House of Bëor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the House of Bëor was the oldest of the Three Houses of Men that had allied with the Elves in the First Age.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

[edit] Notable members of the House

Bëor the Old, originally named Balan and later given the title the Old, was leader of the House of Bëor, the first men to travel into Beleriand. He met Finrod Felagund, who guided them to settle in Estolad, east of Doriath. Bëor took service with Finrod in Nargothrond. His name Bëor meant vassal in the Bëorian tongue. He got his title, the Old, because he died at 93 years of age, of which 44 were spent serving Finrod.

Baran was the eldest son of Bëor the Old and took up the leadership of the House of Bëor when his father departed to Nargothrond. He dwelt in Estolad and had two sons, Boron and Baranor.

Belen was Bëor's second son.

Bereg, a grandson of Baran, was dissatisfied with Estolad, and led part of the people away to parts unknown, disappearing from the histories. It is possible some of his descendants were the ancestors of the later Men of Eriador.

Boron was a son of Baran.

Boromir was a son of Boron. The later Boromir of Gondor was named after him. Boromir was granted the land of Ladros in Dorthonion as a fief, and his house removed there.

Bregor was a son of Boromir and Andreth was Boromir's daughter.

Bregolas, who died in the Dagor Bragollach, and Barahir were sons of Bregor.

Beren was a son of Barahir, perhaps the greatest hero of the First Age. He stole the Silmaril from Morgoth's crown and married Lúthien.

Baragund was a son of Bregolas and a direct descendant of Bëor the Old. He had one daughter, Morwen and he was the grandfather of Túrin Turambar. He survived the Dagor Bragollach and lived as an outlaw with his uncle Barahir and some companions. They were eventually betrayed to Sauron and killed.

[edit] The House of Bëor in later ages

The House of Bëor ceased to exist as an independent House after the Dagor Bragollach, but of those who survived, most moved to Númenor. There it is said that they spoke Sindarin rather than Adûnaic. It is also noted that the descendants of the Bëoreans had a relatively lesser lifespan compared with other Númenóreans. Erendis was a descendant of the House of Bëor.