WDieB-1: Hugdietrich is a young highborn prince who grows up in Constantinople. He is powerful and upright, and from childhood on, he knows how to live and to give fiefs, to please God and honor himself. He is small but well built and has blond curly hair reaching down over his shoulder to his hips. His father is Antzius of Greece. The king summons Duke Berchtung of Merano to take care of Hugdietrich.

Motif References:

P 30 Princes

WDieB-11: The young prince asks Berchtung for advice on how to find a fitting bride. Berchtung tells him of a princess in Salonika, called Hildeburg, the daughter of King Walgunt and Liebgart. She is virtuous and lovely, but her father has locked her up in a tower, because he has sworn that no man should have her as long as he himself is living. A guard, a gatekeeper and a maid-in-waiting take care of her. The prince immediately wants to win the bride.

Motif References:

T 11.1.1 Beauty of woman reported to king causes quest for her as his bride
T 11.1 Love from mere mention or description
T 50.1 Girl carefully guarded from suitors
T 50.1.2 Girl carefully guarded by father
T 381 Imprisoned virgin to prevent knowledge of men (marriage, impregnation) usually kept in a tower.
H 1381.3.1.1 Quest for bride for king (prince)

WDieB-21: From the age of twelve, Hugdietrich is surprisingly clever. His plan is to learn to sew, spin and do fine needlework and embroidery. The duke finds him the best sewing mistress in Greece, and he learns for an entire year how to do elegant needlework. He alters his voice to sound like a woman and lets his hair grow. Finally he appears in public dressed as a woman and attends church where the princes mistake him for a lady.

Motif References:

J 146.2 (Li) The educated youth
K 1836 Disguise of man in woman’s dress

WDieB-30: The duke advises him to take fifty bold knights, 400 well-dressed squires, and 36 highborn maidens with him to Salonika. He also takes a splendid pavilion and sits on a green plain in front of the castle with a crown on his head and servants all around. Soon the king sends a messenger, and Hugdietrich answers that he is a princess from Constantinople, the sister of Hugdietrich, who has been banished by her brother. The king invites him.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality
R 331 [Christian] Hero takes refuge at [heathen] king’s court

WDieB-50: Hugdietrich gives his retinue fine clothing and sends them home. Only three maidens stay with him. Soon Hugdietrich is spinning fine thread and daintily embroidering many beautiful lifelike birds in silk and gold. The king asks him to teach the two maidens the art. They embroider beautiful tablecloths. On one side, a griffin and an eagle are depicted prominently, and on the other, a falcon is pursuing pretty birds that flee from it. In the middle of the cloth, a wild lion struggles furiously with a dragon. There are hares, foxes, a roe, a spotted leopard, and a wild boar surrounded by red hounds in a forest. There are also lifelike stags, hinds of red and gold, and many scenes of unusual adventures.

Motif References:

F 660 Remarkable skill
F 789 Extraordinary buildings and furnishings – miscellaneous

WDieB-59: As a gift for the king, Hugdietrich works a marvelous cap, which is encircled by two bands, one wide, the other narrow. The king grants him a boon in return, anything he desires, and he requests that the princess be allowed to go out of the tower. The princess leaves the tower on Whitsunday to attend the court festival. Hugdietrich sits beside the princess and he hands her the wine goblet, cuts her bread, and shows many polite courtesies. Lady Liebgart suggests that the princess should learn manners from Hugdietrich.

Motif References:

Q 88 Reward for proficiency
F 820 Extraordinary clothing and ornaments

WDieB-80: Hildeburg begs her father to let Hugdietrich stay in the tower to teach her all he knows. The father agrees. For a while, the prince shows strict self-control, but weakens after eight weeks and reveals that he is Hugdietrich. He woos her and promises that she will wear a crown in Constantinople. She is Hugdietrich’s wife for half a year and six weeks without anyone finding out. Then she conceives a child. When she becomes aware of her pregnancy, she tells Hugdietrich. One day they stroll on the battlements and see Hugdietrich’s banner and 1200 men approaching. Hugdietrich leaves with them. He promises that Hildeburg will be his wife. The guard, gatekeeper, and the maid promise to watch over her and the child.

Motif References:

T 28 (Princess) Falling in love with man disguised as woman
T 100 Marriage
T 570 Pregnancy

WDieB-120: The princess gives Hugdietrich a golden ring as token. The king has fine robe presented to the departing Hugdietrich. Coming back to his own land, Hugdietrich finds his cities and castles in good condition. He remains half a year in Constantinople. The princess gives birth to a boy with a birthmark: a little red cross between his shoulders.

Motif References:

H 82.3 Tokens between lovers
T 580 Childbirth

WDieB-142: At this time, Lady Liebgart mounts the tower to see her daughter. The guard decides to lower the child into the garden with a rope. Lady Liebgart has food ordered for the princess. The baby lies in the woods for one day, and a wolf comes, carries it off into the forest, and brings it to his young ones. Because the wolf cubs are still blind, the baby remains unscathed. When the princess wants to see the baby, the guard notices that it is gone, but tells the princess that he is having it baptized.

Motif References:

R 13.0.1 Children carried off by animals
R 13.1.5 Wolf abducts person

WDieB-160: The king rides out on a hunt. The hunting party pursues the wolf to a cave in the forest and kills it. The huntsman finds four young cubs and the infant. The king demands they find the mother. Loyalty to his own nature causes the king to wind his best linen around it. He shows it to his wife and has it baptized. As godparents, he chooses Count Wülfin, a margravine of Galicia, and a knight named Jörge. The king has it named Dietrich, but he is nicknamed Wolf’s Dietrich, and soon becomes well known as Wolfdietrich.

Motif References:

V 81.4 Baptism of infants
H 175 Recognition by “force” of nature. Unknown member of family immediately and magically recognized
P 296 Godparents

WDieB-175: The princess learns of the finding of an infant and asks the guard where hers is. The guard tells her that it is fine, and he had baptized it. However, she does not believe him, so at last the guard admits that her father has found it and is raising it. The princess sends for the wet nurse, looks at the baby, and recognizes it as hers by the birthmark. Then she reveals to the queen that she is clandestinely married to Hugdietrich and bore the child that has been found. The mother is pleased that it is a man whom she can marry.

Motif References:

H 51.1 Recognition by birthmark

WDieB-195: When the queen is in bed with the king, she asks him what should be done with a matter that nobody in the world can alter or hinder. The king answers that one should simply accept it. The queen makes him promise not to change his mind. Then she tells him about her daughter and Hugdietrich. At first, the king doesn’t believe it and thinks that the daughter lied about Hugdietrich, but the next morning the king sends for the watchman and gatekeeper, who confirm it. The king asks his counselors if he is still bound to his oath, since he swore not to give his daughter to anyone, but his daughter has taken a man herself. The counselors tell him that he is released from his oath.

