Walther, a lost
Middle High German epic of which several short fragments from different redactions are known. In these the hero is sometimes called "Walther von Kärlingen".
The
Rosengarten zu Worms, where Walter appears among the Burgundian champions of Kriemhilt's rose garden. He refuses to fight his kinsman Dietleib.
Biterolf und Dietleib, an epic tale about Walter's brother Biterolf and his nephew Dietleib, who enter the service of Etzel. Walter plays a supporting role.
Þiðrekssaga, which tells the stories of Walter briefly in chapters 241-244.
Chronicon Poloniae ("Chronicle of Poland") by Boguchwał, which outlines the story of Walter as a Polish count, Wdaly Walczerz, under the year 1135.
The most complete poem specifically about Walter is Waltharius, in which Walter fights single-handedly against the
Burgundian king
Gunther and his retinue, killing all attackers except for Gunther and
Hagen. In later literature, Walter figures in
Scheffel's novel Ekkehard (1855).
Walter is not a historical king, but the historical nucleus of his legend lies in the 5th century (the reign of the
Balti dynasty), after king
Wallia established a Visigothic kingdom in
Aquitaine in 417, clashing with the
Vandals under king
Gunderic. The Burgundians became neighbours of the Visigoths after being resettled to
Savoy by
Flavius Aëtius in 443 during the rule of
Gunderic of Burgundy.
Waldere ed. F. Norman (London: Methuen, 1933) pp. 7–13.
A. Ebert, Allg. Gesch. der Lit. des Mittelalters im Abendlande (Leipzig, 1874-1887); R. Koegel, Gesch. der deutschen Literatur bis zum Ausgange des Mittelalters (vol. i., pt. 11, Strassburg, 1897); M.D. Lamed, The Saga of Walter of Aquitaine (Baltimore, 1892); B. Symons, Deutsche Heldensage (Strassburg, 1905).