Beregond and Bergil
Encyclopedia
Beregond and Bergil are fictional characters in J. R. R. Tolkien
's Middle-earth
legendarium
, appearing in The Return of the King
. Beregond is the first Captain of the White Company
; the guard of Faramir
, Prince of Ithilien
; and previously, a member of the Third Company of the Guard of the Citadel
in Minas Tirith
. He is appointed to this rank after he saves Faramir's life during the Siege of Minas Tirith. In the novel, he and his son Bergil were also noted for being the guides of Pippin Took
in Minas Tirith.
, who had gone insane with grief
upon seeing what he believed to be Faramir's dead body (he was in fact still alive, though badly wounded). After hearing from Pippin that Denethor was about to burn himself and Faramir alive in a funeral pyre, he left his post, forfeiting his position as a Guard. He went to Rath Dínen, killing a protesting porter, who drew sword on him first, on the way. When he arrived there, he killed three of Denethor's servants, who fought him when he tried to keep them from obeying Denethor's commands. This stalled long enough to allow Gandalf
and Pippin to arrive and save Faramir.
Beregond also served at the battle of the Black Gate, fighting at Pippin's side, where he was knocked down by a large troll
chieftain. At one point, the Hobbit
saved his life by killing the troll. It was his friendship and loyalty and also that of Bergil's that made Pippin later develop a strong affiliation with Gondor.
At the end of the book, Aragorn
, newly crowned as King Elessar, passed judgment on Beregond, banishing him from Minas Tirith for slaying men on the Silent Street, but then immediately promoting him to be Captain of the Guard of Faramir in Emyn Arnen in Ithilien
, as opposed to execution, on the basis of his "valour in battle, and still more because all that you did was for the love of the Lord Faramir."
, and his role in the story is transferred to Pippin and Gandalf. Beregond was actually written into the screenplay for a brief scene, albeit only with one line. In this scene, Beregond was played by New Zealand actor Ian Hughes. During post-production
, the filmmakers decided to change this character's name to "Irolas", stating that the role had been so reduced that it didn't justify presenting him as "Beregond". In the book, Bergil mentions his uncle Iorlas, presumably Beregond's brother. Beregond is also a hero miniature in the Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop
.
.
He was born in . A boy of ten at the time of the War of the Ring
, he is one of the few children allowed to remain in Minas Tirith
during that period. He guides Peregrin Took
throughout the city when he first arrives, and they watch the arrival of soldiers from other parts of Gondor from the gate of the city together, becoming very good friends in the process. During the siege of Minas Tirith, Bergil helped the healers of the city as an errand runner and so eventually contributed to the healing of Faramir
, the Steward's son and later Prince of Ithilien
.
In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
, Bergil and his father were both left out, their deeds transferred to Peregrin
and Gandalf
. Of Bergil's destiny the novel or its appendices tell nothing. His younger brother Borlas is central to The New Shadow, the soon-abandoned draft for a The Lord of the Rings
sequel published in The Peoples of Middle-earth
.
that are affected by the course of war. By refusing to leave the endangered city, he, like many other characters in the novel turns into an "unlikely hero" and "courageously serves his 'master' and his country in ways unanticipated by his father, Beregond". His friendship and loyalty to Peregrin Took contributes greatly to establishing the latter's affinity to Gondor.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
legendarium
Legendarium
Legendary may refer to:*A hagiography, or study of the lives of saints and other religious figures**The South English Legendary, a Middle English legendary*A legend-Entertainment:*Legendary, an album by Kaysha*Legendary...
, appearing in The Return of the King
The Return of the King
The Return of the King is the third and final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, following The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.-Title:...
. Beregond is the first Captain of the White Company
White Company
The White Company was a 14th Century Italian mercenary Company of Adventure , led from its arrival in Italy in 1361 to 1365 by the German Albert Sterz and later by the Englishman John Hawkwood...