Motif References:

T 50.2 King likes his daughter so much that he does not wish to marry her to anyone
M 150 Other vows and oaths

WDieB-199: The king sends Count Wülfing and knight Jörge as messengers to bring Hugdietrich of Greece to him. They depart for Constantinople and arrive there 18 days later. They inform Hugdietrich about his son and that they are the godfathers. Hugdietrich is so pleased with the godfathers that he takes them both by the hand and leads them cordially up into the hall. Then they tell him what has happened: how the wild wolves saved the child and the king found it. The king gives the knight and the count one hundred marks of gold each for service rendered and a steed and fine clothing for the good news. The king soon has some 5000 dauntless heroes to accompany him to Salonika. One hundred packhorses as well as supply wagons are loaded with food and drink, for a host of bold warriors had advised him that this would increase his esteem.

Motif References:

P 14.15.2 Court messenger
Q 20.1 Reward for service of god, hero or ascetic for a period

WDieB-232: The travelers then say farewell and arrive in Salonika in 18 days. King Walgunt has many splendid chairs set up on the plain and a large number of costly pavilions whose posts gleam brightly. The guests, bold knights and mighty king, are received very cordially: all the worthy men who accompanied their lord are well treated. Soon they all ride to where the chairs stand and are entertained there in knightly fashion.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality
P 634 Feasts

WDieB-239: Hugdietrich promises Constantinople to Wolfdietrich rather than to any other heirs he may have. Walgunt sends for many noblemen, worthy knights, and barons. Only then Hugdietrich becomes well known in Salonika. The nobles receive fine lodgings and Walgunt visits them. There is plenty of food and drink, even the wandering entertainers are invited.

Motif References:

P 324.1 Host treats guest with food and everything possible

WDieB-248: A hundred white mules, each bearing a beautiful maiden, are brought to accompany Walgunt and the princess to Greece. Walgunt sends for many noblemen, for hundred dauntless knights, to ride with him and his daughter to Constantinople. The margravine also prepares to depart with her friends and leave the land in splendor with a retinue of sixty maidens. Many kinds of entertainment are provided for the lady as she rides along, and one can buy anything one desires on the roadside without being cheated by so much as a penny. Then Walgut and his men say farewell to his daughter and ride home, arriving at Salonika the 18th day. Count Wülfin becomes the queen’s Marshall, knight Jörge and her gate-keeper are made noblemen.

Motif References:

P 110 Royal ministers

WDieB-260: When Wolfdietrich’s father is dying, he faithfully provides for his beloved children. Sending for his two younger sons, he makes lands and people subject to them. He gives Ipperland to Wachsmut and Blibort to Boge. Constantinople and all that belongs to it he wants to give to Wolfdietrich. He calls for Berchtung to come at once and commends Wolfdietrich to him. Five days later, he dies and is buried in state. The faithful Berchtung soon takes Wolfdietrich to his own land and raises him there for four years. He learns to jump a great distance, to throw a spear well, and to play many kinds of games. He also shows him how to throw a knife. The youth fully masters everything he is taught.

Motif References:

P 17.3 Dying king names successor
P 17.10 Three sons each get a kingship, but the youngest [first] the most important in the home country
P 233 Father and son
P 233.4 Natural son preferred to legitimate

WDieB-267: In his fifth year with Berchtung, Wolfdietrich’s brothers seize the income from Constantinople and usurp the land. They maintain that he is a bastard and should inherit nothing.

Motif References:

P 17 Succession to the throne
S 110.4 Prince resolves to drive relatives from his domain
P 550.1.1 (Li) Aggression: rebellion; usurpation; invasion; assault

WDieB-269: The noble Wolfdietrich obtains his knighthood at Pentecost in a manner befitting his position. As Berchtung gives him the sword, he makes his 16 strong sons and 500 valiant knights his vassals and retinue. Then he sends messengers throughout his lands and 4000 warriors quickly assemble. They have to swear an oath that they will help Wolfdietrich keep his country. They raise their sails, have a pleasant voyage across the sea, and after only three weeks they enter the harbor of Constantinople. They disembark at once onto a green meadow. The retainers welcome the old man, but ignore the youth. His brothers slander Wolfdietrich as a bastard and therefore deny him his inheritance, although Berchtung rebukes them that they have no right to touch his legacy.

Motif References:

P 54 (Bm) Knighting custom
M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance
P 193 (Bm) Guardian [regent]
P 251.5.3 Hostile [half-] brothers
P 251.6.1 Three brothers

WDieB-280: Wolfdietrich angrily defends his position and a brawl starts. The many warriors in the castle put on their mail and arm themselves. After fighting for a long time, Berchtung’s troops are all slain except for his sons. Later Wolfdietrich is pushed some distance away so that at least 200 men are between him and his mentor. The latter thinks that Wolfdietrich is dead. They have killed 200 men by the time they draw near him. The monarch has also done heroic work; more than 200 dead are scattered around him. However, eventually they have to yield and retreat because of the overpowering force. They descend into a wilderness beside the road and finally come to a clearing. When it becomes dark, Wolfdietrich is the first to stand guard.

Motif References:

F 628.2.1 Strong man kills many men at once
F 628.2 Strong man kills men
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

WDieB-303: Berchtung informs Wolfdietrich that a wild woman is after him, who wants him as her mate. Wolfdietrich accepts his fate and his vassals then lie down to sleep, except Berchtung, who stands guard until midnight. After the latter falls asleep, the wild woman approaches the fire on all fours, like a bear, and sees the prince. Shabby Else demands the hero’s love and promises him a kingdom with a broad lands to rule, if he agrees.

Motif References:

P 55 Wild man of noble birth
F 567.1 Wild woman

WDieB-310: But the prince rejects her calling her a great she-devil. Furious, she throws a magic substance on Wolfdietrich that confuses his senses and then leaves quickly with his sword and steed before he recovers. As soon as he comes to himself, he reaches for his sword to draw a circle around himself and his friends. Not finding it, he runs for his horse and realizes that it too is gone. Now he knows that all his men will offer him their swords. Because he cannot please them all he leaves them and hurries into the forest. He runs twelve miles that night, along a road that Rauhe Else has made by enchantment, and then finds her waiting under a beautiful tree. Again, she demands his love, and again he rejects her. She angrily throws on his chest a magic substance that causes him to fall asleep and sink down to the grass. Then she trims his fingernails, cuts two locks of hair from his temples, and turns him into a lunatic. He runs senselessly about the forest for half a year, living on what he can grub from the earth.

Motif References:

T 71 Woman scorned in love
T 75.2.1 Rejected suitors’ revenge
P 192 Madmen (fools, professional fools)
D 1360 Magic object effects temporary change in person
D 1364 Object causes magic sleep
D 1367 Magic object causes insanity

WDieB-319: Meanwhile, the faithful duke awakes and springs up in alarm when he can not find his lord. Then he tells his sons that they have to become vassals of the two Greek kings and swear fealty to them. However, if they see their lord they are free of the oath to the kings. The bold warrior takes a staff and a pouch and parts from them to search for Wolfdietrich. He wanders sadly inland until he comes to ancient Troy, and here, before a cathedral, he encounters Rauhe Else, who greets him politely. When he asks her to lead him to Wolfdietrich, she pretends that she has not seen him. At last, he takes a ship back to his sons at the king’s court. They welcome him joyfully and treat him with great kindness.

