Summary of the Thidrekssaga

• In 391, where Hagen is killed by Dietrich, Dietrich calls him an elf's son. This is the only subsequent mention of Hagen's paternity. Or does the writer mean 'known generally even among the Niflungen'? Ritter assumes so, because it explains why Hagen does not succeed Aldrian.

A king named Aldrian ruled over Niflungenland, and his wife was the daughter of a mighty king. One day, when Aldrian was away, she was drunk with wine and fell asleep in a flower garden. A man came to her, and she thought she recognised Aldrian, but he left quickly.

The queen became pregnant, and when she once again was alone the same man came to her, and told her he was the child's father, and he was an elf. She should keep this a secret from everyone except the child, who would grow to become a great man. And when he would ever find himself in trouble, he should call upon his father. Having said that, the man disappeared.

The queen gave birth to Hagen, called Aldrian's son. When he was four winters old, the other children told him his face was like a ghost's, and when he looked at himself in water, he saw his face was as pale like ash. He went to his mother and asked why he was like this. His mother told him the truth about his father, but a woman stood nearby and overheard the conversation, and this woman later became a concubine of Dietrich von Bern, and she told him the secret, and thus it became known.

King Aldrian and his wife had three sons and a daughter: Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher, who was still a child when these things happenedI think Siegfried's death is meant here.. Their sister was Grimhild.

When king Aldrian left his realm and died, his oldest son Gunther took up the kingship.

King Dietrich was preparing a great feast, and invited all noblest men in his kingdom, and other men and leaders besides.

He had heard of a good warrior and king named Irung, who ruled Niflungenland. His wife was Ute, and she was the daughter of a mighty king. Once, when Irung was away, a man came to Ute and slept with her without her being aware, and she gave birth to a son, Hagen, and although he appared human, he was actually an elf.

King Irung had four sons and a daughter named Grimhild with his wife, and the king's sons were Gunther, Guthorm, Gernot, and Giselher. When Irung died his oldest son Gunther took up the kingship.

King Dietrich had heard of him, and sent a message to king Gunther to invite him to the feast, and also his brothers Hagen and GuthormThis is the only mention of Guthorm anywhere; maybe he died from his illness?. Gunther accepted with thanks, and said he would come with Hagen, but Guthorm would stay home because he was ill. And then Gunther and his men went to the feast and were well received.