The poem is split into two parts. In the first part, the prince Siegfried comes to Worms to acquire the hand of the Burgundian princess Kriemhild ...
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from her brother King Gunther. Gunther agrees to let Siegfried marry Kriemhild if Siegfried helps Gunther acquire the warrior-queen Brünhild as his wife. Siegfried does this and marries Kriemhild; however, Brünhild and Kriemhild become rivals, leading eventually to Siegfried´s murder by the Burgundian vassal Hagen with Gunther´s involvement. In the second part, the widow Kriemhild is married to Etzel, king of the Huns. She later invites her brother and his court to visit Etzel´s kingdom intending to kill Hagen. Her revenge results in the death of all the Burgundians who came to Etzel´s court as well as the destruction of Etzel´s kingdom and the death of Kriemhild herself.