# Dankwart — The Nibelungenlied character guide

> Dankwart in The Nibelungenlied by Anonymous.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Dankwart, bold Dankwart, Brother Dankwart, the gallant Dankwart

**First appearance:** 0026-adventure-xxv-how-the-lords-all-went-to-the-huns

## Snapshot

Hagen's brother and the Burgundian marshal, who holds the stairway door with a bloody sword and answers for the hall's only exit.

## Who they are

Dankwart is Hagen's brother and the marshal of the Burgundian host, a plain-spoken fighter who kills Bloedel before the hall erupts. When Hagen asks him to guard the door, he accepts the post as a matter of honor and stands there against Kriemhild's warriors. His grim exchange with Hagen—blood-soaked clothes, bodies too many to count—sets the tone for the Burgundians' last stand.

## In the story

### [Adventure I: Kriemhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-i-kriemhilda)

Hagen's brother and the Marshal of the court, a swift-footed knight.

### [Adventure IV: How Siegfried Fought the Saxons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-iv-how-siegfried-fought-the-saxons)

Fights alongside the other heroes, his strokes causing great damage to the enemy.

### [How Gunther Went to Iceland After Brunhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-vi-how-gunther-went-to-iceland-after-brunhilda)

Selected as the fourth member of the small expedition to Iceland.

### [How Gunther Won Brunhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-vii-how-gunther-won-brunhilda)

Hagen's brother; voices frustration and readiness to fight if necessary.

### [How Siegfried Went to Fetch the Nibelungs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-viii-how-siegfried-went-to-fetch-the-nibelungs)

Dankwart, brother of Hagen and liegeman of Giselher, takes the key to Brunhilda's treasure and distributes gold and clothing generously, causing Brunhilda's displeasure.

### [Adventure XXIV: How Werbel and Schwemmel Did Their Errand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxiv-how-werbel-and-schwemmel-did-their-errand)

Hagen's brother, ordered to lead four score knights to the Rhine.

### [Adventure XXV: How the Lords All Went to the Huns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxv-how-the-lords-all-went-to-the-huns)

Serves as marshal for the Burgundian host.

### [Adventure XXVI: How Gelfrat Was Slain by Dankwart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxvi-how-gelfrat-was-slain-by-dankwart)

Kills Gelfrat with a blow, advises turning back after the rout, and later acts as marshal requesting lodging from Rüdeger.

### [Adventure XXVII: How They Came to Bechelaren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxvii-how-they-came-to-bechelaren)

Greeted by Rüdeger, kissed by the margrave's daughter, and receives rich apparel.

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

The marshal and Hagen's brother, who slays Bloedel and fights alone against the Huns, eventually making his way to the court.

### [Adventure XXXIII: How the Burgundians Fought with the Huns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxxiii-how-the-burgundians-fought-with-the-huns)

Enters the hall bloodied, announces the death of the Burgundian retainers and his slaying of Bloedel.

### [Adventure XXXVI: How the Queen Bade That the Hall Be Set on Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxxvi-how-the-queen-bade-that-the-hall-be-set-on-fire)

Fights fiercely and declares his brother Hagen will not stand alone.

### [Adventure XXXVII: How the Margrave Rüdeger Was Slain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxxvii-how-the-margrave-r-deger-was-slain)

Dankwart is among the Burgundian warriors who come to where Rüdeger and his men lie slain.

## Links

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