THE NIBELUNGENLIED

The hero of the Nibelungenlied is Siegfried and its heroine is Kriemhild, the sister of Gunther, king of Burgundy, Siegfried hears about the surpassing beauty and many virtues of Kriemhild and embarks for Burgundy to win her for his bride. But in spite of his splendid achievements and his great fame, he fails at first even to get an audience with her.

       Gunther attacked by his old enemies and Siegfried successfully drives him away. In gratitude, Gunther now allows his sister to appear at a banquet given to celebrate Siegfried’s victory. Gunther agrees to give Kriemhild in marriage to Siegfried but makes it a condition that Siegfried helps him win Brunhild, the queen of Isenland, for his wife. Siegfried readily agrees to this proposition.

       In Isenland every suitor of the queen has to undergo three tests of physical strength in the form of combats with her. If vanquished, the suitor would suffer a cruel death.

       Queen Brunhild recognizes Siegfried and admires him for his reputed strength and courage and his great wealth which he had obtained when he killed a dragon and bathed in its blood to render himself invulnerable to physical weapons. But he despises Gunther and his man because they seem inferior in wealth to her other suitors. Siegfried, to raise Gunter’s status, tells the queen that he is vassal to Gunther.

       The trials begin and Gunther wins only because Siegfried, putting on his cloak of invisibility, performs all the actions for him. Gunther wins Brunhild for his wife and a double wedding is performed in Burgundy. Gunther is married to Brunhild and Siegfried to Kriemhild. Amidst all the songs and ceremonies, Brunhild is unhappy and resentful and reproaches her husband for giving his sister to a mere vassal. In her indignation she ties Gunther up in his girdle and ring but unfortunately gives them to Kriemhld and confides the story to her.

                Kriemhild now leaves her family and goes with her husband to his home. Kriemhild has a son named Gunther and Brunhild also has a son who is named Siegfried.

       A few years pass. Brunhild complains to her husband that Siegfried does not come to Burgundy to pay homage to Gunther. The Burgundians decide to hold a great feast. Siegfried and Kriemhild are invited. During the festivities a violent quarrel arises between the queens about the merits of their husbands. When Brunhild boasts that Siegfried is a mere vassal of Gunther’s, Kriemhild tells her the truth and, carried off by pride and passion, produces the girdle and the ring that Siegfried took from Brunhild.

       At this, Brunhild vows vengeance, and with Hagen, the faithful vassal of Gunther, she plans to kill Siegfried.

       Gunther pretends that enemies are about to attack Burgundy and Siegfried volunteers to defend it. Hagen, pretending to be worried about the reckless courage of Siegfried, convinces Kriemhild to reveal to him Siegfried’s vulnerable spot on his shoulder. Hagen promises to protect this spot from the enemy.

       The enemy attack does not, of course, materialize, and the royal party goes hunting. After the hunt, when all are exhausted, Siegfried goes to a steam to drink. As he bends over the water, Hagen stabs and kills himself and thus avenges Brunhild.