Walda

From Tolkien Gateway
Walda
Rohir
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Rohan
LocationRohan
LanguageRohanese and Westron
BirthT.A. 2780
RuleT.A. 2842 - 2851
DeathT.A. 2851 (aged 71)
near Dunharrow
Family
HouseHouse of Eorl
ParentageBrytta Léofa
ChildrenFolca
Physical Description
GenderMale

Walda (Third Age 27802851, aged 71 years) was the twelfth King of Rohan.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Walda was the son of Brytta Léofa and was born in a time when his country was still plagued by Orcs who had invaded Rohan after the War of Dwarves and Orcs.[2]

He became king after the death of his father in T.A. 2842. At the time of his father's death it was believed Rohan had been freed of the Orcs. However, some Orcs remained, and in 2851 after ruling just nine years he and all his companions were killed by Orcs when they rode from Dunharrow on mountain paths.[1]

Walda was buried in the third mound on the east-side of the Barrow-field[3] on the left side of the road that approached Edoras[4] from the north-west[5]. He was succeeded and avenged by his son Folca who cleared Rohan of all Orcs.[6]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Walda is derived from the Old English name wealda, which means "ruler".[7]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Fréaláf Hildeson
2726 - 2798
 
 
 
 
Brytta Léofa
2752 - 2842
 
 
 
 
WALDA
2780 - 2851
 
 
 
 
Folca
2804 - 2864
 
 
 
 
Folcwine
2830 - 2903


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

His death date is recorded as T.A. 2851[1] in the list of the Kings of the Mark in Appendix A, but as as 2861 in The Tale of Years of the Third Age in Appendix B.[8] The death date T.A. 2851 is probably correct, because the entry for king Walda in the list of Kings of the Mark mentions that he "was king only nine years"[1] and the entry for his father mentions that his father died in T.A. 2842[2].

There was no note about the events during the life of Walda in the list of Kings of the Mark in the first edition of The Lord of the Rings.[9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, entry 2780-2851 12. Walda, p. 1069
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, entry 2752-2842 11. Brytta, p. 1068
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings", p. 977
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall", p. 507
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, entry 2804-64 13. Folca, p. 1069
  7. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 644
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2800-64 "(2861)", p. 1088
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (iii) "The House of Eorl", Notes, note 5
Walda
House of Eorl
Born: T.A. 2780 Died: T.A. 2851
Preceded by:
Brytta
12th King of Rohan
T.A. 28422851
Followed by:
Folca


Kings of Rohan
First Line: Eorl the Young (T.A. 2510 - 2545) · Brego (2545 - 2570) · Aldor the Old (2570 - 2645) · Fréa (2645 - 2659) · Fréawine (2659 - 2680) · Goldwine (2680 - 2699) · Déor (2699 - 2718) · Gram (2718 - 2741) · Helm Hammerhand (2741 - 2759)
Second Line: Fréaláf Hildeson (2759 - 2798) · Brytta Léofa (2798 - 2842) · Walda (2842 - 2851) · Folca the Hunter (2851 - 2864) · Folcwine (2864 - 2903) · Fengel (2903 - 2953) · Thengel (2953 - 2980) · Théoden Ednew (2980 - 3019)
Third Line: Éomer Éadig (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 63) · Elfwine the Fair (63 - unknown)