Folca

From Tolkien Gateway
Folca
Rohir
The Lord of the Rings Online - Folca the Hunter slays the Boar of Everholt.jpg
The Lord of the Rings Online tapestry: "Folca the Hunter slays the Boar of Everholt"
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Rohan
LocationRohan
LanguageRohanese and Westron
BirthT.A. 2804
RuleT.A. 2851 - 2864
DeathT.A. 2864 (aged 60)
Firienholt
Family
HouseHouse of Eorl
ParentageWalda
ChildrenFolcwine
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Folca

Folca (T.A. 2804T.A. 2864, aged 60 years) was the thirteenth King of Rohan.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Folca was the son of King Walda, who was born in a time when his country was still plagued by Orcs[2] who had invaded Rohan after the War of Dwarves and Orcs.[3] At the time of his grandfather Brytta's death it was believed that Rohan had been freed of the Orcs. However, some Orcs remained, and in 2851 after ruling just nine years Walda and all his companions were killed by Orcs when they rode from Dunharrow on mountain paths[2].

Folca was a great hunter, but he swore not to hunt wild beasts as long as there were Orcs left in Rohan. During his life all orc-holds in Rohan were destroyed.[1]

After Rohan had been cleared of Orcs, Folca went to the Firienwood to hunt the great Boar of Everholt. He managed to kill the boar, but suffered a mortal wound from the beast's tusks.[1] He was buried in the fourth mound on the east-side of the Barrow-field[4] on the left side of the road that approached Edoras[5] from the north-west[6]. Folca was succeeded by his son Folcwine[7].

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Folca is derived from Old English folc, which means "folk" or "people".[8]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
Brytta Léofa
2752 - 2842
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Walda
2780 - 2851
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FOLCA
2804 - 2864
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Folcwine
2830 - 2903
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Folcred
2858 - 2885
 
Fastred
2858 - 2885
 
daughter
unknown
 
Fengel
2870 - 2953

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

There was no note about the events during the life of Folca in the list of Kings of the Mark in the first edition of The Lord of the Rings.[9]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Folca in adaptations
Folca in The Lord of the Rings Online  
A tapestry of Folca hunting the Boar of Everholt designed by Jeremy Bennett for The Lord of the Rings (film series)  

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:

A tapestry recounting Folca's hunt hangs at Meduseld.

2013: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Folca appears in a flashback sequence depicting his mutual kill with the Boar of Everholt. A tapestry depicting the event is also found in Meduseld.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, entry 2804-64 13. Folca, p. 1069
  2. 2.0 2.1 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
  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
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Many Partings", p. 977
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall", p. 507
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line, entry 2830-2903 14. Folcwine, p. 1069
  8. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion. p. 644
  9. 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


Folca
House of Eorl
Born: T.A. 2804 Died: T.A. 2864
Preceded by:
Walda
13th King of Rohan
T.A. 28512864
Followed by:
Folcwine


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)