Gunther orders Hagen to drop the hoard into the Rhine in the Nibelungenlied (by Peter von Cornelius, 1859)

Gunther (Gundahar, Gundahari, Latin Gundaharius or Gundicharius, Old English Gúðere, Old Norse Gunnarr, anglicised as Gunnar) is the German name of a semi-legendary king of Burgundy of the early 5th century. Legendary tales about him appear in Latin, medieval Middle High German, Old Norse, and Old English texts, especially concerning his relations with Siegfried (Sigurd in Old Norse) and his death by treachery in the hall of Attila the Hun. The Germanic first name Günther, Günter, Gunther or Guenther, also Gunthar, refers to various medieval persons, including: Gunther, legendary 5th century king of the Burgundians Blessed Gunther, a Bohemian hermit Gunther of Cologne As a family name, spelled Günther: Albert C. L. G. Günther (1830–1914... Image File history File links Peter_von_Cornelius_Hagen_versenkt_den_Nibelungenhort_1859. ... Image File history File links Peter_von_Cornelius_Hagen_versenkt_den_Nibelungenhort_1859. ... For the Högni of the Heimskringla and the legends of Helge Hundingsbane, see Högne. ... Peter von Cornelius (1784 - 1867), German painter, was born in Düsseldorf. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Penis[1], Englisc by its speakers) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... The following is a list of the Kings of Burgundy. ... Europe in 450 The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Middle High German (MHG, German Mittelhochdeutsch) is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350. ... Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ... Old English (also called Anglo-Penis[1], Englisc by its speakers) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... Siegfried could refer to: The opera by Richard Wagner; see Siegfried (opera). ... Attila (AD 406 - 453), also known as Attila the Hun was Khan of the Hun people from 434 until his death and leader of the Hunnic Empire. ...

Historical information

In AD 406 the Alans, Vandals, the Suevi, and possibly the Burgundians crossed the Rhine and invaded Gaul. In 411, the Burgundian king Gundahar or Gundicar set up a puppet emperor, Jovinus, in cooperation with Goar, king of the Alans. With the authority of the Gallic emperor that he controlled, Gundahar settled on the left or western (i.e. Roman) bank of the Rhine, between the river Lauter and the Nahe, seizing Worms, Speyer, and Straßburg. Apparently as part of a truce, the Emperor Honorius later officially "granted" them the land. Olympiodorus of Thebes also mentions a Guntiarios who was called "commander of the Burgundians" in the context of the 411 usurping of Germania Secunda by Jovinus. (Prosper, a. 386) Look up AD, ad-, and ad in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Events December 31 - Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia Roman legions in Britain mutiny against the Roman Emperor and select Marcus as new Roman Emperor. ... The Alans, Alani, Alauni or Halani were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people, warlike nomadic pastoralists of varied backgrounds, who spoke an Iranian language and to a large extent shared a common culture. ... The Vandals were an East Germanic tribe which entered the late Roman Empire during the 5th century. ... The Suebi or Suevi were a Germanic people whose origin was near the Baltic Sea . ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... It has been suggested that River Rhine Pollution: November 1986 be merged into this article or section. ... Gaul (Latin: ) was the name given,in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe comprising present-day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ... Events The Burgundians elevate Jovinus as Roman Emperor. ... Jovinus Jovinus was a Gallo-senator and claimed to be Roman Emperor (411 - 413). ... Goar (born pre 390; died (446–450)) was a leader of the Alans in 5th century Gaul. ... Lauter can refer to: Lauter, Saxony, a town in the district of Aue-Schwarzenberg, Saxony, Germany. ... The Nahe is a river in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, a tributary to the Rhine. ... Wormser Dom Worms (pronounced ) is a city in the southwest of Germany. ... Speyer (English formerly Spires) is a city in Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate) with approx. ... City motto: – City proper (commune) Région Alsace Département Bas-Rhin (67) Mayor Fabienne Keller (UMP) (since 2001) Area 78. ... Bronze coin bearing the profile of Honorius Flavius Augustus Honorius (September 9, 384–August 15, 423) was Emperor of the Western Roman Empire from 395 until his death. ... Olympiodorus was an historical writer and notable astrologer (5th century AD), born at Thebes in Egypt, who was sent on a mission to the Huns on the Black Sea by emperor Honorius in 412, and later lived at the court of Theodosius. ... In the early fourth-century Notitia Dignitatum, Germania Secunda (Germania II), situated along the Lower Rhine and administered by a Consularis, was the name under the Dominate of Germania Inferior, a military border territory which had been established under the Flavian reorganization of the Roman Empire, out of northeasternmost Gaul...

