Ohtar
Encyclopedia
Ohtar is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien
's legendarium
.
In the story "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields
" found in Tolkien's Unfinished Tales
, Ohtar was introduced as squire to Isildur
, the Númenórean
prince who cut the ruling ring
from the hand of Sauron
at the end of the Second Age
. A few years later, they were leading a small army of Men
when a huge force of Orcs
attacked. Isildur saw that they were in great peril, and determined to save one of the great heirlooms of his people — the shards of Narsil
, his father Elendil
's sword. Isildur called Ohtar to his side; Tolkien wrote that Ohtar "was dear to Isildur and of his own kin," and suggested that Ohtar was not the squire's proper name but "probably only the title of address that Isildur used at this tragic moment, hiding his feelings under formality."
Isildur entrusted Ohtar with the broken sword and said, "Save it from capture by all means that you can find, and at all costs; even at the cost of being held a coward who deserted me. Take your companion with you and flee! Go! I command you!".
Isildur and virtually his entire army were soon wiped out by the Orc horde. The only other survivor was Estelmo, a young squire found "stunned and buried under fallen men," among them Elendur, Aratan
, and Ciryon
, Isildur's eldest sons.
Ohtar and his (unnamed) companion escaped the Orcs' onslaught, and delivered Narsil to Rivendell
, where Elrond
fostered Isildur's youngest son Valandil. The shards were kept there until they were reforged into Andúril during the War of the Ring
.
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 legendarium
Tolkien's legendarium
The phrase Tolkien's legendarium is used in the literary discipline of Tolkien studiesto refer to the part of J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy fiction being concerned with his Elven legends; that is, historic events that have become legendary from the perspective of the characters of The Lord of the...
.
In the story "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields
Gladden Fields
The Gladden Fields is a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. In his works, the Gladden Fields are located where the Gladden river joins the Anduin....
" found in Tolkien's Unfinished Tales
Unfinished Tales
Unfinished 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...
, Ohtar was introduced as squire to Isildur
Isildur
Isildur is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He appears in the author's books The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales....
, the Númenórean
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...
prince who cut the ruling ring
One Ring
The One Ring is a fictional artifact that appears as the central plot element in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy novels. It is described in an earlier story, The Hobbit , as a magic ring of invisibility. The sequel The Lord of the Rings describes its powers as being more encompassing than...
from the hand of 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...
at the end of the Second Age
Second Age
The Second Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. Tolkien intended for the history of Middle-earth to be considered fictionally as a precursor to the history of the real Earth....
. A few years later, they were leading a small army 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...
when a huge force of 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...
attacked. Isildur saw that they were in great peril, and determined to save one of the great heirlooms of his people — the shards of Narsil
Narsil
Narsil is a fictional sword featured in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. It is introduced in The Lord of the Rings as having once belonged to King Elendil of the Dúnedain...
, his father Elendil
Elendil
Elendil is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He appears in The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
's sword. Isildur called Ohtar to his side; Tolkien wrote that Ohtar "was dear to Isildur and of his own kin," and suggested that Ohtar was not the squire's proper name but "probably only the title of address that Isildur used at this tragic moment, hiding his feelings under formality."
Isildur entrusted Ohtar with the broken sword and said, "Save it from capture by all means that you can find, and at all costs; even at the cost of being held a coward who deserted me. Take your companion with you and flee! Go! I command you!".
Isildur and virtually his entire army were soon wiped out by the Orc horde. The only other survivor was Estelmo, a young squire found "stunned and buried under fallen men," among them Elendur, Aratan
Aratan
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, Aratan was Isildur's second son and at the time of his death, Heir Presumptive to the High-Kingship of Arnor and Gondor. He was sent with his younger brother Ciryon to garrison the city of Minas Ithil and the pass of Cirith Ungol...
, and Ciryon
Ciryon
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, Ciryon was Isildur's third son. In the War of the Last Alliance he was sent with his older brother Aratan to garrison the city of Minas Ithil and the pass of Cirith Ungol on the borders of Mordor and Ithilien, in case Sauron tried to escape through the pass...
, Isildur's eldest sons.
Ohtar and his (unnamed) companion escaped the Orcs' onslaught, and delivered Narsil to Rivendell
Rivendell
Rivendell is an Elven outpost in Middle-earth, a fictional realm created by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was established and ruled by Elrond in the Second Age of Middle-earth...
, where Elrond
Elrond
Elrond Half-elven is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Hobbit, and plays a supporting role in The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion.-Character overview:...
fostered Isildur's youngest son Valandil. The shards were kept there until they were reforged into Andúril during 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,...
.