; the guard of Faramir
Faramir
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, Faramir is a fictional character appearing in The Lord of the Rings. He is introduced as the younger brother of Boromir of the Fellowship of the Ring and second son of Denethor II, the Steward of the realm of Gondor...
, Prince of Ithilien
Ithilien
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Ithilien is a region and fiefdom of Gondor.Ithilien, or "Moon-land," is the easternmost province of Gondor, the only part of Gondor across the Great River Anduin lying between the river and the Mountains of Shadow , subdivided by the stream of...
; and previously, a member of the Third Company of the Guard of the Citadel
Tower Guard of Gondor
The Tower Guard are a military unit in Gondor in J. R. R. Tolkien's Legendarium. They are part of the permanent garrison of Minas Tirith; members include Beregond and Peregrin Took. They famously saw action in the Siege of Gondor defending the city alongside Gandalf...
in Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith , originally named Minas Anor, is a fictional city and castle in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings. It became the heavily fortified capital of Gondor in the second half of the Third Age...
. He is appointed to this rank after he saves Faramir's life during the Siege of Minas Tirith. In the novel, he and his son Bergil were also noted for being the guides of Pippin Took
Peregrin Took
Peregrin Took, more commonly known as Pippin, is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. Pippin is introduced as a Hobbit who plays a major role as one of the companions of Frodo Baggins, in his quest to destroy the One Ring.Peregrin was the only son of...
in Minas Tirith.
Beregond
Literature
Despite his loyalty to the Gondorian traditions, Beregond rebuked DenethorDenethor
Denethor II of the House of Húrin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Return of the King, which is the third and final part of his novel The Lord of the Rings. In the novel, he is the 26th and penultimate ruling Steward of Gondor....
, who had gone insane with grief
Grief
Grief is a multi-faceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which a bond was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, it also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and philosophical dimensions...
upon seeing what he believed to be Faramir's dead body (he was in fact still alive, though badly wounded). After hearing from Pippin that Denethor was about to burn himself and Faramir alive in a funeral pyre, he left his post, forfeiting his position as a Guard. He went to Rath Dínen, killing a protesting porter, who drew sword on him first, on the way. When he arrived there, he killed three of Denethor's servants, who fought him when he tried to keep them from obeying Denethor's commands. This stalled long enough to allow Gandalf
Gandalf
Gandalf is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In these stories, Gandalf appears as a wizard, member and later the head of the order known as the Istari, as well as leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and the army of the West...
and Pippin to arrive and save Faramir.
Beregond also served at the battle of the Black Gate, fighting at Pippin's side, where he was knocked down by a large troll
Troll (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Trolls are large humanoids of great strength and poor intellect.While in Norse mythology, the Troll was a magical creature with special skills, in Tolkien's writings they are portrayed as evil, stupid, with crude habits, although still intelligent enough to...
chieftain. At one point, the Hobbit
Hobbit
Hobbits are a fictional diminutive race who inhabit the lands of Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction.Hobbits first appeared in the novel The Hobbit, in which the main protagonist, Bilbo Baggins, is the titular hobbit...
saved his life by killing the troll. It was his friendship and loyalty and also that of Bergil's that made Pippin later develop a strong affiliation with Gondor.
At the end of the book, Aragorn
Aragorn
Aragorn II is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, one of the main protagonists of The Lord of the Rings. He is first introduced by the name Strider, which the hobbits continue to call him...
, newly crowned as King Elessar, passed judgment on Beregond, banishing him from Minas Tirith for slaying men on the Silent Street, but then immediately promoting him to be Captain of the Guard of Faramir in Emyn Arnen in Ithilien
Ithilien
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Ithilien is a region and fiefdom of Gondor.Ithilien, or "Moon-land," is the easternmost province of Gondor, the only part of Gondor across the Great River Anduin lying between the river and the Mountains of Shadow , subdivided by the stream of...
, as opposed to execution, on the basis of his "valour in battle, and still more because all that you did was for the love of the Lord Faramir."
