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{{sources}}
{{disambig-more|Morwen|[[Morwen (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Morwen|[[Morwen (disambiguation)]]}}
{{Edain infobox
{{Edain infobox
| image=[[Image:Antti Autio - Hurin Departs to Nirnaeth Arnoediad.jpg|250px]]
| name=Morwen
| name=Morwen Eledhwen
| image=[[Image:Kimberly - Morwen.jpg|250px]]
| caption="Morwen" by [[:Category:Images by Kimberly|Kimberly]]
| pronun=
| othernames=''Eledhwen'' ([[Sindarin|S]], "Elfsheen")
| othernames=''Eledhwen'' ([[Sindarin|S]], "Elfsheen")
| titles=[[Lady of Dor-lómin]]
| titles=Lady of Dor-lómin
| position=
| position=
| realm=[[Ladros]]; [[Dor-lómin]]; [[Doriath]]
| location=[[Ladros]]; [[Dor-lómin]]; [[Doriath]]
| affiliation=
| affiliation=
| language=
| language=
Line 12: Line 15:
| birthlocation=[[Ladros]]
| birthlocation=[[Ladros]]
| rule=
| rule=
| death={{FA|500}}
| death={{FA|501}}
| deathlocation=[[Cabed Naeramarth]]
| deathlocation=[[Cabed Naeramarth]]
| age=57
| age=58
| notablefor=
| house=[[House of Bëor]]
| house=[[House of Bëor]]
| parentage=[[Baragund]]
| parentage=[[Baragund]]
| siblings=
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Húrin|Húrin Thalion]]
| spouse=[[Húrin|Húrin Thalion]]
| children=[[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]], [[Urwen Lalaith]], [[Nienor Níniel]]
| children=[[Túrin]], [[Lalaith]], [[Nienor]]
| gender=Female
| gender=Female
| height=
| height=Tall
| hair=Dark
| hair=Dark
| eyes=
| eyes=Bright
| clothing=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| weapons=
| steed=
| steed=
}}
}}
'''Morwen''' was a daughter of [[Baragund]] of the [[House of Bëor]], and she married [[Húrin]] of the [[House of Hador|House of Marach]]. She was the mother of [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]], [[Nienor Níniel]] and [[Urwen Lalaith|Lalaith]].
'''Morwen''' was a daughter of [[Baragund]] of the [[House of Bëor]], the wife of [[Húrin]] of the [[House of Hador]], and the mother of [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]], [[Lalaith]], and [[Nienor]]. She was described as being the most beautiful mortal woman of her time - tall, dark-haired, bright-eyed, and extremely majestic. She also had a stern and cold disposition. Her son Túrin, but not her daughters, inherited her beauty and her tendency to keep her emotions and thoughts to herself.<ref name=UT2>{{UT|2}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Morwen was the daughter of [[Baragund]], [[Lord of Ladros]]. She belonged to the [[House of Beor]] and married [[Húrin]] of the [[House of Hador]] and [[Lord of Dor-lómin]]. They had three children together, [[Túrin]], [[Lalaith]], and [[Nienor]]. Lalaith perished to the [[Evil Breath]], a plague of Morgoth, when she was a young child.
After Húrin's departure to fight for [[Fingon]] at the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], Morwen, who was pregnant with their third child, remained in her husband's house as the Lady of [[Dor-Lómin]]. After Morgoth's victory at the Nirnaeth, hordes of [[Easterlings (First Age)|Easterlings]] who had betrayed the [[Edain]], [[Incomers|invaded]] [[Hithlum]]. Even though they took control of the land, they left Morwen and her household alone for a while, as her incredible beauty led them to believe her to be a witch with dealings with the Elves. She was indeed in contact with small groups of Elves living in the mountains close to her house, but from them she received only information, and that very scant.
