Table of Contents
Summary of events in the Waltharius
- Prologue
- 1–12: Introduction: the Huns
- 13–418: The Huns
- 13–33: The Franks under Gibich surrender to Attila, giving Hagen as a hostage
- 34–74: The Burgundians under Hereric surrender to Attila, giving Hildegund as a hostage
- 75–92: The Aquitainians under Alphere surrender to Attila, giving Walther as a hostage
- 93–115: Experience of the hostages at Attila’s court
- 116–122: Death of Gibich, flight of Hagen
- 123–141: Attila’s queen Ospirin advises her husband to ensure Walther’s loyalty by arranging a marriage
- 142–169: Walther rejects Attila’s offer of a bride
- 170–214: Walther leads the army of the Huns to victory in battle
- 215–418: The Escape
- 215–255: Walther returns from battle and encounters Hildegund
- 256–286: Walther reveals to Hildegund his plans for escaping with Attila’s treasure
- 287–323: Walther hosts a luxurious banquet for Attila’s court; eventually all his intoxicated guests fall asleep
- 324–357: Flight of Walther and Hildegund from Attila’s court
- 358–379: The following day, the escape of Walther and Hildegund is discovered by Ospirin
- 380–418: Attila is infuriated and vows revenge on Walther, but can find no one willing to dare to pursue him, even for a large reward
- 419–1061: The Single Combats
- 419–639: Diplomacy
- 419–435: Flight of Walther and Hildegund to the area of Worms
- 436–488: Gunther, King of the Franks, learns of Walther’s presence on his territory and, despite Hagen’s warnings, decides to pursue him for his treasure
- 489–512: Walther makes his camp in a mountainous area and goes to sleep
- 513–531: Gunther and his companions approach Walther’s camp; Hagen unsuccessfully tries to dissuade the king from attacking it
- 532–571: Hildegund sees the Franks approaching and wakes Walther, who calms her fears and prepares for battle; he recognizes Hagen from a distance
- 572–580: Hagen persuades Gunther to try diplomacy before using force
- 581–616: Camalo is sent as a messenger to Walther, who offers to make Gunther a gift in return for allowing his passage
- 617–639: Hagen counsels Gunther to accept the offer, but Gunther rejects this advice, calling him a coward. Insulted, Hagen goes off to a nearby hill
- 640–1061: Combat
- 640–685: 1st single combat. Camalo is sent back to Walther, who slays him
- 686–719: 2nd single combat. Walther slays Kimo/Scaramund, Camalo’s nephew
- 720–724: Gunther encourages his men
- 725–753: 3rd single combat. Walther slays Werinhard, a descendant of the Trojan Pandarus
- 754–780: 4th single combat. Walther slays the Saxon Ekivrid, after an exchange of insults
- 781–845: 5th single combat. Walther slays Hadawart, after an exchange of insults
- 846–877. Hagen sees his nephew Patavrid going off to fight Walther and laments the evil wreaked on mankind by greed
- 878–913. 6th single combat. After trying to dissuade him from fighting, Walther slays Patavrid
- 914–940: 7th single combat. Walther slays Gerwitus
- 941–961: Gunther again encourages his men, giving Walther some time to rest
- 962–981. 8th single combat. Walther is shorn of his hair by Randolf, whom he then slays
- 982–1061. Walther is attacked by Eleuthir/Helmnot, assisted by Trogus, Tanastus, and Gunther; he slays all but Gunther
- 419–639: Diplomacy
- 1062–1452: The Final Combat
- 1062–1088: Gunther tries to persuade Hagen to help him to defeat Waltharius; remembering his wounded honor, Hagen refuses
- 1089–1129: Hagen changes his mind and agrees to help Gunther, but advises that they must lie low wait until Walther comes down from the mountains into open ground
- 1130–1187: Walther decides to spend the night in the mountains. He rematches the severed heads with the bodies of his victims, prays for their souls, then sleeps
- 1188–1207: The following day, Walther and Hildegund set out from the mountains, taking the horses and arms of the defeated warriors
- 1208–1236: Hildegund perceives Gunther and Hagen approaching to attack; the king addresses Walther
- 1237–1279: Walther ignores Gunther and pleads with Hagen to remember the bond of their childhood friendship; Hagen counters that Walther has already broken their faith by slaying Patavrid
- 1280–1345: The fight begins and continues for seven hours; Gunther foolishly tries to retrieve a thrown spear from the ground near Walther and is only saved from death by Hagen’s brave intervention
- 1346–1375: Walther challenges Hagen; he severs Gunther’s leg, but Hagen again saves the king’s life
- 1376–1395: Hagen cuts off Walther’s right hand; Walther gouges out one of Hagen’s eyes and, cutting open his cheek, knocks out four teeth
- 1396–1442: Having wounded each other, the warriors end the battle, drink together, and engage in a friendly exchange of humorous taunt
- 1443–1452: The warriors return to their respective homes; Walther marries Hildegund and eventually becomes king of the Aquitainians
- 1453–1456: Epilogue
