The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Extant during the Second Century of the Fourth Age
Race
Division
Culture
Family
Settlements
Probably associated with Emyn Arnen1
Pronunciation
ba'raheerr (where 'rr' emphasises that the final r sound should be pronounced)
Meaning
Literally 'fiery lord', but this Barahir was probably named for a forerunner who shared this name: either a hero of the First Age, or an earlier Ruling Steward, Barahir's own ancestor
Titles
Possibly inherited the titles of Prince of Ithilien and Steward of Gondor2
Note
This Steward of Gondor should not be confused with the famous hero of the same name who lived during the First Age (see the entry for Barahir), nor for the Steward who ruled Gondor briefly during the later part of the Third Age (see Steward Barahir)

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About this entry:

  • Updated 22 March 2015
  • This entry is complete

Barahir

Author of ‘The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen

Faramir
Éowyn
Elboron(?)
Barahir

Stewards of Gondor

The grandson of Steward Faramir and Éowyn of Rohan, who is recorded as having written The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen at some point during the second century of the Fourth Age. His work survived in abbreviated form in the Thain's Book, and hence ultimately came to form part of Appendix A to The Lord of the Rings.

Except for his grandparents Faramir and Éowyn, the details of Barahir's descent are uncertain. In The Heirs of Elendil (the ultimate basis for much of Appendix A), there is a single mention of a son of Faramir - apparently his only child - named Elboron. It isn't completely clear whether Tolkien meant this character to stand, but it seems reasonable to speculate that this Elboron was Barahir's father. This would in turn presumably see Barahir inheriting the titles of Steward of Gondor and Prince of Ithilien, though it should be emphasised that none of this is explicitly stated by Tolkien. (The Heirs of Elendil appears in The Peoples of Middle-earth, volume XII of The History of Middle-earth).


Notes

1

Emyn Arnen, the hills of Ithilien, were granted to Barahir's grandfather Faramir as his seat, so it is reasonable to speculate that Barahir himself was at least raised there.

2

We have very little information about the descendants of Faramir, no more than indirect evidence for a single son, Elboron. If Elboron was Faramir's direct heir, and Barahir his heir in turn, then Barahir would have succeeded to the Stewardship and the title of Prince of Ithilien. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that Barahir was Elboron's younger son or nephew rather than his direct heir. In such a case Barahir would have been a minor noble rather than Prince in his own right.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 22 March 2015
  • This entry is complete

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