Editing Gudrun (section)

===Role in the destruction of Burgundians===
The destruction of the Burgundian kingdom derives from the destruction of a historical Burgundian kingdom, ruled by king [[Gundicharius]] (Gunther) and located on the Rhine, by the Roman general [[Flavius Aetius]] in 436/437, possibly with the help of Hunnish mercenaries.{{sfn|Müller|2009|pp=19-20}} The downfall of this kingdom was blamed on Attila and combined with his death at the hands of his wife at some early point in the development of the legend.{{sfn|Millet|2008|pp=52–53}}{{sfn|Heinzle|2013|pp=1008-1009}}

Scholars are generally in agreement that Gudrun's original role in the destruction of Burgundians was that of the Scandinavian tradition, in which she avenges her brothers.{{sfn|Lienert|2015|p=35}}{{sfn|Millet|2008|p=198}}{{sfn|Gentry|McConnell|Müller|Wunderlich|2011|p=76}} Her role then altered in the continental tradition once the story of the destruction of the Burgundians became attached to the story of Sigurd's murder. These changes occurred sometime before the composition of the ''Nibelungenlied'' (c. 1200), the first text to securely attest either development.{{sfn|Heinzle|2013|pp=1009–1010}}{{sfn|Millet|2008|p=198}}

Jan-Dirk Müller, however, argues that we cannot know for sure which version of Gudrun's role is more original, as neither resembles the actual historical destruction of the Burgundians or the end of Etzel's kingdom. He suggests that the change in roles may be because of the continental tradition's more favorable view of Attila.{{sfn|Müller|2009|pp=32–33}}