Brytta
| Brytta | |
|---|---|
| Rohir | |
 | |
| "The House of Eorl - Brytta Leofa" by Lída Holubová | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Léofa |
| Titles | King of Rohan |
| Location | Rohan |
| Language | Rohanese and Westron |
| Birth | T.A. 2752 |
| Rule | T.A. 2798 – 2842 (44 years) |
| Death | T.A. 2842 (aged 90) |
| Family | |
| House | House of Eorl |
| Parentage | Fréaláf Hildeson |
| Children | Walda |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Brytta |
Brytta Léofa (Third Age 2752 – 2842, aged 90 years) was the eleventh King of Rohan.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Brytta was the son of Fréaláf Hildeson and the grandnephew of king Helm of Rohan. He was the grandson of the King's sister Hild.[2]
During the reign of Helm, when Brytta was still a child, Rohan was invaded by the Dunlendings in T.A. 2758 and conquered the capital of Edoras. The survivors were enslaved and others fled to the valleys of the White Mountains. Brytta's father, Fréaláf, fled with many others to the mountain refuge at Dunharrow. King Helm retreated with his surviving forces to the Hornburg and was besieged by the invaders.[2]
A short time afterwards the Long Winter came and covered Rohan in snow. The cold and famine that followed caused great suffering for both the Rohirrim and the invaders, and King Helm with his sons lost their lives. Soon after the end of the winter, Fréalaf led a small company from Dunharrow, liberated Edoras by surprise and killed the Dunlending leader Wulf. Before the end of T.A. 2759 the Dunlendings were driven from Rohan.[2]
Fréaláf was crowned as the new King of Rohan. The wizard Saruman came to the crowning bringing gifts and took up residence in the Gondorian fortress of Isengard, 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]
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
- ↑ 1.0 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
- ↑ 2.0 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
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", entry for king Fréaláf, p. 1068
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", pp. 1068-9
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings", p. 977
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall", p. 507
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 644
- ↑ 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 | ||
| Preceded by: Fréaláf | 11th King of Rohan T.A. 2798 – 2842 | 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) |
