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Walter of Aquitaine

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Walter of Aquitaine is a legendary king of the Visigoths. He is (or was) the hero of several epic poems and narratives in medieval languages. Among those that survive, the most complete is the 9th century Latin epic poem Waltharius, in which Walter fights single-handedly against the Burgundian king Gunther and his retinue, killing all attackers except for Gunther and Hagen. A second, fragmentary record of the legend is preserved in the Old English Waldere poem.

Walter is not a historical king, but the historical nucleus of the events 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.

References

  • Waldere ed. F. Norman. London: Methuen, 1933.
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