Galdor
Lord of Dor-lomin; father of Hurin. Galdor was born in year 417 of the First Age. He was the son of Hador and Gildis. Galdor had an older sister named Gloredhel and a younger brother named Gundor. Galdor was a very tall and proud man.
When Hador and Gundor were both killed during the Battle of Sudden Flame in 455, Galdor became Lord of the House of Hador in Dol-lomin. He married a woman of the House of Beor named Hareth. Galdor and Hareth had two sons named Hurin and Huor. Their son Hurin became a legendary figure of the elder days.
Galdor's ruled realm of Dor-lomin had been given to his father by the Elf-lord Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor. Dor-lomin was located in southern Hithlum.
Galdor sent his sons to be raised by his wife's people in the Forest of Brethil. In 458, Galdor's sons were helping the men of Brethil defend their forest from Orcs when they became lost. They were rescued by Thorondir, Lord of Eagles, and brought to Gondolin where they were warmly welcomed by Turgon.
Though normally outsiders who had found the hidden city of Gondolin were not allowed to leave, Turgon allowed Hurin and Huor to leave because he knew their father would be looking for them, and Hurin also had a title to inherit. They promised never to tell where they had been, but Galdor correctly guessed that they had been at the hidden city of Gondolin.
Morgoth attacked Hithlum in 462. Galdor led the forces of Dor-lomin to battle. He wore the Dragon-helm of Dor-lomin, an heirloom given go him by his father. Galdor was killed during the battle and succeeded by his son Hurin as Lord of Dor-lomin.
When Hador and Gundor were both killed during the Battle of Sudden Flame in 455, Galdor became Lord of the House of Hador in Dol-lomin. He married a woman of the House of Beor named Hareth. Galdor and Hareth had two sons named Hurin and Huor. Their son Hurin became a legendary figure of the elder days.
Galdor's ruled realm of Dor-lomin had been given to his father by the Elf-lord Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor. Dor-lomin was located in southern Hithlum.
Galdor sent his sons to be raised by his wife's people in the Forest of Brethil. In 458, Galdor's sons were helping the men of Brethil defend their forest from Orcs when they became lost. They were rescued by Thorondir, Lord of Eagles, and brought to Gondolin where they were warmly welcomed by Turgon.
Though normally outsiders who had found the hidden city of Gondolin were not allowed to leave, Turgon allowed Hurin and Huor to leave because he knew their father would be looking for them, and Hurin also had a title to inherit. They promised never to tell where they had been, but Galdor correctly guessed that they had been at the hidden city of Gondolin.
Morgoth attacked Hithlum in 462. Galdor led the forces of Dor-lomin to battle. He wore the Dragon-helm of Dor-lomin, an heirloom given go him by his father. Galdor was killed during the battle and succeeded by his son Hurin as Lord of Dor-lomin.
Names & Meanings
Galdor is a word of unknown meaning and origin, but in The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," Christopher Tolkien writes that the element gal comes from gala meaning "prosper." The last element dor derives from taur, which means "noble." Galdor was also referenced as Galdor Orchal, orchal meaning "tall" in Sindarin. There was a later Elf of the Grey Havens named Galdor.
References
The Silmarillion: "Of the Coming of Men into the West," pages 147-148; "Of the Ruin of Beleriand," pages 152, 155-160; "Of the Voyage of Earendil," page 251
The Unfinished Tales: "Narn I Hin Hurin," pages 57, 60, 75-79
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," pages 49-53, 56-60; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 224, 232, 234-237; "The Wanderings of Hurin," page 305
The Unfinished Tales: "Narn I Hin Hurin," pages 57, 60, 75-79
The History of Middle-earth, Volume V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies"
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," pages 49-53, 56-60; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 224, 232, 234-237; "The Wanderings of Hurin," page 305
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