Motif References:

P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
M 100.0.1 (Li) Oath of allegiance

WDieB-330: God does not allow Wolfdietrich to suffer any longer and sends Rauhe Else an angel who demands she stop Wolfdietrich’s suffering otherwise thunder will kill her within three days. In dismay, she hurries off to the forest where she has left Wolfdietrich and soon finds him. Again, she demands his love. He answers that if she were baptized, he would agree. Without further ado, she leads the bold warrior to a ship and they sail with fair weather across the sea to the broad land that is her kingdom. She takes him to the foot of a mountain where she knows of a fountain of youth, half of which is warm and the other half cold. She jumps in, praying for God’s blessing: this was her baptism. Formerly she was called Rauhe Else, now her name is Lady Sigminne. She leaves her rough, shaggy skin in the fountain and out comes the most beautiful woman in all the lands. After putting on a silk gown, she asks Wolfdietrich for his love.

Motif References:

V 81 Baptism
V 81.3 Metamorphosis brought about by baptism
A 165.2.3 Angels as God’s messengers
D 562 Transformation by bathing
F 716 Extraordinary fountain
D 1788 Magic results from bathing
D 1866.1 Beautification by bathing

WDieB-340: She advises the hero to jump into the fountain and the effects of his hardships will disappear. He jumps into the water at once. When he climbs out, Wolfdietrich is led to a bed and he lies down to sleep with his beautiful lady. The prince celebrates his marriage and forgets about his eleven vassals. One night, it occurs to him that he should go to fight the noble warrior Ortnit, who wanted to make him his vassal once. Ortnit dispatched twelve counts to Wolfdietrich’s father country, who demanded that he pay him taxes on the castles and lands from then on. Wolfdietrich decides to go there to fight for his inheritance.

Motif References:

T 160 Consummation of marriage
D 700 Person disenchanted

WDieB-360: Sigeminne orders a wondrous ship to be prepared for him out of fine griffin feathers and a shirt taken on board that is to protect him from injury. It is made of 72 pieces of palmate silk and has a St. Pancratius relic sealed in it. When they reach the shore the warrior rides to Garda and dismounts under a linden tree. It is the nature of the tree that every man approaches it not for pleasure but for strife. The singing birds lull the hero into sleep. Soon afterwards, Ortnit and his wife Liebgart walk out onto the battlements and see the sleeping hero. Ortnit grows angry because of Wolfdietrich’s self-assurance and decides to challenge him. He calls for his armor, puts it on, and raps the sleeping hero on the chest. When he wakes up, he accepts the challenge since he came to fight with Ortnit. They prepare for battle, seize their shields, approach each other.

Motif References:

P 556.0.1 (Bm) Challenge to single combat [feud]
F 841 Extraordinary boat (ship)
D 1381.20 Sacred relics protect against attack

WDieB-369: The two men leap at one another and each knocks his opponent down three times. When Wolfdietrich goes down the fourth time, he jumps to his feet quickly, rushes at his foe and strikes him on the head. Ortnit falls down, unable to see or to move. The empress begs Wolfdietrich to bring some water from the spring to revive him. When he brings water in his helmet, she at once begins to revive Ortnit. When he regains his senses, he is confused, thinking his wife is in love with Wolfdietrich, because they stand so close.

Motif References:

F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

WDieB-379: Ortnit offers Wolfdietrich his friendship, who accepts. He stays for half a year in Garda and forgets about his lovely wife. The empress begins to follow him with her eyes, which Ortnit notices with displeasure, and reminds him of his wife and country. Wolfdietrich returns to his wife and is joyfully received. After twelve weeks, the hero decides to ride off to a large lake and hunt. Since he wants to stay in the forest, he takes along his wife and a silk pavilion. A wondrous beast passes by, a stag whose antlers are adorned with gold. An old knight called Drasian has sent it to the forest. Wolfdietrich hunts the stag, but when he returns he finds the pavilion empty.

Motif References:

R 10.1 Princess (maiden) abducted
B 101.4.1 Stag with golden antlers, silver feet
P 310.5 Defeated enemy turns true friend
P 311.1 Combatants become sworn brethren
F 989.15 Hunt for extraordinary (magic) animal

WDieB-401: Out of grief, Wolfdietrich dresses in pilgrim’s attire and starts to search for his wife. However, he does not find her anywhere, so he crosses the sea in the fine ship that his wife gave him. At last, he wanders to Garda, where he learns that Ortnit is home. Nevertheless, those in the castle do not recognize the pilgrim; he asks the emperor’s admittance and is invited. When Ortnit asks the supposed pilgrim if he has seen Wolfdietrich, he denies it. The empress recognizes him and tells her husband.

Motif References:

H 151.6.2 Recognition because of imperfection of disguise
K 1817.2 Disguise as palmer (pilgrim)

WDieB-410: Then he laments his sorrow and tells him of his wife’s abduction. Ortnit promises to help him in his distress. The two bold men then set out on foot and walk through forest and heath without food and drink. They go on together until the dawn of the fourth morning, when they come to the house of a forest dweller, who receives them cordially.

Motif References:

R 130 Rescue of abandoned or lost persons
N 856 Helpful forester
H 1385.3 Quest for vanished wife (mistress)

WDieB-420: Their host offers them food and drink. As soon as the emperor has fallen asleep, Wolfdietrich leaves his companion and sets out again. Without food and drink except for what the wilderness supplies (leaves, roots, and green herbs), he comes upon a great stone wall. In front of it are a linden and a beautiful marble slab, under which runs a spring. Here he lies down to sleep. Lady Sigeminne looks out over the forest in the direction of the spring when she sees the wanderer lying on the stone. She begs Drasian, her abductor, to bring her the pilgrim who is down there on the marble slab. She promises to go to bed with Drasian. So he invites the alleged pilgrim in.

Motif References:

M 201 Making of bargains and promises
P 320 Hospitality
T 455 Woman sells favors for particular purpose
K 2357.2 Disguise as pilgrim to enter enemy’s camp (castle)

WDieB-429: Drasian politely leads him into the castle and gives him a seat by a brightly burning fire. Many handsome, courtly dwarves who live in the castle and in the mountain appear, then Sigeminne comes and has the pilgrim sit opposite her. She asks him about Wolfdietrich but he denies that he has seen him and tells her that the Greek king has married only recently. She starts to cry and Drasian immediately wants to kill him.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality

WDieB-441: But the queen interferes promising to do Drasian’s will. He takes her by the hand, but Wolfdietrich quickly throws off his cowl, draws his sword out of the palm branch, and demands that the queen comes with him. Then they decide to fight for her and the victor shall have the beautiful lady and all she possesses. The host demands three hauberks: one with large rings, the others gleam like silver. The beautiful lady ties on Wolfdietrich’s armor, then the bold men rush at one another, each knocks the other down five times and Wolfdietrich goes down a sixth time.

