In the Eddic poem Helreið Brynhildar, the valkyrie Sigrdrífa from Sigrdrífumál is identified with Brunhild. In the context of the heroic tradition, the first element of her name may be connected to Brunhild's role as a shieldmaiden. The name is first attested in the sixth century, for the historical Brunhilda of Austrasia, as Brunichildis. The name Brunhild in its various forms is derived from the equivalents of Old High German brunia (armor) and hiltia (conflict). She shot the shaft with bold knights – love was the prize. She was exceedingly beautiful and great in physical strength. There was a queen who resided over the sea, The majority of modern conceptions of the figure have been inspired or influenced by Wagner's depiction.īrunhild has been called 'the paramount figure of Germanic legend.' The Nibelungenlied introduces her by saying: Richard Wagner made Brunhild (as Brünnhilde) an important character in his opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. In the Scandinavian tradition, but not in the continental tradition, Brunhild kills herself after Sigurd's death. In both traditions, the immediate cause for her desire to have Sigfried murdered is a quarrel with the hero's wife, Gudrun or Kriemhild. In both traditions, she is instrumental in bringing about the death of the hero Sigurd or Siegfried after he deceives her into marrying the Burgundian king Gunther or Gunnar. In the continental Germanic tradition, where she is a central character in the Nibelungenlied, she is a powerful Amazon-like queen. In the Norse tradition, Brunhild is a shieldmaiden or valkyrie, who appears as a main character in the Völsunga saga and some Eddic poems treating the same events.

She may have her origins in the Visigothic princess and queen Brunhilda of Austrasia. Brunhild, also known as Brunhilda or Brynhild ( Old Norse: Brynhildr, Middle High German: Brünhilt, Modern German: Brünhild or Brünhilde), is a female character from Germanic heroic legend.

Vikings daughter hilde