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Thengel

From Tolkien Gateway
"Thengel" by Warren Mahy
Rohir
Thengel
Biographical Information
Other namesThengel The Thrice-renowned
TitlesKing of Rohan
LocationRohan
LanguageRohanese, Westron and possibly Sindarin
BirthT.A. 2905
RuleT.A. 2953 - 2980
DeathT.A. 2980 (aged 75)
Family
HouseHouse of Eorl
ParentageFengel
SiblingsTwo older sisters[1]
SpouseMorwen Steelsheen
ChildrenThéoden, Théodwyn, three unnamed daughters
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Thengel

Thengel the Thrice-renowned (Third Age 29052980, aged 75 years) was the sixteenth King of Rohan.[2] Thengel was the only son of Fengel, and became king after the death of his father in T.A. 2953.[1]

History

His father king Fengel was a greedy man who quarreled with his marshals and children. When he reached his manhood Thengel left Rohan and went to Gondor, where he won great renown in the service of Steward Turgon.[1] Eventually he met and married Morwen Steelsheen of Lossarnach in 2943, and he lived with her there for a while. Morwen bore him three children during their time in Gondor - his only son (his second child) Théoden in 2948 and two daughters.[2]

After Fengel died in T.A. 2953,[1] Thengel was called to come back to Rohan and reluctantly returned with his wife and three children from Gondor. After his return Westron,[3] the speech of Gondor, was used in his house, which some men disapproved.[2] Soon afterwards the wizard Saruman declared himself as Lord of Isengard and began to support the enemies of Rohan.[2] Around 2957 or later, a mysterious Northerner calling himself Thorongil came to Rohan and served Thengel for some time.[4] Later Thorongil went to Gondor where he entered the service of Steward Ecthelion II and became a great captain and great leader of men by land or by sea.[5] In Rohan Morwen bore Thengel two more daugthers, including Théodwyn in T.A. 2963,[2] who would be the mother of Éomer and Éowyn.[6]

After Thengel the kings of Rohan and their descendants also spoke Sindarin, the language of nobles in Gondor.[7]

Etymology

Thengel is a modernized spelling of the Old English word Þengel, which means "prince".[8][9][10]

Genealogy

Folcwine
2830 - 2903
Folcred
2858 - 2885
Fastred
2858 - 2885
Fengel
2870 - 2953
daughter
unknown
two daughters
unknown
THENGEL
2905 - 2980
Morwen Steelsheen
b. 2922
Elfhild
d. 2978
Théoden
2948 - 3019
three daughters
unknown
Théodwyn
2963 - 3002
Éomund
d. 3002
Théodred
2978 - 3019
Éomer
2991 - Fo.A. 63
Éowyn
b. 2995

Notes

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, 15. Fengel, p. 1069
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, 16. Thengel, p. 1069
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", [Untitled introduction], citing from the essay Of Dwarves and Men
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the years 2957-80, p. 1090
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards", entry for Steward Ecthelion II, p. 1055
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Third Line, p. 1070
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", note 2
  8. "Þengel", Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, accessed 15 June 2024
  9. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 368
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Ring, "Part Three: Minas Tirith", "VII. The Ride of the Rohirrim", note 9, p. 355
Born
Thengel
House of Eorl
Died
Preceded by
Followed by
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)