Eorl

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 15:25, 1 June 2015 by Mith (talk | contribs) (Relinked Fastred)
Eorl
Rohir
Jan Pospisil - Eorl the Young at Celebrant.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesthe Young
TitlesLord of the Éothéod
King of Rohan
LocationRohan
AffiliationOath of Eorl
LanguageRohirric and Westron
BirthT.A. 2485
RuleT.A. 2501 - T.A. 2510 (Lord)
T.A. 2510 - T.A. 2545 (King)
DeathT.A. 2545 (aged 60)
The Wold
Family
HouseHouse of Eorl
ParentageLeod
ChildrenBrego
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorYellow[1]
SteedFelaróf
GalleryImages of Eorl

Eorl the Young (Third Age 2485 – 2545, aged 60 years) was the son of Léod of the Éothéod, and founder of Rohan.[1]

Life

When Eorl was only 16 years old, his father was killed while trying to tame Felaróf, making Eorl Lord of the Éothéod at that young age. Young Eorl swore to avenge his father and managed to tame him. He "doomed" the horse to carry him for the rest of their lives, and the horse seemingly accepted this burden.[1]

In T.A. 2510, Borondir Udalraph came to the north seeking aid, as the South-kingdom was attacked by the Orcs and the Balchoth. On April 15th, Eorl came to the Field of Celebrant, and joined the battle. For his service to Gondor, he was granted Calenardhon to dwell in. As a return, Eorl and his descendants would have to come to the aid of Gondor when they requested; this was known as the Oath of Eorl.[2]

Eorl ruled from a green hill under the White Mountains.[1]

Even in his older years Eorl never lost his yellow hair. He died in battle against the Easterlings in T.A. 2545. He was buried in the first royal mound, and Felaróf was buried with him.[3]

Legacy

Eorl was the founder of Rohan, its first King, the ancestor of the House of Eorl and all the Kings of Rohan. His horse Felaróf was the first of the Mearas.

Eorl was known as "the Young" because he became Lord of the Éothéod at the age of 16 and because he never lost his yellow hair.

His Oath would be answered at least twice: once by Folcred and Fastred, and once by Théoden Ednew.[3]

Etymology

Eorl is an Old English word that can be roughly translated as "one of the nobility, earl". It was the highest of the ranks in North Germanic culture, not introduced to Britain until the late 9th century. The title was known as jarl in Old Norse,[4] and because of that, the Þórsteinn Thorarensen used this throughout his Icelandic translation of The Lord of the Rings, along with Hjálmur, Þengill, Þjódan and Jómar.[5]

Compare Ceorl, the second rank.

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
Fram
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Léod
2459 - 2501
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EORL
2485 - 2545
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brego
2512 - 2570
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baldor
d. 2570
 
Aldor
2544 - 2645
 
Eofor
unknown


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark"
  4. Jarl in Sweden at Wikipedia
  5. Arden R. Smith, Transitions in Translations: Upphaflega íslensk heiti, published in Vinyar Tengwar 42, pages 35-37
Eorl
House of Eorl
Born: T.A. 2485 Died: T.A. 2545
Preceded by:
Léod
Lord of the Éothéod
T.A. 25012510
None
Himself as King
None
1st King of Rohan
T.A. 25102545
Followed by:
Brego