Haleth
First female leader of the Haladin; first leader of the House of Haleth. Haleth was the daughter of Haldad. Haleth was born in the year 341 of the First Age. Haleth had a twin brother named Haldar.
She was a member of the Haladin, a civilization within the Edain. The Haladin lived in Thargelion, a region in eastern Beleriand. Haleth became Lady of her people after all of her older male relations had been slain by Orcs in 375. Haleth united the scattered Haladin and in 376 she led them away from the threats spread by Morgoth in East Beleriand. Haleth led the Haladin to Estolad and, in 390, through Nan Dungortheb in the Mountains of Terror and into western Beleriand, where her people settled in the Forest of Brethil. There they would take refuge from Morgoth for decades.
The Elvenking Thingol was at first opposed to the prospect of men living in his realm, but Finrod Felagund convinced him to allow the people of Haleth to remain in the Forest of Brethil. Finrod had been among the first Elves to ever encounter the race of men, and he pitied them; their mortality and their endurment of Morgoth's wrath. Haleth's people were given the task of guarding the Crossing of Teiglin in the forest, and they were to prevent Orcs from invading Brethil.
Haleth ruled her people until her death in 420. Haleth was entombed in the Ladybarrow - called Tur Haretha in the language of the folk of Haleth. After her death, her nephew Haldan succeeded her as leader of the people of Haleth because she did not marry or have any children.
The line of Haleth continued. The House of Haleth - along with the other two houses of Beor and Hador, existed until the end of the First Age when the Edain were granted the island of Numenor off the coast of Middle-Earth to rekindle themselves after their work to defeat Morgoth.
She was a member of the Haladin, a civilization within the Edain. The Haladin lived in Thargelion, a region in eastern Beleriand. Haleth became Lady of her people after all of her older male relations had been slain by Orcs in 375. Haleth united the scattered Haladin and in 376 she led them away from the threats spread by Morgoth in East Beleriand. Haleth led the Haladin to Estolad and, in 390, through Nan Dungortheb in the Mountains of Terror and into western Beleriand, where her people settled in the Forest of Brethil. There they would take refuge from Morgoth for decades.
The Elvenking Thingol was at first opposed to the prospect of men living in his realm, but Finrod Felagund convinced him to allow the people of Haleth to remain in the Forest of Brethil. Finrod had been among the first Elves to ever encounter the race of men, and he pitied them; their mortality and their endurment of Morgoth's wrath. Haleth's people were given the task of guarding the Crossing of Teiglin in the forest, and they were to prevent Orcs from invading Brethil.
Haleth ruled her people until her death in 420. Haleth was entombed in the Ladybarrow - called Tur Haretha in the language of the folk of Haleth. After her death, her nephew Haldan succeeded her as leader of the people of Haleth because she did not marry or have any children.
The line of Haleth continued. The House of Haleth - along with the other two houses of Beor and Hador, existed until the end of the First Age when the Edain were granted the island of Numenor off the coast of Middle-Earth to rekindle themselves after their work to defeat Morgoth.
Names & Meanings
The meaning of the name Haleth is not certain, but it derives from the element hal meaning "chief" in the language of the people of Haleth. The element eth was a common feminin suffix. Haleth's title as leader of the House of Haleth was Lady Haleth. There was a much later man of Rohan named Haleth in the Third Age, and his name meant "hero" in Old English.
References
The Silmarillion: "Of the Coming of Men into the West," pages 142-148
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 221-228, 236- 238; "The Wanderings of Hurin," pages 270, 308
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "Of Dwarves and Men," pages 307-309
The Unfinished Tales: "The Druedain," pages 377, 384-385
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," pages 221-228, 236- 238; "The Wanderings of Hurin," pages 270, 308
The History of Middle-earth, Volume XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "Of Dwarves and Men," pages 307-309
The Unfinished Tales: "The Druedain," pages 377, 384-385
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