Despite their new status as foederati, Burgundian raids into Roman upper Gallia Belgica became intolerable and were ruthlessly brought to an end in 436, when the Roman general Aëtius called in Hun mercenaries who overwhelmed the Rhineland kingdom (with its capital at the old Celtic Roman settlement of Borbetomagus, now called Worms) in 437. Gundahar was killed in the fighting, reportedly along with the majority of the Burgundian tribe. (Prosper; Chronica Gallica 452; Hydatius; and Sidonius Apollinaris) The Volsung Cycle is the name of a series of Germanic legends based on the same matter as Niebelungenlied, and which were recorded in medieval Iceland. ... The Ramsund carving in Sweden depicts 1) how Sigurd is sitting naked in front of the fire preparing the dragon heart, from Fafnir, for his foster-father Regin, who is Fafnirs brother. ... Look up Poetic Edda in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The death of Nornagest, by Gunnar Vidar Forssell Norna-Gests þáttr or the Story of Norna-Gest is a legendary saga about the Norse hero Norna-Gest. ... The second part of the Younger Edda of Snorri Sturluson the Skáldskaparmál or language of poetry is effectively a dialogue between the Norse god of the sea, Ægir and Bragi, the god of poetry, in which both Norse mythology and discourse on the nature of poetry are intertwined. ... In Norse mythology, Andvarinaut was a magical ring, first owned by Andvari. ... Illustration by Alan Lee In Norse mythology, Gram was the name of the sword that Sigurd (Siegfried) used to kill the dragon Fafnir. ... In Norse mythology, Andvari was a dwarf. ... In Norse mythology, Hreidmar was the avaricious king of the dwarf folk, who captured three gods with his unbreakable chains. ... Look up qtr in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In Norse mythology, Regin was the son of Hreidmar and foster father of Sigurd. ... Fáfnir guards the gold hoard in this illustration by Arthur Rackham to Richard Wagners Siegfried. ... Illustration by Alan Lee In Norse mythology, Volsung was murdered by the Geatish king Siggeir and avenged by one of his sons, Sigmund. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Signy and Hagbard Signy is the name of two heroines in two legends from Scandinavian mythology which were very popular in medieval Scandinavia. ... Odin taking the dead Sinfjötli to Valhalla Sinfjötli (Old Norse) or Fitela (Anglo-Saxon) was born out of the incestuous relationship between Sigmund and his sister Signy. ... Helgi Hundingsbane/Hundingsbani was a hero in the Norse sagas. ... Sigurd sculpture in Bremen Sigurd (Old Norse: Sigurðr, German: Siegfried) was a legendary hero of Norse mythology, as well as the central character in the Völsunga saga. ... In Norse mythology, Brünnehilde was a shieldmaiden and a Valkyrie. ... Gudrun and Sigurd In Norse mythology, Gudrun, who is called Kriemhild in the Nibelungenlied, was the sister of Gunnar. ... For other uses, see Attila (disambiguation). ... Gunnar is the most attractive and unreservedly admired of Icelandic saga heroes,a man of heroism, energy, virtue, and --- above all --- unswerving loyalty to the land of his birth and love for its overpowering physical beauty Tricked by his enemies into disobeying the warnings of his prescient friend Njáll... Götaland, Gothia, Gothland [1], Gotland (AHD), Gautland or Geatland, is a historical land of Sweden, and was a separate kingdom, before Sweden was unified. ... Many historians consider the Huns (meaning person in Mongolian language) the first Turkic people mentioned in European history. ... The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. ... Þiðrekssaga (also Thidreksaga, Thidrekssaga, Niflungasaga or Vilkina saga) is a saga of the adventures of the hero Dietrich von Bern, believed to be based on the historical Theodoric the Great, and written down about 1250. ... Signhild Hagbard and Signy (Signe) (the Viking Age) or Habor and Sign(h)ild (the Middle Ages and later) were a pair of lovers in Scandinavian mythology and folklore whose legend was widely popular. ... Foederatus early in the history of the Roman Republic identified one of the tribes bound by treaty (foedus), who were neither Roman colonies nor had they been granted Roman citizenship (civitas) but were expected to provide a contingent of fighting men when trouble arose. ... The Roman Province of Gallia Belgica in 58 BCE The Roman Province of Gallia Belgica around 120 CE Gallia Belgica was a Roman province located in what is now the southern part of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northeastern France, and western Germany. ... Events Attila the Hun attacks Britain Births Deaths Categories: 436 ... Flavius Aetius or simply Aetius, (circa 396 - 454), was a Roman general of the closing period of the Western Roman Empire. ... Many historians consider the Huns (meaning person in Mongolian language) the first Mongolian and Turkic people mentioned in European history. ... This article is about the European people. ... Borbetomagus are a free improvisation group. ...