Motif References:

P 556.0.1 (Bm) Challenge to single combat [feud]

WDieB-449: Meanwhile, the hall fills with wild dwarves who throw things at Wolfdietrich and gladly would have killed him. He jumps up at once, runs undaunted at his foe, and cleaves him asunder from shoulder to belt so that he falls to the floor and dies. In dismay at their lord’s death, the dwarves flee to hiding places in the castle. The angry hero wants to take revenge on the dwarves and sets fire to the castle; it burns down with the dwarves inside. Wolfdietrich and his wife then hurry along the narrow path through the forest and in five days have traversed the distance to the forest dweller and soon overtake Ortnit.

Motif References:

R 151.1 Husband rescues stolen wife
Q 213 Abduction punished
H 217.2 Decision by single combat or holmgang of who is to marry girl
T 243 Fight between husband and lover for kingdom and wife
Q 411 Death as punishment
Q 414 Punishment: burning alive
F 451.5.2.11 Dwarfs attack soldier (hero)

WDieB-459: Ortnit meanwhile has a fierce battle with a huge giant whom he encounters in front of a mountain cave. He charges at him time after time with a steel rod, but God in heaven helps to defeat him. The cave fills with dwarves and wild people who are burning sulfur, pitch, and rosin, the vapors of which make him black. He learns that the giant and those in the mountain are vassals of a certain Drasian. Empress Liebgart is delighted when they come back and receives the two lords and Lady Sigeminne with great honor. Soon Wolfdietrich and his wife have to depart.

Motif References:

F 451.4.1.1 Dwarfs live in caves
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man

WDieB-470: They have a pleasant voyage across the sea to Troy and are welcomed there by many worthy men and beautiful ladies. However, after six months the queen dies. Not long after her death, a calamity befalls Ortnit, for his father-in-law sends into his land two fearful dragons in the care of a huge man and a monstrous woman, the cruel giant Helle and his evil-tempered wife Runze. They take the dragons to a forest. The giant hides them safely in a mountain cave and raises them until they are large and strong. Then they go out of the forest and cause much harm, since no one in the land can withstand them. When he cannot endure this any longer, he bids farewell to his wife and sets out to the forest.

Motif References:

B 11 Dragon
F 531.6.2.7 Giants in wild forests
F 531.6.8 Mutual relations of giants

WDieB-489: He has his fine armor brought and the lady ties it on him. The emperor asks for his golden shield and a steed. He advises her to choose an able husband if the dragons defeat him. The only good man is the faithful Wolfdietrich. Under a linden tree where the giant often stays, he dismounts and blows the golden horn. Helle hears it and is furious. He seizes a steel staff and, rushing to the linden, finds Emperor Ortnit there. He beats the limbs of the linden to the ground. However, Ortnit has already sprung out from under the tree, and now his good sword resounds as he cuts away the staff as if it were lead; the emperor is pleased. Jumping backward, Helle draws from his side a sword that is twelve yards long, and knocks Ortnit down. The huge man then begins to shout loudly and Dame Runze, who is close by in the forest, hears him. Seizing her staff, the monstrous woman hurries in the direction of her husband.

Motif References:

F 531.4.5.1 Giant with iron club [pole] as weapon

WDieB-495: At that moment, the hound that is still running about back in the pines begins to howl. Dame Runze thinks a hunter is after her and rushes off in the direction of the sound. The emperor then jumps to his feet and dashes fiercely at the giant with his sword Rose ringing out in his hand. Swinging his sword with both hands, he strikes a mighty blow. Then the emperor leaves the tree and closes in on his foe, giving him a cut in the back that causes his belt to fall around his feet. And when Helle tries to kick him, Ortnit moves nimbly and slices off his leg.

Motif References:

S 162 Mutilation: cutting off legs (feet)

WDieB-502: The giant hops toward the linden and reaches for its trunk. He runs angrily at Helle, cuts away the other leg so that he is unable to stand any longer, and utters a loud cry that echoes from mountain and forest. Runze, forgetting her steel staff, seizes a young tree that is too heavy for a wagon to carry and swings it over her shoulder. Without stripping off the top and the branches, she rushes to the linden, where she sees the lord of the land standing over her husband. Dame Runze tries to kill him with the tree, but misses and deals Helle a blow that resounds in the forest. However, when she realizes that she has struck her husband, Dame Runze is so startled that she falls over backwards. Ortnit is beside her in an instant with sword in hand and cuts off her head. Nevertheless, she begins to kick powerfully in all directions and strikes him so hard that he falls to the ground.

Motif References:

N 337 Accidental death through misdirected weapon
F 531.6.12.6 Giant slain by man
F 621.2 Trees pulled up by giant
F 628.2.3 Strong man kills giant

WDieB-511: After Ortnit has ridden about a mile, he hears a frightful uproar before him: a wild elephant is fighting a terrible dragon. The emperor resolves to help the former because he displays a red elephant on his shield. He dismounts, draws his sword, and bravely charges the dragon, giving it three deep wounds. It flees, but the elephant remains with him. Ortnit asks the beast if it wants to come to Garda. When it bows its head, he promises to treat it well. While on the way to Garda with the elephant, the warrior rides under a linden. Whoever goes to sleep under it will not wake for three days. The monarch falls asleep. The hound lies down beside him and the elephant stands watch over him.

Motif References:

B 264 Single combat between animals
B 360 Animals grateful for rescue from peril of death
D 950 Magic tree
D 1960 Magic sleep
A 2494.11 The elephant’s enemies

WDieB-518: Soon the elephant sees the dragon creeping up and charges at it: a fierce struggle begins. The hound springs upon its master and tries to raise him by howling and scratching at his chest, but he sleeps on and lies there as if dead. His horse snorts, paws the ground, and finally kicks the lord in an attempt to wake him. Turning away from its foe, the elephant rushes to wake up the warrior by pushing him so hard that he spins around. When this is in vain, it runs angrily at the dragon with such force that fire belches forth from its jaws. In a fury, the dragon hurls the elephant down. Crushed, it gives a cry that resounds from forest and mountain while the hound above the man barks frantically.

Motif References:

B 11.11 Fight with dragon
B 443.3 Helpful elephant

WDieB-526: Having won the battle, the dragon returns to the linden and gulps the man down as far as his shoulder; it wants to take him away as food for its young. The emperor senses nothing until he is carried out from under the linden. Awaking, he reaches into the dragon’s throat to draw his sword but, as soon as he moves his arm, the monster runs to a rock, dashes him against it and kills him. When the horse and the hound return to Garda, his wife laments that she will never see Ortnit again.

