Waltharius

Waltharius was a heroic poem written in Latin, around the 9th century. The poem was based on an ancient German legend set in the time of Attila (Etzel or Atli) and Guntharius (Gunther or Gunnar).

Waltharius (Walther) was mentioned in the Nibelungenlied as Walter of Spain, and it was said in that tale that Hagen (Haganos in this story) was his friend.

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Attila, the king of the Huns, had established himself a powerful empire, east of the Rhine. His empire was steadily approaching the Rhine, where there were several powerful, but smaller kingdoms in what is now France.

From these smaller kingdoms, three kings decided to send hostages and pay tribute to Attila, in order to keep their independence. When one kingdom gave a hostage to another, it was the normal practice to send a hostage who was of noble birth, such as a son or daughter of the ruler. Hostages were used to guarantee that the kingdom either continued to pay tribute to a stronger kingdom, or that a treaty concluded between them would be honoured. Usually the hostages were treated well, and if the hostages were young, then they received the best education that the kingdom holding them could provide.

Gibicho ruled the Franks. A young Frankish noble named Hagano (Hagen) became a hostage of Attila. Heriricus ruled the people known as the Burgundians, and the king sent his daughter Hiltgunt as a hostage. Alphere ruled the kingdom of Aquitaine, a large region in the south-west of France. Alphere's son became Attila's third hostage. When Waltharius and Hiltgunt were children, their parents had arranged that they would marry. So Waltharius and Hiltgunt were betrothed at a young age.

Things changed when Gibicho, Haganos' king, died. Gibicho's son Guntharius became king.

In Attila's court, Waltharius and Haganos became friends. When Haganos learned that his new king had decided not to pay tribute to Attila, Haganos escaped and fled back to Franconia. Haganos' escape made sense, since he was a hostage, and Attila had the right to kill his hostage if the kingdom that hostage was from, refused to pay him tribute.

In order that Waltharius become loyal to him, Attila thought it would be best to marry the son of Alphere to a Hunnish princess. However, Waltharius didn't want to marry any princess except Hiltgunt, the girl he was betrothed to. So Waltharius also escaped, taking Hiltgunt and their treasures with him.

It seemed that Attila didn't send any force to pursue the couple of escapees, but Waltharius and Hiltgunt were confronted by opposition when they crossed the Rhine, into Burgundian territory.

When Guntharius found out about the presence of the two escapees, the Frankish king decided to pursue them, hoping to take their treasures from them.

When they found out that they were being chased by Guntharius and Haganos, Waltharius took a defensible position in a narrow ravine in the Vosges. At the bottom of the ravine, Waltharius was able to confront his enemies, one at the time. Waltharius killed one Frankish warrior after another, until Waltharius had killed eleven men.

At night, the two of them were able to rest, before continuing on their journey. When Guntharius and Haganos caught up with Waltharius and Hiltgunt, the hero had to fight them both at the same time. Haganos was reluctant to confront Waltharius, since they had became friends at Attila's court, but Guntharius was his liege lord and king.

In the encounter, all three warriors were seriously wounded, but none of them died. Waltharius and Hiltgunt managed to escape. Waltharius and Hiltgunt fled to Aquitaine where they were married.

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In the briefer version of the tale in the Thiðrekssaga (c. 1210), there was a different variation of the theme and setting.

Waltharius was called Valtari of Vaskenstien, and the nephew of Erminrek (Ermanaric), which made him a cousin of the hero Thiðrek. Hiltgunt was called Hildigunn; she was the daughter of Earl Ilia of Greece and niece of King Osantrix of the Vilkinamen.

Attila and Erminrek became friends and exchanged hostages. Valtari (Waltharius) was only 12 at the time. Two years later, Hildigunn (Hiltgunt), who was only seven, also became a hostage of Attila. As time went by, the two young hostages fell in love with one another.

One day, Valtari persuaded Hiltigunn to leave Attila's kingdom with him, promising to marry her. Hiltigunn agreed. They left the castle of Susa, taking with them their treasures.

When Attila learned of their escape, he ordered Hogni (Hagen) and eleven warriors to bring back the gold and Valtari's head. Valtari, seeing the pursuers, armed himself so he could confront his enemies until nightfall. By then, Valtari had killed the eleven warriors, while Hogni fled into the forest.

Valtari and Hildigunn camped that night, in the clearing, eating their supper, when Hogni returned with the intention of killing his younger opponent. Instead of drawing his sword to defend himself, Valtari hurled a large bone that struck Hogni on the cheek and knocked an eye out. Again, Hogni fled from Valtari and returned to Attila with the news of his ill-fated pursuit and encounter with Valtari.

Valtari took Hildigunn to Italy, to his uncle Erminrek (Ermanric). Erminrek appeased Attlia by offering gifts and gold.

Later, in the war between Thiðrek (Dietrich) and Erminrek, Valtari and Vildifer killed one another in single combat.