 | |
| Arnorian | |
| Dírhael | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Location | Eriador |
| Language | Presumably Sindarin and Westron |
| Birth | Late Third Age |
| Family | |
| House | House of Isildur |
| Parentage | UnknownNB (descendant of Aranarth) |
| Spouse | Ivorwen |
| Children | Gilraen |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Dírhael |
Dírhael was a Dúnadan that was descended from Aranarth, the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain,[1] and the maternal grandfather of Aragorn.[2]
History
Dírhael was married to Ivorwen and had a daughter called Gilraen.[2] They lived in a hidden refuge in the wilds of Eriador,[3] possibly in the Angle.
When Arathorn, the son of the Chieftain of the Dúnedain Arador, wished to wed Gilraen, Gilraen's father Dírhael was against this marriage, because Gilraen was still too young for marriage according to the customs of the Dúnedain and he foresaw that Arathorn would be Chieftain soon and would only have a short life.
Ivorwen, however, also had the gift of foresight, and persuaded her husband to allow the marriage by saying that the days were darkening before the storm, and that hope might be born for the Dúnedain if Arathorn wedded Gilraen now instead of delaying the marriage.[2]
In T.A. 2929 his daughter Gilraen married Arathorn.[4] Arador was slain one year after the marriage in 2930[5] and Dírhael's son-in-law became Chieftain of the Dúnedain.[6] One year later, in 2931,[7] Aragorn, the son of Arathorn and Gilraen was born. Only two years after the birth of Aragorn, Arathorn was likewise slain in 2933.[2][8]
Etymology
The name Dírhael is in Sindarin. Its meaning is not glossed, but Paul Strack suggests it means "Wise Man" according to David Salo, being a compound of dîr ("man") and hael, a lenited form of sael ("wise").[9]
Genealogy
Other versions of the legendarium
In the earlier manuscript versions of what would later become Appendix A and Appendix B, Dírhael's name was Dirhael, before being changed to Dirhoel,[3] and finally to Dírhael.[10]
Earlier manuscript versions of what would later become Appendix A mention that he was a descendant of Arathorn I "by a younger branch",[11] or that he we was of the blood of Isildur, but not of the "right line of the Heirs".[3] Based on the ages of Gilraen, Arathorn II and Arador, it is possible that Dírhael was the great-grandson of Arathorn I.
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, paragraph after the entry for King Arvedui, p. 1043
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen", p. 1057
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (ii) "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen", manuscript A, p. 263
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2929, p. 1089
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2930, p. 1089
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur", Chieftains, Arathorn II, p. 1038
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2931, p. 1089
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2933, p. 1089
- ↑ Paul Strack, "S. Dírhael m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon, accessed 4 September 2022
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VIII. The Tale of Years of the Third Age", manuscript T 4, The Third Age, entry for the year 2929
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", manuscript C, End of the North Kingdom, 40. 15. Arathorn II, p. 196