Eventually she thought it best to send her only surviving child, Túrin, to [[Doriath]] with [[Gethron]] and [[Grithnir]] to seek refuge. Being pregnant, and out of fear of drawing the Easterlings' attention, Morwen herself remained in Dor-Lómin.
Túrin was adopted by King [[Thingol]], who sent messengers back to [[Hithlum]] bringing her news about Túrin's well-being, invitations from Thingol and gifts from [[Melian]]. But she refused to leave her home, not the least because her daughter [[Nienor]] was still a baby.<ref name=UT2/> In her stead she sent to Túrin the dragon-crested [[Helm of Hador]], the heirloom of their house.<ref>{{CH|4}}</ref>
Morwen's house was oppressed by [[Brodda]]'s Easterlings. Meanwhile, Túrin had exiled himself out of Doriath and made himself a hero. The fame of the [[Black Sword]] reached to Hithlum, saying that he was cleansing [[Beleriand]] from perils, without Morwen knowing that he was her own son. Nienor now had grown up, and Morwen eventually fled the tyranny of Hithlum through [[Ered Wethrin]] and came to Doriath, only to find out that her son had left.<ref>{{CH|10}}</ref> Túrin's travels also brought him to the north and liberated Dor-Lómin, but it was too late, as Morwen and Nienor had long gone.
[[Elves of Nargothrond]] came to Doriath, bringing news about its [[Sack of Nargothrond|sack]] by [[Glaurung]] and that Túrin was under [[Orodreth]]'s service in [[Nargothrond]]; hearing this, against Melian's counsel Morwen left Doriath to seek news of him. [[Mablung]] and [[march-wardens]] were tasked to accompany her; unknown to both, [[Nienor]] had joined them. Mablung reached her near [[Sirion]] but Morwen refused to hear him; then Nienor revealed herself and both women tried to persuade each other to return.
As Morwen refused to go back, and Nienor wouldn't abandon her mother, Mablung perforce passed them over the [[Meres of Twilight]] and left the women with guards upon [[Amon Ethir]] before setting out with a small company to scout Nargothrond as were his orders by Thingol. Yet [[Glaurung]] left Nargothrond and Mablung was unable to prevent them both from getting ensnared in the traps of the [[Dragon]].
Morwen was then lost in the fog that arose from the Dragon's steamy breath and Mablung heard no news from her.<ref>{{S|Turin}}</ref>
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Húrin Finds Morwen.jpg|left|thumb|''Húrin Finds Morwen'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Years later, Morwen, now in her fifties, came to the [[Forest of Brethil]] and found the graves of her children at [[Cabed Naeramarth]]. Húrin found her there. She felt already spent and she asked her husband how their son found his sister; but Húrin never replied. They spent the night together until she passed away with the sun. Húrin dug for her a grave above Cabed Naeramarth on the west side of the [[Stone of the Hapless]] cutting the words ''Here lies also Morwen Eledhwen''.
According to the words of [[Glirhuin]], the mound survived the [[War of Wrath]] and as [[Tol Morwen]] was the westernmost isle off the coast of [[Lindon]] in the [[Second Age|Second]] and [[Third Age]]s.<ref>{{S|Doriath}}</ref>


== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
Morwen means "Dark Maiden" in [[Sindarin]] (from ''[[môr]]'' = "darkness, dark, night" and ''[[gwenn]]'' = "maiden"). Her surname,
''Morwen'' is [[Sindarin]] for "Dark Maiden", from ''[[môr]]'' ("darkness, dark, night") + ''[[gwenn]]'' ("maiden").<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''[[môr]]'', ''[[wen]]''</ref>
Eledhwen, means "Elf-maiden" (from ''[[edhel]]'' = "Elf" and ''[[gwenn]]'' = "maiden"), though [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] also translates it as "Elfsheen". Both definitions are in reference to her noble bearing.  
 
==Other names==
Her epithet, '''''Eledhwen''''', means "Elfsheen"<ref>{{S|18}}</ref> or "Elven-fair".<ref>{{L|211}}, p. 281</ref> In the early [[Noldorin]] phase, it meant "Elf-maid".<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, entry "ELED"</ref>
 
She bore the title '''Lady of Dor-lómin''', being the wife of Húrin, the [[Lord of Dor-lómin]].<ref>{{CH|List}}, entry ''Lady of Dor-lómin'', p. 306</ref>


==Genealogy==
==Genealogy==
<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;">
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree | | | BRE | | | | HAL | | HAD | BRE=[[Bregolas]]|HAL=[[Halmir]]|HAD=[[Hador Lórindol]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | BRE | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |BRE=[[Bregor]]<br/><small>''{{FA|359|n}} - {{FA|448|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | |!| |}}
{{familytree | |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | BEL | | BAR | | HAR |y| GAL | BEL=[[Belegund]]|BAR=[[Baragund]]|GAL=[[Galdor of Dor-lómin]]|HAR=[[Hareth]]}}
{{familytree | BRE | | HIR | | BRG | | GIL | | BAR |y| EME | | |BRE=[[Bregil]]<br/><small>''b. {{FA|386|n}}''</small>|HIR=[[Hirwen]]<br/><small>''{{FA|389|n}}''</small>|BRG=[[Bregolas]]<br/><small>''{{FA|393|n}} - {{FA|455|n}}''</small>|GIL=[[Gilwen]]<br/><small>''b. {{FA|397|n}}''</small>|BAR=[[Barahir]]<br/><small>''{{FA|400|n}} - {{FA|460|n}}''</small>|EME=[[Emeldir]]<br/><small>''b. {{FA|406|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | | | |!| | | |,|-|^|-|.| |}}
{{familytree | | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | |!| | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | MOR |y| HUR | | HUO |MOR='''MORWEN'''|HUR=[[Húrin]]|HUO=[[Huor]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | BET | | BAR | | BEG | | | | BER |y| LUT |BET=[[Beleth]]<br/><small>''b. {{FA|417|n}}''</small>|BAR=[[Baragund]]<br/><small>''{{FA|420|n}} - {{FA|460|n}}''</small>|BEG=[[Belegund]]<br/><small>''{{FA|422|n}} - {{FA|460|n}}''</small>|BER=[[Beren]]<br/><small>''{{FA|432|n}} - {{FA|503|n}}''</small>|LUT=[[Lúthien]]<br/><small>''{{YT|1200}} - {{FA|503}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | TUR | | LAL | | NIE | | |TUR=[[Túrin]]|LAL=[[Urwen Lalaith]]|NIE=[[Nienor Níniel]]}}
{{familytree | | | | | HUR |y| MOR | | RIA |y| HUO | | DIO | | |HUR=[[Húrin]]<br/><small>''{{FA|441|n}} - {{FA|502|n}}''</small>|MOR='''MORWEN'''<br/><small>''{{FA|441|n}} - {{FA|501|n}}''</small>|RIA=[[Rían]]<br/><small>''{{FA|450|n}} - {{FA|472|n}}''</small>|HUO=[[Huor]]<br/><small>''{{FA|444|n}} - {{FA|472|n}}''</small>|DIO=[[Dior]]<br/><small>''{{FA|470|n}} - {{FA|506|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | |L|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|J| | | |}}
{{familytree | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree | | | TUR | | LAL | | NIE | | TUO | | | | | | | | |TUR=[[Túrin]]<br/><small>''{{FA|464|n}} - {{FA|499|n}}''</small>|LAL=[[Lalaith]]<br/><small>''{{FA|466|n}} - {{FA|469|n}}''</small>|NIE=[[Nienor]]<br/><small>''{{FA|473|n}} - {{FA|499|n}}''</small>|TUO=[[Tuor]]<br/><small>''b. {{FA|472|n}}''</small>}}
{{familytree | | | |L|~|~|~|~|~|~|~|J| | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree/end}}
{{familytree/end}}
</div>
{{references}}
{{references}}
* ''[[The Children of Húrin]]'', passim
* ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', [[Of Túrin Turambar]]
* ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[Narn i Chîn Húrin]]
==See Also==
*[[:Category:Images of Morwen|Images of Morwen]]


[[Category:Characters in The Book of Lost Tales]]
[[Category:Characters in The Children of Húrin]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:House of Bëor]]
[[Category:House of Bëor]]
[[Category:Noldorin names]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Morwen Eledhwen]]
[[de:Morwen Eledhwen]]
[[fi:Morwen Eledhwen]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/1a/peuple_de_beor/morwen]]
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/hommes/1a/peuple_de_beor/morwen]]
[[fi:Morwen Eledhwen]]

Revision as of 09:59, 19 September 2021

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
The name Morwen refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Morwen (disambiguation).
Morwen
Adan
Kimberly - Morwen.jpg
"Morwen" by Kimberly
Biographical Information
Other namesEledhwen (S, "Elfsheen")
TitlesLady of Dor-lómin
LocationLadros; Dor-lómin; Doriath
BirthF.A. 443
Ladros
DeathF.A. 501 (aged 58)
Cabed Naeramarth
Family
HouseHouse of Bëor
ParentageBaragund
SpouseHúrin Thalion
ChildrenTúrin, Lalaith, Nienor
Physical Description
GenderFemale
HeightTall
Hair colorDark
Eye colorBright
GalleryImages of Morwen

Morwen was a daughter of Baragund of the House of Bëor, the wife of Húrin of the House of Hador, and the mother of Túrin Turambar, Lalaith, and Nienor. She was described as being the most beautiful mortal woman of her time - tall, dark-haired, bright-eyed, and extremely majestic. She also had a stern and cold disposition. Her son Túrin, but not her daughters, inherited her beauty and her tendency to keep her emotions and thoughts to herself.[1]

History

Morwen was the daughter of Baragund, Lord of Ladros. She belonged to the House of Beor and married Húrin of the House of Hador and Lord of Dor-lómin. They had three children together, Túrin, Lalaith, and Nienor. Lalaith perished to the Evil Breath, a plague of Morgoth, when she was a young child.