In legend

The destruction of Worms and the Burgundian kingdom by the Huns became the subject of heroic legends that were afterwards incorporated into many works of medieval literature such as the Middle High German epic poem, the Nibelungenlied, where King Gunther and Queen Brünhild hold their court at Worms, and Siegfried comes to woo Gunther's sister Kriemhild. (In Old Norse sources the names are Gunnar, Brynhild, Sigurd and Gudrun as normally rendered in English.) Wormser Dom Worms (pronounced ) is a city in the southwest of Germany. ... Medieval literature is a broad subject, encompassing essentially all written works available in Europe and beyond during the Middle Ages (encompassing the one thousand years from the fall of the Western Roman Empire ca. ... Middle High German (MHG, German Mittelhochdeutsch) is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350. ... The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. ... Sigurd and Brynhilds funeral In Norse mythology, Brynhildr was a shieldmaiden and a valkyrie. ... Siegfried could refer to: The opera by Richard Wagner; see Siegfried (opera). ... This article should be merged with Grimhild In the medieval Nibelungenlied, Kriemhild is one of four children of Uote. ... Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ...

In the Waltharius, Gibicho and his son Guntharius are kings of the Franks, whereas the king of the Burgundians is named Heriricus who is father to Hiltgunt, the heroine of the story. Hagen appears here as a kinsman of Gibicho and Guntharius, but the relationship is not made explicit. In their combats with Waltharius, Guntharius loses a leg, Hagen loses half his face and one eye, and Waltharius loses a hand. But there is no hint in later tales that Gunther is in any way maimed. Another version of the story of Waltharius and Hiltgunt appears in the Norse Thidreks saga, but in this account Gunther plays no part at all. Waltharius, a Latin poem founded on German popular tradition, relates the exploits of the west Gothic hero Walter of Aquitaine. ... Gjúki (also Gebicca, Gifica, Gibica, Gebicar, Gibicho or Gippich) was the King of the Burgundians in the late 4th century until his death in or around 407. ... This article is about the Frankish people and society. ... For the Högni of the Heimskringla and the legends of Helge Hundingsbane, see Högne. ... Thidreks saga (also Thidreksaga, Thidrekssaga, Niflungasaga) is a saga of the adventures of the hero Dietrich von Bern, believed to be based on the historical Theodoric the Great, and written down about 1250. ...

Gunther otherwise only appears in tales relating to Siegfried and the fall of the Niflungs. In most texts, such as the Nibelungenlied, Gunther/Gunnar seeks to make Brünhild his wife, but can win her and master her only because the hero Siegfried/Sigurd aids him and takes his place. Siegfried marries Gunther's sister Kriemhild/Gudrun. An impassioned debate between Brünhild and Kriemhild about their respective status leads to the secret that Siegfried had taken Gunther's place being revealed. Gunther then agrees to assist in Siegfried's murder. After Siegfried is murdered, Gunther and his brothers, despite deep suspicions of treachery, accept an invitation from Etzel, or Atli in Old Norse (i.e. Attila the Hun), to visit his court. There Gunther and his brothers were betrayed. In some versions of the story, they were thrown in a snake pit to die, while in others they were killed fighting the Huns and their allies. Siegfried could refer to: The opera by Richard Wagner; see Siegfried (opera). ... The Nibelungenlied, translated as The Song of the Nibelungs, is an epic poem in Middle High German. ... Sigurd and Brynhilds funeral In Norse mythology, Brynhildr (German: Brünnehilde) was a shieldmaiden and a valkyrie. ... Siegfried could refer to: The opera by Richard Wagner; see Siegfried (opera). ... Attila (AD 406 - 453), also known as Attila the Hun was Khan of the Hun people from 434 until his death and leader of the Hunnic Empire. ... An image stone on Gotland, Sweden, with imagery from the tradition of the Völsunga saga and Nibelungenlied. ...

According to the Atlamol Gunnar remarried after Brynhild's death to a woman named Glaumvor.

Forms of the name

The name appears in Olympiodorus as Guntiarios, in Prosper of Aquitaine's Chronica Minora Saec as Gundicharius, in the Leges Burgundionum as Gundaharius, in Ekkehard of St. Gall's Latin poem Waltharius as Guntharius, in the Old English poem Waldere as Gúðere, in the Nibelungenlied as Gunther, and in Old Norse as Gunnar (accurate Old Norse nominative form Gunnarr). Reconstructed Germanic forms such as Gundahari, Gundahar, and Gundacar are sometimes used. Saint Prosper of Aquitaine (c. ... Ekkehard is the name of five monks of the (Swiss) Abbey of St. ...

See also

• Burgundians
• Nibelung
• Völsunga saga

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