A short history of the Burgundians—historical setting for Volsunga Saga
(based on J. Byock, The Saga of the Volsungs, 1990)
1-2nd cc. CE . . . Migrations from Sweden via Bornholm?
413 Cross the Rhine westward (along with other tribes flooding the Roman frontier)
B join Roman foederati (treaty alliances) guarding approaches to the Alps
Burgundian expansion provokes Roman response...
436 B defeated by Aetius (and Hun mercenaries)
437 leader Gundaharius (inspiration for Gunnar) dies.
451 B again allied with Aetius and Gallo-Romans, defeat the Huns
453 Death of Attila at the hands of a Germanic bride (as Gudrun kills Atli, ch.40)
Late 5th c. Burgundians occupy most of south France, with capital at Lyons.
Forbears of Sigurd: (from early chapters of the saga)
Sigi, said to be son of Odin, driven in exile for killing by stealth, takes a kingdom in ‘Hunland’
Sigi’s son Rerir unable to father an heir, until Odin sends a ‘wish-maiden’ in form of a raven (=valkyrie) with fertile apple (of Idun?).
The mother pregnant 6 years; at last the child is cut from her body = Volsung
Volsung’s eldest son (of ten by the ‘wish maiden’!) is Sigmund
Sigmund is father (late in life) of Sigurd (=Siegfried in contemporary Niebelungenlied)
Both versions—Volsunga Saga in western Europe and Niebelungenlied in Austria—written within a generation or two of Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda and Saxo Grammaticus’ ‘Deeds of the Danes’ (ca. 1200 or earlier)