Brunhilde Facts for Kids

Brunhilde was a powerful female warrior. She was one of the Valkyries, who were mythical figures in Norse stories. Brunhilde is also a famous heroine in German epic poems. She appears especially in the Nibelungen saga, where she is an Icelandic princess.

The Völsunga saga tells the most complete story of Brunhilde's life. This saga is part of the Scandinavian tradition.

Brunhilde's Story in the Völsunga Saga
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Brunhilde's Story in the Völsunga Saga

Odin's Punishment and a Sleeping Spell

According to the saga, Brunhilde was the daughter of Budli. She was also the sister of Atli. King Heimir raised her in a place called Hlymdalir. Heimir was married to Brunhilde's sister, Bekkhild.

When Brunhilde was twelve, King Agnar took her magical swan shirt. This made her promise to be loyal to him. Because of this promise, she helped Agnar in a fight against Hjálmgunnar. However, the god Odin wanted Hjálmgunnar to win.

As a punishment, Odin put Brunhilde into a deep sleep. He used a "sleep thorn" to do this. Odin also declared that she must marry. Brunhilde then swore she would not wake up to marry unless a man came who was not afraid of anything. Odin placed the sleeping Brunhilde on a mountain called Hindarfjall. He surrounded her with a wall made of shields.

Sigurd Awakens Brunhilde

Eventually, a brave hero named Sigurd arrived. He woke Brunhilde from her long sleep. She shared wise advice and made predictions about the future. Brunhilde and Sigurd then promised to marry each other. After this, Brunhilde went back to King Heimir's home.

One day, Sigurd was out hunting. His hawk flew up and landed at the window of Brunhilde's tower. When Sigurd saw her, he felt a strong love. Brunhilde insisted she only wanted to be a warrior. But Sigurd convinced her to promise to marry him again.

Meanwhile, Gudrun, another princess, had a strange dream. She went to Brunhilde to ask her what the dream meant. Brunhilde told Gudrun about all the bad things that would happen to her.

The Tricky Marriage

Soon after, Gunnar, who was Gudrun's brother, decided he wanted to marry Brunhilde. Sigurd had married Gudrun after drinking a special potion. This potion made him forget his earlier promises to Brunhilde. Sigurd helped Gunnar try to win Brunhilde.

Brunhilde could only be married by a man who could ride through the flames around her tower. Gunnar was not brave enough to do this. So, Sigurd changed his appearance to look exactly like Gunnar. He then rode through the flames for him.

Brunhilde was not happy about marrying Gunnar. But Sigurd, still disguised, reminded her of her promise. He told her she had sworn to marry the man who could cross the flames. The two then married. Sigurd placed his sword between them for three nights while they were together. This showed he was not truly Gunnar. After this, Sigurd and Gunnar returned to their normal appearances. They took Brunhilde back to Gunnar's great hall.

The Queens' Quarrel and Brunhilde's Vengeance

One day, Brunhilde and Gudrun were bathing in a river. Brunhilde declared that she was more important than Gudrun. She said her husband was a greater man, so she should not use the same water. Gudrun then revealed the truth. She said that Sigurd, not Gunnar, had crossed the flames. Gudrun also showed a ring that Sigurd had taken from Brunhilde and given to her.

The next day, the two queens continued their argument in the king's hall. Brunhilde was filled with such pain that she went to bed. She demanded revenge against Sigurd. Gunnar tried to calm her down, but it did not work. Sigurd came and told her he still loved her. He even offered to leave Gudrun to be with her. But Brunhilde refused.

Afterwards, she demanded that Gunnar kill Sigurd. Once Sigurd was killed, Brunhilde laughed loudly when she heard Gudrun crying. Then, Brunhilde stabbed herself. As she was dying, she had a long talk with Gunnar. In this conversation, she predicted many future events. According to her wish, she was burned on the same funeral pyre as Sigurd.

Images for kids

Sigrdrífa giving Sigurd a drinking horn. Illustration on the 11th-century Drävle Runestone
Illustration of Helreið Brynhildar, 1893
Brunhild proposes the creation of a wall of fire around her hall to her father Budli in order to challenge Sigurd. Faroese postal stamp from 1998
Brunhild arrives in Worms. Hundeshagener Kodex
The quarrel between Brunhild and Kriemhild. Hundeshagener Kodex
Amalie Materna, the first singer to play Brünnhilde in Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen