Melkor had corrupted many spirits — some great as Sauron, or less as Balrogs. The least could have been primitive Orcs.
Boldog was an Orc-name[1] that was given to Maiar that took on the physical form of a primitive Orc.[2]
History
Boldog was a title taken by many of the servants of Morgoth that appeared multiple times during the Battles of Beleriand.[3] While some bearers of the Boldog title may have been no more than "delusions and phantoms", many others that bore the name took on shapes that mocked and degraded Elves and Men.[4] These "Orc-formed Maiar" were said to be "only less formidable than the Balrogs".[3]
Boldogs were apparently, similar to Melian, capable of embodied procreation. Doing so, however, would make them more and more earthbound, unable to return to spirit-state. Due to this diminishment, when they were slain they would be dwindle in force and be 'damned' and reduced to impotence.[5]
Etymology
Boldog is Noldorin for "Torment-slayer", from baul ("torment") and daug ("warrior").[6]
Other versions of the legendarium
According to the early version of the Legendarium within the Lay of Leithian,[7] Boldog was the name of an Orc-captain that was the leader of a raid into the north-marches of Doriath and tasked by Morgoth to capture Lúthien and bring her to Angband, for reasons undisclosed. However, the Iathrim defeated the invading army[8] with Boldog himself being slain by Thingol.[9] Some time later, when Finrod, Beren, Edrahil and their companions were brought before Thû clad within Orc-form, they said that they were a part of the army under the command of Boldog, and had urgent news to deliver to Thangorodrim - but Thû saw through their disguise, revealing to them that Boldog was slain.[10]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Index"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed", "[Text] X", Author's note
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed", "[Text] X", Author's footnote
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed", "[Text] X"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Five. Myths Transformed", "[Text] VII"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entries "ÑGWAL", "NDAK"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "Index"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto XII (Fingolfin and Morgoth; the meeting with Carcharoth)"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Unwritten Cantos"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lays of Beleriand, "III. The Lay of Leithian: Canto VII (Beren and Felagund before Thû)"
| Ainur | ||
|---|---|---|
| Valar | Lords | Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · |
| Valier | Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa | |
| Maiar | Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen | |
| Úmaiar | Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs | |
| Concepts and locations | Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar | |