Hi FigureNames in medieval languagesHistorical originName meaningRelationshipsEarly and English AttestationsNorse AttestationsGerman Attestations Hildebrand1 , , or , (Gesta Danorum) Disputed. The first element is PGmc *hildjō- ("strife, conflict"), and the second element "sword" or "conflagration". Instructor and mentor of Dietrich von Bern, son of Heribrand, father of Hadubrand, uncle of Wolfhart and Alphart. In the Hildebrandslied, Hildebrand1 is returning with an army to Italy when he encounters his son Hadubrand, against him he is forced to fight. In the Jüngeres Hildebrandslied, the fight ends in reconciliation. In the Nibelungenlied, he appears with Dietrich von Bern at Attila's hall and kills Kriemhild after she kills Hagen/Högni1. In other epics, he leads Dietrich's men and teaches him how to be a warrior and ruler, including rescuing Dietrich from opponents. In Ásmundar saga kappabana, he is the half-brother of Ásmundr, who kills him.Tale of Wade Gesta Danorum, Ásmundar saga kappabana Hildebrandslied, Nibelungenlied, Nibelungenklage, Þiðreks saga, Dietrichs Flucht, Rabenschlacht, Alpharts Tod, Rosengarten zu Worms, Eckenlied, Sigenot, Goldemar, Dietrich und Fasolt, Laurin, Virginal, Wunderer, Ermenrichs Tod, Heldenbuch-Prosa, Jüngeres Hildebrandslied Hildeburh1The first element is PGmc *hildjō- "strife, conflict", the second one is PGmc *-berʒō or *-burʒō ("helper", "assistant"). Sister of Hnæf, wife of Finn1. She had either been given as a peace-maker to the Frisian ruler Finn, or kidnapped by him. From that time, some twenty years should have passed when the Battle of Finnsburh starts between her husband and her brother, as one of her sons fall in the battle. She is taken back to the Danish lands together with the Frisian royal treasure. Beowulf Hildeburg2 , See Hildeburh1 In Kudrun, she accompanies Kudrun when she is abducted by Hartmut and Ludwig. She eventually marries Hartmut. In Biterolf und Dietleib, Herbort relates how he abducted Hildeburg, daughter of Ludwig and sister of Hartmut. In the Þiðreks saga, a Hildr, who is the daughter of King Arthur, is abducted and married by the Herbort character. See Hildeburh1 Kudrun, Þiðreks saga Hildeburg3See Hildeburh1 The wife of Hugdietrich and mother of Wolfdietrich. She is also the sister of Buðli (Botelung) in some versions. In one version, Hugdietrich's counselor Sabene2 tries to seduce her but fails. In another, Hugdietrich must free her from the tower where she has been locked by her father, Walgunt, in order to seduce and impregnate her with Wolfdietrich. Wolfdietrich Hildegund , , , First element PGmc *hildjō- ("strife, conflict"), second element from PGmc *gunð- ("war, battle"). Lover of Walter of Aquitaine. She is a hostage at Attila's court with Walter and Hagen/Högni1. They escape Attila's court together and have a conflict with the Burgundians while crossing their territory. Assumed to be the speaker in Waldere. Waltharius, Þiðreks saga, Walther und Hildegund, Biterolf und Dietleib Hildibrand2 the GreatSee Hildebrand1.Hildibrand2 is the father of Helgi and receives Helgi's son Hildibrandr1 as his foster-son to raise him among the Huns. When he receives his grandson he declares that the boy will grow up to become a hero. Ásmundar saga kappabana Hildibrand3See Hildibrand1. When Harald Wartooth was the king of Denmark and Sweden, Hildibrand3 was a renowned warrior and a powerful king in Jutland. Eventually, he settled down and had the son Hildir2 and the daughter Hild5. On his deathbed he told his son to be loyal to his father's friends, and also to marry off his beautiful but arrogant sister to a far-away place, not share any land with her and not give her any warriors. When Hildir2 had succeeded his father, his sister approached him and had a request, but what later happened to Hildir2 and Hildr5, a story named "About the Eagerness of Hildr" is unfortunately lost due to a lacuna in the manuscript of Sögubrot.Sögubrot Hildibrand4See Hildebrand1.Hildibrand4 