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'''Freca''' was a lord of far western [[Rohan]], who was descended from King [[Fréawine]]. His lands stood on either side of the River [[Adorn]], which marked Rohan's western border, and it was said that he had [[Dunlendish]] blood in his veins, too, from the people of [[Dunland]] beyond the border. Nonetheless he was a lord of Rohan and a councillor to its King, [[Helm Hammerhand]].  
{{men infobox
| name=Freca
| image=[[File:Turner Mohan - Men are freer outside.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Men are freer outside" by [[:Category:Images by Turner Mohan|Turner Mohan]]
| people=[[Dunlendings|Dunlending]]
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| titles=
| position=Lord of lands about the [[Adorn]]
| location=[[Rohan]]
| affiliation=
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| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{TA|2754}}
| deathlocation=[[Edoras]]
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=Descended from the [[House of Eorl]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=[[Wulf]]
| gender=Male
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}}
'''Freca''', who claimed descent from King [[Fréawine]], was a lord of [[Rohan]] during the reign of King [[Helm|Helm Hammerhand]]. His lands lay on either side of the [[Adorn]] west of the [[Gap of Rohan]] and he was said to have much [[Dunlendings|Dunlendish]] blood in his veins, which was unusual for one of the [[Rohirrim]].


Freca attempted to strengthen his power in Rohan by marrying his son, [[Wulf]], to Helm's daughter. He travelled to [[Edoras]] with a force of [[Men]] to compel the King to agree, but instead Helm struck him a deadly blow with his fist. Freca's family and followers fled from Helm's anger, but four years later Wulf returned, invading Rohan with an army of Dunlendings, an invasion in which Helm was killed. Nevertheless, the slaying of Freca was not forgotten by his people, and even at the time of the [[War of the Ring]], more than two hundred and fifty years later, the memory of his death still kindled hatred of the Rohirrim among the Dunlendings.
==History==
Freca constructed a stronghold at the source of the Adorn, obtaining wealth and power while paying little heed to the king despite Helm calling upon him to attend his councils.
 
In {{TA|2754}} Freca came to a council with a retinue of many men and requested that Helm's daughter be wed to his son [[Wulf]]. Helm rebuffed him and called him fat, Freca raged and reviled the king, and after the council Helm struck Freca so powerfully that Freca died from the blow. Helm then declared Wulf and all of Freca's near kin to be his enemies and the retinue fled to the west.
 
Rohan was invaded from the east in {{TA|2758}}. Sensing their chance, a host of [[Dunlendings]] invaded from [[Isengard]] and from over the [[Isen]]. Their leader was Wulf, who drove Helm into the [[Hornburg]], captured [[Edoras]] and sat in [[Meduseld]], and called himself king. Although Helm and his sons died in the [[Long Winter]], his sister-son [[Fréaláf]] surprised and slew Wulf and regained Edoras.<ref>{{App|Eorl}}</ref>
 
The slaying of Freca was not forgotten by his people and in the [[War of the Ring]], over two hundred and fifty years later, many of them sided with [[Saruman]].<ref>{{UT|Isen}}, note 4</ref>
 
==Etymology==
''Freca'' derives from an [[Old English]] word meaning "warrior" or "bold man." It is related to the word ''frec'', meaning "bold," "greedy" or "audacious."<ref>Bosworth, J., Toller, T. and Campbell, A., 1995. ''An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 331</ref> In [[Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary|Tolkien's translation]] of ''[[Beowulf (poem)|Beowulf]]'', he translates ''freca'' as "champion."<ref>{{Beowulf|B}}, 1309</ref>
 
==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| FRE | |FRE='''FRECA'''</br><small>''d. {{TA|2754}}''</small>}}
{{familytree| |!| | |}}
{{familytree| WUL | |WUL=[[Wulf]]</br><small>''d. {{TA|2759}}''</small>}}
{{familytree/end}}
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Helm Hammerhand slays Freca outside Edoras.jpg|thumb|left|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' tapestry: Helm Hammerhand slays Freca outside Edoras]]
'''2012: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
: A tapestry depicting Helm Hammerhand killing Freca is found in [[Meduseld]].


{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Rohirrim]]
[[Category:Dunlendings]]
[[Category:Dunlendings]]
[[Category:Evil]]
[[Category:Old English names]]
[[Category:Names]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[Category:Masculine names]]
 
[[de:Freca]]
[[de:Freca]]
[[fi:Freca]]
[[fi:Freca]]

Latest revision as of 08:03, 2 January 2024

Freca
Dunlending
Turner Mohan - Men are freer outside.jpg
"Men are freer outside" by Turner Mohan
Biographical Information
PositionLord of lands about the Adorn
LocationRohan
DeathT.A. 2754
Edoras
Family
HouseDescended from the House of Eorl
ChildrenWulf
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorDark
GalleryImages of Freca

Freca, who claimed descent from King Fréawine, was a lord of Rohan during the reign of King Helm Hammerhand. His lands lay on either side of the Adorn west of the Gap of Rohan and he was said to have much Dunlendish blood in his veins, which was unusual for one of the Rohirrim.

History[edit | edit source]

Freca constructed a stronghold at the source of the Adorn, obtaining wealth and power while paying little heed to the king despite Helm calling upon him to attend his councils.

In T.A. 2754 Freca came to a council with a retinue of many men and requested that Helm's daughter be wed to his son Wulf. Helm rebuffed him and called him fat, Freca raged and reviled the king, and after the council Helm struck Freca so powerfully that Freca died from the blow. Helm then declared Wulf and all of Freca's near kin to be his enemies and the retinue fled to the west.

Rohan was invaded from the east in T.A. 2758. Sensing their chance, a host of Dunlendings invaded from Isengard and from over the Isen. Their leader was Wulf, who drove Helm into the Hornburg, captured Edoras and sat in Meduseld, and called himself king. Although Helm and his sons died in the Long Winter, his sister-son Fréaláf surprised and slew Wulf and regained Edoras.[1]

The slaying of Freca was not forgotten by his people and in the War of the Ring, over two hundred and fifty years later, many of them sided with Saruman.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Freca derives from an Old English word meaning "warrior" or "bold man." It is related to the word frec, meaning "bold," "greedy" or "audacious."[3] In Tolkien's translation of Beowulf, he translates freca as "champion."[4]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

FRECA
d. T.A. 2754
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wulf
d. T.A. 2759
 


Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

The Lord of the Rings Online tapestry: Helm Hammerhand slays Freca outside Edoras

2012: The Lord of the Rings Online:

A tapestry depicting Helm Hammerhand killing Freca is found in Meduseld.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen", note 4
  3. ↑ Bosworth, J., Toller, T. and Campbell, A., 1995. An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 331
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Beowulf: A Translation and Commentary, "Beowulf", 1309
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