Bëor
 | Beor.mp3 |
| By Ardamir. (Help; more articles) | |
Bëor the Old (F.A. 262 – 355, aged 93 years) was the leader of the first Men to cross the Blue Mountains into Beleriand in the First Age. He was originally named Balan.
History
The man once born as Balan (perhaps in Eriador) was one of the people who sought to reach the Gods in the West. With his sons Belen and Baran and his people, they met Dwarves and Avari before eventually crossing the Blue Mountains in F.A. 310.
One night as they slept in Ossiriand, Finrod Felagund came upon Balan and his people and enchanted them with his music as they woke up. Finrod quickly befriended the Men and advised them to settle in Estolad in the realm of Amrod.[1] In F.A. 402, Orcs attempted to break through the Pass of Aglon, but the people of Bëor helped Maedhros and Maglor throw back the invaders. This was the first time Men fought on behalf of the Eldar.
Sometime between F.A. 415 and F.A. 420, Balan left with Finrod for his kingdom of Nargothrond, where he served as his vassal until his death. Bëor's eldest son, Baran, ruled the people of Bëor in his stead. The friendship of Bëor and Baran with the Eldar led to the creation of the First House of the Edain, which produced some of the greatest heroes of the First Age.
Balan was called Bëor by the Nargothrondrim, which meant "vassal" in Taliska, the language of the the people of Bëor. When Bëor finally died at the age of 93 willingly, a very old age for men at that time, he was given the epithet the Old'.[1]
Genealogy
| BËOR THE OLD | |||||||||||||||||||
| Baran | Belen | ||||||||||||||||||
| Boron | Baranor | ||||||||||||||||||
References
| Preceded by: none |
1st Head of the House of Bëor | Followed by: Baran |
