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
• 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

Brief introductions to discussions of Waltharius

• Authorship
• Historicity
• The place of Christianity
• Classical and Germanic influences
• Hildegund
• Irony, jokes, contests, and games
• Antiquarianism

Annotated Bibliography