Avranc

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Character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Legendarium
Name Avranc
Titles Chieftain of Brethil, Halad
Race Men
Culture Edain, Second House
Date of birth Y.S. c. 480
Date of death Y.S. ?
Realm Brethil
Book(s) The War of the Jewels
(The Wanderings of Húrin)

Avranc is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He was a Man of the Second House of the Edain in the First Age and son of Dorlas of Brethil.

Avranc was "a young man short and dark, but strong"; by the Men of Brethil he "was not loved for himself; for though he was bold, he was scornful, as was Dorlas his father before him". Still he was well-liked by Hardang the Chieftain of Brethil, and was among the guards at the Crossings of Taeglin. He is stated to have been "not long wedded" at the time of the kin-strife (Y.S. 501).

When Húrin Thalion was found unconscious by Haudh-en-Elleth, Avranc suggested to kill him immediately, for the rumour has already reached Brethil of his returning from Angband. He was rebuked by his Captain Manthor, but against his command Avranc sped to Hardang to bear the news. There they provoked Húrin and sent him to prison, planning to put him to death. Manthor once again withstood them, summoning the Moot of the Folk of Brethil; Avranc tried to shoot him down, but Hardang restrained him for the time being.

On the following day Avranc sent the rumours around the woodmen of the darker sides of Húrin's bearing, and Hardang appointed him to defend his cause during the Moot of the Folk. But in the eloquent words Manthor turned Hardang's mistreating of Húrin to his undoing, and the Men of Brethil besieged him and his followers in the Hall of the Chieftains. Twice Avranc tried to shoot Manthor, but missed; he escaped the burning of the Hall, but Hardang was slain.

Avranc managed to shoot Manthor two days after, and a new wave of rioting upon Amon Obel followed. In the end Avranc was chosen a new Chieftain, for none remained of the House of Haleth and the Folk perceived that it was Húrin who had brough the ruin on Brethil, and the counsels of Hardang "were more wise". But Avranc wielded no such authority and reverence as the Haladin before, and many men forsook Brethil.

[edit] Other versions of the legendarium

In a late note Tolkien proposed to change the names of Avranc and his father Dorlas to Daruin and Darlas, respectively, suggesting a meaning of dar in the tongue of the Folk of Haleth as 'mastery, lordship'.

[edit] Sources