Nibelungenlied

Gifts are a reoccurring motif throughout The Nibelungenlied, the giving of gifts being shown to have many advantages. For the most part, the epic’s royals and nobles are primarily driven to hand out gifts (usually clothes or gold) since largesse is considered one of the key values in chivalry. To give gifts to a messenger, visitor, or guest is to exhibit good character in a medieval context. Rüdiger gives the Burgundians many things, including his own daughter, out of hospitality and genuine respect for those whom he recognizes as his betters. In doing so, he proves himself chivalrous (at least until he must battle the Burgundians for Etzel’s sake).

In addition to proving oneself to be chivalric, a noble can endear him or herself to subjects by giving out expensive presents since, as Rüdiger tells Gotelind, “when knights ride in sumptuous style they go in good heart” (152). Kriemhild likely earns “many marks of loyal submission” from the people of Hungary because she decides to “[give] away all that she had brought over the Rhine” (175). Later, she uses promises of castles, land, and gold to goad Etzel’s men into attacking the Burgundians.