Wolfdietrich

First written down in strophic form in around 1230 by an anonymous author, it survives in four main versions, widely differing in scope and content, and largely independent of each other.

The two stories have distinct (if disputed) origins but they were combined at an early stage, possibly by a single author, and appear together in most sources.

While the earliest version is similar to other heroic epics such as the Nibelungenlied, the tale gradually accretes more episodes, becoming a popular adventure story.

With their motifs of the bride-quest, inheritance regained, faithful and faithless vassals, dragon-killing, magic suits of armour, and encounters with dwarves, witches and giants, this pair of stories remained continuously popular, repeatedly re-cast, copied and, later, printed until the early 17th century.

The king's evil counsellor Sabene persuades him that the child is the spawn of the devil, and Duke Berchtung of Meran is ordered to kill him.

After Hugdietrich's death, Sabene returns to Constantinople and persuades the two elder brothers to banish the queen and deprive Wolfdietrich, now living in Berchtung's castle Lilienport, of his inheritance.

After recovering his wife, who had been abducted in the meantime, he sails to Greece, where after a successful siege of his brothers he has Sabene executed and rewards his faithful vassals.

[7] Various theories have attempted to connect Wolfdietrich (and his father Hugdietrich) with historical persons from the Germanic Migration Period:[8] However, there is no consensus on these theories,[9] and it can be argued that the many anti-historical elements essential to the story (rescue by wolves, magic armour, giants, dragons) suggest it combines a variety of legendary and fantastic sources divorced from any specific historical personalities.

[17] In this view Wolfdietrich is essentially a montage, which draws on not only the heroic epic, but also the chanson de geste, crusade literature, the bride-quest story, and other sources, with what Miklautsch calls a "hybrid hero".

Auf Kunstenobl ze Kriechen || ein gewaltiger kuanig sass an dem tugent noch ere || noch manheite nie vergass sein maister und sein schepfer || der in da werden liess an im geprast nicht mere || wann daz er ein hayden hiess.

Zuo constantinopel für ware da saß ein künig reich er was gewaltig zware der hieß Hugdietereich auff von kindes jugent kund der künig wol leben durh got und durch sein tugent beide lihen und auch geben In Constantinople it is true There ruled a wealthy king He was mighty indeed His name was Hugdieterich From his earliest youth The king lead a good life Through God and his own virtue Both giving and receiving.