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| “ | . . . but he was shorter in stature than other men of his kin; in this he took after his mother's people, but in all else he was like Hador, his grandfather, strong in body and fiery of mood. But the fire in him burned steadily, and he had great endurance of will. | „ |
| ~ The Children of Húrin, The Childhood of Túrin |
Húrin, known as "the Steadfast", was the last Lord of Dor-lómin and one of the great heroes of the Edain during the First Age. He was the eldest son of Galdor and Hareth and the older brother of Huor. He was the father of Túrin, Urwen, and Niënor.
Húrin was regarded as "the mightiest of warriors of mortal Men", but was also known for being the titular character of the Narn i Chîn Húrin, "The Tale of the Children of Húrin". In the tale, he fought Morgoth but in the end, he was defeated, and imprisoned by Morgoth at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and forced to reveal the secret location of Gondolin. He refused, so the Dark Lord cursed his kin. Imprisoned upon Thangorodrim, he watched the curse befall his children and it finally broke him. In the end, after the death of his children, he killed himself.
The curse led to some of the greatest successes and tragedies of the First Age.
History[]
Early years[]
Húrin was born in Hithlum during the year 441 of the First Age. His father was Galdor and his grandfather was Hador Lórindol, the founder of the House of Hador. His mother was Hareth of Brethil, the daughter of Halmir, the lord of the Haladin. In his youth, Húrin and his younger brother Huor were raised in the forest of Brethil by Haldir, their uncle. In the year 456, the brothers joined a company of scouts, but were separated from them after an Orc ambush. They were pursued to the Ford of Brithiach and were saved by the Vala Ulmo, who caused a mist to rise and the two escaped into Dimbar. From there, Eagles flew them to the hidden city of Gondolin. King Turgon welcomed the brothers, remembering that their grandfather, Hador, was an Elf-friend, as well as the words of Ulmo who told him to deal kindly to the House of Hador. Húrin remained with Turgon for a time until he and his brother wished to return to their people. Turgon was reluctant to let the brothers leave but the king granted their wish and the brothers swore oaths of secrecy. They returned to Dor-lómin sometime before the year 462.
Lord of Dor-lómin[]
In the year 462, orcs invaded Hithlum and Galdor was slain defending the fortress of Eithel Sirion. Húrin, who had newly come to manhood, took command and drove off the Orcs. He returned to rule as the third Lord of Dor-lómin. Two years later, he wedded Morwen Eledhwen of the House of Bëor. Their son, Túrin, was born shortly thereafter, followed by a daughter, Urwen. Urwen, better known as Lalaith ("Laughter"), died of a plague known as the Evil Breath when she was three.
In the year 472, the alliance known as the Union of Maedhros assaulted Angband. Húrin led his folk to join the host led by the High King Fingon. During the battle, later named the Nirnaeth Arnoediad or the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, the Union was defeated by the hosts of Morgoth. Many Elves and Men perished, including Fingon. With their liege lord slain, Húrin and Huor convinced Turgon to withdraw and keep the city of Gondolin a secret. To defend his escape, the Men of Dor-lómin formed a rearguard near the Pass of Sirion and held it giving as much time for Turgon to gather the remainder of Fingon's people and the host of Gondolin to escape. The location of Gondolin remained secret but for the Men of the Dor-lómin this was their last stand for they would not forsake the Northlands and were slaughtered by the hosts of Morgoth. By the Fen of Serech, Huor was slain by an arrow through the eye, but Húrin remained steadfast crying Aurë entuluva! for each foe he slew with his axe. He fought until he was buried under the weight of bodies of his enemies, then Gothmog bound him and dragged him towards Angband.
Curse of Morgoth[]
Húrin was brought before Morgoth, for he had learnt from his spies that Húrin was friends with Turgon, and was tortured for the secret of Gondolin's location. When he would not break, Morgoth cursed him and all his kin. The Dark Lord then chained Húrin to a chair high on the slopes of Thangorodrim where, through Morgoth's sorcery, he could watch the tragedies that would befall his family. However Morgoth concealed much of Túrin's deeds and what Húrin saw was contorted, lies mixed with the truth.
| “ | But upon all whom you love my thought shall weigh as a cloud of Doom, and it shall bring them down into darkness and despair. Wherever they go, evil shall arise. Whenever they speak, their words shall bring ill counsel. Whatsoever they do shall turn against them. They shall die without hope, cursing both life and death. | „ |
| ~ The Children of Húrin, The Words of Húrin and Morgoth |
For 28 years, Húrin watched the curse come upon Túrin and Niënor, his daughter born shortly after his capture, and to those that they encounter. For instance Túrin's actions led to the Fall of Nargothrond, one of the last kingdoms of the Noldor. Now only Gondolin remained.
Wanderings[]
After the death of Húrin's children, Morgoth released him, where he hoped he could further his malice. The broken man first returned to Hithlum, which was now ruled by Easterlings. Finding none of his kin, he travelled with outlaws to the mountains of Echoriath, searching for the entrance to Gondolin. At first Turgon refused him, but later recanted and sent Eagles to bring him to Gondolin. Húrin had already left for the Forest of Brethil, but Morgoth's curse had already ensnared Gondolin, for the Dark Lord's spies now knew the general location of the Hidden Kingdom.
In the Forest of Brethil he found the graves of his children. His wife, Morwen, was there and she died shortly after. After burying his wife, Húrin was taken by march-wardens to the settlement of Obel Halad, the chief dwelling of the Haladin, with whom Túrin had lived the last years of his life. Angry and grieving, Húrin turned the People of Haleth against one another and ruined Obel Halad.
Húrin continued on to the ruins of Nargothrond, where he found the Petty-dwarf Mîm. The petty-dwarf had unwillingly betrayed Túrin years ago. As such, Húrin slaughtered him in revenge. Mîm had claimed the treasure of Nargothrond, but Húrin and his followers recovered the treasure and journeyed eastwards.
Húrin reached the Meres of Twilight and was taken by the Elves who guarded the western borders of Doriath in the year 502. He was allowed to enter Menegroth, where, in anger, he renounced all ties with King Thingol, but "thanked" him for aiding his son. When Thingol tried to reason with him, Húrin laughed and left Menegroth unscathed, leaving the outlaws and the Elves to fight over the treasure.
Legacy[]
Húrin's life, and the lives of his children would become known as the Narn i Chîn Húrin, "The Tale of the Children of Húrin". It was written by the Mannish poet Dírhaval who lived in the Havens of Sirion and it was highly praised by the Eldar. Many millennia later, Elrond made a passing reference of him to Frodo during the Council of Elrond.
| “ | But if you take it freely, I will say that your choice is right; and though all the mighty Elf-friends of old, Hador, and Húrin, and Túrin, and Beren himself were assembled together, your seat should be among them.’ | „ |
| ~ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Council of Elrond |
Etymology[]
Húrin is Sindarin, but it is never glossed. However, in the earlier Noldorin phase of the language, the name is the combination of hûr ("vigour") + ind ("heart").
Thalion is simply Sindarin for "Steadfast, Strong".
When Túrin dwelt in Nargothrond, Húrin was indirectly called by him Úmarth, meaning "Ill-fate".
In The Book of Lost Tales, his name was Úrin.
In earlier versions Húrin suffers a different fate after departing Doriath. In the Lost Tales, Úrin returns to Hísilómë, dies, and his shade seeks Mavwin (Morwen) and together, they lament over their children. This also occurs in the Sketch of the Mythology except Húrin is not a shade.
External links[]
- Húrin on the Tolkien Gateway
- Concerning ... 'The Hoard' on the Tolkien Gateway
