Gunther
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- For other uses, see Gunther (disambiguation).
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Gunther (Gundahar, Gundahari, Latin Gundaharius or Gundicharius, and in Old Norse Gunnarr, anglicised as Gunnar) is a legendary king of the Burgundians of the early 5th century. Legendary tales about Gundaharius appear in Latin, medieval German, Old Norse, and Old English texts, especially concerning his relations with Siegfried (in Old Norse Sigurd) and the death of Gunther from treachery in the hall of Attila the Hun.
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[edit] Historical information
The Burgundians crossed the Rhine and invaded Gaul in 406. Olympiodorus (11) mentions a Guntiarios who was called "commander of the Burgundians" in the context of the 411 proclamation of Jovinus as tyrannos of Moundiakon in Germania Secunda.
[edit] In legend
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/Gunnar plays no part at all.
Gunther otherwise only appears in tales relating to Siegfried/Sigurd and the fall of the Burgundians.
Gunther/Gunnar seeks to make Brünhild/Brynhild his wife but can win her and master her only because the hero Siegfried/Sigurd aids him and takes his place. Siegfried/Sigurd marries Gunther/Gunnar's sister Kriemhild/Gudrún. An impassioned debate between Brünhild/Brynhild and Kriemhild/Gudrún about their respective status leads to the secret being revealed and to Gunther/Gunnar agreeing to Siegfried/Sigurd's murder.
In the story of the fall of the Burgundians, in various texts, Gunther and his brothers, despite deep suspicions of treachery, accept an invitation from Etzel/Atli (= Attila) to visit his court. There Gunther and his brothers meet their deaths.
[edit] 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 Guthere (Gúðere), in medieval German 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.
[edit] See also
| Preceded by: Gebicca |
King of Burgundy 406(?)–437 |
Succeeded by: Gunderic |
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