The Children of Húrin

Christopher Tolkien discusses the personal significance of Túrin Turambar and his family to his father, J. R. R. Tolkien. In The Lord of the Rings, the story of Túrin is briefly recalled by Elrond, an Elf leader who describes the glory of the Elder Days during a council.

The tragic story of Túrin’s family is heavily defined by the curse placed on his parents, Morwen Eledhwen and Húrin Thalion, by Morgoth, the primary antagonistic threat to the peoples of the First Age. Previously known as Melkor, a Vala (angelic being or god) who rebelled and later became “a gigantic and majestic but terrible King,” (14) Morgoth wielded malevolent power unlike any force in the world (known as Arda, as distinct from the continent of Middle-earth). In response to Húrin’s defiance, Morgoth placed a curse on Húrin, forcing him to “see with Morgoth’s eyes” (16)—i.e., compelling him to watch credible visions of his family’s lives, each one twisted to ruin by Morgoth’s malice. Húrin thus remains unseen for most of Túrin’s life and all of Niënor’s life. Meanwhile, Morgoth’s curse seeks out its targets even as Túrin tries to evade it by remaining hidden. When Túrin’s friend Gwindor reveals his name, Túrin becomes angered. Gwindor, aware of Húrin’s fate, reminds Túrin that the curse runs deeper than his name. With the curse’s significance in mind, Tolkien briefly considered naming the story “The Tale of the Curse of Morgoth.”

Christopher Tolkien recalls a song sung by a character named Treebeard in The Lord of the Rings that references the Beleriand countryside before its destruction at the end of the First Age. By the time of The Lord of the Rings, the geography of Middle-earth has been radically altered by immense flooding, making Beleriand, Túrin’s native land, relatively unknown to readers of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien therefore discusses the events that led up to the wars of Beleriand in order to provide social context for the conditions into which Túrin is born.

Passing through the Blue Mountains on the eastern border of Beleriand, the Elves of the First Age left Middle-earth to reach Aman, the “Blessed Realm” and seat of the Valar, deities who govern the natural order of the world. This created a distinction among the Elves, as those who remained in Middle-earth were called Avari, while those who began the pilgrimage were called Eldar. Some of the Eldar chose to remain in Beleriand partway through their journey, creating a third segment called the Sindar.

In Aman, an esteemed Eldar named Fëanor crafted the Silmarilli, three enchanted jewels that were later stolen by the covetous Morgoth, who took refuge at his fortress of Angband (protected by volcanic mountains called Thangorodrim) in Beleriand. Fëanor decided to return to Middle-earth to win back the Silmarilli, leading a faction of Elves called the Noldor. He soon died in battle, but his seven sons survived and ruled lands in Beleriand, though they would lose these holdings in an incident described in The Children of Húrin’s second chapter, “The Battle of Unnumbered Tears.”

Following Fëanor’s death, leadership over the Noldor had passed to his half-brother, Fingolfin, who was succeeded by his son Fingon after Fingolfin died in combat with Morgoth. In The Children of Húrin, a young Túrin briefly encounters Fingon, by this point king, passing through Túrin’s home country of Dor-lómin. Meanwhile, Fingolfin’s second son, Turgon, had built a hidden city called Gondolin as a sanctuary for both the Noldor and the Sindar. During the course of The Children of Húrin, Turgon leaves the city for the first time since its construction (some 300 years) to fight in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.

A third sibling of Fëanor and Fingolfin, Finarfin, had remained in Aman with the Valar. However, his children returned to Middle-earth with their uncle, Fingolfin. Finrod, the eldest son of Finarfin, founded his own hidden city in a system of caves, calling it Nargothrond. However, around the time of Túrin’s birth, Finrod was imprisoned and killed by Morgoth’s chief servant (and primary antagonist of The Lord of the Rings), Sauron. Nargothrond was afterward ruled by Finrod’s brother, Orodreth. Another of Finarfin’s children, Galadriel, at this time lived in the protected lands of Doriath with an incarnate spirit called Melian and her elf husband, King Thingol.