Adaptations
Beregond does not appear in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogyThe Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
, and his role in the story is transferred to Pippin and Gandalf. Beregond was actually written into the screenplay for a brief scene, albeit only with one line. In this scene, Beregond was played by New Zealand actor Ian Hughes. During post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
, the filmmakers decided to change this character's name to "Irolas", stating that the role had been so reduced that it didn't justify presenting him as "Beregond". In the book, Bergil mentions his uncle Iorlas, presumably Beregond's brother. Beregond is also a hero miniature in the Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game by Games Workshop
Games Workshop
Games Workshop Group plc is a British game production and retailing company. Games Workshop has published the tabletop wargames Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000...
.
Bergil
Bergil is the older son of Beregond of GondorGondor
Gondor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, described as the greatest realm of Men in the west of Middle-earth by the end of the Third Age. The third volume of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, is concerned with the events in Gondor during the War of the Ring and with...
.
He was born in . A boy of ten at the time of the War of the Ring
War of the Ring
In the fictional high fantasy-world of J. R. R. Tolkien, the War of the Ring was fought between Sauron and the free peoples of Middle-earth for control of the One Ring and dominion over the continent. The War of the Ring took place at the end of the Third Age. Together with the Quest of Mount Doom,...
, he is one of the few children allowed to remain in Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith , originally named Minas Anor, is a fictional city and castle in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings. It became the heavily fortified capital of Gondor in the second half of the Third Age...
during that period. He guides Peregrin Took
Peregrin Took
Peregrin Took, more commonly known as Pippin, is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. Pippin is introduced as a Hobbit who plays a major role as one of the companions of Frodo Baggins, in his quest to destroy the One Ring.Peregrin was the only son of...
throughout the city when he first arrives, and they watch the arrival of soldiers from other parts of Gondor from the gate of the city together, becoming very good friends in the process. During the siege of Minas Tirith, Bergil helped the healers of the city as an errand runner and so eventually contributed to the healing of Faramir
Faramir
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, Faramir is a fictional character appearing in The Lord of the Rings. He is introduced as the younger brother of Boromir of the Fellowship of the Ring and second son of Denethor II, the Steward of the realm of Gondor...
, the Steward's son and later Prince of Ithilien
Ithilien
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Ithilien is a region and fiefdom of Gondor.Ithilien, or "Moon-land," is the easternmost province of Gondor, the only part of Gondor across the Great River Anduin lying between the river and the Mountains of Shadow , subdivided by the stream of...
.
In The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
The Lord of the Rings is an epic film trilogy consisting of three fantasy adventure films based on the three-volume book of the same name by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The films are The Fellowship of the Ring , The Two Towers and The Return of the King .The films were directed by Peter...
, Bergil and his father were both left out, their deeds transferred to Peregrin
Peregrin Took
Peregrin Took, more commonly known as Pippin, is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. Pippin is introduced as a Hobbit who plays a major role as one of the companions of Frodo Baggins, in his quest to destroy the One Ring.Peregrin was the only son of...
and Gandalf
Gandalf
Gandalf is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. In these stories, Gandalf appears as a wizard, member and later the head of the order known as the Istari, as well as leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and the army of the West...
. Of Bergil's destiny the novel or its appendices tell nothing. His younger brother Borlas is central to The New Shadow, the soon-abandoned draft for a The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
sequel published in The Peoples of Middle-earth
The Peoples of Middle-earth
The Peoples of Middle-earth is the 12th and final volume of The History of Middle-earth, edited by Christopher Tolkien from the unpublished manuscripts of his father J. R. R. Tolkien. Some characters only appear here...
.
Character assessment
Bergil is one of the few children in The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
that are affected by the course of war. By refusing to leave the endangered city, he, like many other characters in the novel turns into an "unlikely hero" and "courageously serves his 'master' and his country in ways unanticipated by his father, Beregond". His friendship and loyalty to Peregrin Took contributes greatly to establishing the latter's affinity to Gondor.