Thengel

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Thengel
Rohir
Warren Mahy - Thengel.png
"Thengel" by Warren Mahy
Biographical Information
Other namesThengel The Thrice-renowned
TitlesKing of Rohan
LocationRohan
LanguageRohanese, Sindarin and Westron
BirthT.A. 2905
RuleT.A. 2953 - 2980
DeathT.A. 2980 (aged 75)
Family
HouseHouse of Eorl
ParentageFengel
SiblingsTwo unnamed sisters[1][note 1]
SpouseMorwen Steelsheen
ChildrenThéoden, Théodwyn, three unnamed daughters
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Thengel

Thengel the Thrice-renowned (Third Age 29052980, aged 75 years) was the sixteenth King of Rohan. Thengel was the only son of Fengel, and became king after the death of his father in T.A. 2953.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Fengel was a greedy and quarrelsome man, and Thengel left Rohan in his youth to live in Gondor, where he won great renown in the service of Turgon. Eventually he met and married Morwen Steelsheen of Lossarnach in 2943, and he lived with her there for a while. Morwen bore him five children in total, including his only son (his second child) Théoden in 2948 and a daughter Théodwyn in T.A. 2963, who would be the mother of Éomer and Éowyn.[1]

After Fengel died in T.A. 2953, Thengel was called upon to return to Rohan, which he reluctantly did. During his reign Saruman took Isengard for himself and began to fortify it.[1] Around 2957 or later, a mysterious Northerner calling himself Thorongil entered his service, and rode with him for some time; later Thorongil heard the summons of Ecthelion II and went to Gondor.[2][3]

Thengel had learned Sindarin while living in Gondor, and in his house it was the daily tongue, together with Westron, the common speech. Even after his return, he continued to use Westron,[4] and Rohanese was not spoken by him or his heirs.[1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Þengel in Old English means "lord" and derives from þeġen, þegn. This word is also related to Thain.

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
 
Folcwine
2830 - 2903
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Folcred
2858 - 2885
 
Fastred
2858 - 2885
 
Fengel
2870 - 2953
 
daughter
unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
two daughters
unknown
 
THENGEL
2905 - 2980
 
Morwen Steelsheen
b. 2922
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elfhild
d. 2978
 
Théoden
2948 - 3019
 
three daughters
unknown
 
Théodwyn
2963 - 3002
 
Éomund
d. 3002
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Théodred
2978 - 3019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Éomer
2991 - Fo.A. 63
 
Éowyn
b. 2995


Notes

  1. Under Fengel in Appendix A it states: "Thengel, his third child and only son, left Rohan when he came to manhood and lived long in Gondor, and won honour in the service of Turgon."

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men"
Thengel
House of Eorl
Born: T.A. 2905 Died: T.A. 2980
Preceded by:
Fengel
16th King of Rohan
T.A. 29532980
Followed by:
Théoden


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)