After Húrin's departure to fight for Fingon at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Morwen, who was pregnant with their third child, remained in her husband's house as the Lady of Dor-Lómin. After Morgoth's victory at the Nirnaeth, hordes of Easterlings who had betrayed the Edain, invaded Hithlum. Even though they took control of the land, they left Morwen and her household alone for a while, as her incredible beauty led them to believe her to be a witch with dealings with the Elves. She was indeed in contact with small groups of Elves living in the mountains close to her house, but from them she received only information, and that very scant.

Eventually she thought it best to send her only surviving child, Túrin, to Doriath with Gethron and Grithnir to seek refuge. Being pregnant, and out of fear of drawing the Easterlings' attention, Morwen herself remained in Dor-Lómin.

Túrin was adopted by King Thingol, who sent messengers back to Hithlum bringing her news about Túrin's well-being, invitations from Thingol and gifts from Melian. But she refused to leave her home, not the least because her daughter Nienor was still a baby.[1] In her stead she sent to Túrin the dragon-crested Helm of Hador, the heirloom of their house.[2]

Morwen's house was oppressed by Brodda's Easterlings. Meanwhile, Túrin had exiled himself out of Doriath and made himself a hero. The fame of the Black Sword reached to Hithlum, saying that he was cleansing Beleriand from perils, without Morwen knowing that he was her own son. Nienor now had grown up, and Morwen eventually fled the tyranny of Hithlum through Ered Wethrin and came to Doriath, only to find out that her son had left.[3] Túrin's travels also brought him to the north and liberated Dor-Lómin, but it was too late, as Morwen and Nienor had long gone.

Elves of Nargothrond came to Doriath, bringing news about its sack by Glaurung and that Túrin was under Orodreth's service in Nargothrond; hearing this, against Melian's counsel Morwen left Doriath to seek news of him. Mablung and march-wardens were tasked to accompany her; unknown to both, Nienor had joined them. Mablung reached her near Sirion but Morwen refused to hear him; then Nienor revealed herself and both women tried to persuade each other to return.

As Morwen refused to go back, and Nienor wouldn't abandon her mother, Mablung perforce passed them over the Meres of Twilight and left the women with guards upon Amon Ethir before setting out with a small company to scout Nargothrond as were his orders by Thingol. Yet Glaurung left Nargothrond and Mablung was unable to prevent them both from getting ensnared in the traps of the Dragon.

Morwen was then lost in the fog that arose from the Dragon's steamy breath and Mablung heard no news from her.[4]

Húrin Finds Morwen by Ted Nasmith

Years later, Morwen, now in her fifties, came to the Forest of Brethil and found the graves of her children at Cabed Naeramarth. Húrin found her there. She felt already spent and she asked her husband how their son found his sister; but Húrin never replied. They spent the night together until she passed away with the sun. Húrin dug for her a grave above Cabed Naeramarth on the west side of the Stone of the Hapless cutting the words Here lies also Morwen Eledhwen.

According to the words of Glirhuin, the mound survived the War of Wrath and as Tol Morwen was the westernmost isle off the coast of Lindon in the Second and Third Ages.[5]

Etymology

Morwen is Sindarin for "Dark Maiden", from môr ("darkness, dark, night") + gwenn ("maiden").[6]

Other names

Her epithet, Eledhwen, means "Elfsheen"[7] or "Elven-fair".[8] In the early Noldorin phase, it meant "Elf-maid".[9]

She bore the title Lady of Dor-lómin, being the wife of Húrin, the Lord of Dor-lómin.[10]

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bregor
359 - 448
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bregil
b. 386
 
Hirwen
389
 
Bregolas
393 - 455
 
Gilwen
b. 397
 
Barahir
400 - 460
 
Emeldir
b. 406
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Beleth
b. 417
 
Baragund
420 - 460
 
Belegund
422 - 460
 
 
 
Beren
432 - 503
 
Lúthien
Y.T. 1200 - F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Húrin
441 - 502
 
MORWEN
441 - 501
 
Rían
450 - 472
 
Huor
444 - 472
 
Dior
470 - 506
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Túrin
464 - 499
 
Lalaith
466 - 469
 
Nienor
473 - 499
 
Tuor
b. 472
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References