Anglachel

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Anglachel is a fictional weapon from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium.

According to The Silmarillion, Anglachel was one of the two swords forged by Eöl the Dark Elf out of a black iron meteorite. It is said to be able to cleave any iron from within the earth. Anglachel appears to be a sentient sword that speaks on occasion and has some will of its own. Eöl's achievement in smithying a blade with a contained spirit rivals both the Silmarils of Feanor and the Rings of Celebrimbor. In some ways it echoes Sauron's One Ring that contained some of his essence.

Eöl gave this sword to Thingol in fee for leave to dwell in his forest of Nan Elmoth, though Eöl did not relish giving it away. The other, Anguirel, he kept for himself. Thingol later gave the sword in keeping to his great captain, Beleg. Thingol's wife, Melian, prophesied the following to Beleg:

"There is malice in this sword. The dark heart of the smith still dwells in it. It will not love the hand it serves, neither will it abide with you long." ^[1]

Whenever Beleg took the sword out of its sheath, the sword is said to have sung with gladness.

After Túrin was captured by Orcs at Amon Rûdh, Beleg pursued the Orcs to free Túrin. He slew their guards and slipped into the camp, but as he was cutting Túrin's fetters, the sword nicked Túrin, waking him. In the darkness, Túrin assumed it was Orcs come back to torture him. He seized Anglachel, and slew Beleg with it. When he realized his mistake, he mourned long over the death of his friend.

Túrin and Gwindor then travelled together to Nargothrond where the sword was reforged by the expert smiths and renamed Gurthang. Its edges shone with a pale fire. The Elves came to call Túrin Mormegil, the Black Sword. With it, he led the elves of Nargothrond in many battles, driving the Orcs from the lands. Túrin also referred to it as the Black Thorn of Brethil.

Much later, after the slaying of Glaurung, when Túrin discovered that his wife Nienor was in fact his sister and that she had killed herself, in despair he fell upon his sword:

" 'Hail Gurthang! No lord or loyalty dost thou know, save the hand that wieldeth thee. From no blood wilt thou shrink. Wilt thou therefore take Túrin Turambar, wilt thou slay me swiftly?' "

"And from the blade rang a cold voice in answer: 'Yea, I will drink thy blood gladly, that so I may forget the blood of Beleg my master, and the blood of Brandir slain unjustly. I will slay thee swiftly.' "

Etymology:

Anglachel - meaning Iron of the Flaming Star in Sindarin

Gurthang - Iron of Death

Mormegil - Black Sword in Sindarin

Weapons of Middle-earth

Aeglos | Andúril | Anglachel | Anguirel | Angrist | Aranrúth | Belthronding | Black Arrow | Dagmor | Dailir | Dramborleg | Durin's Axe | Glamdring | Grond | Gúthwinë | Gurthang | Herugrim | Morgul-blade | Narsil | Orcrist | Red Arrow | Ringil | Sting

One of many close parallels between the story of Túrin and that of Kullervo in the Kalevala, is that Kullervo, upon the death of his sister with whom he had an incestuous relationship similar to Túrin's, commits suicide in the very same fashion, even speaking with his sword as Túrin did.

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