was a berserker who was killed with eleven of his men by a twelve-year-old boy named Sigurd Hart. Ragnarssona þáttr, Hálfdanar saga svarta Hildiguðr For the etymology, see Hildegund. The very beautiful daughter of Granmar, the king of Södermanland and Hildr4. When the sea king Hjörvard2 Wulfing visits her father for a banquet, she offers him a toast in a silver goblet to the Wulfings. For her sake, he renounces the pirate custom of never drinking in pairs with women, and after having conversed with her, he asks the king for her hand which is accepted. He thereby enters an alliance with her father against the Swedish king Ingjald. Ynglinga saga (37) Hildir1 From an earlier PN *Heldija- with ja-ablaut from PN *heldaʀ, which evolved into the ON word hjaldr ("discussion", "noise", "fight"). The son of Högni3, the king of Östergötland, and the brother of Hildr4. They are allies with Granmar, the king of Södermanland and Hjörvard2 Wulfing against king Ingjald of Sweden. They meet the much larger Swedish army in battle, and after having routed the warriors from Västergötland, Närke, Fjädrundaland and Attundaland, they force Ingjald to retreat. After a peace treaty, the Swedish king kills Granmar through arson and takes over Södermanland, but although, Högni and Hildir1 make frequent raids into Södermanland killing Ingjald's men, king Högni manages to defend his kingdom as long as he lives. Ynglinga saga (38–39) Hildir2See Hildir1. When Harald Wartooth was the king of Denmark and Sweden, Hildibrand3 was a renowned warrior and a powerful king in Jutland. Eventually, he settled down and had the son Hildir2 and the daughter Hild5. On his deathbed he told his son to be loyal to his father's friends, and also to marry off his beautiful but arrogant sister to a far-away place, not share any land with her and not give her any warriors. When Hildir2 had succeeded his father, his sister approached him and had a request, but what later happened to Hildir2 and Hildr5, a story named "About the Eagerness of Hildr" is unfortunately lost due to a lacuna in the manuscript of Sögubrot.Sögubrot Hildisvid The name is likely the invention of the saga author.For the first element is the genitive form of hildr ("battle") as used in compounds, and the second element svið means "a location". The daughter of earl Rodgeir, she is abducted by Samson and bears him the children Dietmar and Ermanaric. Þiðreks saga Hildr1 , Possibly a historical figure from around the Baltic Sea, 4th century. PGmc *hildjō- ("strife, conflict") The daughter of Högni/Hagen2, she is abducted by Heoden. An early version of the scene found on the picture stone Smiss I seems to show Hildr trying to mediate between the two sides, which is her role in the German versions. In Kudrun, she is successful in preventing the battle and becomes the mother of Kudrun, but an earlier version is alluded to in the Alexanderlied of Lamprecht (c. 1130) in which her father Hagen2 dies. In the attested Norse versions, each night, Hildr resurrects the fallen warriors, so they can fight again the next day, making the battle eternal. Simek considers that the myth of the resurrected warriors is probably based on a relatively widespread Celtic tradition. Ragnarsdrápa, Gesta Danorum, Skáldskaparmál Kudrun, Dukus Horant Hildr2 or , For the etymology of Hildr, see Hildr1. The author of the saga has evidently replaced the unusual name Drótt ("band of warriors") found in his poetic source with the common name Hildr. Hildr is the daughter of Buðli2, the king of Sweden, who marries her to the Hunnish king Helgi Hildibrandsson, and they have the son Hildibrand1 (Hildigerus) who is sent to be raised by his grandfather Hildibrandr2. When Helgi is away, the aging king is attacked by Danes and killed by the Danish king Álfr4 and his champion Áki1, and they take Hildr2 away. Áki1 marries Hildr2 and they have the son Ásmundr. Gesta Danorum, Ásmundar saga kappabanna Hildr3, Hervor3 For the etymology of Hildr, see Hildr1 In