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{{gondorian
{{gondorian infobox
| image=[[Image:Paula_DiSante_-_Reporting_to_Beruthiel.JPG|250px]]
| image=[[Image:Paula_DiSante_-_Reporting_to_Beruthiel.JPG|250px]]
| name=Berúthiel
| name=Berúthiel
| pronun=
| othernames=
| othernames=
| position=Queen of [[Gondor]]
| titles=Queen of [[Gondor]]
| birth=Early [[Third Age]]
| position=
| location=[[Gondor]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| rule=
| death=
| death=
| gender=Female
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=her [[Cats of Queen Berúthiel|cats]]; spying on people of Gondor
| house=
| parentage=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Tarannon Falastur|Tarannon]]
| spouse=[[Tarannon Falastur|Tarannon]]
| children=
| children=None
|}}
| gender=Female
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}{{Pronounce|Beruthiel.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Berúthiel''' was a Queen of [[Gondor]] in the early part of the [[Third Age]]. She was the wife of King [[Tarannon Falastur]], and was noted as being "nefarious, solitary, and loveless". It is therefore of no surprise that she and Tarannon produced no heirs.
'''Berúthiel''' was a Queen of [[Gondor]] in the early part of the [[Third Age]]. She was the wife of King [[Tarannon Falastur]], and was noted as being "nefarious, solitary, and loveless". It is therefore of no surprise that she and Tarannon produced no heirs.


==History==
==History==
Berúthiel was a [[Black Númenórean|Black Númenórean]], a race that was often at war with the [[Dúnedain]] of Gondor. Most of the Black Númenóreans lived to the south of Gondor in the [[Haven of Umbar]] and other colonies. Presumably, Berúthiel was born in one of these southern areas.
Berúthiel was a [[Black Númenóreans|Black Númenórean]]<ref name=Interview/>, a race that was often at war with the [[Dúnedain]] of Gondor. Most of the Black Númenóreans lived to the south of Gondor in the [[Umbar]] and other colonies. Presumably, Berúthiel was born in one of these southern areas.


Due to the hostility between the two races, Falastur's reason for marrying her is unclear, but he brought her to live with him in his house by the [[Belegaer|Sea]] near [[Pelargir]]. She hated Pelargir, however, and dwelt in the [[King's House]] in [[Osgiliath]] instead. There she decorated the courtyard with strange and disturbing sculptures but kept the inside of the house mostly bare. She herself wore dark, drab clothing and "hated all making, all colours and elaborate adornments".
Due to the hostility between the two races, Falastur's reason for marrying her is unclear, but he brought her to live with him in his house by the [[Belegaer|Sea]] near [[Pelargir]]. She hated Pelargir (loathing the smell of the sea, and fish, and the [[gulls]]<ref name=Interview/>), however, and dwelt in the [[King's House]] in [[Osgiliath]] instead. There she decorated the courtyard with strange and disturbing sculptures but kept the inside of the house mostly bare. She herself wore dark, drab clothing and "hated all making, all colors and elaborate adornments".


Berúthiel loathed cats, but they became attracted to her for precisely that reason. They followed her around, and eventually she took advantage of their company by enslaving and torturing them. In total she had ten cats, nine black and one white. Berúthiel set the cats to spy on each other and on the [[Men]] of Gondor. She managed to learn many dark secrets about the realm and its people by conversing with them and "read[ing] their memories". These cats were infamous among the Gondorians, but they dared not touch them; however, Men would curse whenever they saw one pass by them.
Berúthiel loathed cats, but they became attracted to her for precisely that reason. They followed her around, and eventually she took advantage of their company by enslaving and torturing them. In total she had ten cats, nine black and one white. Berúthiel set the black cats to spy on the [[Men]] of Gondor and the white cat to spy on the black ones. She managed to learn many dark secrets about the realm and its people by conversing with them and "reading their memories". These cats were infamous among the Gondorians, but they dared not touch them; however, Men would curse whenever they saw one pass by them.


Eventually, Tarannon exiled Berúthiel from Gondor due to her deeds and erased her name from the [[Book of the Kings]]. He sent her and her cats back to her southern homeland on a ship that "was last seen flying past Umbar with a cat at the masthead and another as a figurehead on the prow".
Eventually, Tarannon exiled Berúthiel from Gondor due to her deeds and erased her name from the [[Book of the Kings]]. He sent her and her cats back to her southern homeland on a ship that "was last seen flying past Umbar with a cat at the masthead and another as a figurehead on the prow".<ref>{{UT|Istari}}, note 7</ref>


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
It is possible that Berúthiel made her way home and told the Black Númenóreans of her treatment by the Gondorians, for soon after Tarannon's death, they made war with Gondor and took over the Haven of Umbar.
It is possible that Berúthiel made her way home and told the Black Númenóreans of her treatment by the Gondorians, for soon after Tarannon's death, they made war with Gondor and took over the Haven of Umbar.


Despite the erasure of her name from Gondor's records, Berúthiel and her cats were so notorious that they were held in the memory of Gondorians for centuries; [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] alluded to them more than 2,000 years after her death.
Despite the erasure of her name from Gondor's records, Berúthiel and her cats were so notorious that they were held in the memory of Gondorians for centuries; [[Aragorn]] alluded to them more than 2,000 years after her death.<ref>{{FR|II4}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The name ''Berúthiel'' is [[Sindarin]]. It seems to mean "Angry Queen", incorporating ''[[bereth|ber(eth)]]'', 'queen, spouse';  ''[[rúth]]'', which means 'anger'; and the feminine suffix ''[[-iel]]''. Since the Black Númenóreans did not use the [[Elven tongues]], this title was probably given to her by the Gondorians and is not her real name.
The name ''Berúthiel'' is [[Sindarin]]. It seems to mean "Angry Queen", incorporating ''[[bereth|ber(eth)]]'', 'queen, spouse';  ''[[rúth]]'', which means 'anger'; and the feminine suffix ''[[-iel]]''. Since the Black Númenóreans did not use the [[Elvish|Elven tongues]], this title was probably given to her by the Gondorians and is not her real name.
 
