Bladorthin: Difference between revisions

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'''Bladorthin''' was a king fleetingly mentioned in [[The Hobbit]] as having ordered spears of superior quality for his soldiers from the [[Dwarves of Erebor]]. [[Bladorthin]] never received his weapons, presumably because of the descent of [[Smaug]] on the [[Lonely Mountain]], though like much else about this character, it has hard to be completely certain why the spears were never delivered.  
{{quote|... the spears that were made for the armies of the great King Bladorthin (long since dead), each had a thrice-forged head and their shafts were inlaid with cunning gold, but they were never delivered or paid for...}}


Almost no concrete information about Bladorthin exists. His name seems to come from [[Elvish]], probably deriving from blador 'wide plain' and thin 'grey'. 'Grey' here betrays a curious connection with [[Gandalf]] the Grey: in the early drafts of [[The Hobbit]], it seems that the [[Wizards|Wizard]]'s name was to have been 'Bladorthin'. Despite this, in the published version the name survives in just the single sentence quoted above. Questions about whether Bladorthin was a [[Men|Man]] or an [[Elf]], for instance, or precisely where his kingdom lay, must remain in the realm of speculation.
'''Bladorthin''' was a king fleetingly mentioned in [[The Hobbit]] as having ordered thrice-forged spears of superior quality for his soldiers from the [[Dwarves of Erebor]]. [[Bladorthin]] never received his weapons, presumably because of the descent of [[Smaug]] on the [[Lonely Mountain]], although it has hard to be completely certain why the spears were never delivered and some believe his death prevented the trade.  


Questions about whether Bladorthin was a [[Men|Man]] or an [[Elf]], for instance, or precisely where his kingdom lay, must remain in the realm of speculation.
==Etymology==
Almost no concrete information about Bladorthin exists. His name seems to come from [[Elvish]], probably deriving from blador 'wide plain' and thin 'grey'. 'Grey' here betrays a curious connection with [[Gandalf]] the Grey: in the early drafts of [[The Hobbit]], it seems that the [[Wizards|Wizard]]'s name was to have been 'Bladorthin'. Despite this, in the published version the name survives in just the single sentence quoted above.
==External links==
*[http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Bladorthin.html This theory] argues that Bladorthin was a Mannish King of the little known land of [[Dorwinio]].
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Revision as of 09:18, 30 July 2008

"... the spears that were made for the armies of the great King Bladorthin (long since dead), each had a thrice-forged head and their shafts were inlaid with cunning gold, but they were never delivered or paid for..."
― {{{2}}}

Bladorthin was a king fleetingly mentioned in The Hobbit as having ordered thrice-forged spears of superior quality for his soldiers from the Dwarves of Erebor. Bladorthin never received his weapons, presumably because of the descent of Smaug on the Lonely Mountain, although it has hard to be completely certain why the spears were never delivered and some believe his death prevented the trade.

Questions about whether Bladorthin was a Man or an Elf, for instance, or precisely where his kingdom lay, must remain in the realm of speculation.

Etymology

Almost no concrete information about Bladorthin exists. His name seems to come from Elvish, probably deriving from blador 'wide plain' and thin 'grey'. 'Grey' here betrays a curious connection with Gandalf the Grey: in the early drafts of The Hobbit, it seems that the Wizard's name was to have been 'Bladorthin'. Despite this, in the published version the name survives in just the single sentence quoted above.

External links