Editing Vitiges (section)

==Legend==
Witige (in [[Norse language|Norse]] Viðga) is one of the heroes of epic literature that flourished around the figure of [[Dietrich von Bern]] (Theodoric of Verona).<ref>The saga of Thidrek of Bern, translated by Edward R. Hayes, New York, Garland, 1988.</ref>
Witige is the son of the mythical blacksmith Wieland and at the age of twelve, he leaves his father's house to seek adventure. Arriving in [[Verona|Bern (Verona)]], he challenges the young prince Dietrich to a duel and defeats him thanks to the sword given to him by his father, Mimminc. Dietrich and Witege make a pact of brotherhood. Among the heroes in Dietrich's service are the old [[Hildebrand]] and the brave [[Heime]].
The Hun king [[Attila|Etzel]] asks Dietrich for help in a military campaign against the Swedish king Ósantrix. During the battle, Witege is captured and Vildifer, his faithful friend, concocts a ruse to free him: Vildifer disguises himself as a bear and infiltrates the court of Ósantrix in the guise of a dancing bear following a minstrel. In this way, he discovers where Witege is being held prisoner, attacks King Ósantrix, kills him, and frees his friend.

Following the episode, a quarrel between Witege and Heime over the ownership of the sword Mimminc, which the latter had taken after the former had been captured and left for dead. Witege gets his sword back and the two swear friendship.
To win the hand of the beautiful Bolfrina, Witege leaves Dietrich's court and swears allegiance to King Ermrich, Dietrich's uncle. When Ermrich declares war on his nephew, Witege is forced to side with Ermrich: Dietrich flees before the enemy army and takes refuge at the court of Etzel, king of the Huns.
After several years, Dietrich, thanks to Etzel's support, organizes a campaign to reconquer his kingdom. Dietrich still trusts in Witege's friendship, but, he continues faithful to Ermrich. During a duel, Witege is forced to kill Orte and [[Scarphe (mythology)|Scharphe]], Etzel's sons, and [[Diether]], Dietrich's brother, all three still children. Dietrich is furious and sets out in pursuit of Witege, who to save himself throws himself into the sea, where the mermaid Wachilde, his ancestor, welcomes him.

Transported by the [[mermaid]] to [[Zealand]], Witege lives for many years on a deserted island giving specific orders to the ferryman not to allow Dietrich there, of whom he provides a statue. Dietrich, however, finds Witege's hiding place and, wanting to avenge his brother Diether at all costs, has one of his eyes removed so as not to be recognized by the [[ferryman]]. Having reached Witege's home, Dietrich steals the hero's sword Mimminc, then challenges him to a duel. Witege, deprived of his best weapon, is overwhelmed and dies, but not before inflicting deep wounds on his opponent. Dietrich, after throwing Mimminc into a lake, dies from the wounds inflicted on him by Witege.<ref>  Von der Hagen's, summary of Thidrekssaga chapters 1-79,  chapter-numbering of the Membrame-manuscript, consistency of the saga by Boer; C. Boer, Ueber die Handschriften und Redactionen der Thidrekssaga, in: Arkiv foer nordisk filolog </ref>