Summary of the Thidrekssaga

One day king Osantrix called Sigurd to his high seat, and told him: Good friend, you’ve been here for two years now, and you’ve been a courteous knight and clearly of noble birth in your homeland. I wish you to lead my retainers andVon der Hagen: become marshal of the court and deliver the king’s messages and protect the country with the army.

Sigurd replied that he had not paid back Attila for killing his brothersVon der Hagen adds: and king Attila is not yet lord of all of Hunnenland, and he hasn’t yet gone through a reversal of fortune. And Osantrix replied that he’d give Attila a goal and would visit him in Hunnenland, and Sigurd said he’d love to be part of that invasion, and that he wanted to fetch his brother Alibrand and bring him to Osantrix’ court as a vassal. King Osantrix agreed.

Now Rodolfthe saga switches names frequently now: when he is among his own men he is Rodolf/Rodinger, when with Osantrix he is Sigurd rode away to the place where he had left his men47. He took young Osid, Attila’s nephew, to Osantrix’ courtIn Von der Hagen he first explains his plan. Osantrix greeted Sigurd, who introduced him to his brother Alibrand.

Once they had been at court for seven daysVon der Hagen: a while, and then has Sigurd inform Erka and Bertha to be ready in seven days, Sigurd and Alibrand went for their horses with their weapons and money. They rode to queen Erka’s castle, where Erka and her sister Bertha came towards themVon der Hagen: with all their jewelry because they wanted to travel with them. Now they rode as hard as they could, night and day.Von der Hagen has them arrive at their men now instead of in the next chapter.

When king Osantrix found out he armed his knights and himself and rode after them. Now both parties rode quickly, and Rodolf came to his men, who had thought him already lost. They rode to Hunnenland, pursued by Osantrix, who came so close that Rodolf saw they wouldn’t escape. Then they rode for a castle called Markstein in the Falsterwald.

Osantrix set up camp before this castleVon der Hagen: erected wall breakers and stormed the walls, but those inside defended themselves manly, but Rodolf sent two men to king Attila to tell him what had bedome of the expeditionVon der Hagen adds: One dark night they rode away, and Osantrix' guards thought they were their own men, and thus they rode through the enemy camp. When Attila heard what had happened heVon der Hagen adds a long praise of Rodinger here called together his men, an overpowering army, and rode to the Falsterwald as quickly as he could.

Rodolf had defended the castle and killed many of Osantrix’ men, either by sorties or by fighting from the walls. Before king Attila arrived he had lost 40 men, but Osantrix 100Von der Hagen: 60 and 300. But the castle was so strong that Osantrix couldn’t win it. When he heard of Attila’s approachVon der Hagen adds that he had only a small army, and that his counselors advised him to withdraw he broke camp and rode back to his kingdomVon der Hagen: And Rodinger's men now rode out and killed two hundred more of Osantrix' knights, and they returned when they heard king Attila's horns.

When Osantrix had gone Rodolf left the castle and came to king Attila in a field, with forty thousand knights, and there he presented Erka Osantrix’ daughter to king Attila. Then they rode home to Soest. A little later Attila had a great wedding prepared for Erka, and also for Bertha, whom he gave to duke Rodolf, together with great lands in Hunnenland. The feast lasted seven days.

Now king Attila ruled over his kingdom with his wife ErkaVon der Hagen: and margrave Rodinger was Attila's most respected man, as he deserved. They had two sons, Erp and OrtwinVon der Hagen does not mention them. There was a feud between Hunnenland and WilkinenlandVon der Hagen: and these occurrences were the cause, and many wars between Attila and Osantrixfor the first time in 134, and with Waldemar, king of the Reussen. Things remained like this for some time.