Gelfrat

Family: Bavarians · Role: margrave · First appears: Adventure XXV · How The Lords All Journeyed To The Huns · Part 2

In Adventure XXV, Hagen learned from Siegelind (mermaid) that Else ruled the marches and that Gelfrat was his brother, a Bavarian lord. After Hagen killed Gelfrat’s ferryman, Gelfrat pursued Hagen’s company in Adventure XXVI to avenge him.

In the encounter, Dankwart struck Gelfrat with his sword, and “he fell down dead.”

Relationship record

Life events

• The mermaid Siegelind told Hagen that Else ruled the marches, that Gelfrat was his brother, and that the ferryman served Gelfrat.(Adventure XXV · How The Lords All Journeyed To The Huns · Part 2)
  • With: Hagen Siegelind (mermaid) Else
  • “The lord of these marches beareth the name of Else. His brother is hight Knight Gelfrat, a lord in the Bavarian land.”
• Hagen killed Gelfrat’s ferryman after the boatman rowed him across the river.(Adventure XXV · How The Lords All Journeyed To The Huns · Part 2)
  • With: Hagen
  • “The haughty ferryman, the which was newly wed himself, did take the oar in hand. As he would earn Hagen's gold so red, therefore he died the sword-grim death at the hands of the knight.”
• Gelfrat pursued and assailed Hagen's company to avenge the ferryman.(Adventure XXVI · How Gelfrat Was Slain By Dankwart · Part 1 · 📍 the Bavarian land)
  • With: Hagen
  • “A short time thereafter the heroes were assailed. On either side of the highway and in the rear hard by they heard the beat of hoofs. Their foes pressed on too hard.”
• Dankwart struck Gelfrat with his sword, and Gelfrat fell dead.(Adventure XXVI · How Gelfrat Was Slain By Dankwart · Part 2)
  • With: Dankwart
  • “The hero then sprang nearer and with a sharp sword smote Gelfrat such a blow that he fell down dead.”

Adventure XXV · How The Lords All Journeyed To The Huns · Part 2

• siblings with Else “The lord of these marches beareth the name of Else. His brother is hight Knight Gelfrat, a lord in the Bavarian land.”

Adventure XXVI · How Gelfrat Was Slain By Dankwart · Part 1

• enemies with Hagen (Gelfrat identifies Hagen as the ferryman's slayer immediately afterward; Gelfrat and his men are pursuing the Burgundians to avenge the ferryman.) “Quoth the margrave of Bavaria: ‘We seek our foes and have galloped on behind you. I know not who slew my ferryman to-day, but it doth rue me enow, for he was a hero of his hands.’”

Adventure XXVI · How Gelfrat Was Slain By Dankwart · Part 2

• enemies with Hagen “Over the bucklers Gelfrat and Hagen couched their spears for the thrust; each would charge the other.”
• enemies with Dankwart “The hero then sprang nearer and with a sharp sword smote Gelfrat such a blow that he fell down dead.”
• siblings with Else “His brother had been slain, he himself was wounded; full eighty of his knights remained with grim death behind upon the field.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Nibelungenlied. Made with Rho MD.