Dietrich's Adventures

As I had mentioned in the previous article (Deitrich), there are a number of Middle High German poems, between the 13th and 15th century, about Dietrich or his companions. Here, I will briefly list a few.

Note that this list doesn't include the following tales – Nibelungenlied, Waltharius and Hildebrandslied, which are related in more detail elsewhere.

• Laurin

• Virginal of Tyrol

• Biterolf and Dietleib

• Sigenot

• Der Wunderer

• Alphart

Laurin

Laurin was a dwarf who guarded a rose garden from all intruders, including defeating powerful knights. Dietrich, together with a couple of companions (Dietleib and Witege (Vidga)), went to investigate the dwarf's prowess.

Witege was the first to challenge Laurin and was easily overcome by the smaller foe. The source of the dwarf's strength came from his magic girdle of might, similar to the one worn by the Norse god Thor.

Dietrich defeated the dwarf by cutting his girdle, thereby reducing Laurin's strength to that of a normal mortal.

Laurin had been married to Dietleib's sister, Künolt (Kunolt), and he invited the three knights to a feast. The treacherous dwarf doped the wine, so that his guests fell into a torpor. Laurin threw Dietrich and his companions in prison. Künolt freed her brother and the others, with the use of her magic ring.

Dietrich and his friends carried off the dwarf to Bern (Verona) where he was forced to convert to Christianity, and Laurin became one of Dietrich's thanes.

Virginal of Tyrol

This epic took place before Dietrich was forced into exile by his archenemy, Ermanaric. Dietrich went to rescue the Queen Virginal of Tyrol from a heathen king. Not only did Dietrich slay the heathen king, but he also had to fight a number of giants and dragons before he succeeded his quest.

Biterolf and Dietleib

Biterolf (Biterulf) was the king of Toledo, and he had a son named Dietleib (Thetleif). Biterolf went on a quest, in search of adventure. Dietleib set off to find his father. Father and son found themselves in Worms, Burgundy, where they defeated Gunther, Hagen and Siegfried in combat, with the help of Dietrich. Part of the story was told in the Norwegian Thidrekssaga, where the father and son were known as Biterulf and Thetleif.

Sigenot

Dietrich encountered a giant named Sigenot. The giant threw Dietrich into a cave, where he languished as a prisoner. Hildebrand killed the giant and rescued Dietrich.

Der Wunderer

A maiden arrived in Etzel's (Attila's) court, seeking protection from a hunter known as the Wunderer. Etzel and Rudiger refused to help the girl. Only Dietrich was willing to aid her. Dietrich confronted and killed the Wunderer in combat.

Alphart

Alphart was the nephew of Hildebrand, and a mighty warrior of Dietrich. Alphart defeated Witege (Vidga), a henchman of Ermanaric, in single combat. But Alphart was killed when he was unfairly confronted by Witege and Heime (Heimir).