 | |
| Adan | |
| Handir | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Titles | 5th Chieftain of the Haladin |
| Location | Brethil |
| Language | Halethian |
| Birth | F.A. 441 Brethil |
| Rule | F.A. 472-495 |
| Death | F.A. 495 Brethil |
| Family | |
| House | Haladin |
| Parentage | Haldir and Glóredhel |
| Spouse | Beldis |
| Children | Brandir |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Handir |
Handir was the fifth leader of the Haladin and father of Brandir the Lame. He was slain when attempting to resist the incursion of Orcs that were gathering to assault Nargothrond.
History
Handir's father, Haldir, joined the Union of Maedhros, and led many Men of Brethil to the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. As the battle turned against Eldar and the Edain, Haldir was slain in the rearguard of Fingon, along with most of the Men of Brethil.[1] Those that survived still had to find their way back through the evil road of Taur-nu-Fuin,[2] and in the end only three Men who had accompanied Haldir returned, healed of their wounds and brought back by Mablung.[3]
It is not said if Handir was among those who joined the battle, but with the death of his father, he became the leader of the Haladin. News of his father's death also caused his mother, Glóredhel, to fall into grief and die.[2]
Around F.A. 485 a large group of Orcs crossed the Brithiach. Though Handir resisted them with all the force he could muster, they continued and passed south over the Crossings of Teiglin in search of plunder.[4]
Starting in 490 the Elves of Nargothrond, under the leadership of Túrin, went openly to battle and drove the Orcs out of West Beleriand; in doing so however they revealed themselves to the wrath of Morgoth.[5] In the spring of 495,[6] the Orcs invaded the lands of Handir in order to secure the Crossings of Teiglin in preparation for an assault against Nargothrond.[7] Handir gave them battle, but he was slain and his folk driven back into the woods.[7] The Orcs did not pursue them, and continued to muster their strength until their assault against Nargothrond that autumn.[7]
With the death of Handir, his son Brandir became the next chieftain.[8]
Family
Handir was the son of Haldir and Glóredhel, and thus double first cousin of Húrin and Huor. He married Beldis of the House of Bëor, and was the father of Brandir the Lame.[9]
Beldis was a late introduction into the legendarium and was notably older than Haldir; while Handir was born in 441, Beldis was stated as being born in 411.[10] Christopher Tolkien does not provide commentary on the age gap, nor on Beldis apparently becoming a mother to Brandir (born 465) at 54 years old.
Genealogy
Other versions of the legendarium
The Book of Lost Tales
In Turambar and the Foalókë, Bethos was a stout man and the chief of the wood-rangers with whom Túrin dwelt. As a youth, he had fought in, and escaped from, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. His wife, "as the tale telleth", was a fair Noldo-maiden and they had many fair sons and daughters save their eldest, Tamar Lamefoot.[11]
When Túrin brought a rescued Níniel back to their settlement, she dwelt in the house of Bethos. Bethos himself was slain not long after in an foray as, despite his years, he still rode abroad. Túrin was then chosen as the new chief of the wood-rangers, rather than Tamar.[11]
In Christopher Tolkien's commentary, he noted the extraordinary statement that Bethos had a Elven wife, and that it contradicted the statement elsewhere that Eärendel alone was a child of both races. Christopher also notes the discrepancy of Bethos being "but a boy" at the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, and considered old ("despite his years") at the time of his death.[12]
The Shaping of Middle-earth
In The Quenta, Handir became the father of Brandir. Handir was the son of Haleth, who in turn was the son of Hador.[13]
In The Earliest Annals of Beleriand, Handir became the son of Hundor, son of Haleth. Between the years 190-195, Handir allied his people with the Gnomes of Nargothrond who, led by Túrin, drove the Orcs from West Beleriand. He was slain when Glómund and a host of Orcs defeated the forces of Nargothrond.[14]
The War of the Jewels
In a struck-out passage, it was Handir who accompanied Húrin when, by the fate or will of Ulmo, they found the hidden entrance to Gondolin. They were welcomed by Turgon and eventually released after swearing oaths of secrecy of the location of the city.[15]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Departure of Túrin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Three. The Wanderings of Húrin and Other Writings not forming part of the Quenta Silmarillion: I. The Wanderings of Húrin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "Túrin among the Outlaws"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §272
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §295
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Fall of Nargothrond"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §291
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Commentary on 'Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)", (iii) The Haladin, p. 237
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Commentary on 'Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)", (i) The House of Bëor
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "II. Turambar and the Foalókë"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "II. Turambar and the Foalókë": "Notes and Commentary"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Commentary on the Quenta, [Section] 13"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "VII. The Earliest Annals of Beleriand: [The first version of The Earliest Annals of Beleriand (Text AB I)]"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §§149–50