German Literature in English Translation

(preliminary version covering introduction, Hildebrandslied, Nibelungenlied)
Hl=Hildebrandslied
Nl=Nibelungenlied
 

Attila, see Etzel.
Bloedelin (Nl). Brother of Etzel. Note that the historical Attila ruled the Huns jointly with his brother Bleda, until Attila murdered Bleda.
Brunhild (Nl). In the Nl, queen of Iceland, immensely strong woman, wooed by Gunther and won with the secret assistance of Siegfried.
Dietrich (Nl, Hl). Medieval German name for Theodoric, historical leader of Ostrogoths, defeated Odoacer at Ravenna in 488 and ruled part of Italy on behalf of Eastern Roman Empire. Under the name Dietrich, popular medieval hero, especially in southern Germany. His story was that he was defeated by Odoacer and driven into exile for 30 years, part of which time he spent at Attila's court, before eventually returning to defeat his enemies and rule his rightful realm.
Etzel (Nl).  Medieval German form of the name “Attila.” Historically, Attila was a leader of the Huns, a warrior people who terrorized Europe for some 75 years in the 4th and 5th centuries. Attila’s Huns suffered a major defeat at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains in 451, which might provide indirect and partial inspiration for the destruction of the Huns at the end of the Nibelungenlied. Attila died in 453, on “the last of his wedding nights” (LA), which may have played a role in the development of the Kriemhild story. In medieval German sagas, Etzel appears as a great and powerful ruler in the East, whose court often serves as a refuge for exiles.
Gernot (Nl). Second oldest of the three brother kings of Burgundy.
Giselher (Nl). Youngest of the three brother kings of Burgundy.
Gunther (Nl). Eldest of the three brothers and co-kings who rule Burgundy, generally seems to be the most powerful of the three. Brother of Kriemhild, wooer and then husband of Brunhild. Historically, Gundahar was the leader of the Burgundians who were wiped out by Huns in 436.
Hadubrand (Hl). Son of Hildebrand, refuses to believe that Hildebrand is his father and insists on combat.
Hagen (Nl). Most important vassal of the Burgundian kings; killer of Siegfried, killed by Kriemhild.
Hildebrand (Hl, Nl). Germanic saga hero associated with Dietrich. In the Hildebrandslied, returning with Dietrich from exile, he is faced with fighting his son, Hadubrand. In the Nibelungenlied, Hildebrand appears with Dietrich, is involved in the final battle, and kills Kriemhild after she kills Hagen.
Kriemhild (Nl).  Burgundian princess, sister of Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher, wife of Siegfried. Devotes her life to vengeance after Siegfried's death, marrying Etzel to gain power, and eventually bringing about the deaths of all the Burgundians and most of  Etzel's men. A possible historical source is Brunichildis, a West Gothic queen whose husband, Sigibert, was murdered in 575, after which Brunichildis spent much of the rest of her life pursuing revenge, before eventually being killed by one of her enemies.
Rüdiger (Nl). Margrave and lord of Pöchlarn (Bechlarn), vassal of Etzel. When the Burgundians stay at Rüdiger's castle on their way to Etzel's realm, Rüdiger's daughter becomes engaged or married to Giselher, and various bonds of friendship are formed. Rüdiger thus finds himself in a position of conflicting loyalties when battle breaks out between Dietrich and the Burgundians.
Siegfried (Nl). Prince, later king of the Netherlands. Killed a dragon and bathed in its blood, which made him invulnerable to wounds, except for one spot between his shoulder blades where a leaf fell. Took cape of invisibility and vast treasure from Nibelungs. Helps Gunther win Brunhild, in return for being given permission to marry Kriemhild. Killed by Hagen.
Theodoric, see Dietrich.
Uote (Nl). Mother of Gunther, Gernot, Giselher, and Kriemhild.
Volker (Nl). Vassal of the Burgundian kings. The designations "Fiddler" and "Minstrel" play on his status as a musician and on the metaphor of his sword "singing" in combat.