Motif References:

F 911.3 Animal swallows man (not fatally)

WDieB-531: At the time the emperor dies, Wolfdietrich is in Troy and still mourns for his beautiful wife. He at last takes the cross and, to aid her soul, journeys across the sea with an old pilgrim whom he cared for at his court. They go to the Holy Grave, leave offerings and depart. Then the pilgrim dies. Sadly, the hero crosses the sea again and, after riding on a good road through mountains and heaths, arrives on the twelfth morning at Vidin, a city on a plain. Here he learns about a heathen who can throw a knife so well that no one dare oppose him, for he has defeated many worthy knights. He has a beautiful daughter and lives at Falkenis.

Motif References:

V 535 Pilgrimage to Jerusalem

WDieB-540: On the eleventh morning, the warrior rides fearlessly onto a broad heath beside a forest where a splendid castle stands with at least 200 towers. The merlons of the wall gleam brightly and on them rest 500 heads. The heathen and his daughter are standing on the wall and watch him coming. A friendly maiden receives him and leads him into a gleaming marble hall. A golden linden, looking as if the terrible heathen had produced it by magic, stands there, with 75 branches and golden birds perched on them. They sing sweetly when the breeze passes through them. She then leads him to her seat and has a chamberlain place a chair for her opposite him and soon the meal arrives.

Motif References:

P 320 Hospitality
F 811.1.1 Golden tree
F 855.3 Gold (silver) statue of animal
H 901.1 Heads placed on stakes for failure in performance of task
D 1620.2 Automatic statue of animal

WDieB-550: Wolfdietrich calls himself King Pilgrim of Troy. She muses that he might be king Wolfdietrich of Greece who is destined to defeat her father at knife throwing. When they have eaten and the tables have been removed, the proud heathen declares before all his vassals that he is the hero’s enemy and that a feud exists between them. They will compete at knife throwing and Wolfdietrich’s life will be at stake. Then he declares that the Christian has to lie beside his daughter during the night and promises to make castles, lands, and people subject to him and the daughter his wife.

Motif References:

H 332.3 Suitor test: duel with father-in-law
M 341 Death prophesied

WDieB-561: The heathen leads the two to a bedroom, holds out a drink containing a sleeping potion. But the maiden snatches the drink from his hand and throws it against the wall behind the bed. The heathen demands that the Christian lie beside her and she has to tell him at daybreak whether he wants her for a wife. She tells him that she just saved his life, for if he had drunk the poton her father would have defeated him the next day at knife throwing. Then she demands that he make love to her.

Motif References:

H 335.0.1 Bride helps suitor perform his task
P 616 Newcomers forced to pass the night with ruling princess. Given sleeping potion. Goods confiscated for failure to consummate marriage.
K 675 Sleeping potion given to man who is to pass the night with a girl.(Sometimes magic pillow or magic sleeping card.)
D 1364.7 Sleeping potion

WDieB-571: But Wolfdietrich refuses because of her heathen faith. If she will believe in Lord Jesus and in our Lady, he will give up body and spirit for her sake. When she wants instruction in the Christian faith, he tells her that Jesus was born of a Jewish virgin named Mary. An angel made it known to her that she would bear Him for our salvation. The maiden replies that in her opinion the Virgin Mary is surely a sorceress who has spread her power over the earth by sorcery. She tries to persuade him to pray to Mohammed. However, Wolfdietrich defends his Christian faith and tries to persuade her to renounce her faith and accept his God. Hers is a fraud because he cannot make wine.

Motif References:

V 350 Conflicts between religions

WDieB-580: When they lie down, the hero draws his sword, places it between them and threatens to wound her if she moves. However, she takes it by the hilt and throws it far from them. Still he refuses to do her will. The next morning, she reports to her father that he rejected her. The heathen challenges Wolfdietrich to the throwing contest. The hero girds on his sword, takes his shield in hand, and goes to the courtyard, where a crowd has gathered. The heathen demands that he must observe the custom here, that they shall throw knives at each other. While the heathen men arrange a ring, someone brings two stools for the combatants to stand on and six knives for them to throw. The heathen grants Wolfdietrich his choice in picking the knives. The warrior takes a stool and three knives. Two little bucklers, truly only a span wide, are also brought, and one is given to Wolfdietrich. He is ordered to lay his broad shield down beside his stool. The hero has to face the heathen in his shirtsleeves while he throws his three knives.

Motif References:

H 331.7 Suitor contest: aiming with missile [knife]
T 351 Sword of chastity
P 557.4 Customs concerning single combat

WDieB-591: The warrior removes his armor and lays it down beside the stool. The heathen threatens to stick Wolfdietrich’s head on an empty merlon on the little tower if he is able to defeat him. When the hero asks him if he does not fear defeat, he tells him that a young warrior in distant Greece is destined to kill him. When he asks Wolfdietrich if he is the one, promising him castles and lands as hereditary property, he denies it.

Motif References:

M 341 Death prophesied
P 555.2.1.1 ”Publication of slaying”. Heads of slain enemies displayed

WDieB-599: Taking his first knife, the heathen throws it spitefully at the warrior, but it misses and only cuts off two locks of hair. Both pray to their gods for help in combat. Still holding the knife poised in his hand, the heathen tells Wolfdietrich to protect his feet, the hero springs up from the stool, and the knife flies between his legs to sink deep into the ground behind him. The heathen demands to know who has taught the hero the leap, because only Duke Berchtung knew it. Again, he asks him if he is Wolfdietrich, promising riches. Berchtung was his comrade for 32 years, and for his sake he will let him live. But Wolfdietrich still denies his identity and the heathen tells him to shield his heart. Wolfdietrich manages to balance himself and is unharmed.

Motif References:

F 684 Marvelous jumper

WDieB-610: Now the heathen is greatly troubled. Wolfdietrich looks at the eye but aims at the foot, and the knife goes through it. Then he reveals his identity. This time he tells him to protect the top of his head, and although the heathen tries it, the knife goes right through the buckler and cuts open his scalp. The daughter prays to Mohammed when she hears him scream, and Wolfdietrich mocks her telling her that her god Mohammed has fallen asleep. He lifts the third knife and tells him that he aims at his heart. The knife strikes him in the heart so that he falls from the stool and dies.

Motif References:

P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]

WDieB-629: Many vassals at the ring want to avenge their lord. They draw their swords and rush at Wolfdietrich to kill him. Jumping down from the stool, he seizes his own sword and slays at least fifty of the heathens and all the rest flees from him. They admit that his mighty god aids him in trouble and distress and ask him to have them baptized. He gladly wants to do so but he has neither priest nor chaplain with him. Suddenly he sees both a priest and a chaplain standing in the courtyard. Wolfdietrich is asked to be the sponsor and he teaches them the Creed and the Ave Maria.

Motif References:

V 331.1.3 Conversion to Christianity because the heathen gods prove to be less powerful
V 332 Baptism of heathen

WDieB-639: Meanwhile the heathen’s daughter has gone to her chamber and there she conjures up a sinister lake around the castle. Wolfdietrich in dismay forces her to go with him, lifts her up on his steed and rides onto a glass bridge that stretches across the lake. However, when they reach the middle, both ends of the bridge fall into the water so that they can neither go forward nor back. The maiden then turns into a magpie and flies off to the castle, rests on a parapet and curses him, but if he converts, she promises to marry him and make the whole realm subject to him.

Motif References:

D 151.9 Transformation: man [woman] to magpie
F 842.1.1 Crystal (glass) bridge
D 921.1 Lake (pond) produced by magic
D 2091.7 Magic lake (river) sent against enemy

WDieB-648: Wolfdietrich prays to God for help, then spurs his steed and leaps from the bridge. He expects to sink to the bottom of the deep lake, but suddenly he only sees a wide heath. Then a devil armed with a mace and a broadsword attacks him fiercely, then another eleven. As soon as he slays the twelve, there are suddenly 24 of them. The number grows frightfully to 72; but the brave man kills them all by not letting God out of his heart.

Motif References:

V 52.8 Prayer brings death to enemy
G 303.9.6.1.1 Devil is overcome by man in fight
G 303.9.6.1 Devil fights with man

WDieB-653: Then he has to pass a high mountain, which is like steel; he asks God for help. Indeed, this obstacle holds him back so long that he does not reach the top until the third day. The warrior sees a forest fire that encircles him and has to retreat to escape the heat. When he does not stop, the enchantment is broken. After riding without further troubles for eleven days, the warrior comes to Lombardy, where he hears everyone tell how the dragons have carried his friend Ortnit into the mountain. The guard and the queen together with eleven other ladies are loudly bewailing their great loss.

Motif References:

F 759 Extraordinary mountains and valleys – miscellaneous
D 789 Other means of disenchantment
D 940 Magic forests
D 941.1 Forest produced by magic
D 2144.4 Burning by magic

WDieB-660: The warrior turns to seek the dragons. He sets out at once toward a certain cliff in the forest. He asks a woodsman for directions and finds the spot where the dragons carried Emperor Ortnit into the mountain. Wolfdietrich rides up to the cave and calls out loudly to the dragon, which is not in its cave, but in the forest getting food for its young. This annoys Wolfdietrich and, since he is eager to find the dragon, he rides into the pines after it. He travels until the morning of the third day and hears a frightful struggle in the forest: the dragon is fighting a wild lion.

Motif References:

B 264 Single combat between animals
N 838 Hero (culture hero) as helper

WDieB-669: Seeing the lion in great distress, Wolfdietrich decides to help him because he carries a lion emblazoned on his shield. The dragon charges at him like a hailstorm and its tail breaks the shield into three pieces. He throws one of them at the monster, draws his sword, and gives it a mighty blow on the head, which brings from its mouth a fiery cloud that makes his sword glow red. His horny skin is hard, a span thick, and bright as glass. Its sides are twelve yards long, and it moves with fearful strength and speed on its 24 feet.

Motif References:

B 11.11 Fight with dragon
B 11.2.11 Fire-breathing dragon
B 11.11.6 Dragon fight in order to free lion
B 11.12.1 Dragon cannot be killed with weapons

WDieB-673: The warrior strikes many fierce blows and flames spew from the dragon. The lion leaps in front of the prince and attacks the dragon. The man quickly jumps back and the wild beast continues the struggle until its strength is gone. Then it slips away from the dragon, hoping it will follow. Wolfdietrich takes his sword in both hands and strikes the dragon’s horn with such force that the weapon breaks into three pieces and falls to the ground. The dragon seizes the lion in its mouth and the knight with its tail. The dragon carries them to its lair, in which the remains of many knights lie. The young dragons tear the lion apart, suck his blood, and devour all but the bones. The dragon strikes the warrior so hard on the helmet that blood spurts from his ears. Wolfdietrich is wearing the shirt made of seventy-two pieces of palmate silk that Lady Sigeminne of Troy gave him. It saves his life, because the relic of Saint Pancratius sealed in it protect him from the dragons. They suck on him through his mail but to no avail. Therefore, the old dragon goes back into the forest to get the horse that stands near a tree.

Motif References:

B 11.6.8 Dragon flies to its nest with human being
B 11.6.8.1 Dragon flies away with lion
D 1381.3 Magic garment protects against attack
D 1381.20 Sacred relics protect against attack

WDieB-690: The old dragon looks around among the dead men to find the heaviest one for its young to use as a ball. It picks the corpse up at once, and the dragons hurl him at each other with such force that they almost kill Wolfdietrich. The old dragon soon leaves them and lies down outside the cave. Wolfdietrich reaches down, wipes the sweat from his legs, and puts it in his mouth. This gives him strength. He takes his sword Rose, which is in a horn scabbard; its pommel holds a stone in which a relic of Saint Pancratius is sealed. He then finds in the cave a shield that is as thick as a wall and beside it, the bones of Ortnit and the armor he wore when he died. Wolfdietrich puts on the hauberk and also finds a fine helmet from which a gem shines brightly. It is lying in blood and Ortnit’s head is inside.

Motif References:

E 15.2 Resuscitation by sweating
S 139.2.2.4 Part of corpses used in sport
S 139.2.2.4.1 Head used as ball
D 1381.20 Sacred relics protect against attack

WDieB-699: Wolfdietrich kisses the dead Ortnit, runs further back in the cave and fetches Rose. He kills all the dragons in the cave, cuts out their tongues and then goes to where Ortnit’s bones lie. He discovers a golden ring that the emperor’s wife had given him as a wedding gift, carries the remains out of the cave and buries them in front of the cliff. Then he writes on the stone that Ortnit lies there.

Motif References:

H 105.1 Dragon-tongue proof. Dragon slayer cuts out the tongues and uses them later to prove his identity as slayer
G 510.4 Hero overcomes devastating animal

WDieB-722: When Wolfdietrich at last arrives at Lake Garda, he catches sight of a wild lion in great danger from a serpent. Still some distance away, he calls out to the lion that he will help it. He draws Rose and strikes the serpent fiercely. He has never before been in such distress and has to jump into the lake. The lion roars loudly, as the water was too deep for it, and charges its foe. Wolfdietrich runs toward the serpent and deals it heavy blows. The heath begins to burn when the serpent breathes fire. However, the good God and the relic of Saint Pancratius that Wolfdietrich wears help him slay the beast and escape unharmed. The warrior picks up the lion, and, carrying it in his arms, sets out for Garda. When he reaches the castle moat, at about midnight, he hears the empress weeping and lamenting.

Motif References:

B 19.4.2 Fiery serpent
F 628.1.3 Strong man kills great serpent [dragon]
B 742 Animal breathes fire
D 1381.20 Sacred relics protect against attack

WDieB-735: The empress accuses the saint of having forsaken her although she promised to be loyal to him when she commended her husband to his care. She threatens never to trust him again. She invested him with fiefs and gave three gold coins every morning as an offering, just to gain the saint’s favor so that he would protect her lord. At that moment, the saint appears before the altar in the guise of an old man wearing snow-white clothing. He tells her that the emperor would have lived twelve years longer had he taken her advice. But the dragons would still have carried him off.

Motif References:

V 123.1 God under compulsion: Suppliant threatens to mutilate (crush) holy image if his wish is not fulfilled
K 1811 Gods (saints) in disguise visit mortals

WDieB-739: The lady has a painting brought in that shows her and the emperor. She slaps the figure on the mouth and laments to the Virgin Mary. When she goes out to stand on the parapet, she threatens to jump. However, Wolfdietrich who hears her lament promises to catch her. He tells her that he carried a wild lion to her to have her heal the lion’s wounds. At daybreak, the empress goes out with her maidens, finds the wounded lion and brings it to her chamber.

Motif References:

W 10 Kindness

WDieB-750: Outside the gate lies a stone so heavy that a wagon cannot carry it. However, Wolfdietrich picks it up and throws it over the battlement. This reminds the lady who woke her thus when he came home late. Wolfdietrich tells her that he avenged her husband. Count Wildung of Viterbo, standing near the gate, overhears that Wolfdietrich has killed the dragons. Consequently, early the following morning he sets out for the mountain with 500 of his vassals. There he cuts off the heads of the terrible dragons and tries to force two knights to say that he has slain them, but they refuse. One of them slips away from the count and looks for Wolfdietrich; he finds him under a green linden. Then he tells him of the treacherous count, who claims that he killed the dragons.

Motif References:

F 624.2.0.1 Strong man throws enormous stone

WDieB-760: The angry Wolfdietrich sets off to find the count. He comes upon him near a mountain and accuses the count of a lie. This angers the count and he has his vassals attack Wolfdietrich. Praying to God for help, the latter puts his back to a cliff, draws his sword Rose, kills fifty of the count’s men but barely manages to escape. The count then rides to Garda and tells the empress that he fought with the dragon that killed fifty of his men. A knight called Handsome Heinrich contradicts him saying that Wolfdietrich slew the dragons. However, the count insists and is promised to the empress. A forest dweller with whom Wolfdietrich has been staying hears the news and hurries home to tell his guest. Late that evening, Wolfdietrich goes to the castle and asks the gatekeeper to let him inside the court. Wolfdietrich pushes open the gate and goes to the hall where the lady is. There he shares the food set out for a wandering minstrel.

Motif References:

F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
K 1915 The false bridegroom (substituted bridegroom)
K 1932 Impostors claim reward (prize) earned by hero
K 1933 Impostor forces oath of secrecy

WDieB-771: The lady lifts a goblet and sends it to Wolfdietrich, who drinks from it and takes Ortnit’s ring from his finger, drops it in the goblet, and sends it to the empress. When she asks him who gave him this ring, he tells her: the faithful Wolfdietrich of Greece. Then he reveals his identity by removing his cloak, which he gives to the minstrel. Then someone in the hall demands proof of Wolfdietrich, who refuses. Count of Viterbo has the dragon heads carried into the hall. However, Wolfdietrich shows the court people that they have no tongues, then throws the tongues down before the empress. He is attacked at once, for they accuse him of having himself slain the emperor. The warrior draws Rose and puts his back to a wall, but he has to fight grimly. When he calls for his lion, the empress releases the beast and it comes to his help fighting bravely at his side. People take to flight and the treacherous count is beheaded.

Motif References:

H 94.4 Identification by ring dropped into a glass (cup) of wine
Q 411.4 Death as punishment for treachery
Q 421 Punishment: beheading
B 524 Animal overcomes man’s adversary

WDieB-790: Although Lady Liebgart now is married to Wolfdietrich, he does not want to make love to her until he shows her the proof of what he has done in the cave. He claims twelve witnesses but none of them will follow him. Therefore, the empress goes herself. When he shows her the dead dragons, one surviving dragon appears. It forces the hero to retreat and seizes the empress with its tail. Nevertheless, Wolfdietrich takes the sword in both hands and cuts through the monster completely. Wolfdietrich reclaims his lovely wife and shows her where Ortnit’s bones lie.

Motif References:

B 11.11 Fight with dragon
H 105.1 Dragon-tongue proof. Dragon slayer cuts out the tongues and uses them later to prove his identity as slayer
G 510.4 Hero overcomes devastating animal

WDieB-795: Then the warrior goes to sleep with his head in her lap and the uncanny dwarf Billung, who wears a cloak that makes him invisible, comes and steals her away. He leads her through the forest to a mountain. When Wolfdietrich awakes and cannot find the lady, he gives up the castles and lands of Garda, conceals his sword in a coarse woolen mantle and sets out to look for the lady. After three years of wandering, he comes to the spring through which the empress had been carried once and sits down beside it for a while. At the same time, the empress looks out of a window in the mountain. When she sees the faithful prince sitting there, she begs the dwarf Billung to invite him in because the man would know many wondrous tales.

Motif References:

R 45 Captivity in mound (cave, hollow hill)
F 451.5.2.4 Dwarfs kidnap mortals
D 1361.12 Magic cloak of invisibility

WDieB-801: Billung obeys gladly and the alleged pilgrim is invited in. The dwarf then puts a cloak on him, places a herb in his mouth and leads him through the spring. Inside the mountain, the prince sees a stately castle with 200 towers; the merlons on the wall gleam as brightly as day. The dwarf takes him by the hand and shows him a little park with a marble bench under a large green linden. Beside the tree stands a man of brass holding two bellows. A hundred gold tubes go out from the trunk of the linden and on them sit a hundred birds. The lord of the castle comes here for entertainment because the birds all sing together when the brass figure works the bellows.

Motif References:

F 131 Otherworld in hollow mountain
F 771.3.5.1 House [castle] inside mountain
D 1551.3 Magic root causes water to divide and close
D 1557.2 Magic herb causes door to open
D 1620.1 Automatic statue of man
D 1620.2 Automatic statue of animal
D 1620 Magic automata
K 1812 King in disguise
K 1817.2 Disguise as palmer (pilgrim)

WDieB-811: Beyond the linden stands a large hall in which there are at least 500 tables, and a hundred richly dressed dwarves sit around at each of them. In the hall is a golden man who holds in his hands two fine water jugs. Crafted with great skill, the large figure can pour water for a hundred men. After they have eaten, the empress asks the disguised hero about Garda and Wolfdietrich. He denies his identity. When she cries, the dwarf grows so angry that he threatens to kill the guest. Wolfdietrich tells him that he once was an esteemed knight, then takes a golden goblet and strikes the dwarf. The latter orders that his armor be brought. Meanwhile, two giants who are subjects of the dwarf attack Wolfdietrich. When his sword is struck from his hand, the lady jumps for the sword, and thrusts it in his hand.

