Brand

From Tolkien Gateway
This article is about the character in The Lord of the Rings. For the Elvish word, see brand (word).
Brand
Northman
Donato Giancola - Brand - son of Bard.jpg
"Brand" by Donato Giancola
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Dale
LocationDale
LanguageDalish, Westron
RuleT.A. 3007 - 3019
Death17 March, T.A. 3019
Battle of Dale
Family
ParentageBain
ChildrenBard
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Brand

Brand was a King of Dale during the War of the Ring.

History[edit | edit source]

Brand was the son of King Bain and grandson of Bard the Bowman[1] who had killed the dragon Smaug.[2]

He became the king of Dale and by T.A. 3018 he had extended the realm of Dale far south and east of Esgaroth.[1]

At the Council of Elrond the dwarf Glóin reported that a year earlier (in T.A. 3017) a messenger from Mordor had come to speak to Dáin. He also said that messengers had spoken to King Brand and that he was afraid, for war appeared to be gathering on his eastern borders.[3]

King Brand remained steadfast though. In T.A. 3019 when a host of Sauron's allies crossed the River Carnen he retreated into Dale. There the Men of Dale and the Dwarves of Erebor fought for three days. Brand was slain at the side of Dáin II Ironfoot during the Battle of Dale, at the end of which the victorious Easterlings drove the allies (including his son, Bard) into Erebor where they were besieged.

However, when news of Sauron's defeat came his northern army was dismayed with his son (and Dáin's son, Thorin) breaking the siege. King Brand was succeeded by his son, Bard II.[4]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

J.R.R. Tolkien possibly derived the name Brand from Old English brand ("fire-brand, torch; sword").[5]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Girion
d. 2770
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bard I
d. 2977
 
 
 
 
Bain
d. 3007
 
 
 
 
BRAND
d. 3019
 
 
 
 
Bard II
fl. Fourth Age


Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Brand in adaptations

2001-2007: The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game:

Despite not featuring in The Lord of the Rings film series, Decipher produced a card depicting the character.

2012: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Brand makes two minor appearances during the Battle of Dale and before the Siege of Erebor in two adventure "instances" designed for groups of six or twelve players. Unlike in the books, Brand is depicted being slain by arrows in the crossing of the River Running while guarding his people's retreat to the Mountain. This inconsistency is referenced in a later quest in which a notorious dwarf tale-spinner describes events unfolding this way, and the player has the option to agree with the veracity of his tale or to disagree in favour of the canonical version of Brand's death.

References

Brand
Preceded by:
Bain
3rd King of Dale
T.A. 300717 March 3019
Followed by:
Bard II