Túrin Turambar (pronounced ) is a fictional character in
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''.
From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was the Rawlins ...
's
legendarium
Tolkien's legendarium is the body of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic writing, unpublished in his lifetime, that forms the background to his ''The Lord of the Rings'', and which his son Christopher summarized in his compilation of ''The Silmarill ...
. "''Turambar and the Foalókë''", begun in 1917, is the first appearance of Túrin in the legendarium. Túrin was a
Man
A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromo ...
of the
First Age
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the history of Arda, also called the history of Middle-earth, began when the Ainur entered Arda, following the creation events in the Ainulindalë and long ages of labour throughout Eä, the fictional univer ...
of
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of much of the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy. The term is equivalent to the ''Miðgarðr'' of Norse mythology and ''Middangeard'' in Old English works, including ''Beowulf''. Middle-earth is t ...
, whose family had been cursed by the Dark Lord
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir (; originally Melkor ) is a character, one of the godlike Valar, from Tolkien's legendarium. He is the main antagonist of ''The Silmarillion'', ''The Children of Húrin'', ''Beren and Lúthien'' and ''The Fall of Gondolin''.
...
. While trying vainly to defy the curse, Túrin brought ruin across much of
Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work ''The Silmarillion'', which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-e ...
, and upon himself and his sister Niënor. His title, "Turambar", means master of fate. His
epitaph
An epitaph (; ) is a short text honoring a deceased person. Strictly speaking, it refers to text that is inscribed on a tombstone or plaque, but it may also be used in a figurative sense. Some epitaphs are specified by the person themselves be ...
, "Master of fate, yet by fate mastered", showed his inability to escape Morgoth's curse.
Tolkien consciously based the story on the tale of
Kullervo
Kullervo () is an ill-fated character in the ''Kalevala'', the Finnish national epic compiled by Elias Lönnrot.
Growing up in the aftermath of the massacre of his entire tribe, he comes to realise that the same people who had brought him up, t ...
in the Finnish mythological poem ''
Kalevala
The ''Kalevala'' ( fi, Kalevala, ) is a 19th-century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Karelian and Finnish oral folklore and mythology, telling an epic story about the Creation of the Earth, describing the controversies and r ...
''. Scholars, and Tolkien himself, have noted parallels with other myths including that of
Sigmund
In Norse mythology, Sigmund ( non, Sigmundr , ang, Sigemund) is a hero whose story is told in the Völsunga saga. He and his sister, Signý, are the children of Völsung and his wife Hljod. Sigmund is best known as the father of Sigurð the d ...
and
Sigurd
Sigurd ( non, Sigurðr ) or Siegfried (Middle High German: ''Sîvrit'') is a legendary hero of Germanic heroic legend, who killed a dragon and was later murdered. It is possible he was inspired by one or more figures from the Frankish Meroving ...
in the ''
Volsunga saga''; the Greek myth of
Oedipus
Oedipus (, ; grc-gre, Οἰδίπους "swollen foot") was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. A tragic hero in Greek mythology, Oedipus accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby ...
; and structure and style, with
Arthurian legend
The Matter of Britain is the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain and Brittany and the legendary kings and heroes associated with it, particularly King Arthur. It was one of the three great Wester ...
.
Excerpts have been published in prose in ''
The Silmarillion
''The Silmarillion'' () is a collection of myths and stories in varying styles by the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. It was edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, assisted by the fantasy author Guy Gavriel ...
'', ''
Unfinished Tales
''Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth'' is a collection of stories and essays by J. R. R. Tolkien that were never completed during his lifetime, but were edited by his son Christopher Tolkien and published in 1980. Many of the tale ...
'', ''
The Book of Lost Tales
''The Book of Lost Tales'' is a collection of early stories by the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien, published as the first two volumes of Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume series '' The History of Middle-earth'', in which he presents and analys ...
