Barahir's outlaws

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This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
"But still there lived in hiding cold
undaunted, Barahir the bold
of land bereaved, of lordship shorn
who once a prince of Men was born
and now an outlaw lurked and lay
in the hard heath and woodland gray
and with him clung his faithful men
but Beren his son and other ten.
"
Lay of Leithian, Canto II, lines 127-140

Barahir's Outlaw Band was a group of survivors of the sack of Dorthonion who remained loyal to the exiled Barahir, Lord of Ladros. They numbered ten, plus Barahir and his son Beren. They were betrayed by one of their number in the year 460 of the First Age.

History

During the Dagor Bragollach Bregolas, the Lord of Ladros, was killed and Dorthonion overrun. His son Barahir "the Bold" escaped the destruction of their lands with his son Beren and a number of companions. He refused to desert the land owned by his fathers, and lived as an outlaw, during which time the servants of Morgoth whittled his band down to only thirteen counting himself.[1]

The surviving companions are named in the Lay of Leithian thus:

"Twelve men beside him still there went,
still faithful when all hope was spent.
Their names are yet in elven-son
remembered, though the years are long
since doughty Dagnir and Ragnor,
Radhruin, Dairuin, and Gildor,
Gorlim Unhappy, and Urthel,
and Arthad and Hathaldir fell;
since the black shaft with enomed wound
took Belegund and Baragund,
the mighty sons of Bregolas;
since he whose doom and deeds surpass
all tales of Men was laid on bier,
fair Beren son of Barahir.
"
The Lay of Leithian" (recommenced) lines 145-152

References

  1. The Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Lúthien" p. 191 Ballantine Second Edition
Barahir's Outlaw Band
Barahir · Beren · Gildor · Belegund · Baragund · Gorlim · Urthel · Dagnir · Ragnor · Radhruin · Dairuin · Arthad · Hathaldir