Brytta

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Brytta
Rohir
Lída Holubová - The House of Eorl - Brytta Leofa.jpg
"The House of Eorl - Brytta Leofa" by Lída Holubová
Biographical Information
Other namesLéofa
TitlesKing of Rohan
LocationRohan
LanguageRohanese and Westron
BirthT.A. 2752
RuleT.A. 27982842 (44 years)
DeathT.A. 2842 (aged 90)
Family
HouseHouse of Eorl
ParentageFréaláf Hildeson
ChildrenWalda
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Brytta

Brytta Léofa (Third Age 27522842, aged 90 years) was the eleventh King of Rohan.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Brytta was the son of Fréaláf Hildeson and the grandson of king Helm of Rohan.[2]

During the reign of his grandfather, when Brytta was still a child, Rohan was invaded from the East and from the west by the Dunlendings who were led by Wulf in T.A. 2758. The invaders overran Rohan and defeated the Rohirrim. The survivors who escaped being enslaved fled to the valleys of the White Mountains. King Helm retreated with his surviving forces from the Fords of Isen to the Hornburg and was besieged by the invaders who conquered Edoras, the capital of Rohan. Fréaláf, the son of Helm's sister Hild and many others fled to the mountain refuge at Dunharrow.[2]

A short time afterwards Rohan was covered with snow for almost five months in the Long Winter, which lasted from November T.A. 2758 until March 2759. The cold and the lack of food that followed caused great suffering for both the Rohirrim and the invaders. King Helm was found standing upright frozen to death on the dike when he did not return from one of his solo raids of the camps of the besieging forces to the Hornburg. Soon after the end of the winter Fréalaf led a small company from Dunharrow, conquered Edoras by surprise and killed Wulf. After the snow melted the valley of the river Entwash became an enormous swamp and the Eastern invaders died or retreated. Finally help came from Gondor over the roads from the east and from the west of the White Mountains. Before the end of T.A. 2759 the Dunlendings were driven from Rohan and Fréalaf was crowned as the new king of Rohan.[2]

The wizard Saruman came to the crowning of Fréaláf bringing gifts and took up residence in the fortress of Isengard, which was a part of Gondor, with the permission of Steward Beren of Gondor.[3]

Brytta became king after the death of his father in T.A. 2798.[4]

During his reign Rohan was still recovering from the war with the Dunlendings during which many Rohirrim had died and many of their cattle and horses had been lost.[3] Brytta was generous and helped those in need. His people called him Léofa, because he was loved by all.[1]

His rule saw a new trouble, as the final battle of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs caused great numbers of Orcs to flee from the Misty Mountains, trying to make a home in the White Mountains in the south of Rohan.[5] During his rule the Rohirrim hunted down the Orcs.[1]

Brytta was the longest-lived king of the Second Line (from Fréaláf to Théoden)[6] and ruled for 44 years until his death in 2842, at which it was believed that Rohan was free of the Orcs.[1] He was buried in the second mound on the east-side of the Barrow-field,[7] on the left side of the road that approached Edoras[8] from the north-west.[9]

Brytta was succeeded by his son Walda at his death.[10]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Brytta means "bestower", "distributor", "prince", or "lord" in Old English.[11] In poetry it is frequently found in epithets for a prince or lord. For instance, in line 352 of Beowulf, the Danish king Hrothgar is called béaga bryttan, "giver of rings". Brytta's nickname Léofa means "beloved".

Léofa is derived from Old English leof, which means "loved", "beloved", or "dear".[11]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gram
2668 - 2741
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Helm Hammerhand
2691 - 2759
 
Hild
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Haleth
d. 2758
 
Háma
d. 2759
 
daughter
unknown
 
Fréaláf Hildeson
2726 - 2798
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BRYTTA LÉOFA
2752 - 2842
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Walda
2780 - 2851
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Folca
2804 - 2864


Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In the first edition of The Lord of the Rings Léofa was called Léof[11] and there was no note about the events during his life in his entry in the list of Kings of the Mark[12].

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

The Lord of the Rings Online tapestry: Brytta slays the chieftain of the White Mountain Orcs

2012: The Lord of the Rings Online:: A tapestry depicting Brytta is found in Meduseld and can be acquired for use in player's houses.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, entry 2752-2842 11. Brytta, p. 1068
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", entry for king Helm Hammerhand, pp. 1066-7
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", entry for king Fréaláf, p. 1068
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, entry 2726-2798 10. Fréaláf Hildeson, p. 1068
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards", entry for steward Beregond, p. 1054
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", pp. 1068-9
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings", p. 977
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall", p. 507
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, entry 2780-2851 12. Walda, p. 1069
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 644
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (iii) "The House of Eorl", Notes, note 5
Brytta
House of Eorl
Born: T.A. 2752 Died: T.A. 2842
Preceded by:
Fréaláf
11th King of Rohan
T.A. 27982842
Followed by:
Walda


Kings of Rohan
First Line: Eorl the Young (T.A. 2510 - 2545) · Brego (2545 - 2570) · Aldor the Old (2570 - 2645) · Fréa (2645 - 2659) · Fréawine (2659 - 2680) · Goldwine (2680 - 2699) · Déor (2699 - 2718) · Gram (2718 - 2741) · Helm Hammerhand (2741 - 2759)
Second Line: Fréaláf Hildeson (2759 - 2798) · Brytta Léofa (2798 - 2842) · Walda (2842 - 2851) · Folca the Hunter (2851 - 2864) · Folcwine (2864 - 2903) · Fengel (2903 - 2953) · Thengel (2953 - 2980) · Théoden Ednew (2980 - 3019)
Third Line: Éomer Éadig (T.A. 3019 - Fo.A. 63) · Elfwine the Fair (63 - unknown)