Sixty years after their return to Middle-earth, the Noldor defeated an army of Orcs and began a 400-year siege of Morgoth’s stronghold at Angband. Toward the end of the First Age, the race of Men entered Beleriand through the Blue Mountains, led by Bëor the Old. It later emerged that sometime during the Siege of Angband, Morgoth traveled east to corrupt the early Men; Bëor’s contingent had dissented and escaped his wrath. Among the Men who settle in Beleriand are three houses—those of Bëor, Haleth, and Hador—from whom Túrin descends. Before his death, Fingolfin granted the House of Hador lordship over Dor-lómin, Túrin’s native region. The Men of these three houses became known as the Edain, as opposed to the Men who crossed into Beleriand later on, known as the Easterlings.

The Siege of Angband was suddenly ended by Morgoth, who set fire to the grassy plains north of Dorthonion, then home to Finrod’s vassals as well as the House of Bëor. Morgoth unleashed Glaurung, Father of Dragons, and his Orc armies upon the two groups, which were decimated in an assault known commonly as the Dagor Bragollach. Morgoth’s forces then attacked Fingolfin and his allies from the House of Hador, killing Hador Goldenhead. As a result, Túrin’s grandfather, Galdor, ascended to the lordship of Dor-lómin. During his reign, the young Húrin and his brother Huor were brought to the hidden city of Gondolin. Sometime later, when Galdor was killed, the young Húrin assumed lordship over Dor-lómin. Two years later, Túrin was born.

The novel begins with the geneaology of Túrin, beginning with Hador Goldenhead, who rules over the Edain lands in Dor-lómin. Hador’s son, Galdor, fathers two sons of his own, Húrin and Huor, who are well-known for their willfulness and strength. Húrin marries Morwen of the House of Bëor, who settles in Dor-lómin after Morgoth’s attack on Dorthonion. They have two children, a son named Túrin and a daughter named Urwen, also called Lalaith. Huor marries Morwen’s cousin, Rían, but would be slain at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (The Battle of Unnumbered Tears) two months after their wedding.

As young men, Húrin and Huor live in the halls of their uncle, Haldir, who rules over the Men of Brethil. They frequently join the Brethil soldiers on skirmishes against the Orcs and on one occasion are forced to hide in misty terrain. There, they are rescued by Thorondor, the King of Eagles, who takes them to Gondolin, the hidden city founded and ruled by Turgon.

Turgon receives them as guests for nearly a year, during which time Húrin comes to learn about Elf-lore and kingship. Although Turgon’s laws forbid anyone from leaving the city, the brothers express their desire to contribute their strength to battle, noting that they didn’t discover the path to Gondolin on their own. When Turgon’s nephew, Maeglin, challenges their claims, Húrin and Huor swear oaths to secrecy and are soon after returned to Dor-lómin by the Eagles. They maintain their oaths in the presence of their father, Galdor, though he manages to infer what happened to them during their lost year.

As time passes, the tide of battle seems to turn in favor of the Elves and Men, especially after Beren and Lúthien (two heroes from The Silmarillion) humiliate Morgoth at Angband. As Maedhros, Fëanor’s eldest son, builds strength to retaliate against Morgoth, a plague called the Evil Breath comes from Angband and spreads across the Northern Lands, killing many of the young Edain.

The five-year-old Túrin resembles his mother in look and behavior. His stern and serious demeanor brings him less affection than his younger sister. One day, he overhears Húrin comparing Urwen to an Elf-child for her beauty. Húrin adds, “[B]ut briefer, alas! And so fairer, maybe, or dearer” (39), bewildering the young Túrin, who has never seen Elf-children. He comes to realize its truth, however, when the Evil Breath reaches Dor-lómin. Although Túrin falls ill and recovers, Urwen is lost to the illness. The family falls into various forms of grief; Túrin confides exclusively in a woodwright named Sador, whom he calls Labadal. They become friends, and Túrin takes to handing him unattended items as gifts, to which Sador admonishes him, “Give with a free hand, but give only your own” (41). Sador, who witnessed the wake of the Bragollach in his youth, shares his experiences being stationed at the fort where Galdor was slain and succeeded by Húrin. Led by Túrin’s father, Sador fought his last battle, soon returning to work as a woodwright, which led to the loss of his foot.