'' Part II, and ''
The War of the Jewels
''The War of the Jewels'' (1994) is the 11th volume of Christopher Tolkien's series ''The History of Middle-earth'', analysing the unpublished manuscripts of his father J. R. R. Tolkien. It is the second of two volumes—'' Morgoth's Ring'' bei ...
'', and in alliterative long-line verse in ''
The Lays of Beleriand
''The Lays of Beleriand'', published in 1985, is the third volume of Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume book series, ''The History of Middle-earth'', in which he analyzes the unpublished manuscripts of his father J. R. R. Tolkien.
Book
Inscrip ...
''. The complete story was published as ''
The Children of Húrin
''The Children of Húrin'' is an epic fantasy novel which forms the completion of a tale by J. R. R. Tolkien. He wrote the original version of the story in the late 1910s, revised it several times later, but did not complete it before his deat ...
'' in 2007.
Publication history
Tolkien wrote multiple versions of the tale of Túrin.
[, "Myths Transformed" (I), p. 373 and note 2] These were published after his death, edited by his son
Christopher Tolkien
Christopher John Reuel Tolkien (21 November 1924 – 16 January 2020) was an English academic editor, becoming a French citizen in later life. The son of author and academic J. R. R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien edited much of his father' ...
, as follows:
Narrative
Dor-lómin
Túrin was the son of
Húrin
Húrin is a fictional character in the Middle-earth legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. He is introduced in ''The Silmarillion'' as a hero of Men during the First Age, said to be the greatest warrior of both the Edain and all the other Men in Midd ...
, Lord of the Folk of Hador, and Morwen of the House of Bëor.
[ "The Childhood of Túrin"] The
Siege of Angband
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the history of Arda, also called the history of Middle-earth, began when the Ainur entered Arda, following the creation events in the Ainulindalë and long ages of labour throughout Eä, the fictional univ ...
had been broken, but Túrin's homeland of Dor-lómin was still contested by Húrin against
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir (; originally Melkor ) is a character, one of the godlike Valar, from Tolkien's legendarium. He is the main antagonist of ''The Silmarillion'', ''The Children of Húrin'', ''Beren and Lúthien'' and ''The Fall of Gondolin''.
...
's forces. When Túrin was eight, Húrin led his Men to war; all were killed the
Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Húrin was captured and cursed by Morgoth, who sent an army of Easterlings to Dor-lómin. Túrin remained with Morwen, who hid him and sent him secretly to the Elven-realm of
Doriath; Morwen remained in Dor-lómin, and shortly afterwards gave birth to a girl, Niënor.
[ "The Wanderings of Húrin", pp. 256–257 (a plot-synopsis for the ''Narn'')]
Doriath
Túrin reached Doriath, protected by the Girdle of
Melian. The marchwarden
Beleg
''The Silmarillion'' () is a collection of myths and stories in varying styles by the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. It was edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, assisted by the fantasy author Guy Gavri ...
led them to the halls of
Menegroth
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work ''The Silmarillion'', which tells the story of the early ages of Middle- ...
. King
Thingol
Elu Thingol or Elwë Singollo is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in ''The Silmarillion'', '' The Lays of Beleriand'' and ''The Children of Húrin'' and in numerous stories in '' The History of Middle ...
adopted Túrin, in memory of Húrin's heroism and because of his kinship with
Beren. The elven-lady Nellas watched over Túrin at Melian's bidding, teaching him elven-lore. Túrin became esteemed for his prowess, and Beleg became his teacher of warfare. When after eight years
[Túrin reached Doriath in 473, and Dor-lómin was cut off in 481. Statements in '']The Silmarillion
''The Silmarillion'' () is a collection of myths and stories in varying styles by the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. It was edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, assisted by the fantasy author Guy Gavriel ...
'' (Ch. 21) and ''The Children of Húrin
''The Children of Húrin'' is an epic fantasy novel which forms the completion of a tale by J. R. R. Tolkien. He wrote the original version of the story in the late 1910s, revised it several times later, but did not complete it before his deat ...
