Alberich

Family: Nibelungs · Role: warden of the hoard · First appears: Adventure III · How Siegfried Came to Worms · Part 3

In Adventure III, Hagen tells how Siegfried defeated Alberich and won the Cloak of Darkness from him. Siegfried then made Alberich warden of the hoard and bound him by oath to serve as his knave.

In Adventure VIII, Siegfried overcame and bound Alberich again. Alberich recognized him as rightful sovereign of the land and agreed to serve him if spared, while recalling that he had already sworn to acknowledge Siegfried as his lord.

Relationship record

Life events

• In Hagen's account, Siegfried defeated Alberich and won the Cloak of Darkness from him.(Adventure III · How Siegfried Came to Worms · Part 3)
  • With: Siegfried
  • “Like wild lions they ran to the hill, where from Alberich he won the Cloak of Darkness.”
• In Hagen's account, Siegfried made Alberich warden of the hoard and swore him to serve.(Adventure III · How Siegfried Came to Worms · Part 3)
  • With: Siegfried
  • “He made Alberich, the strong, warden of the hoard and bade him swear an oath to serve him as his knave”
• Siegfried overcomes and binds Alberich, who then recognizes him as his rightful sovereign.(Adventure VIII · How Siegfried Fared To His Men-At-Arms, the Nibelungs · Part 1 · 📍 Nibelung's land)
  • With: Siegfried
  • “He then bound Alberich as he had the giant afore. Full sore the strength of Siegfried hurt him. The dwarf gan ask: ‘How are ye named?’ ‘My name is Siegfried,’ he replied; ‘I deemed ye knew me well.’ ‘Well is me of these tidings,’ spake Alberich, the dwarf. ‘Now have I noted well the knightly deeds, through which ye be by right the sovran of the land. I'll do whatso ye bid, and ye let me live.’”
• Alberich agrees to serve Siegfried if Siegfried spares his life.(Adventure VIII · How Siegfried Fared To His Men-At-Arms, the Nibelungs · Part 1)
  • With: Siegfried
  • “Loud cried the valiant dwarf: ‘Now spare my life. And might I be the vassal of any save one knight, to whom I swore an oath that I would own him as my lord, I'd serve you till my death.’ So spake the cunning man.”

Adventure III · How Siegfried Came to Worms · Part 3

• employer: Siegfried “He made Alberich, the strong, warden of the hoard and bade him swear an oath to serve him as his knave; and fit he was for work of every sort.”
• enemies with Siegfried “The latter weened to venge straightway his masters, till he then discovered Siegfried's mighty strength; for no match for him was the sturdy dwarf.”

Adventure VIII · How Siegfried Fared To His Men-At-Arms, the Nibelungs · Part 1

• enemies with Siegfried “He armed him quick and ran to where he found the noble stranger, as he bound the mighty giant. Full wroth was Alberich and strong enow. On his body he bare helmet and rings of mail and in his hand a heavy scourge of gold.”
• lord: Siegfried “And might I be the vassal of any save one knight, to whom I swore an oath that I would own him as my lord, I'd serve you till my death.”

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