House of Bëor
Encyclopedia
In J. R. R. Tolkien
's Middle-earth
legendarium
, the House of Bëor were the family of Men
who ruled over the eldest of the Three Houses of the Edain
that had allied with the Elves
in the First Age
.
"no more than two thousand full-grown men; and they were poor and ill-equipped, but they were inured to hardship and toilsome journeys carrying great loads, for they had no beasts of burden." Most of the Folk of Bëor had brown hair with grey eyes, and some of them were swarthy in skin. They were taller than the Folk of Haleth, but still less in height than the House of Hador. The Bëorians were "steadfast in endurance of hardship and sorrow, slow to tears and to laughter; their fortitude needed no hope to sustain it." They were akin to the Folk of Hador and spoke a closely related language, though its knowledge was mostly lost later.
The future Folk of Bëor were originally a single people with the future House of Hador, and they journeyed together from the East of Middle-earth
after rejecting servitude to the Dark Lord (Morgoth
). They became separated on the way and for a time dwelt on opposite shores of the Sea of Rhûn, the Lesser Folk (Bëorians) in the hills to the south-west and the Greater Folk (Marachians) in the woods to the north-east. Afterwards both people went on westward, crossing the Misty Mountains
and Eriador
, where many of the both people remained throughout later ages; and of them the Breelanders
were descended.
The Lesser Folk, now led by Bëor the Old
, were the first to cross the Blue Mountains and descend into the woods of Ossiriand in the Eastern Beleriand
in the Year of the Sun 310. There they were found and befriended by the Elf-lord Finrod Felagund. But the local Green Elves were troubled by the intrusion, so Finrod led the Folk of Bëor to the wide and empty plains ruled aforetime by Amras
, and these were now called Estolad, the Encampment. Soon they were accompanied there by the newcome Folk of Marach
.
Soon the Edain began to remove from Estolad again, for the Kings of the Noldor
sent word that any who wished could come to dwell among their people. The majority of the People of Bëor, being allies of the House of Finrod and Finarfin
, journeyed northwards to Dorthonion
, entering the service of Angrod
and Aegnor. But some repented of their coming to Beleriand, having founded themselves entangled in the wars with Morgoth from whom they had fled. So after a council and assembly in Y.S. 369 Bereg, a great-grandson of Bëor, led a thousand of his people southwards, "and they passed out of songs of those days." And many men still remained in Estolad until the Ruin of Beleriand
; but most of the House of Bëor forsook that land by Y.S. 380, and in Y.S. 410 the province of Ladros in Dorthonion was officially granted to their lord Boromir.
But the Edain lived there in peace only less than half a century, for in the Battle of Sudden Flame
Morgoth broke the Siege of Angband
, and many of the Folk of Bëor, including their lord Bregolas, were slain. Most of their people fled from Dorthonion, mingling with the House of Hador in Dor-lómin or the Folk of Haleth in Brethil. Barahir
brother of Bregolas still contested his land for five years, until he with his remaining companions were betrayed and slain, except the renowned Beren Camlost
.
Thereafter the House of Bëor ceased to exist as an independent people, and in following years most fled to the Mouths of Sirion and the Isle of Balar or forsook Beleriand and wandered in the wild lands. Those who remained moved after the War of Wrath
to Númenor
, surviving there as independent communities for a long time. They had already ceased to speak and forgotten their own tongue, and now used Sindarin
rather than Adûnaic
. It is also noted that the descendants of the Bëorians had a relatively lesser lifespan compared with other Númenóreans.
the unhappy, Hathaldir the young, Radhruin, Ragnor, and Urthel. They made their lair by the Tarn Aeluin and fought with the forces of Morgoth
, but were betrayed by Gorlim and slain; see Barahir
. Also are recorded the names of Gorlim's father, Angrim, and of his wife Eilinel. She was slain by Orcs
during the Battle of Sudden Flame, and a phantom of her likeness was used by Sauron
to capture Gorlim.