As Túrin grows older, he asks Sador to clarify Húrin’s comment about Urwen. Sador supposes that Húrin was referring to Men’s brief lifespan relative to that of Elves. He remarks, “Such is our fate” (42), which compels Túrin to ask him what “fate” means. Sador elaborates further on the distinction between Men and Elves, stressing that Elves do not suffer as Men do from wounding and old age. He affirms that Urwen will never return from death and admits that Man’s frail nature is beyond him to explain, speculating that it may be tied to the fear that drove Men to escape to Beleriand. Túrin observes that none of his family are quick to show fear, which Sador agrees is true of the young boy. Túrin wishes he were an Elf so that Urwen might still be alive. Knowing this is impossible, he then declares his wish to join an Elf-king as a soldier, just as Sador did in his youth. Sador encourages this but wonders if being so close to the Elves reminds Men too much of their own mortality. Túrin dismisses this, thinking of how positively the Elves have affected his father’s attitude and spirit.

As rumors of an impending battle circulate, Húrin requests that Morwen flee south with Túrin regardless of the outcome. Though they disagree on where to go, Húrin assures himself that Morwen will make the right choice in the worst-case scenario. If things go according to plan, he surmises that Morwen will inherit the lands belonging to the House of Bëor, consolidating power for Húrin when he eventually ascends to rule. Later that night, Túrin wakes to the sight of his parents watching him sleep.

Húrin gifts his son a knife crafted by the Elves for his birthday, hailing him “Heir of the House of Hador” (48). Túrin is delighted by this designation but soon remembers Sador’s advice about gifts. This inspires Túrin to gift his knife to Sador, knowing it will help him in his work as a woodsman. Knowing the source of the knife, Sador expresses his deepest gratitude to Túrin. When Húrin notices the knife missing, his son admits that he gave it away for love and pity of Sador. Húrin recognizes the honorable quality of the gift while Morwen admonishes Túrin, reminding him that he will have to wait for another blade to replace his gift. Sador is afterward treated with greater respect and goes on to carve a great chair for Húrin’s hall.

Húrin is finally called to battle, and Túrin catches him just as he is about to leave. Húrin has mustered many soldiers, though others are expected to join them on the journey to Barad Eithel. Morwen promises to protect her son, prompting Húrin to speak hopefully about his return. Before he leaves, he orders his men to raise their swords for Túrin. Mother and child watch Húrin as he vanishes over the horizon, making his way to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

The narrator describes the full scope of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (the Battle of Unnumbered Tears) as too immense for this story to relate. Hence, the chapter only includes those events relevant to the House of Hador.

Maedhros, the eldest son of Fëanor, gathers armies against Morgoth, including those of his half-cousin, Fingon, and of Húrin, Huor, and Haldir of Brethil. These various forces intend to converge upon Morgoth’s fortress. Before the strike begins, they are overjoyed by the news that Turgon has finally decided to leave the hidden city of Gondolin and join his host with the army of his brother Fingon.

However, Morgoth sends his forces to prevent the armies of Elves and Men from fully mobilizing. Fingon commands his armies to let the enemy exhaust itself in the assault, only revealing the combined strength of their force afterward, and Morgoth’s captain initially fails to draw Fingon out of the hills where his forces are waiting. However, when Morgoth’s army kills a hostage from the Bragollach as a threat, the hostage’s brother, Gwindor, is provoked to march early. This prompts Fingon to follow. The Elves’ armies breach the outer walls of Angband, led by Gwindor. However, he is captured before Fingon can enter, and Morgoth successfully resists the initial assault.

The Nirnaeth Arnoediad begins on the fourth day of fighting. The narrator broadly recounts some of the major events of this battle, including the retreat of Glaurung, Father of Dragons, at the hands of the Dwarves, the defeat of Maedhros and Fëanor’s kin, Fingon’s retreat, and the death of Haldir of Brethil. Turgon and the forces of Gondolin try to turn the tide of the battle, supporting Fingon in his retreat. However, Gothmog, a demonic being called a Balrog and a high-captain of Morgoth, manages to separate Fingon from Turgon and Húrin, fighting the king alone. Another Balrog appears to aid Gothmog, and the two kill Fingon.

Húrin encourages Turgon to retreat in order to preserve the line of Fingolfin. Anxious that Gondolin may soon be discovered, Turgon flees the battle. Huor is killed by a poisoned arrow, leaving Húrin alone to fend off the remaining armies of Angband. He is finally captured by Morgoth’s Orcs and brought to Angband as a prisoner, marking the end of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Despite his success, Morgoth remains fearful of Turgon, now the rightful ruler of all the Noldor Elves.