Bór

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Bór
Easterling
Helena Stepanova - Bor with his sons.jpg
"Bor with his sons" (Bór being the one third from the left) by Helena Stepanova
Biographical Information
PositionChieftain of one of the Easterling peoples
LocationPossibly Lothlann
AffiliationMaedhros
BirthPossibly F.A. 420NB
East of Ered Luin
DeathF.A. 472 (aged 52)
Nirnaeth Arnoediad
Family
ChildrenBorlad
Borlach
Borthand
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Bór

Bór the Faithful was, along Ulfang, one of the two greatest chieftains of the Easterlings that moved into Beleriand during the late First Age.

History[edit | edit source]

Bór's people came into Beleriand after the Dagor Bragollach. He and his sons Borlad, Borlach, and Borthand swore allegiance to Maedhros and Maglor.[1] He was one of the few leaders of the Eastern Tribes of Men to remain faithful to the Eldar during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears).

This loyalty came at the cost of his life. The Elves, grateful for his loyalty, posthumously awarded him the title "Faithful".[source?]

GenealogyNB[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
BÓR
F.A. 420 - 472
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Borlad
F.A. 443 - 472
 
Borlach
F.A. 445 - 472
 
Borthand
F.A. 447 - 472

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The name Bór was probably not the character's true name, as it seems to be Sindarin for "Faithful": from bôr ("steadfast; trusty man, faithful vassal").[2][note 1]

An earlier name for the character was Bor (without the accent).[3]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

Bor's year of birth[edit | edit source]

In the appendix of The Lost Road and Other Writings in The Genealogies (dating from the early 1930s), it is stated that Bor (as the character was called at that point in the legendarium) was born in the year 120.[3]

When comparing the above date with its associated text The Earliest Annals of Beleriand, Bor was born 43 years before the Swarthy Men entered Beleriand in the year 163.[4]

Also, the dates found in The Earliest Annals of Beleriand were by and large moved 300 years into the future in The Grey Annals (c. early 1950s), such that, for example, an event happening in the year 195 in The Earliest Annals now happened in the year 495.[5]

Notes

  1. While Eldamo considers the name Bór to be Sindarin, its constituent part is actually in Noldorin (which was a precursor language to Sindarin).

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  2. Paul Strack, "S. Bór m.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 24 August 2023)
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Appendix: I. The Genealogies", p. 403
  4. 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)]", entry year 163, p. 300
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "VII. The Earliest Annals of Beleriand: Commentary on the Annals of Beleriand (text AB I)", Annals 155 to 157, pp. 319-20