, and proposed the following meanings (for the members present at that stage): Bëor 'follower, vassal', Bregolas 'fierceness', Barahir 'fiery lord', Baragund 'fiery prince', Belegund 'great prince', Beren 'bold', and also Boromir 'steadfast jewel', though the last was rather the name of Bór's son. Later, however, Tolkien would write that these names were given in their own language
with unknown significance. Only the meaning of Bëor was preserved, but now it came from the tongue of the Folk.
Some of the women from the House of Bëor have Sindarin names even in later sources: Morwen 'black maiden', Rían 'crown-gifted', Emeldir 'man-hearted', Hirwen 'lordly maiden', Gilwen 'star maiden', and possibly also Andreth.
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...
, the House of Bëor were the family of Men
Man (Middle-earth)
The race of Men in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth books, such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, refers to humanity and does not denote gender...
who ruled over the eldest of the Three Houses of the Edain
Edain
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Edain were men who made their way into Beleriand in the First Age, and were friendly to the Elves....
that had allied with the Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
in the First Age
First Age
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the First Age, or First Age of the Children of Ilúvatar is the heroic period in which most of Tolkien's early legends are set...
.
The Folk of Bëor
The First House of Men, called the House or Folk of Bëor, was the smallest of the Three, having at the time of their coming to BeleriandBeleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work The Silmarillion, which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-earth in a style similar to the epic hero tales of Nordic...
"no more than two thousand full-grown men; and they were poor and ill-equipped, but they were inured to hardship and toilsome journeys carrying great loads, for they had no beasts of burden." Most of the Folk of Bëor had brown hair with grey eyes, and some of them were swarthy in skin. They were taller than the Folk of Haleth, but still less in height than the House of Hador. The Bëorians were "steadfast in endurance of hardship and sorrow, slow to tears and to laughter; their fortitude needed no hope to sustain it." They were akin to the Folk of Hador and spoke a closely related language, though its knowledge was mostly lost later.
The future Folk of Bëor were originally a single people with the future House of Hador, and they journeyed together from the East of 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....
after rejecting servitude to the Dark Lord (Morgoth
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
). They became separated on the way and for a time dwelt on opposite shores of the Sea of Rhûn, the Lesser Folk (Bëorians) in the hills to the south-west and the Greater Folk (Marachians) in the woods to the north-east. Afterwards both people went on westward, crossing the Misty Mountains
Misty Mountains
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, the Misty Mountains is a mountain range, running for 795 miles from north to south, between Eriador and the valley of the Great River, Anduin, and...
and Eriador
Eriador
Eriador is a large region in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth. In the Second Age, and possibly much earlier, it was largely forested, but the Dúnedain felled most of the forests to build ships. Much of it was encompassed in the early Third Age by the kingdom of Arnor, which...
, where many of the both people remained throughout later ages; and of them the Breelanders
Bree (Middle-earth)
Bree is a fictional village in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, east of the Shire and south of Fornost Erain. It is thought to have been inspired by the Buckinghamshire village of Brill, which Tolkien visited regularly in his early years at Oxford...
were descended.
The Lesser Folk, now led by Bëor the Old
Bëor
Bëor the Old is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion as the leader of the First House of the Edain in the First Age, which was called the Folk of Bëor after him...
, were the first to cross the Blue Mountains and descend into the woods of Ossiriand in the Eastern Beleriand
Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work The Silmarillion, which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-earth in a style similar to the epic hero tales of Nordic...
in the Year of the Sun 310. There they were found and befriended by the Elf-lord Finrod Felagund. But the local Green Elves were troubled by the intrusion, so Finrod led the Folk of Bëor to the wide and empty plains ruled aforetime by Amras
Amras
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Amras is a fictional character, the twin brother of Amrod being the youngest sons of Fëanor and Nerdanel. Through their maternal grandfather Mahtan they inherited red hair , instead of Fëanor's black....
, and these were now called Estolad, the Encampment. Soon they were accompanied there by the newcome Folk of Marach
Marach
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, Marach was the leader of the Third House of the Edain in the First Age, called the Folk of Marach after him. He was the father of Malach and Imlach and ancestor of Túrin Turambar....
.
