Bëor the Old
First leader of the House of Beor; first leader of men in Beleriand. Beor was born in year 262 of the First Age with the name Balan. Beor was the father of Baran, born in 289, and Belen, born in 292. Beor formed a civilization of Edain.
Beor's ancestors had journeyed west in hopes of finding the Valar and freeing themselves of the evil spread by Morgoth in the East. In 310 of the First Age, Beor led his people over the Blue Mountains and into Beleriand where they settled in Ossiriand in the valley of a mountain, near the source of the Thalos River. Beor's people believed that they had finally found a place free of evil, and they sang with happiness in accompaniment with Beor's beautiful playing of the harp. However, the Green-elves of Ossiriand did not want Beor's people living on their land, so the people of the House of Beor relocated to Estolad.
In 311, Beor went to live with Finrod Felagund and the Elves in Nargothrond. The lordship of the House of Beor was given to Beor's son Baran. Beor now felt it appropriate to change his name from Balan to Beor, a word meaning "vassal" in the language of the people of the House of Beor.
Beor lived with Finrod in Nargothrond for forty-four years. Beor perished in 355 at the age ninety-three.
Beor's ancestors had journeyed west in hopes of finding the Valar and freeing themselves of the evil spread by Morgoth in the East. In 310 of the First Age, Beor led his people over the Blue Mountains and into Beleriand where they settled in Ossiriand in the valley of a mountain, near the source of the Thalos River. Beor's people believed that they had finally found a place free of evil, and they sang with happiness in accompaniment with Beor's beautiful playing of the harp. However, the Green-elves of Ossiriand did not want Beor's people living on their land, so the people of the House of Beor relocated to Estolad.
In 311, Beor went to live with Finrod Felagund and the Elves in Nargothrond. The lordship of the House of Beor was given to Beor's son Baran. Beor now felt it appropriate to change his name from Balan to Beor, a word meaning "vassal" in the language of the people of the House of Beor.
Beor lived with Finrod in Nargothrond for forty-four years. Beor perished in 355 at the age ninety-three.
Names & Meanings
The word Bëor means "vassal" in the language of the people of the House of Beor. In contrast with his son's title of "Beor the Young" when he became Lord of the House of Beor, Beor himself was sometimes remembered as Beor the Old. Beor's name at birth was Balan, but this name is of an unknown meaning.
References
The Silmarillion: "Of the Coming of Men into the West," pages 140-143, 149
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 215-219, 224-226, 229-231
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 215-219, 224-226, 229-231
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