Bladorthin

"... the spears that were made for the armies of the great King Bladorthin (long since dead), each had a thrice-forged head and their shafts were inlaid with cunning gold, but they were never delivered or paid for..."

― The Hobbit, Inside Information

Bladorthin was a king who lived long before Third Age 2941. He had ordered thrice-forged spears of superior quality for his soldiers from the Dwarves of Erebor. Bladorthin never received his weapons.

Questions about whether Bladorthin was a Man or an Elf, for instance, or precisely where his kingdom lay, must remain in the realm of speculation.

Death

It is possible that the descent of Smaug on the Lonely Mountain prevented the trade, in which case his death can be put after Third Age 2770.

On the other hand his death was perhaps premature and it was this that prevented the trade.

Etymology

Almost no concrete information about Bladorthin exists. His name seems to come from early Elvish, probably deriving from blador "wide plain" and thin "grey".

Other Versions of the Legendarium

"Grey" here betrays a curious connection with Gandalf the Grey: in the early drafts of The Hobbit, Tolkien's name for Gandalf was Bladorthin. Despite this, in the published version the name survives in just the single sentence quoted above.

External links

• A theory on Bladorthin by Andreas Moehn.