Halmir

Halmir is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as a Man of the Second House of the Edain in the First Age.

He was the Chieftain of the Folk of Haleth. Halmir was the son of Haldan and had four children: sons Haldir and Hundar, and daughters Hareth and Hiril. Haldir and Hareth were wedded to Glóredhel and Galdor the Tall respectively, children of Hador of the Third House.

Halmir was lord of the Folk of Haleth when Morgoth renewed his war against the Elves and their allies, the Edain, in the Dagor Bragollach, and it is said that the deeds of his people were remembered with honour.^[1] They lived in the north of Beleriand, in the forest of Brethil, and were at first untouched by the war; but Orcs came after Minas Tirith was taken, and yet the Men of Brethil would not relinquish their homes, and Halmir sent word to Thingol King of Doriath, as he had friendship with the Elves that guarded the realm. Thingol sent him Sindarin Elves with axes, led by Beleg Strongbow, and together with the forces of Halmir they defeated the Orcs. The latter did not dare cross the River Taeglin afterwards, and the People of Haleth lived in watchful peace in Brethil, and Nargothrond had respite.

When the Union of Maedhros was made, Halmir prepared his people for war and they whetted their axes. It was not he, however, who led his people to the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, but his sons Haldir and Hundar, as Halmir died before the battle began.

Other versions of the legendarium

Halmir was first named thus only with the major expansion of the Houses of Men into elder generations after the completion of The Lord of the Rings. Earlier his role was played by 'Haleth the Hunter', who led his people into Beleriand but otherwise had similar history. (See The History of Middle-earth).

The House of Haleth

References