Rían

From Tolkien Gateway
This article is about the daughter of Belegund. For the daughter of Steward Barahir of Gondor, see Rían (daughter of Steward Barahir).
Rían
Adan
ForeverMedhok - Rian.jpg
"Rian" by ForeverMedhok
Biographical Information
LocationLadros
BirthF.A. 450
DeathF.A. 472 (aged 22)
Haudh-en-Nirnaeth
Family
HouseHouse of Bëor
ParentageBelegund
SpouseHuor
ChildrenTuor
Physical Description
GenderFemale
GalleryImages of Rían
"Ar·phent Rían Tuor·na: man agorech?"
― "Túrin Wrapper"

Rían was the daughter of Belegund of the House of Bëor,[1] the wife of Huor of the House of Hador, and the mother of Tuor.[2] Rían was said to be gentle of heart, a lover of trees and wild flowers, and was known as a singer and maker of songs.[3]

History[edit | edit source]

Rían was born in F.A. 450.[4] She was only a young girl when the Dagor Bragollach erupted and was lost by Elves and Men in 455. In the wake of the defeat, her father Belegund became a companion of Barahir, who contested Morgoth's dominion over Dorthonion. But by 456, as Morgoth tightened his grip upon the land, Rían was led to safety with the other women and children by Emeldir, the wife of Barahir.[5] The refugees eventually reached Dor-lómin by way of Brethil.[6]

In F.A. 472, Rían wedded Huor of the House of Marach,[7] whose brother Húrin was married to Rían's cousin Morwen.[1] They had been married for only two months when Huor joined Húrin and left to fight in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.[8]

Rían searches the Hill of Slain by Alan Lee

In the Nirnaeth Arnoediad Huor was slain in the rearguard of King Turgon. His body, along with that of many Elves and Men, went into a great hill in the midst of Anfauglith which thereafter was called the Haudh-en-Nirnaeth.[9]

Rían, having heard no word of her husband's fate, went into the wild seeking tidings. She gave birth to a son, Tuor, and committed him to the care of Annael of the Elves of Mithrim. Rían made her way to Haudh-en-Nirnaeth and died of grief upon the mound.[8] She was only 22 years old when she died.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Rían is Sindarin for "Crown-gift", from ("crown, garland") + ann ("gift").[10]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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
 
Nimloth
d. 506
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Túrin
464 - 499
 
Lalaith
466 - 469
 
Nienor
473 - 499
 
Tuor
b. 472
 
Idril
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil
b. 503
 
 
 
Elwing
b. F.A. 503
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elros
F.A. 532 - S.A. 442
 
Elrond
born F.A. 532
 

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In an early version of the Grey Annals the wife of Belegund and Rían were in Hithlum when the Dagor Bragollach occurred and thus they did not have to escape from Dorthonion. This was superseded by the story of Emeldir and her escape with the women and children from the highlands.[11]

In the Grey Annals, the year of Rían's marriage to Huor was F.A. 471 in one paragraph,[12] yet in the year 472 it is said that they wedded in the first days of spring and that Huor was summoned to battle two months later.[7] In The Silmarillion the latter version was used.

References