respected vassal serving King Etzel of Hungary. He embodies the medieval ideal of chivalry, demonstrating extraordinary generosity and hospitality to everyone who passes through his lands. He travels to Burgundy to deliver a marriage proposal, forging deep personal connections with the Burgundian lords in the process.

Key Relationships

Loyal vassal of Etzel

Husband of Gotelind

Envoy to Kriemhild

Friend of Giselher

Etzel is the powerful pagan King of Hungary. He rules over a vast, diverse territory that accommodates both Christian and heathen knights. He extends deep hospitality to travelers and hosts massive, extravagant festivals, though he occasionally fails to recognize the bitter interpersonal conflicts brewing among his own guests.

Key Relationships

Liege lord of Rüdiger

Suitor to Kriemhild

Host of Dietrich

Supporting Characters

Volker of Alzei is a noble minstrel and a fiercely brave warrior in service to King Gunther. He carries a unique fiddle bow capable of slicing through tough steel during combat. He possesses valuable knowledge of the geography east of Burgundy and steps forward to guide his lords when they travel into unfamiliar territory.

Key Relationships

Vassal of Gunther

Companion of Hagen

Dietrich of Verona is a once-great lord currently living as an exile at the Hungarian court. He commands his own small retinue of loyal warriors. He maintains a strong sense of personal honor and diplomacy, frequently attempting to mediate tensions and warn visitors of the complex dynamics at Etzel's court.

Key Relationships

Guest of Etzel

Liege lord of Hildebrand

Observer of Kriemhild

Gernot is the middle brother of the Burgundian royal family. He frequently offers measured, diplomatic counsel when his peers push for immediate warfare. He fights bravely alongside his siblings to defend Burgundy from invaders, balancing a desire for peace with his duty as a warrior king.

Key Relationships

Brother of Gunther

Brother of Giselher

Brother of Kriemhild

Son of Uote

Giselher is the youngest of the Burgundian kings and widely recognized as Kriemhild's favorite brother. He injects youthful enthusiasm into the court and quickly forms strong personal attachments with visiting knights. He actively works to make guests feel welcome and regularly asks them to extend their stays in Burgundy.

Key Relationships

Brother of Gunther

Brother of Gernot

Brother of Kriemhild

Son of Uote

Friend of Rüdiger

Uote is the dowager queen of Burgundy and the mother of Gunther, Gernot, Giselher, and Kriemhild. She experiences intuitive dreams that foreshadow future events. She guides her children through matters of state and marriage, anchoring the royal family's domestic life in Worms.

Key Relationships

Mother of Gunther

Mother of Gernot

Mother of Giselher

Mother of Kriemhild

Siegmund is the King of the Netherlands and Siegfried's father. He worries openly about his son's aggressive plan to travel to Worms, knowing the fierce reputation of the Burgundian warriors. He ultimately supports his son's choices, providing him with knights, wealth, and blessings for his journey.

Key Relationships

Father of Siegfried

Husband of Sieglind

Sieglind is the Queen of the Netherlands and Siegfried's mother. She ensures that no wandering minstrel leaves her court in poverty, showering guests with horses and fine clothes. She is highly protective of her son and weeps at the prospect of him facing danger abroad.

Key Relationships

Mother of Siegfried

Wife of Siegmund

Dancwart is Hagen's younger brother and a highly capable Burgundian vassal. He regularly assists in both diplomatic assignments and martial encounters, stepping in to distribute treasure or serve as an umpire during skirmishes. He stands as a steadfast, unyielding warrior in service to the Burgundian crown.

Key Relationships

Brother of Hagen

Vassal of Gunther

Gotelind is Rüdiger's wife, residing in the territory of Pöchlarn. She matches her husband's commitment to chivalric hospitality, readily distributing expensive fur-lined brocades to his knights. She extends warm, comforting welcomes to travelers passing through their domain.

Key Relationships

Wife of Rüdiger

Hildebrand is a veteran warrior and a strictly loyal vassal serving Dietrich of Verona. He follows his lord into exile at the Hungarian court. He generally favors diplomacy but possesses an intense fighting spirit that surfaces when his honor or his lord's people are threatened.

Key Relationships

Loyal vassal of Dietrich

Alberich is a dwarf residing in Nibelungland who serves as the guardian of an enormous treasure. He originally possessed the magic cloak of invisibility before Siegfried claimed it. After being physically subdued, he recognizes Siegfried's superior strength and agrees to manage his treasury and summon troops on command.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Siegfried