# Bloedel — The Nibelungenlied character guide

> Bloedel in The Nibelungenlied by Anonymous.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Lord Bloedel, Lord Bloedel, Sir Bloedelin

**First appearance:** 0033-adventure-xxxii-how-bloedelin-was-slain

## Snapshot

Etzel's brother, a Hunnish lord whose eagerness for glory and grievance draws him into the fatal quarrel with the Burgundian guests.

## Who they are

Bloedel stands close to Etzel's throne as brother to the Hun king, a noble whose pride is easily pricked and whose ambition runs ahead of his judgment. When tensions rise between the Huns and the visiting Burgundians, he becomes one of the first to translate resentment into violence, against the counsel of cooler heads. His rush to arms helps ignite the catastrophe that consumes Etzel's hall.

## In the story

### [Adventure XXII: How Etzel Espoused Kriemhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxii-how-etzel-espoused-kriemhilda)

Etzel's brother, who comes from Hungary and distributes gold and silver at the wedding.

### [Adventure XXXI: How They Went to Church](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxxi-how-they-went-to-church)

Agrees to attack the Burgundians after Kriemhilda promises him land and Nudung's betrothed, though he fears Etzel's reaction.

### [Adventure XXXII: How Bloedelin Was Slain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxxii-how-bloedelin-was-slain)

The Hunnish lord who leads the attack on Dankwart's men, citing revenge for Siegfried, and is beheaded by Dankwart.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/bloedel
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters