Avranc

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Avranc
Adan
Biographical Information
PositionGuard; later Halad
LocationBrethil
AffiliationHouse of Haleth
LanguageMannish dialect
Family
ParentageDorlas
SpouseUnnamed wife
Physical Description
GenderMale
HeightShort[1]
Hair colorDark[1]
WeaponryBow

Avranc was a Man of the House of Haleth in the First Age, and a son of Dorlas of Brethil.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Avranc was "a young man short and dark, but strong"; by the Men of Brethil he "was not loved for himself; for though he was bold, he was scornful, as was Dorlas his father before him". He was still well liked by Hardang, the Chieftain of Brethil, and was among the guards at the Crossings of Taeglin. He is stated to have been "not long wedded" at the time of the kin-strife in F.A. 501.

When Húrin Thalion was found unconscious by Haudh-en-Elleth, Avranc suggested killing him immediately, since trouble followed Húrin from Angband. Avranc was rebuked by his Captain Manthor, but against his command, Avranc sped to Hardang to bear the news.

When Húrin and Manthor finally came to Obel Halad, Hardang and Avranc provoked Húrin into attacking Hardang. Hardang sent Húrin to prison and Avranc urged that Húrin be put to death immediately. Avranc tried to shoot Húrin down, but Hardang restrained him for the time being. Manthor once again withstood them, summoning the Moot of the Folk of Brethil.

On the following day, Avranc sent rumours among the woodmen of the darker sides of Húrin. Hardang appointed Avranc to defend his cause during the Moot of the Folk. But in eloquent words, Manthor turned Hardang's mistreatment of Húrin to Hardang's undoing. The Men of Brethil besieged Hardang and his followers in the Obel Halad, setting the Hall on fire.

Avranc tried to shoot Manthor twice, but missed. Avranc escaped the burning of the Hall, but Hardang was slain. Avranc managed to shoot Manthor two days later, but a new wave of rioting upon Amon Obel followed. In the end, Avranc was chosen as the new Halad, and the descendants of Haldad were no more. The people perceived that it was Húrin who brought the ruin on Brethil. The counsels of Hardang "were more wise", but Avranc wielded no such authority or reverence as the Haladin before. Many men forsook Brethil.[2]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Dorlas
d. F.A. 499
 
 
 
 
 
 
AVRANC
fl. F.A. 501
 


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In the draft manuscript Avranc's name was Forhend. In the typescript this was changed to Farang, then Faranc, and finally Avranc.[3]

In a later note, the name of Avranc was changed to Daruin.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion", p. 275
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", Note 31
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", Note 55
Avranc
Born: during the First Age
Preceded by:
Hardang
Chieftain of the Haladin
F.A. 501 - unknown
Followed by:
unknown