Editing Gudrun (section)

=== ''Þiðrekssaga'' ===
Although the ''[[Þiðrekssaga]]'' (c. 1250) is written in Old Norse, the majority of the material is translated from German (particularly [[Low German]]) oral tales, as well as possibly some from German written sources such as the ''Nibelungenlied''.{{sfn|Millet|2008|pp=270–273}} Therefore, it is included here.

In the ''Thidrekssaga'', Grimhild (Kriemhild) is the daughter of king Aldrian of Niflungaland and Oda, sister of king Gunnar (Gunther), Gisler (Giselher), and Gernoz (Gernot), and half sister of Högni (Hagen).{{sfn|Gillespie|1973|p=20, 52, 59}} When Sigurd (Siegfried) comes to Gunnar's kingdom one day, he marries Grimhild and suggests that Gunnar marry Brunhild. Some time later, Grimhild and Brunhild argue over precedent in the king's hall. Brunhild accuses Grimhild of not even being married to a man of noble birth, whereupon Grimhild reveals that Sigurd and not Gunnar took Brunhild's virginity, showing a ring that Sigurd had given her as proof. Brunhild then agitates for Sigurd's murder; once Grimhild's brothers have murdered Sigurd, they place his corpse in her bed.{{sfn|Millet|2008|p=264, 266}}{{sfn|Haymes|Samples|1996|p=114}}

Some time later, Atli (Etzel) woos Grimhild to be his new wife. Seven years later Grimhild convinces Atli to invite the Burgundians (called Niflungs) to visit her by mentioning the hoard of the Nibelungen which her brothers had stolen from her. Atli is seized by greed for the hoard and agrees. Once the Burgundians arrive, Grimhild demands the hoard from them, but Högni replies that it was left behind. Grimhild attempts to convince Atli's brother Bloedel and Thidrek (Dietrich von Bern) to help her take revenge, but both refuse. Finally, she provokes a fight by bringing her and Atli's son into the hall, seating him across from Högni, and telling the son to hit Högni. Högni reacts to a second blow by cutting off the prince's head, leading to a terrible massacre. After severe fighting, Gunnar is captured, and Grimhild tells Atli to throw him in a tower full of snakes. Högni now leads the Burgundians, who lock themselves in the king's hall. Grimhild orders the hall set on fire, and in the following battle Gisler and Gernoz die. Grimhild sticks a piece of flaming wood into her dead brothers' mouths to see if they are dead, causing an enraged Thidrek to kill her.{{sfn|Millet|2008|p=267}}{{sfn|Haymes|Samples|1996|pp=118–119}}

The author of the saga has made a number of changes to create a more or less coherent story out of the many oral and possibly written sources that he used to create the saga.{{sfn|Millet|2008|pp=273–274}} The author mentions alternative Scandinavian versions of many of these same tales, and appears to have changed some details to match the stories known by his Scandinavian audience.{{sfn|Millet|2008|pp=271-272}}{{sfn|Haymes|1988|pp=xxvii-xxix}} The saga's version of the downfall of the Burgundians represents a unique mix of elements known from the Norse and continental traditions.{{sfn|Uecker|1972|p=42}}