Hervarar saga, Hildr is the daughter of Heidrek Wolf skin and the mother of Halfdan the Valiant. In Hversu Noregr byggðist, she is called Hervor, daughter of Heidrek. Hervarar saga, Hversu Noregr byggðist Hildr4 For the etymology of Hildr, see Hildr1 The daughter of Högni3, the king of Östergötland, and the sister of Hildir1. She is married to her father's ally Granmar, the king of Södermanland. When Hjörvard2 Wulfing wants to marry their daughter Hildiguðr to seal an alliance against king Ingjald of Sweden, Granmar first asks for her opinion. Ynglinga saga (37) Hildr5See Hildr1. When Harald Wartooth was the king of Denmark and Sweden, Hildibrand3 was a renowned warrior and a powerful king in Jutland. Eventually, he settled down and had the son Hildir2 and the daughter Hild5. On his deathbed he told his son to be loyal to his father's friends, and also to marry off his beautiful but arrogant sister to a far-away place, not share any land with her and not give her any warriors. When Hildir2 had succeeded his father, his sister approached him and had a request, but what later happened to Hildir2 and Hildr5, a story named "About the Eagerness of Hildr" is unfortunately lost due to a lacuna in the manuscript of Sögubrot.Sögubrot Hjalli From ON hilla ("shelf"), or from hjallr ("bed"), a typical thrall name. A cowardly cook at the court of Atli (Attila) and whose heart is cut out to present it to Gunnar as belonging to Gunnar's brother Högni. In the Völsunga saga, his life is spared by the intervention of Högni who can't bear to hear Hjalli's sobbing, but Hjalli's heart is cut out anyway. Atlakvíða, Atlamál, Völsunga saga HjalmarThe first element Hialmʀ means "helmet", while the second element -arr can have three different origins: *-harjaʀ ("war chief, warrior"), *-warjaʀ ("defender") or *-ʒaiʀaʀ ("spear").Hjalmar the Great-hearted was the champion of the Swedish king Ingjald (or Yngvi1) at Uppsala, and in love with the king's daughter Ingeborg. However, the twelve berserker sons of Arngrim came to Uppsala and Hjörvard1 (or Angantyr2) challenged him to a duel on Samsø for the hand of Ingeborg. During the holmgang, he fought Hjörvard1's brother Angantyr2 while his friend Orvar-Odd fought Hjörvard1 and the other ten brothers protected by a silken mailcoat. The twelve berserkers were slain, but Hjalmar died from the wounds of the cursed sword Tyrfing that Angantyr had wielded. Dying he sings Hjalmar's death song. Learning that her lover is dead, Ingeborg joins him in death.Hervarar saga, Orvar-Odd's saga, Gesta Danorum Hjalmgunnar For the first element hjálmr ("helmet"), see Hjalmar, and for Gunnar, see Gunther/Gunnar.King Hjalmgunnar who was an old and able warrior to whom Odin had promised victory in his war against king Agnar5. However, Odin's Valkyrie Brynhild killed Hjalmgunnar instead. As punishment Odin pricked her with a sleep thorn and cursed her never to be victorious again, and that she would marry. Brynhild responded with an oath that she would never marry a man who could feel fear. In Norna-Gests þáttr identified as a Gothic warrior. Sigrdrífumál, Helreið Brynhildar, Völsunga saga, Norna-Gests þáttr Hjalti/HöttHjalti is a nickname from hjalt meaning the "boss or knob at the end of a sword's hilt", but "also the guard between the hilt and the blade". Hǫttr means "hood". One of Hrólfr Kraki's champions. He is initially very cowardly, but Bodvar Bjarki cures him of his cowardice. Hrólfr kraki (Hróðulf), lends Hött his sword "Golden hilt" and Hött uses it to "kill" the troll that terrorizes the Danes. Bödvar Bjarki had already killed it, but left it to look alive so that Hött could "slay" it. King Hrólfr understands the ruse but keeps the secret, and names Hött Hjalti after the sword. It is considered to be the same sword as the giant-sword "Golden Hilt" with which the hero Beowulf slays Grendel's mother in Beowulf. Gesta Danorum, Hrólfs saga kraka Hjördís/Sieglinde , or (Þiðreks saga) The MHG name from OHG sigu- ("victory") and