Galdor (Lord of Dor-lómin)

From Tolkien Gateway
The name Galdor refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Galdor (disambiguation).
Galdor
Adan
Peter Xavier Price - Galdor the Tall.jpg
"Galdor the Tall" by Peter Xavier Price
Biographical Information
Other namesOrchal (S)
the Tall
TitlesLord of Dor-lómin
PositionHead of the House of Hador
BirthF.A. 417
RuleF.A. 455 - 462
DeathF.A. 462 (aged 45)
Eithel Sirion
Family
HouseHouse of Hador
ParentageHador, Gildis
SiblingsGlóredhel, Gundor
SpouseHareth
ChildrenHúrin, Huor
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Galdor

Galdor was the second child and eldest son of Hador. He led the People of Hador when they were at the peak of their power, before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Galdor was noted for his exceptional height, even among the Edain, and was also called Galdor the Tall.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Galdor had a younger brother named Gundor and an older sister named Glóredhel.[2]

At a great feast of the Edain, Galdor married Hareth and Glóredhel married Haldir, both children of Halmir, chief of the House of Haleth.[1] Galdor and Hareth had two sons, Húrin and Huor.[3]

In the Dagor Bragollach in F.A. 455, both Galdor's father, Hador, and his younger brother, Gundor, died in the rearguard of the Elf-lord Fingolfin. Galdor then succeeded his father as Lord of Dor-lómin. In the wake of Morgoth's triumph the wife of Barahir, Emeldir, gathered the women and children of Dorthonion and led them westward; some found refuge in Galdor's domain.

The sons of Galdor, Húrin and Huor, had been taken after the Dagor Bragollach into the hidden city of Gondolin by the eagles of Thorondor. When they departed from the city (again carried by eagles) they returned to Dor-lómin where they would not reveal where they had been, even to their father.

Seven years after the Dagor Bragollach, Morgoth sent a great force against Hithlum, attacking the passes of the Ered Wethrin. Galdor defended the Eithel Sirion and was slain by an arrow.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Galdor appears to be Sindarin, but its meaning is unclear. David Salo suggests it can be a combination of the root gal ("light") and the suffix -dor ("lord").[4]

Other names[edit | edit source]

His title Orchal means "the Tall."[5]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hathol
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hador
 
Gildis
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Haldir
 
Glóredhel
 
GALDOR
THE TALL
 
Hareth
 
Gundor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Handir
 
 
 
Húrin
 
Huor
 
 
 
 


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In early drafts of The Silmarillion, Galdor was named Galion.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  2. 2.0 2.1 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)", Commentary, (ii) The House of Hador
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West"
  4. David Salo (2004), A Gateway to Sindarin, p. 350
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin", p. 305, note 48
Galdor
House of Hador
Born: F.A. 417 Died: F.A. 462
Preceded by:
Hador
6th Head of the House of Hador
F.A. 455 - 462
Followed by:
Húrin
2nd Lord of Dor-lómin
F.A. 455 - 462