'' (Ch. 5) that Túrin had dwelt in Doriath for nine years by this time derive from an early version of ''Quenta Silmarillion
''The Silmarillion'' () is a collection of myths and stories in varying styles by the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. It was edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, assisted by the fantasy author Guy Gavriel ...
'' (''The Lost Road'', pp. 320–322), and are contradicted by both earlier and later texts (e.g. ''The Grey Annals'', pp. 79–80), as well as by the statement in ''The Children of Húrin'' (Ch. 5) that he was 17 then. Dor-lómin was cut off and tidings from Morwen and Niënor ceased, Túrin decided to pit his strength against Morgoth's forces, hoping to avenge the sorrows of his kin. Thingol appointed him a "knight of the sword",
[ "Túrin in Doriath"] and Túrin departed to the northern marches of Doriath to fight the
Orcs
An Orc (or Ork) is a fictional humanoid monster like a goblin. Orcs were brought into modern usage by the fantasy writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, especially ''The Lord of the Rings''. In Tolkien's works, Orcs are a brutish, aggressive, ugly, ...
, where he was joined by
Beleg
''The Silmarillion'' () is a collection of myths and stories in varying styles by the English writer J. R. R. Tolkien. It was edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, assisted by the fantasy author Guy Gavri ...
. His chief weapon became the sword, and he wore the
Dragon-helm of Hador, so that the Orcs feared him. At the age of 20,
[ ''The Grey Annals'', pp. 61–103, 129–165.] Túrin accidentally killed Saeros, one of Thingol's counsellors, who had insulted him. Ignoring advice, he fled from Doriath, fearing imprisonment. Thingol pardoned Túrin, and Beleg obtained leave to seek out his friend.
Amon Rûdh
Túrin, unaware of this, fled westward, meeting up with the Gaurwaith outlaws in the woods south of the river Taeglin. He earned a place in the group by killing one of their best warriors. He did not try to restrain other members from their evil deeds. A year later, trying to save a woman's life, Túrin accidentally killed Forweg, the leader of the band, and he became its leader.
[ "Túrin among the Outlaws".] Soon Beleg found the band in the wild, while Túrin was away spying upon the
Orc
An Orc (or Ork) is a fictional humanoid monster like a goblin. Orcs were brought into modern usage by the fantasy writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, especially '' The Lord of the Rings''. In Tolkien's works, Orcs are a brutish, aggressive, ugl ...
s. The outlaws treated the Elf badly, and this made Túrin stop the band's lawbreaking, choosing to hunt only the servants of Angband. He rejected Beleg's advice to return to Doriath. Túrin's band captured Mîm the
Petty-dwarf; his two sons escaped, but one of them, Khîm, was mortally wounded by one of the outlaws. To save his own life, Mîm shared his dwellings on the hill of Amon Rûdh with the band. Beleg returned to Túrin, bringing the Dragon-helm; the area around Amon Rûdh became known as Dor-Cúarthol, the "Land of Bow and Helm". The "Two Captains" freed much of West
Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work ''The Silmarillion'', which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-e ...
from evil, but the Dragon-helm revealed Túrin's identity to Morgoth, who attacked Amon Rûdh two years later.
The attacking
Orc
An Orc (or Ork) is a fictional humanoid monster like a goblin. Orcs were brought into modern usage by the fantasy writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, especially '' The Lord of the Rings''. In Tolkien's works, Orcs are a brutish, aggressive, ugl ...
s found Mîm, and he bought his life by leading them up the hill. Túrin was captured and all his men killed, though Beleg escaped.
[, "Ælfwine and Dírhaval", pp. 311–315] Beleg followed the Orcs through the forest of Taur-nu-Fuin, where he met Gwindor, a slave who had escaped from Angband. Together they rescued Túrin in Anfauglith. Unfortunately, when Beleg was cutting the sleeping Túrin free from his bonds, he pricked Túrin's foot with the black sword
Anglachel
The Weapons and armour of Middle-earth are all those mentioned J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings, such as ''The Hobbit'', ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Silmarillion''.
