Siegfried

Also known as: Knight Siegfried / Lord Siegfried / Siegfried of the Nibelung land / Sir Siegfried · Family: Netherlands · Role: son of Siegmund and Siegelind · First appears: Adventure II · Of Siegfried

In Adventure II, Siegfried grew up at Xanten, the son of Siegmund and Siegelind. At the midsummer festival, Siegmund made him a knight and enfeoffed him with land and castles. In Adventure III, his parents agreed to help him woo Kriemhild and sorrowfully granted him leave to journey to Burgundy. Siegmund promised to aid his suit, while Siegelind outfitted him and his companions for the journey.

In Hagen’s account in Adventure III, Siegfried slew Schilbung and Nibelung, took mastery of the Nibelung hoard, and defeated Alberich, whom he appointed its warden. He also slew a dragon and bathed in its blood. At Worms, he was welcomed by the Burgundians, and he and Kriemhild cherished each other from afar before meeting. In Adventure IV, he helped Gunther defend his land, capturing Liudegast and Liudeger and bringing them as hostages. He later met Kriemhild, and in Adventure V she greeted him and revealed her love; Giselher persuaded him to stay rather than leave.

In Adventures VI–X, Siegfried helped Gunther woo Brunhild, on the condition that Gunther give him Kriemhild as his wife. At Isenstein, he declared that Gunther was his master and he Gunther’s man; concealed in the Cloak of Darkness, he secretly helped Gunther win Brunhild’s contests. After Gunther fulfilled his promise, Siegfried and Kriemhild married. He later returned with her to his own land, where Siegmund gave him the crown and rule. They had a son, Gunther (son of Siegfried), named for his uncle.

In Adventure XIV, the queens’ quarrel brought accusations involving Siegfried and Brunhild. Gunther accepted his oath and cleared him of the charges, but Hagen, Gernot, and Ortwin counseled his death, and Gunther followed Hagen’s secret plan. In Adventure XV, Kriemhild revealed Siegfried’s vulnerable spot to Hagen. In Adventure XVI, Hagen lured him to a spring and treacherously speared him as he drank. Though mortally wounded, Siegfried struck Hagen down with his shield before dying. In Adventure XVII, Kriemhild mourned him and had him buried; Siegmund grieved and vowed vengeance. In Adventure XXIX, Hagen admitted to Kriemhild that he had slain Siegfried.