Bëor

Balan
Tolkien's legendarium character
Aliases Bëor the Old
Father of Men
Race Men
Gender male
Book(s) The Silmarillion

Bëor the Old is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion as the leader of the First House of the Edain in the First Age, which was called the Folk of Bëor after him. He was the father of Baran and Belen and ancestor of Beren Camlost.

Internal history

Bëor was the leader of the First House of Men during the final part of their westward march. Apparently under his guidance the majority of his people forsook Eriador and, crossing the Blue Mountains, came to the woods of Ossiriand in Y.S. 310. There they were found and befriended by the Elf-lord Finrod Felagund. He quickly mastered the speech of Men, and held a long converse with their lord. Bëor by his counsel then led his people to the plain of Estolad in Eastern Beleriand, but soon committed the rule to his elder son Baran, entering the service of Finrod and departing to Nargothrond. Bëor remained there until the end of his days, and participated in the warfare against the Orcs.[1]

Bëor's 'true' name was Balan. He was called Bëor, which means 'Vassal' or 'Servant' in the tongue of his people, after he entered the service of Finrod Felagund; according to some traditions, this name was also born afterwards as a title by his descendants.[2] He was called 'the Old' since he lived to the age of 93, when he willingly relinquished his life and died in peace. Bëor was also one of 'the Wise' among Edain; he had a great knowledge of their traditions and legends, though passed them only to a few of his descendants, unwilling to reveal their history even to Finrod. Much of this knowledge passed to Adanel and Andreth.[3]

House of Bëor

 
 
 
Bëor
the Old
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baran
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boron
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Boromir
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Andreth
 
Bregor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bregil
 
 
 
Bregolas
 
Barahir
 
Emeldir
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Baragund
 
Belegund
 
Beren
 
Lúthien
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Morwen
 
Rían
 
 
 
Dior
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brandir
 
Túrin
 
Tuor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eärendil
 
 
 
Elwing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elros
 
Elrond

See also

References

  1. ↑ Tolkien, J. R. R. (1994), Christopher Tolkien, ed., The War of the Jewels, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, The Grey Annals, pp. 48-49, ISBN 0-395-71041-3
  2. ↑ The War of the Jewels, pp. 217, 229.
  3. ↑ Tolkien, J. R. R. (1993), Christopher Tolkien, ed., Morgoth's Ring, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth, p. 306, ISBN 0-395-68092-1


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