Barahir

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The name Barahir refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Barahir (disambiguation).
Barahir
Adan
Marya Filatova - Rescue - Finrod and Barahir.jpg
"Rescue - Finrod and Barahir" by Marya Filatova
Biographical Information
PositionHead of the House of Bëor
LocationLadros, Tarn Aeluin
BirthF.A. 400
RuleF.A. 455-460
DeathF.A. 460 (aged 60)
Tarn Aeluin
Family
HouseHouse of Bëor
ParentageBregor
SiblingsBregil, Hirwen, Bregolas, and Gilwen.
SpouseEmeldir
ChildrenBeren the One-handed and Hiril
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Barahir
"Now Morgoth's power overshadowed the Northlands; but Barahir would not flee from Dorthonion, and remained contesting the land foot by foot with his enemies."
Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"

Barahir (F.A. 400460) was a Man of Middle-earth, heir to the House of Bëor in the First Age and most famous as the father of Beren Erchamion.

History[edit | edit source]

Barahir was the fifth and youngest child of Bregor. He had three elder sisters: Bregil, Hirwen, and Gilwen, and an elder brother Bregolas. Barahir married Emeldir the Man-Hearted, who was also of the House of Bëor through the line of Belen (youngest son of Bëor). They had two children, the renowned Beren the One-handed and a daughter named Hiril[1][2]

In F.A. 455, Barahir fought in the Dagor Bragollach at the Pass of Sirion. Near the Fen of Serech, he hastened to Finrod Felagund's rescue with a small retinue of his bravest men. They formed a wall of spears around the Elven King, and cut their way out of the battle at great loss. Finrod was saved, and swore an oath in gratitude, promising help to Barahir and his kin should they need it. To reinforce this oath, he gave Barahir his ring, which would become an heirloom in his house.[3]

After Morgoth conquered the lands, Barahir contested his dominion. Gradually all of the people of that region fled until Barahir had but twelve companions left: his son Beren, his nephews Baragund and Belegund, and nine close and loyal kinsmen, Radhruin, Dairuin, Dagnir, Ragnor, Gildor, Gorlim, Arthad, Urthel, and Hathaldir. As Dorthonion fell under dark enchantment and was called Taur-nu-Fuin the desperate band retreated to the rocky moors above the forest.[3]

In F.A. 460 they were betrayed to Sauron by Gorlim, who was tricked by Sauron into giving up their location. Barahir and the others were slaughtered near Tarn Aeluin. Barahir's son Beren alone escaped, as he was away on an errand when the outlaws' hideout was discovered. Returning to the camp Beren buried his father and pursued the Orcs who slew him. The captain of the Orcs had Barahir's hand with the ring of Felagund on it when Beren found them; Beren killed the captain and retrieved the hand.[4]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Barahir is a Sindarin word and consists of bara ("fiery; eager") + hîr ("master, lord").[5]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boromir
338 - 432
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bregor
359 - 448
 
Andreth
361 - 455
 
Beril
b. 365
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beren
b. 374
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arachon
unknown
 
Bregil
b. 386
 
Hirwen
389
 
Bregolas
393 - 455
 
Gilwen
b. 397
 
 
 
BARAHIR
400 - 460
 
Emeldir
b. 406
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandir
b. 409
 
Beldis
b. 411
 
Beleth
b. 417
 
Baragund
420 - 460
 
Belegund
422 - 460
 
 
 
Hiril
b. F.A.
 
Beren
432 - 503
 
Lúthien
Y.T. 1200 - F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandir the Lame
465 - 499
 
 
 
 
 
Morwen
441 - 501
 
Rían
450 - 472
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dior
470 - 506
 
 

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In such early manuscripts as The Tale of Tinúviel and The Lay of Leithian, the father of Beren was a Gnome named Egnor, who was called Rog the Fleet by the Orcs of Melko.[6][7][8]

In the Grey Annals (written in the 1930s[9]) Barahir was born in F.A. 402, two years after his brother Bregolas, and they were both the sons of Bëor the Old.[10] After The Lord of the Rings was written J.R.R. Tolkien overhauled the genealogy of the House of Bëor.[11] Four generations were inserted after Bëor with Bregor made the father of Bregolas and Barahir (whose birth was now set in F.A. 400).[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)", (i) The House of Bëor, p. 231
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)", The new genealogies of the Edain, (i) The House of Bëor, p. 232
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", pp. 351, 364
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "X. Gilfanon's Tale: The Travail of the Noldoli and the Coming of Mankind", pp. 241-1
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel", passim (cf. Index)
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, passim (cf. Index)
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals", p. 3
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §125
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)", The new genealogies of the Edain, p. 229
Barahir
House of Bëor
Born: F.A. 400 Died: F.A. 460
Preceded by:
Bregolas
7th Head of the House of Bëor
F.A. 455 - 460
Followed by:
Beren


Barahir's Outlaw Band
Barahir · Beren · Gildor · Belegund · Baragund · Gorlim · Urthel · Dagnir · Ragnor · Radhruin · Dairuin · Arthad · Hathaldir