The Nibelungenlied (Der Nibelunge liet / Der Nibelunge nôt)

Introduction
 Middle High German epic poem written about 1200 by an unknown Austrian from
the Danube region.
 It is preserved in three main 13th-century manuscripts, A (now in Munich), B (St.
Gall), and C (Donaueschingen); modern scholarship regards B as the most
trustworthy.
 An early Middle High German title of the work is Der Nibelunge Not (“The Nibelung
Distress”), from the last line of the poem. The superscription on one of the
manuscripts from the early 14th century is “The Book of Kriemhild.”

Summary

In Burgundy there lives a noble family that numbers three brothers and a sister. The sons
are Gunther, who wears the crown, Gernot, and Giselher. The daughter is Kriemhild.
About them is a splendid court of powerful and righteous knights, including Hagen of
Trony, his brother Dankwart, and mighty Hunold. Kriemhild dreams one night that she
rears a falcon that then is slain by two eagles. When she tells her dream to Queen Uta,
her mother’s interpretation is that Kriemhild should have a noble husband but that unless
God’s protection follows him he might soon die. Siegfried is born in Niderland, the son of
King Siegmund and Queen Sieglind. In his young manhood he hears of the beautiful
Kriemhild, and, although he has never seen her, he determines to have her for his wife.
Undeterred by reports of her fierce and warlike kinsmen, he makes his armor ready for his
venture. Friends come from all parts of the country to bid him farewell, and many of them
accompany him as retainers into King Gunther’s land. When he arrives at Gunther’s court,
Hagen, who knows his fame, tells the brothers the story of Siegfried’s first success,
relating how Siegfried killed great heroes and won the hoard of the Nibelung, a treasure of
so much gold and jewels that five score wagons cannot carry all of it. He also tells how
Siegfried won the cloak of invisibility from the dwarf Albric and how Siegfried became
invulnerable from having bathed in the blood of a dragon he slew. Gunther and his
brothers admit Siegfried to their hall after they hear of his exploits, and the hero stays with
them a year. In all that time, however, he does not once see Kriemhild.

The Saxons, led by King Ludger, threaten to overcome the kingdom of the Burgundians.
Siegfried pledges to use his forces in overcoming the Saxons, and in the battle he leads
his knights and Gunther’s troops to a great victory. In the following days there are great
celebrations at which Queen Uta and her daughter Kriemhild appear in public. On one of
these occasions Siegfried and Kriemhild meet and become betrothed. King Gunther,
wanting to marry Brunhild, Wotan’s daughter, tells Siegfried that if he will help him win
Brunhild, then he might wed Kriemhild. Gunther sets out at the head of a great expedition,
all of his knights decked in costly garments in order to impress Brunhild. Her preference
for a husband, however, is not a well-dressed prince but a hero. She declares that the
man who will win her must surpass her in feats of skill and strength. With Siegfried’s aid
Gunther overcomes Brunhild, and she agrees to go with Gunther as his wife.

Siegfried is sent on ahead to announce a great celebration in honor of the coming

marriage of Gunther to Brunhild. A double ceremony takes place, with Kriemhild becoming
the bride of Siegfried at the same time. At the wedding feast Brunhild bursts into tears at
the sight of Kriemhild and Siegfried together. Gunther tries to explain away her
unhappiness, but once more, Gunther needs Siegfried’s aid, for Brunhild determines
never to let Gunther share her bed. Siegfried goes to her chamber and there overpowers
her. Thinking she is overcome by Gunther, she is thus subdued. Brunhild gives birth to a
son who is named for Siegfried.

After many years, Siegfried and Kriemhild visit Gunther and Brunhilde. During a ceremonial feast, the
two women quarrel. Brunhilde ridicules Kriemhild for marrying a mere vassal, and in retaliation,
Kriemhild suggests Brunhilde has been unfaithful to her husband and allowed Siegfried to sleep with
her. She produces Brunhilde's belt and ring as proof. Siegfried denies the charge, but the matter is
not settled. Brunhilde persuades Gunther's friend Hagen that Siegfried has wronged her, and Hagen
promises to avenge her.
Siegfried had become invulnerable after he bathed in the blood of a dragon. However, Hagen
discovers that one spot between the hero's shoulders is vulnerable. While out hunting one day,
Hagen thrusts a spear through that spot, killing Siegfried. At her husband's funeral, Kriemhild
discovers the identity of Siegfried's murderer and curses Hagen.
Kriemhild stays on in Burgundy. Three years after Siegfried's death, Hagen suggests to Gunther that
Kriemhild should be persuaded to bring Siegfried's Nibelungen treasure to Burgundy. When the
treasure arrives, Hagen sinks it in the Rhine, hoping to recover it for himself and Gunther one day.
In time, Kriemhild marries King Etzel of Hungary, who agrees to help her avenge Siegfried's death.
After several years, Etzel invites the Burgundians to Hungary Guided by Hagen, they reach the banks
of the Danube River but find no ships to carry them across. Hagen meets three swan maidens and
forces them to help him. After telling Hagen about a ferryman, they warn him that only one person
from his group, a priest, will return home.
Hagen tricks the ferryman into bringing his boat ashore and then kills him. Then while ferrying the
Burgundians across the river, Hagen throws a priest overboard, hoping to prove the swan maidens
wrong. But when the priest swims safely to shore, Hagen knows that their prophecy will come true.
When the Burgundians arrive in Hungary, Kriemhild demands her gold. Hagen tells her it will remain
at the bottom of the Rhine. Vicious fighting later breaks out between the Hungarians and
Burgundians. Hagen kills the child of Etzel and Kriemhild, and Kriemhild promises a reward to anyone
who captures and brings Hagen to her.

Though based on legendary characters, theNibelungenliedexpresses ideals of heroism and chivalry that were
very important in the period when the work was written. Moreover, while the roots of the Nibelungen legends
are found in pre-Christian Scandinavia, theNibelungenliedpresents a Christian view of European courtly life
and traditions. The work also strongly illustrates the Germanic ideas of fate and loyalty to the chief or king.
prophecyforetelling of what is to come; also something that is predicted
After more fighting, Hagen and Gunther are captured and taken to Kriemhild. Once again she asks
Hagen to reveal the location of the treasure. Again Hagen refuses, explaining that he promised never
to reveal the secret while his lord was alive. Insane with fury, Kriemhild orders the execution of
Gunther, her own brother, and then carries Gunther's head to Hagen as proof that his lord is dead.
When Hagen still refuses to reveal the hiding place, she cuts off his head with a sword that belonged
to Siegfried. In the end, a hero named Hildebrand, outraged at Kriemhild's actions, kills the queen.