# Siegfried — The Nibelungenlied character guide > Siegfried in The Nibelungenlied by Anonymous. **Role:** major **Also known as:** young Siegfried, gallant Siegfried, Sir Siegfried, the Netherlander Siegfried, Prince Siegfried, the hero Siegfried of Netherland **First appearance:** 0003-adventure-ii-siegfried ## Snapshot The invincible Netherlander whose strength, treasure, and radiant marriage to Kriemhilda make him Burgundy's greatest asset — and its most dangerous guest. ## Who they are Siegfried arrives at Worms as a prince with no court to call his own, winning Brunhilda for Gunther and Kriemhilda for himself through feats no other knight could attempt. His flaw is a kind of shining carelessness: he treats his invulnerability as a fact to be boasted about rather than a secret to guard, and he cannot imagine that the men who feast beside him might one day want him dead. When Kriemhilda lifts his bloodied head from the floor and finds no sword-dint on his shield, the poem's central question becomes not who killed him but which of his friends allowed it. ## Relationships ### [Kriemhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/kriemhilda) _romantic_ Kriemhilda deeply loves Siegfried as her husband, and his murder drives her to obsessive vengeance. ### [Hagen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/hagen) _rivalry_ Hagen despises Siegfried's strength and status, plotting and executing his murder to protect Gunther's honor. ### [Siegmund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/siegmund) _family_ Siegmund is Siegfried's father, proud of his son and devastated by his murder. ### [Kriemhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/kriemhilda) _romantic_ Kriemhilda deeply loves Siegfried as her husband, and his murder drives her to obsessive vengeance. ### [Kriemhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/kriemhilda) _romantic_ Kriemhilda deeply loves Siegfried as her husband, and his murder drives her to obsessive vengeance. ### [Hagen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/hagen) _rivalry_ Hagen despises Siegfried's strength and status, plotting and executing his murder to protect Gunther's honor. ### [Siegmund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/siegmund) _family_ Siegmund is Siegfried's father, proud of his son and devastated by his murder. ### [Hagen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/hagen) _rivalry_ Hagen despises Siegfried's strength and status, plotting and executing his murder to protect Gunther's honor. ### [Siegmund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/siegmund) _family_ Siegmund is Siegfried's father, proud of his son and devastated by his murder. ## In the story ### [Editor's Preface](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/editor-s-preface) Referenced in the context of the Volsungasaga providing earlier history of Siegfried and Brunhild. ### [The Nibelungenlied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/the-nibelungenlied) Central hero of the epic, known for his strength and tragic fate. ### [Adventure II: Siegfried](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-ii-siegfried) The young prince of Netherland, son of Siegmund and Sieglind, who is knighted during a grand festival and shows great strength and virtue. ### [How Siegfried Came to Worms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-iii-how-siegfried-came-to-worms) Resolves to woo Kriemhilda, rides to Worms with eleven companions, and challenges Gunther for his kingdom. ### [Adventure IV: How Siegfried Fought the Saxons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-iv-how-siegfried-fought-the-saxons) Offers his unwavering support to Gunther, leads the army, captures King Ludegast, and defeats King Ludeger in single combat, securing the victory. ### [How Siegfried First Saw Kriemhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-v-how-siegfried-first-saw-kriemhilda) First sees Kriemhilda and is overwhelmed by her beauty; vows to serve her forever; remains at court at Giselher's urging. ### [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) Warns Gunther of Brunhilda's dangers, agrees to help in exchange for Kriemhilda's hand, and uses his Tarnhelm to gain strength. ### [How Gunther Won Brunhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-vii-how-gunther-won-brunhilda) Accompanies Gunther, identifies Brunhilda, and secretly uses the Tarnhelm to help Gunther win the contests. ### [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) Siegfried uses his cloak of invisibility to sail to the Nibelung land, defeats the giant gatekeeper and Alberich, and commands a thousand Nibelung warriors to follow him. ### [How Siegfried Was Sent to Worms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-ix-how-siegfried-was-sent-to-worms) Sent as herald to Worms; delivers news of Gunther's success and Brunhilda's arrival; receives a warm welcome from Kriemhilda. ### [Adventure X: How Brunhilda Was Received at Worms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-x-how-brunhilda-was-received-at-worms) Marries Kriemhilda; secretly overpowers Brunhilda in the bridal chamber to help Gunther. ### [Adventure XI: How Siegfried Went Home with His Wife](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xi-how-siegfried-went-home-with-his-wife) Decides to return home with Kriemhilda; becomes king of the Netherlands after Siegmund abdicates; rules the Nibelung kingdom. ### [How Gunther Bade Siegfried to the Festival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xii-how-gunther-bade-siegfried-to-the-festival) Receives the invitation warmly, consults his men, and decides to attend the festival with a large retinue. ### [How They Journeyed to the Festival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xiii-how-they-journeyed-to-the-festival) Leads the journey to Worms with Kriemhilda; welcomed by Gunther and honored with tilting and feasting. ### [Adventure XIV: How the Queens Railed at One Another](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xiv-how-the-queens-railed-at-one-another) Mentioned as the subject of the queens' dispute; Kriemhilda claims he is superior to Gunther and accuses him of taking Brunhilda's maidenhead. ### [Adventure XV: How Siegfried Was Betrayed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xv-how-siegfried-was-betrayed) Unknowingly walks into Hagen's trap; offers to fight Gunther's supposed enemies; agrees to go hunting. ### [Adventure XVI: How Siegfried Was Slain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xvi-how-siegfried-was-slain) The heroic protagonist who is betrayed and murdered by Hagen during a hunt. ### [Adventure XVII: How Kriemhilda Mourn'd for Her Husband, and How He Was Buried](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xvii-how-kriemhilda-mourn-d-for-her-husband-and-how-he-was-buried) Murdered, his body is discovered and buried. ### [Adventure XXII: How Etzel Espoused Kriemhilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/chapters/adventure-xxii-how-etzel-espoused-kriemhilda) Kriemhilda's first husband, remembered with tears during the wedding festivities. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters/siegfried - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_nibelungenlied_se/characters