Tolkien modelled his fictional warfare on the Ancient a ...
, and Túrin, mistaking him in the darkness for an Orc, took the sword and slew Beleg. Gwindor led the grief-stricken Túrin to the Pools of Ivrin, where he returned to his senses.
Nargothrond
They journeyed to the hidden fortress of
Nargothrond
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work ''The Silmarillion'', which tells the story of the early ages of Middle- ...
, where Gwindor had been a lord. He gave Beleg's sword Anglachel to Túrin, who had it reforged and renamed ''Gurthang'', "Iron of Death". Túrin hid his own name, becoming known as ''Mormegil'' or the ''Blacksword of Nargothrond'', because of his prowess with Gurthang. Gwindor met there again his beloved, Finduilas daughter of King Orodreth, but she unwillingly fell in love with Túrin; however, Túrin did not perceive this and held her in awe. Túrin was influential in Nargothrond, becoming a chief counsellor of Orodreth. He encouraged the Elves to abandon their secrecy, and they built a great bridge before the Doors of Nargothrond and cleared the land between the River Sirion and the coastal
Falas
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work ''The Silmarillion'', which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-e ...
from enemies. But Túrin became arrogant, ignoring even a warning from the
Vala
Vala or VALA may refer to:
Religion and mythology
* Vala (Vedic), a demon or a stone cavern in the Hindu scriptures
* Völva, also spelled Vala, a priestess in Norse mythology and Norse paganism
Fiction
* Vala (Middle-earth), an angelic being in ...
Ulmo
The Valar (; singular Vala) are characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. They are "angelic powers" or "gods", #154 to Naomi Mitchison, September 1954 subordinate to the one God ( Eru Ilúvatar). The Ainulindalë describes how those of ...
, to destroy the bridge and return to secrecy.
[
After five years, Morgoth sent a great host of Orcs led by the ]dragon
A dragon is a reptilian legendary creature that appears in the folklore of many cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as ...
Glaurung. Túrin persuaded Orodreth to fight them in the open. During the ensuing Battle of Tumhalad, Nargothrond's forces were destroyed and Orodreth was killed, while the bridge helped Morgoth's forces to locate the fortress and cross the river Narog. Túrin fought Glaurung off, but left the battle to carry away the mortally wounded Gwindor. Before Gwindor died, he instructed Túrin to save Finduilas, prophesying that she alone could save Túrin from his doom. Hastening to save the captives of Nargothrond, Túrin was caught by the powerful gaze of Glaurung, and stood by enspelled as Finduilas was dragged away, calling to him. The dragon deceived him into believing that Morwen and Niënor were suffering in Dor-lómin, and Túrin abandoned Finduilas to seek out his kin. When he reached Dor-lómin, he found his old house empty, and went to the halls of Brodda the Easterling, who had taken Húrin's lands and possessions. There Túrin learned from Brodda's wife that Morwen had already left for Doriath before the fall of Nargothrond, as Túrin's own efforts had made the way passable. In his rage he killed Brodda and his followers. The remnant of the Folk of Hador was persecuted even more cruelly from then on.
Brethil
Túrin next tried to find Finduilas, travelling to the forest of Brethil, but was too late: the woodmen informed him that she had been killed by the orcs when the Men of Brethil had ambushed them in an attempt at rescue. Túrin collapsed in grief upon her grave, and was brought to Ephel Brandir. There he took up his life again, now calling himself ''Turambar'' ("Master of Doom") and renouncing his descent, hoping to overcome his curse. The Folk of Haleth dwelling there were ruled by Brandir the Lame, who hoped to preserve his people by secrecy. Turambar quickly gained power, gathering companies to fight Orcs. He stopped wielding Gurthang and fought using a spear and a bow.
