Gudrun · Chapter
Tale X: How Hartmut Sent to Woo Gudrun explained
Hartmut, prince of Normandy, learns of Gudrun's beauty and resolves to woo her.
What happens
Hartmut, prince of Normandy, learns of Gudrun's beauty and resolves to woo her. Despite his father Ludwig's warnings about the dangers and the proud nature of Gudrun's kin, Hartmut insists. His mother Gerlind supports the plan, and sixty messengers are sent with letters and treasure to King Hettel's court. When the messengers arrive, they are initially well received, but upon revealing their errand, Hettel and Hilda angrily reject the suit, citing historical grievances and vassalage ties. The messengers return with the refusal, but Hartmut remains determined to win Gudrun.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
Hartmut's determined pursuit of Gudrun as a wife, despite obstacles, drives the chapter's plot.
Honor and Reputation
Hettel and Hilda's rejection is rooted in preserving their family's honor and avoiding vassalage to Ludwig.
Family and Kinship
Family loyalties and historical grievances between Hagen's kin and Ludwig shape the response to Hartmut's suit.
Characters to notice
- Hartmut
Norman prince who resolves to woo Gudrun despite his father's warnings; sends sixty messengers with letters and treasure.
- Ludwig
King of Normandy, Hartmut's father; initially warns against the wooing but eventually supports the plan by providing treasure and guidance.
- Gerlind
Hartmut's mother; encourages the wooing, suggests sending letters and fine clothes, and later laments the failed mission.
- Hettel
King of the Hegelings, Gudrun's father; angrily rejects Hartmut's suit after reading the letters.
- Hilda
Queen of the Hegelings, Gudrun's mother; supports Hettel's rejection, citing historical conflicts and vassalage to Hagen.
- Horant
Lord of Daneland; receives the messengers and arranges safe passage to Hettel's court, later blamed by Hettel for bringing them.
- Gudrun
The maiden sought by Hartmut; her beauty is praised by the messengers, but she does not appear directly in this chapter.
Key passages
“Now in the land of Normandy the tale was widely told, That never fairer maiden did any man behold Than was King Hettel's daughter, Gudrun, the high-born lady. A king, whose name was Hartmut, to her then turned his love, to woo her ready.”
In Normandy, stories spread of Gudrun's unmatched beauty, prompting Prince Hartmut to seek her as his bride.
Introduces Hartmut's motivation for wooing Gudrun.
“Then spake to them King Hettel: 'No good to you 'twill bring That you were sent a-wooing by Hartmut, your lord and king. To pay for this full dearly you may well be fearing; Your kingly master's wishes both I and Lady Hilda are wroth at hearing.'”
King Hettel angrily tells the messengers that their mission will bring them no benefit and that he and Queen Hilda are furious at Hartmut's proposal.
Shows Hettel's outright rejection of the suit.
“Then quoth the Lady Hilda: 'How can she be his wife? A hundred and three of his castles his father held in fief, Within the land of Cardigan, from Hagen, my noble sire; It ill becomes my kinsmen to be King Ludwig's vassals, or owe him hire.'”
Queen Hilda argues that Gudrun cannot marry Hartmut because Ludwig holds lands as a vassal of her father Hagen, making the match beneath her family's dignity.
Highlights the political and familial reasons for the rejection.
