Bard
| Bard I | |
|---|---|
| Man | |
| File:Anke Eissmann - Bard the Bowman.jpg | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Death | T.A. 2977 |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Bard I |
- "Arrow! Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!"
- ― Bard[1]
Bard the Bowman (died Third Age 2977), was a man of Lake-town, and later the restored King of Dale.
History
Bard served as a soldier in Lake-town, and was one of the most skilled archers among Men. He was the heir of Girion, the last lord of Dale. Bard was able to slay the Dragon Smaug with a single arrow after a tip from the old thrush (who had overheard Bilbo Baggins' description of Smaug) revealed an unarmoured spot on the Dragon's underside. Because of his miraculous shot he was given the epithet "the Bowman".
Bard claimed a twelfth of the treasure amassed by the dragon, which he subsequently shared with the Master of Lake-town to rebuild the town. However, the Master stole the money and ran off into the wild where he died. Four years later, after the rebuilding of the city, Bard became the first King of restored Dale.
Etymology
Robert Ireland and Ruth S. Noel provide Celtic origins, bárd ("guardian")[2] and bard ("poet").[3]
However, the language of Dale tends to be translated into Old Norse, not Celtic. In other Germanic names (such as Isembard), bard refers to beard. This could be either the facial hair, or more likely "Battle-Axe" (beard is also a term for a part of an axe).
Genealogy
| Girion | |||||||
| BARD I | |||||||
| Bain | |||||||
| Brand | |||||||
| Bard II | |||||||
Portrayal in Adaptations
1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):
- Bard is played by Peter Williams.
1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):
- Bard's voice is provided by John Stephenson.
1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):
- No actor is specified for the role of Bard.
2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):
- No actor is credited for the part of Bard, but it appears to be André Sogliuzzo. He is portrayed as the Captain of the guard, a stout black haired man with a full beard. Bilbo helps him retrieve the Black Arrow and stop a gang of Orcs and men from taking over Laketown.
See also
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Fire and Water"
- ↑ Robert Ireland, Lord of the Rings Dictionary, A - C
- ↑ Ruth S. Noel, The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth, "The Languages of Rhovanion"
| Bard Heir of Girion, Lord of Dale | ||
| None Title established | King of Dale T.A. 2941-T.A. 2977 | Followed by: Bain |