When Morwen and Niënor heard the news of Nargothrond's destruction, they rashly went to look for Túrin. Glaurung, who now lived in the ruins of Nargothrond, descended into the river to create a fog. Morwen was lost, but Niënor met the dragon and was enspelled by him, forgetting her past. She fled to Brethil. Turambar found her at Finduilas's grave, naked, unable to speak and remembering nothing. He named her ''Níniel'', "Maid of Tears", and took her to Ephel Brandir. There she was healed by Brandir, who fell in love with her; but Níniel and Turambar came to love each other. Túrin asked her to marry him; Brandir dissuaded her, foreboding evil, but they were married. Turambar went back to war when Glaurung sent Orcs to attack Brethil: taking the sword up again, Túrin drove them away. Next year Níniel conceived; and Glaurung attacked Brethil in person.
Turambar decided to ambush the Dragon and to try stabbing him from beneath. Of his two companions, Dorlas deserted, and Hunthor was slain by a stone. Turambar mortally wounded Glaurung with Gurthang, but was poisoned by the Dragon's blood and fell in a swoon. When Níniel came to search for him, Glaurung with his last words undid his spell, and she remembered who she was and that Turambar was her brother. Horrified, Niënor drowned herself in the river Taeglin.
Brandir tauntingly told Turambar what had happened. Túrin killed the defenceless Brandir and ran in madness to Finduilas's grave. There Mablung confirmed the words of Brandir. Túrin fled and killed himself with his sword Gurthang. He was buried in a high mound, together with the shards of Gurthang. A great stone was set upon the grave, upon which the Elves wrote in Cirth
The Cirth (, meaning "runes"; sg. certh ) is a semi‑artificial script, based on real‑life runic alphabets, one of Tolkien's scripts, several scripts invented by J. R. R. Tolkien for the constructed languages he devised and used in his wor ...
runes:
However, Niënor's body was not there. Two years later Morwen and Húrin met at that place for the last time, and Morwen was also buried there. The mound survived the War of Wrath
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the history of Arda, also called the history of Middle-earth, began when the Ainur entered Arda, following the creation events in the Ainulindalë and long ages of labour throughout Eä, the fictional unive ...
and the Drowning of Beleriand, and Tol Morwen became an island off the coast of Middle-earth in later ages.
Fate after death
Tolkien wrote several versions of a prophecy about Túrin's fate after death.
In the earliest outline preserved, where the tale is drafted only cursorily and has many elements missing, a reference already appears to "purification of Turambar and Vainóni (the original name of Niënor) who fare shining about the world and go with the hosts of Tulkas
The Valar (; singular Vala) are characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. They are "angelic powers" or "gods", #154 to Naomi Mitchison, September 1954 subordinate to the one God ( Eru Ilúvatar). The Ainulindalë describes how those of the ...
against Melkor (Morgoth)]."[, "Turambar and the Foalókë", pp. 69–143] In the finished manuscript of '' The Tale of Turambar and the Foalókë'', this is elaborated into a story that Túrin and Nienor were not at first admitted to Mandos because of their deeds; but after their parents' prayers, they were permitted to enter the "bath of flame", where the Sun replenished its light, "and so were all their sorrows and stains washed away, and they dwelt as shining Valar among the blessed ones”." A new detail is introduced, that "Turambar indeed shall stand beside Fionwë önwëin the Great Wrack, and Melko orgothand his drakes
{{redirect category shell, {{R from other capitalisation{{R from ambiguous page ...
.
In Tolkien's later writings no reference to Niënor's fate appears, but Túrin's destiny is made even more prominent. The notion maintained for a long time was that Túrin would take part in the Last Battle fought before the End of the World, when Morgoth would return and make the final assault upon the
. In an early text, known as "Earliest Silmarillion", it is "the spirit of Túrin" who came back and fought, and "it shall be Túrin who with his black sword will slay Morgoth"