Motif References:

D 1620.1 Automatic statue of man

WDieB-821: The brave man fights mightily and defeats many noble dwarves. The battle in the mountain lasts for two days, until Billung and all his retinue lie dead. Only then does the lady recognize the faithful Wolfdietrich. He takes his lovely wife by the hand and they are about to leave but a happy dwarf comes running from further back in the mountain and calls to them to wait. He tells them that the whole country was his inheritance and subject to him until Billung took it away through treachery. Then he invites them to a festive entertainment. He leads the warrior to a fragrant garden in which a linden stands. The dwarf takes a little key and unlocks the tree. Twelve lovely maidens come out, two by two and hand in hand. They wear splendid and costly clothing of silver and golden ribbons in their hair.

Motif References:

F 451.4.5.1 Dwarfs are ruled by a king
F 531.6.3.3 (Bm) Giant as guard of fairy’s [dwarfs] mountain
D 950 Magic tree
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

WDieB-829: Then he shows him what he has inside the linden. Wolfdietrich sees a golden cedar, from which both wine and mulberry wine springs. The dwarf gives him a present: A box from which he can take fifty armed men three times a year, dressed in whatever clothing they like to wear. If somebody drives him from his realm, he can take out 500 knights. The dwarf goes out, locks Wolfdietrich and the lady in the linden and tells them to free themselves. Then he gives Wolfdietrich a golden horn, which calls Billing for help whenever he needs him. His father was a dwarf named Tarnung who was lord of this mountain and 1200 of his fellows. God gave him three wishes and he knew of no better way to use them at the time than one for the linden, the second for the land, and the third for the horn and the box.

Motif References:

D 812.12 Magic object received from dwarf
D 1421.5 Magic object summons army for rescue
D 1421.3 Magic object summons dwarfs
D 1720.1 Man given power of wishing

WDieB-841: The brave warrior and the lady come to a broad road and turn toward Garda. After walking for some time, they hear a wailing voice. He leaves the empress at a cliff and finds a wild woman in labor suffering greatly. When Wolfdietrich wants to help her, she refuses because a man should not see that which is private to a woman. Wolfdietrich suggest blindfolding him, he will stay with her. The woman then lies down on the grass under a tree and gives birth to a fine boy. The woman asks for water but when he returns with water in his helmet, she is dead. After baptizing the infant, Wolfdietrich begins to dig a grave for the woman with his sword, and while he is doing this, the child dies. He lays them in the grave together. Then he hurries back to his wife.

Motif References:

C 151 Tabu – man not to be present at childbirth

WDieB-849: When back in Garda, he is not welcome. However, many people gather forming an army by Dülmende. His own vassals, who are most disloyal and withhold castles and lands from him, thus threaten Wolfdietrich. He prays to God for help and then prepares for battle. The great battle takes place on the broad heath by the river, between Verona and Garda. He defeats his vassals with a mighty force of knights he takes from the box. Then Wolfdietrich has a wedding festival. He gives steeds and armor to some 500 knights and his fame spreads to every land. The courtly prince remains with the lady for a full year and conquers castles and lands until everyone in the realm is subject to him. After a while, he grows restless and sets out to rejoin his eleven vassals.

Motif References:

F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
D 1421.5 Magic object summons army for rescue

WDieB-860: The empress wants him to forget his eleven vassals. She tells him that she is with child. He tells her to name it Hugdietrich if it is a boy, if it is a girl, she may call it whatever she wishes. Then he departs with an army and soon sets out for Greece in two fine, large ships with 3000 men. The stormy weather breaks one ship. Wolfdietrich prays to God, who sends two ships over the stormy waters to save him: They reach the coast of Greece on the twelfth day. The warriors reach the shore and set up camp in a large forest near Constantinople. Wolfdietrich sets out alone to Constantinople but takes his little horn with him and tells them to come to his aid when he blows it. He then puts on a pilgrim’s cloak over his armor and starts for the city. He reaches the castle moat late in the evening and hides himself below a wall. He has not been there long before he hears his vassals weeping nearby. There are just ten of them, because one has died, and they are bemoaning their hard lot.

Motif References:

P 551 Army
K 1817.2 Disguise as palmer (pilgrim)

WDieB-880: The vassals tell him that they do not get enough to eat and are shackled together in twos. However, when Wolfdietrich asks them for food, they give him bread for the sake of Wolfdietrich. This act moves the warrior deeply, and he falls like a dead man into the moat. As soon as he recovers, he promises them that their lord Wolfdietrich will soon be there. Then they pray to God for a miracle and at once, they are free from their fetters. As soon as they are free, they lower themselves over the wall and find Wolfdietrich. Overjoyed they greet each other, but when he asks after Berchtung, they tell him that he has been dead for ten years. Then they lead him to his grave in front of Saint George’s Cathedral. Wolfdietrich prays to God for a miracle to let the dead man talk and Berchtung greets him and begs him to take care of his sons. He tells him about the condition of his soul which is in the realm of bliss. Wolfdietrich falls unconscious and lies senseless outside the gate until the light of day shines on him.

Motif References:

W 11 Generosity
R 121.6.2 Locks marvelously open for person
E 545.10 Corpse exclaims over miracle
E 545 The dead speak

WDieB-909: The news spreads throughout the country that Wolfdietrich has returned. A powerful troop that soon numbers over a 1000 men assembles in the city, advances in force to the gate and moves out toward the place where the prince is. Wolfdietrich is fiercely attacked. Praying that God will help him, the others pick up soil and place it in their mouths as an offering to our Lord. Then Wolfdietrich hews many a wide path through the heathens. The vassals equip themselves by stripping armor from the dead and picking up good, broad shields. They fight until the end of day at vespers. Then Wolfdietrich’s two brothers ride up followed by 3000 men in full armor.

Motif References:

F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

WDieB-921: His vassals therefore take their swords and engage in a furious battle that lasts until the next morning. The dwarf for whom he has regained the wondrous mountain appears with 2800 men to his aid. The prince captures his brothers, who surrender the castles and lands of Greece to him. The vassal Hache advises to burn down the city, but Wolfdietrich thinks it nobler to spare them and the city profits because of the fact that seven of the twelve apostles settled here. Then he promises to baptize those who desire it; the others have to die. The worthy prince treats his brothers kindly and gives them back the country. Then he takes leave of them and returns to Garda, where he receives a fond welcome from his beautiful wife. Wolfdietrich helps his ten vassals regain their father’s heritage. Because of their father’s death and their bravery, he also gives them a whole kingdom from his own lands, dividing it equally between them. Thereafter the brave warrior remains in Garda until his death.

Motif References:

R 5 Capture on field of battle
R 75 Surrendering
Q 112.0.1 Kingdom as reward
V 332 Baptism of heathen
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]

Heroic Epic

Wolfdietrich B (ca. 1250) Jänicke, O.(ed.): Deutsches Heldenbuch III. Berlin 1871 and IV, Berlin 1873. Reprint Berlin 1968.

Wolfdietrich B (ca. 1250)
Jänicke, O.(ed.): Deutsches Heldenbuch III. Berlin 1871 and IV, Berlin 1873. Reprint Berlin 1968.