Bard

2011-10-18T14:24:44Z

74.234.214.100: /* Genealogy */

{{disambig-two|the character in ''[[The Hobbit]]''|the King of Dale in the [[Fourth Age]]|[[Bard II]]}}
{{men infobox
|image=[[Image:Anke Eissmann - Bard the Bowman.jpg|250px]]
|name=Bard I
|othernames=
|birth=
|death=[[Third Age 2977|T.A. 2977]]
|race=Men
|gender=Male
|height=
|hair=
|eyes=
}}
{{quote|Arrow! Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!|Bard<ref name="Fire">{{H|Fire}}</ref>}}
'''Bard the Bowman''' (died [[Third Age]] 2977), was a man of [[Lake-town]], and later the restored [[King of Dale]].

==History==
Bard served as a soldier in [[Lake-town]], and was one of the most skilled archers among [[Men]]. He was the heir of [[Girion]], the last [[Lord of Dale|lord]] of [[Dale]]. Noted for his grim face and spirit, he was an able archer and considered his [[Black Arrow]] lucky and always used it last.<ref name="Fire"/>

Bard organized the defense of the town when the [[Dragons|Dragon]] [[Smaug]] attacked. When the old [[thrush]] (who had overheard [[Bilbo Baggins]]' description of [[Smaug]]<ref>{{H|Inside}}</ref>) revealed an unarmoured spot on the Dragon's underside to Bard, he shot the dragon's heart with the Black Arrow. Because of his miraculous shot he was given the epithet "the Bowman" and "the Dragon-slayer".<ref name="Fire"/>

After the disaster, he led the [[Lake-men]] to the [[Lonely Mountain]] demanding a part of the treasure from the [[Dwarves]].<ref name="Gather">{{H|Gathering}}</ref> Afterwards he led them in the [[Battle of Five Armies]].<ref>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

Bard claimed a twelfth of the treasure amassed by the dragon,<ref name="Gather"/> which he subsequently shared with the [[Master of Lake-town]] to rebuild the town. However, the Master stole the money and ran off into the wild where he died.<ref>{{H|Stage}}</ref> Three years later, after the rebuilding of the city, Bard became the first [[King of Dale|King]] of restored Dale as a wise and able ruler.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref>

He was succeeded by his son, [[Bain]].<ref name="TA"/>

== Etymology ==
As a Lake-man, Bard's name was in the [[language of Dale]], which is represented by [[Old Norse]] in the book.<ref>{{App|F2}}</ref><ref>{{L|144}}</ref> In other Germanic names (such as [[Isembard Took|Isembard]]), ''bard'' refers to ''beard''. This could be either the facial hair, or more likely ''"Battle-Axe"'' (''beard'' is also a term for a part of an axe).

Robert Ireland and [[Ruth S. Noel]], who perhaps overlooked the connection to Old Norse, provide as translations the [[Celtic]] words, ''bárd'' ("guardian")<ref>Robert Ireland, [http://www.quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/LOTR/LOTR_AC.html Lord of the Rings Dictionary, A - C]</ref> and ''bard'' ("poet").<ref>[[Ruth S. Noel]], ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'', "The Languages of Rhovanion"</ref>

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree |GIR| |GIR=[[Girion]] ''d. {{TA|2770|n}}''}}
{{familytree | |:| }}
{{familytree | |:| }}
{{familytree| BAR |BAR='''BARD I''' ''d. {{TA|2977|n}}''}}
{{familytree| |!| |}}
{{familytree| BAI |BAI=[[Bain]] ''d. {{TA|3007|n}}''}}
{{familytree| |!| |}}
{{familytree| BRA |BRA=[[Brand]] ''d. {{TA|3019|n}}''}}
{{familytree| |!| |}}
{{familytree| BA2 |BA2=[[Bard II]]}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Portrayal in Adaptations==
'''1968: ''[[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)]]'':'''
:Bard is played by [[Peter Williams]].

'''1977: ''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]'':'''
:Bard's voice is provided by [[John Stephenson]].

'''1979: ''[[The Hobbit (1979 radio series)]]'':'''
:No actor is specified for the role of Bard.

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)]]'':'''
:No actor is credited for the part of [[Bard]], but it appears to be [[André Sogliuzzo]]. He is portrayed as the Captain of the guard, a stout black haired man with a full beard. Bilbo helps him retrieve the [[Black Arrow]] and stop a gang of Orcs and men from taking over Laketown.

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Bard|Images of Bard]]

{{references}}

{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=men
| house=Heir of [[Girion]], [[Lord of Dale]]
| born=?
| died={{TA|2977}}
}}
{{seq
| prow=
| pvac=None
| prev=Title established
| list=[[King of Dale]]
| dates={{TA|2941}}-{{TA|2977}}
| next=[[Bain]]
| nvac=
| nrow=
}}
{{seq-end}}

[[Category:Northmen]]
[[Category:Rulers of Dale]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[de:Bard I.]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hommes:3a:hommes_du_nord:daliens:bard]]
[[fi:Bard Jousimies]]

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Bard