Soon the Edain began to remove from Estolad again, for the Kings of the Noldor
Noldor
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Noldor are Elves of the Second Clan who migrated to Valinor and lived in Eldamar. The Noldor are called Golodhrim or Gódhellim in Sindarin, and Goldoi by Teleri of Tol Eressëa. The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin...
sent word that any who wished could come to dwell among their people. The majority of the People of Bëor, being allies of the House of Finrod and Finarfin
Finarfin
Finarfin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, featured in The Silmarillion.-Personality:Unlike the warlike Fëanor and Fingolfin, Finarfin was something of a pacifist...
, journeyed northwards to Dorthonion
Dorthonion
In the fictional world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, Dorthonion , later Taur-nu-Fuin, was a highland region of the First Age, lying immediately to the north of Beleriand, and south of the plains of Ard-galen that extended north to Morgoth's stronghold of Thangorodrim...
, entering the service of Angrod
Angrod
In J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth universe, Angrod was a son of Finarfin and lord of the Noldor.Angrod was the elder brother of Galadriel and Aegnor, and the younger brother of Finrod Felagund. He joined the Exile of the Noldor to Middle-earth, where together with Aegnor he held the highlands of...
and Aegnor. But some repented of their coming to Beleriand, having founded themselves entangled in the wars with Morgoth from whom they had fled. So after a council and assembly in Y.S. 369 Bereg, a great-grandson of Bëor, led a thousand of his people southwards, "and they passed out of songs of those days." And many men still remained in Estolad until the Ruin of Beleriand
Dagor Bragollach
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the Dagor Bragollach was the fourth battle of the Wars of Beleriand...
; but most of the House of Bëor forsook that land by Y.S. 380, and in Y.S. 410 the province of Ladros in Dorthonion was officially granted to their lord Boromir.
But the Edain lived there in peace only less than half a century, for in the Battle of Sudden Flame
Dagor Bragollach
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the Dagor Bragollach was the fourth battle of the Wars of Beleriand...
Morgoth broke the Siege of Angband
Siege of Angband
The Siege of Angband or "The Long Peace" in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fictional universe was the siege of the Noldor around the fortress of Morgoth in the early centuries of the Years of the Sun, which began following the Dagor Aglareb. For the most part, it was a time of plenitude, peace and...
, and many of the Folk of Bëor, including their lord Bregolas, were slain. Most of their people fled from Dorthonion, mingling with the House of Hador in Dor-lómin or the Folk of Haleth in Brethil. Barahir
Barahir
Barahir is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. He appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian and the Grey Annals.-Character overview:...
brother of Bregolas still contested his land for five years, until he with his remaining companions were betrayed and slain, except the renowned Beren Camlost
Beren
Beren is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion. Huan spoke to him.-Character overview:...
.
Thereafter the House of Bëor ceased to exist as an independent people, and in following years most fled to the Mouths of Sirion and the Isle of Balar or forsook Beleriand and wandered in the wild lands. Those who remained moved after the War of Wrath
War of Wrath
The War of Wrath, or the Great Battle, is a key plot development in J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, portraying the final war against Morgoth at the end of the First Age....
to Númenor
Númenor
Númenor is a fictional place in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings. It was a huge island located in the Sundering Seas to the west of Middle-earth, the main setting of Tolkien's writings, and was known to be the greatest realm of Men...
, surviving there as independent communities for a long time. They had already ceased to speak and forgotten their own tongue, and now used Sindarin
Sindarin
Sindarin is a fictional language devised by J. R. R. Tolkien, and used in his secondary world, often called Middle-earth.Sindarin is one of the many languages spoken by the immortal Elves, called the Eledhrim or Edhellim in Sindarin....
rather than Adûnaic
Adûnaic
Adûnaic is a fictional language in the fantasy works of J. R. R. Tolkien.One of the languages of Arda in Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, it was spoken by the Men of Númenor during the Second Age.-Fictional history:...
. It is also noted that the descendants of the Bëorians had a relatively lesser lifespan compared with other Númenóreans.
Lords of the House
- Bëor the OldBëorBëor the Old is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion as the leader of the First House of the Edain in the First Age, which was called the Folk of Bëor after him...
(Y.S. 262-355), originally named Balan. Led his folk to Beleriand, but soon afterwards departed to NargothrondNargothrondIn J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Nargothrond , called Nulukkhizdīn by the Dwarves, was the stronghold built by Finrod Felagund...
and committed the rule to his son. - Baran (289-380), elder son of Bëor. He had dwelt in Estolad, but apparently moved to Dorthonion after some time. (According to some traditions, he was also known as Bëor the Young.)
- Boron (315-408), elder son of Baran.
- Boromir (338-432), elder son of Boron. He was granted the land of Ladros in Dorthonion as a fief, and his house removed there. The later Boromir(s)BoromirBoromir is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He appears in the first two volumes of The Lord of the Rings , and is mentioned in the last volume, The Return of the King....
of GondorGondorGondor 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...
were named after him. - Bregor (359-448), son of Boromir.
- Bregolas (393-455), elder son of Bregor. Slain in the Dagor Bragollach by the side of Angrod and Aegnor.
- BarahirBarahirBarahir is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. He appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian and the Grey Annals.-Character overview:...
(400-460), younger son of Bregor. Contested with the forces of Morgoth for some time after the Dagor Bragollach, before he and his companions were slain.
Other members of the House
- Younger son of Bëor was Belen (born 292). Belen's son was Beldir (born 316) and his grandson was Belemir (born 339). Belemir married Adanel, the Wise-woman of the House of Hador, and their fifth child was Beren (born 374). Emeldir the Manhearted (born 406), Beren's third child, was wedded to Barahir and was mother to Beren Erchamion. When her House was destroyed, Emeldir led the remnants of women and children by perilous paths through Ered Gorgoroth to Brethil, though "her mind was rather to fight beside her son and her husband than to flee", and thus she earned her title.
- Baranor (born 317) was the second son of Baran, and his son was Bereg (born 340). Bereg was dissatisfied with Beleriand, and led a great part of the people away southwards, disappearing from the histories. It is possible that some of his host were the ancestors of the later Men of Eriador.
- Boron's younger son was Belegor (born 340).
- The daughters of Boron were Beril (born 365) and Andreth (born 361), the Wise-woman.
- Bregor had three daughters, Bregil (born 386), Hirwen (born 389) and Gilwen (born 397). Bregil's husband was Arachon; on their proposed descendants, including son Brandir (born 409) and daughter Beldis (born 411), see Brandir.
- Bregolas's daughter was Beleth (born 417), and from her the descent was claimed by ErendisErendisErendis is the fictional wife of King Tar-Aldarion of Númenor in J. R. R. Tolkien's Unfinished Tales and, as such, the Queen Consort of Númenor. Erendis was beautiful, fell in love with Aldarion as a young maiden, and was approved by his parents as a suitable consort.-Fictional biography:Erendis...
of Númenor. (In Unfinished TalesUnfinished TalesUnfinished Tales is a collection of stories and essays by J. R. R. Tolkien that were never completed during his lifetime, but were edited by his son Christopher Tolkien and published in 1980.Unlike The Silmarillion, for which the narrative fragments were modified to connect into a consistent and...
, the name of Erendis's ancestress is given as Bereth, but this is an error.) Bregolas had also two sons, Baragund (420-460) and Belegund (422-460). They were among the companions of Barahir their uncle and were betrayed and slain. The daughter of Baragund was Morwen EledhwenMorwenMorwen is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. She is featured in The Silmarillion, The Children of Húrin and The Wanderings of Húrin.-Character overview:...
(443-501), mother of Túrin TurambarTúrin TurambarTúrin Turambar is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. "Turambar and the Foalókë", begun in 1917, is the first appearance of Túrin in the legendarium. J.R.R...
; and the daughter of Belegund was RíanRíanIn J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, Rían was a woman of the First House of the Edain in the First Age. She was the daughter of Belegund of the House of Bëor and cousin of Morwen Edhelwen. Her son was Tuor Eladar and her great-grandson Elrond Half-elven.Rían was only a young child during...
(450-472), mother of TuorTuorTuor is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is the grandfather of Elrond Half-elven and one of the most renowned ancestors of the Men of Númenor and of the King of the Reunited Kingdom Aragorn Elessar...
and grandmother of EärendilEärendilEärendil the Mariner is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is depicted in The Silmarillion as a great seafarer who, on his brow, carried the morning star across the sky.-Etymology:...
. - Beren ErchamionBerenBeren is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion. Huan spoke to him.-Character overview:...
(432-466, 467-503) was the son of Barahir and Emeldir, and became the greatest hero of the First Age. He married LúthienLúthienLúthien Tinúviel is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. She appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian, The Lord of the Rings and the Grey Annals, as well as in other material.-Character overview:Lúthien is a Telerin ...
daughter of ThingolThingolElu Thingol is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion, The Lays of Beleriand and Children of Húrin as well as in numerous stories in the many volumes of The History of Middle-earth...
, and together they stole a SilmarilSilmarilThe Silmarils are three brilliant jewels which contained the unmarred light of the Two Trees in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. The Silmarils were made out of the crystalline substance silima by Fëanor, a Noldorin Elf, in Valinor during the Years of the Trees...
from Morgoth's Crown and returned from the Dead. Their son was Dior Eluchíl, father of ElwingElwingElwing is a character of Middle-earth, created by J. R. R. Tolkien. She is Half-elven but counted among the Elves, notable for saving a Silmaril from the destruction of the Havens of Sirion and, with her husband Eärendil, going to the Valar to ask their help for the people of Middle-earth...
. (Tolkien also proposed once that Beren had a sister, Hiril, but she was not introduced into any narrative and her fate after the Dagor Bragollach is unknown.)
Family tree of the House of Bëor
Other Men of Dorthonion
Of other Edain of the First House are known only the companions of Barahir: Arthad, Dairuin, Dagnir, Gildor, GorlimGorlim
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, Gorlim the Unhappy was the son of Angrim and one of the twelve companions of Barahir. In the Lay of Leithian it is told how Barahir, last lord of the Men of Ladros , remained as an outlaw in his own land after it was lost to Morgoth in the Dagor...
the unhappy, Hathaldir the young, Radhruin, Ragnor, and Urthel. They made their lair by the Tarn Aeluin and fought with the forces of Morgoth
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
, but were betrayed by Gorlim and slain; see Barahir
Barahir
Barahir is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. He appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian and the Grey Annals.-Character overview:...
. Also are recorded the names of Gorlim's father, Angrim, and of his wife Eilinel. She was slain by Orcs
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
during the Battle of Sudden Flame, and a phantom of her likeness was used by Sauron
Sauron
Sauron is the primary antagonist and titular character of the epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.In the same work, he is revealed to be the same character as "the Necromancer" from Tolkien's earlier novel The Hobbit...
to capture Gorlim.
Etymology of names
In early versions of the histories Tolkien stated that the names of the descendants of Bëor were given in SindarinSindarin
Sindarin is a fictional language devised by J. R. R. Tolkien, and used in his secondary world, often called Middle-earth.Sindarin is one of the many languages spoken by the immortal Elves, called the Eledhrim or Edhellim in Sindarin....
, and proposed the following meanings (for the members present at that stage): Bëor 'follower, vassal', Bregolas 'fierceness', Barahir 'fiery lord', Baragund 'fiery prince', Belegund 'great prince', Beren 'bold', and also Boromir 'steadfast jewel', though the last was rather the name of Bór's son. Later, however, Tolkien would write that these names were given in their own language
Taliska
Taliska is a constructed language devised by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is one of the many fictional languages set in his secondary world, often called Middle-earth.Taliska was based on the Gothic language. Gothic was an early interest of Tolkien...
with unknown significance. Only the meaning of Bëor was preserved, but now it came from the tongue of the Folk.
Some of the women from the House of Bëor have Sindarin names even in later sources: Morwen 'black maiden', Rían 'crown-gifted', Emeldir 'man-hearted', Hirwen 'lordly maiden', Gilwen 'star maiden', and possibly also Andreth.