==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | ATA | | |ATA=[[Atanatar I]]<br/><small>''{{TA|480|n}} - {{TA|748|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | SIR | | |SIR=[[Siriondil (King of Gondor)|Siriondil]]<br/><small>''{{TA|570|n}} - {{TA|830|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| |}}
{{familytree | BER |~| TAR | | TAC |BER='''BERÚTHIEL'''<br/><small>''unknown''</small>|TAR=[[Tarannon Falastur]]<br/><small>''{{TA|654|n}} - {{TA|913|n}}''</small>|TAC=[[Tarciryan]]<br/><small>''unknown''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | |!| |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | EAR |EAR=[[Eärnil I]]<br/><small>''{{TA|736|n}} - {{TA|936|n}}''†</small>}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | |!| |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | CIR |CIR=[[Ciryandil]]<br/><small>''{{TA|820|n}} - {{TA|1015|n}}''†</small>}}
{{familytree/end}}
 
==Inspiration==
 
In an interview from 1966, Tolkien likened Berúthiel to the giantess [[Wikipedia:Skaði|Skaði]] of Norse mythology, since they both shared a dislike for "seaside life".<ref name=Interview>{{webcite|author=[[Daphne Castell]]|articleurl=http://www.festivalintheshire.com/journal1bdx/inttolkien.html|articlename=The Realms of Tolkien|dated=|website=[http://www.festivalintheshire.com/journal1bdx/index.html ''Festival in the Shire Journal'', Issue 1]|accessed=7 May 2012}}</ref><ref>[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings]]'', "Thursday evenings", pp. 137-8</ref>


==References==
{{References}}
* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christpher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The Istari]]", note 7


{{DEFAULTSORT:Beruthiel}}
[[Category:Black Númenóreans]]
[[Category:Black Númenóreans]]
[[Category:Gondorians]]
[[Category:Gondorians]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Berúthiel]]
[[de:Berúthiel]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hommes:3a:dunedain:gondoriens:beruthiel]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hommes:3a:dunedain:gondoriens:beruthiel]]
[[fi:Berúthiel]]
[[fi:Berúthiel]]

Revision as of 12:01, 17 July 2015

Berúthiel
Gondorian
Paula DiSante - Reporting to Beruthiel.JPG
Biographical Information
TitlesQueen of Gondor
LocationGondor
Notable forher cats; spying on people of Gondor
Family
SpouseTarannon
ChildrenNone
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Berúthiel

Berúthiel was a Queen of Gondor in the early part of the Third Age. She was the wife of King Tarannon Falastur, and was noted as being "nefarious, solitary, and loveless". It is therefore of no surprise that she and Tarannon produced no heirs.

History

Berúthiel was a Black Númenórean[1], a race that was often at war with the Dúnedain of Gondor. Most of the Black Númenóreans lived to the south of Gondor in the Umbar and other colonies. Presumably, Berúthiel was born in one of these southern areas.

Due to the hostility between the two races, Falastur's reason for marrying her is unclear, but he brought her to live with him in his house by the Sea near Pelargir. She hated Pelargir (loathing the smell of the sea, and fish, and the gulls[1]), however, and dwelt in the King's House in Osgiliath instead. There she decorated the courtyard with strange and disturbing sculptures but kept the inside of the house mostly bare. She herself wore dark, drab clothing and "hated all making, all colors and elaborate adornments".

Berúthiel loathed cats, but they became attracted to her for precisely that reason. They followed her around, and eventually she took advantage of their company by enslaving and torturing them. In total she had ten cats, nine black and one white. Berúthiel set the black cats to spy on the Men of Gondor and the white cat to spy on the black ones. She managed to learn many dark secrets about the realm and its people by conversing with them and "reading their memories". These cats were infamous among the Gondorians, but they dared not touch them; however, Men would curse whenever they saw one pass by them.

Eventually, Tarannon exiled Berúthiel from Gondor due to her deeds and erased her name from the Book of the Kings. He sent her and her cats back to her southern homeland on a ship that "was last seen flying past Umbar with a cat at the masthead and another as a figurehead on the prow".[2]

Legacy

It is possible that Berúthiel made her way home and told the Black Númenóreans of her treatment by the Gondorians, for soon after Tarannon's death, they made war with Gondor and took over the Haven of Umbar.

Despite the erasure of her name from Gondor's records, Berúthiel and her cats were so notorious that they were held in the memory of Gondorians for centuries; Aragorn alluded to them more than 2,000 years after her death.[3]

Etymology

The name Berúthiel is Sindarin. It seems to mean "Angry Queen", incorporating ber(eth), 'queen, spouse'; rúth, which means 'anger'; and the feminine suffix -iel. Since the Black Númenóreans did not use the Elven tongues, this title was probably given to her by the Gondorians and is not her real name.

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
Atanatar I
480 - 748
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Siriondil
570 - 830
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BERÚTHIEL
unknown
 
Tarannon Falastur
654 - 913
 
Tarciryan
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärnil I
736 - 936
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ciryandil
820 - 1015


Inspiration

In an interview from 1966, Tolkien likened Berúthiel to the giantess Skaði of Norse mythology, since they both shared a dislike for "seaside life".[1][4]

References