Déor (father of Ælfwine)
Déor | |
---|---|
Anglo-Saxon | |
Biographical Information | |
Position | Minstrel |
Location | Lionesse Kortirion |
Language | Old English |
Family | |
Spouse | Éadgifu |
Children | Ælfwine |
Physical Description | |
Gender | Male |
Déor was an English minstrel,[1] and the father of Ælfwine, according to the early version of the legendarium in the text called Ælfwine of England from The Book of Lost Tales.[2]
History
Déor came from somewhere in the south of Lúthien, though he also spent some time in Lionesse where he met his wife, whom he called Éadgifu.
Later, he moved to the city of Kortirion[note 1][3], ruled by the Prince of Gwar called Óswine, for he wished to be close to the Elves, who still lived around the city since Óswine was friendly to them. There, Éadgifu gave birth to their son Ælfwine, who inherited her mother's unquenchable longing for the sea.[2]
However, while Ælfwine was still a boy, a fierce people called the Forodwaith (i.e. Vikings) attacked Kortirion and laid siege to it, during which Déor died leading a "desperate sally" before the walls,[2] slain by Orm the sea-captain of the Forodwaith.[4]
Etymology
The name Déor is in Old English, meaning "brave, bold".[5]
In one occurrence, the character was called Heorrenda before being changed back to Déor.[6]
Genealogy
Inspiration
The character of Déor was probably inspired by the Old English poem Déor, which also features a minstrel as the eponymous main character. However, according to Christopher Tolkien, the only link between the two characters is their name.[1]
See also
- Éadwine, the father of Ælfwine in the later legendarium
- Eoh, the father of Eriol in the earlier legendarium
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales": "Ælfwine of England", p. 323
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales": "Ælfwine of England", p. 313-4
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales", outline 30, p. 310
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales": "Ælfwine of England", p. 318
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 643
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales": "Ælfwine of England", Changes made to names, and differences in names, in the texts of Ælfwine of England, p. 334