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{{quote|... 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]]}} | {{quote|... 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 of the [[Third Age]] who flourished long before {{TA|2941}}. He had ordered thrice-forged spears of superior quality for his soldiers from the [[Dwarves of Erebor]]. The smiths forged them, but Bladorthin never received his weapons. | '''Bladorthin''' was a king of the [[Third Age]] who flourished long before {{TA|2941}}. | ||
==History== | |||
He had ordered thrice-forged spears of superior quality for his soldiers from the [[Dwarves of Erebor]]. The smiths forged them, but Bladorthin never received his weapons. | |||
Questions about whether Bladorthin was a [[Men|Man]] or an [[Elves|Elf]], for instance, or precisely where his kingdom lay, must remain in the realm of speculation. | Questions about whether Bladorthin was a [[Men|Man]] or an [[Elves|Elf]], for instance, or precisely where his kingdom lay, must remain in the realm of speculation. | ||
It is possible that the [[Sack of Erebor|descent]] of [[Smaug]] on the [[Lonely Mountain]] prevented the trade, in which case his death can be put after [[Third Age 2770]]. | It is possible that the [[Sack of Erebor|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. | On the other hand his death was perhaps premature and it was this that prevented the trade.<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-eart]]'', entry "Bladorthin"</ref> | ||
==Etymology== | ==Etymology== | ||
[[John D. Rateliff]] has noted that [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never explained the meaning of the name ''Bladorthin''. However, Rateliff suggests that the name is "clearly [[Gnomish]] (or perhaps [[Noldorin]])", speculating that the element ''blador'' "probably applies to wide open country" and that the element ''-thin'' likely has the meaning of "grey" (as in ''[[Thingol#Etymology|'''Thin'''gol]]''). This would give the translation "the Grey Country", "Grey Plains Fay", or "Grey Master of the Plains".<ref name=HH>{{HM|HHO}}, pp. 52-3, 62-3</ref> | [[John D. Rateliff]] has noted that [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never explained the meaning of the name ''Bladorthin''. However, Rateliff suggests that the name is "clearly [[Gnomish]] (or perhaps [[Noldorin]])", speculating that the element ''blador'' "probably applies to wide open country" and that the element ''-thin'' likely has the meaning of "grey" (as in ''[[Thingol#Etymology|'''Thin'''gol]]''). This would give the translation "the Grey Country", "Grey Plains Fay", or "Grey Master of the Plains".<ref name=HH>{{HM|HHO}}, pp. 52-3, 62-3</ref> | ||
==Other Versions of the [[Legendarium]]== | ==Other Versions of the [[Legendarium]]== | ||
In the early drafts of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Bladorthin was the name of Gandalf the Grey. A connection can still be seen with the element ''-thin'' with the probable meaning "grey" (see [[#Etymology|above]]).<ref name=HH/> | In the early drafts of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Bladorthin was the name of Gandalf the Grey. A connection can still be seen with the element ''-thin'' with the probable meaning "grey" (see [[#Etymology|above]]).<ref name=HH/> | ||
{{references}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Bladorthin.html A theory on Bladorthin] by [[Andreas Möhn|Andreas Moehn]]. | *[http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Bladorthin.html A theory on Bladorthin] by [[Andreas Möhn|Andreas Moehn]]. | ||
[[Category:Rulers of Middle-earth]] | [[Category:Rulers of Middle-earth]] | ||
[[de:Bladorthin]] | [[de:Bladorthin]] | ||
[[fi:Bladorthin]] | [[fi:Bladorthin]] | ||
Revision as of 23:09, 28 June 2012
- "... 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 of the Third Age who flourished long before T.A. 2941.
History
He had ordered thrice-forged spears of superior quality for his soldiers from the Dwarves of Erebor. The smiths forged them, but 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.
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.[1]
Etymology
John D. Rateliff has noted that Tolkien never explained the meaning of the name Bladorthin. However, Rateliff suggests that the name is "clearly Gnomish (or perhaps Noldorin)", speculating that the element blador "probably applies to wide open country" and that the element -thin likely has the meaning of "grey" (as in Thingol). This would give the translation "the Grey Country", "Grey Plains Fay", or "Grey Master of the Plains".[2]
Other Versions of the Legendarium
In the early drafts of The Hobbit, Bladorthin was the name of Gandalf the Grey. A connection can still be seen with the element -thin with the probable meaning "grey" (see above).[2]
References
- ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-eart, entry "Bladorthin"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit: One-volume Edition, pp. 52-3, 62-3
