He is one of the greatest warriors in all
of Tolkien’s world. His deeds in battle would strike fear into
the hearts of his enemies. But his fate would be marred by the curse
of Morgoth. Today on Nerd of the Rings, I’m celebrating
my 100th video here on the channel by covering the life and travels of Turin Turambar - the
main character of one of my absolute favorite books - The Children of Hurin. Turin was born in 464 of the First Age, the
eldest child of Hurin, the Lord of Dor-lomin, and his wife Morwen. His younger sister Urwen was born two years
later. She would be called Lalaith (meaning laughter)
as she was such a joyful child and Turin enjoyed watching her play in the lands of their home. But in the year 469, Morgoth sends out a plague
known as the Evil Breath. This plague effects the lands bordering Anfauglith
and causes many to become seriously ill - primarily the young, including Lalaith and Turin. Turin would awake from this terrible sickness,
only to discover that Lalaith had died from the plague. Three years later, just after Turin turns
8 years old, his father Hurin and the men of Dor-lomin join the armies of Fingon, the
High King of the Noldor in the western campaign against Morgoth, with the armies of Maedhros
gathering in the east. Hurin is the only known man of Dor-lomin to
survive the disastrous Nirnaeth Arnoediad - the Battle of Unnumbered Tears - and is
taken captive by Morgoth. The Dark Lord places a curse upon Hurin and
his kin saying - 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’ To Dor-lomin, no word comes of Hurin or the
battle. What does come is the Easterling men who had
betrayed the Union of Maedhros in the battle. Morgoth gives these men the lands of Hithlum,
while taking many of the surviving men and elves of the region to be thralls in the mines
of Angband. Dor-lomin falls under the rule of Brodda,
an easterling lord. During this time, Turin is kept secret by
Morwen - whom the Easterlings initially feared. As the days grow more dangerous, Morwen sends
her son with two servants to take refuge in the elven realm of Doriath. He leaves behind his home, his mother, and
his friend and mentor Sador - an elderly carpenter of Dor-lomin. In Doriath, Thingol receives Hurin’s son,
setting the boy on his lap, signifying that the king will raise young Turin as if he were
his own son. Such a fostering had never before been done
between elves and men. Even more surprising is that Thingol is the
elf to do this - as it was he who lost his daughter Luthien to the love of the man Beren. Thingol sends messengers back to Dor-lomin,
inviting Morwen to come live in Doriath, but she refuses. Her pride will not allow her to accept the
charity of the king - and the road would be too perilous for her - as she is nearing her
due date with Hurin’s third child. Turin would learn of his baby sister Nienor
through ongoing messengers of Thingol and Morwen. Morwen also sends her son the Dragon-helm
of Dor-lomin - a great helmet created by the dwarf smith Telchar with it’s own long history. It had been gifted from the dwarf king Azaghal
to Maedhros, from Maedhros to Fingon, and from Fingon to Hador - the first lord of Dor-lomin,
and passed through his line, finally coming to Turin. Thingol set the helm to be kept in his armory
until Turin should grow old enough to wear it. As he grows, Turin is trained in the ways
of the elves - learning hunting, archery, sword fighting, and how to speak the elven
tongue. Much of this he learns from one of the greatest
elves of the First Age - Beleg Cuthalion - the Strongbow. As the years pass, Turin grows more and more
eager to join the fight against Morgoth in the northern lands of Middle-earth - he also
grows in stature. Finally, in 481 FA, at the age of 17, Turin
takes up the Dragon-helm and joins Beleg in the battles against the orcs near Dimbar. Together, they become warriors of great renown
- with the Helm and the Bow striking fear into the servants of Morgoth. Three years later, Turin returns to Doriath
for a short respite in order to repair his weaponry and rest from battle. He comes to Thingol’s halls while the king
is away and sits at a table with some of the great elf lords of Doriath. Saeros - a member of the king’s court who
was jealous of Turin, taunts him, saying: “If the men of Hithlum are so wild and fell,
of what sort are the women of that land? Do they run like deer clad only in their hair?” At this, Turin picks up a cup and throws it
at Saeros - striking him in the face, greatly wounding both his face and his pride. The next day, Saeros attempts to ambush Turin,
but Turin is far mightier and disarms Saeros. In order to humiliate the elf, Turin strips
him of his clothes and tells him to run back to Menegroth - like the deer. With Turin egging him on in pursuit, Saeros
attempts a leap across a ravine, but falls and strikes a rock...ending his life. The elves of the court saw only Turin’s
later actions - not those of Saeros, and ask Turin to return to Menegroth for the king’s
judgement. Rather than stay around to be judged by Thingol
upon the king’s return, Turin goes into the wild alone and comes to the Forest of
Brethil. There, he comes upon a group of roughly 60
outlaws known as the Gaurwaith or Wolf-Men - who prey on all - orcs - and even other
groups of man. They surround Turin and as they are questioning
him, one of their number rashly fires his bow. Turin dodges the arrow, picks up a stone and
throws it at the archer, killing him on the spot. Turin points out to the group that they can
accept him as a new member - or try to kill him, though he will take many of them with
him before he falls. The outlaws, led by a man named Forweg, agree
to take Turin in place of the lost man. Turin joins the outlaws, giving himself the
name Neithan - the wronged. The following year, Turin, walking alone one
day, comes across a woman fleeing through the woods. The man pursuing her jumps out and Turin kills
him to save the woman from her attacker. Only after another member of the wolf-men
follows, does he realize that the slain man was Forweg, their leader. Turin is then made captain of the Gaurwaith. Sickened by the realization of what this group
has done to terrorize their fellow man, he declares they shall now only prey on the orcs
of Morgoth. Meanwhile, in Doriath, the truth comes forward
about Saeros’ attack and Thingol in turn sends Beleg to seek out Turin and bring him
back to Doriath with the king’s pardon. Beleg comes across the Gaurwaith, but Turin
refuses to go back to Doriath, scorning the land of his youth. Unable to convince his friend, Beleg returns
to Doriath. As more orcs enter the area of Brethil, the
Gaurwaith are forced south. Turin’s company comes across three petty-dwarves
- a smaller race of dwarves descended from exiles out of the dwarf-cities in the East
of Middle-earth. Mim, one of these petty-dwarves, is captured
by the outlaws while arrows are shot at his sons Ibun and Khim. Mim agrees to allow the outlaws to live in
his halls of Amon Rudh in exchange for his life and leads the group there. When they arrive, they discover Khim has been
killed by one of the arrows. Turin shows great remorse for the death of
Mim’s son, and Mim honors his word to let the men stay in his halls - and even comes
to care for Turin. After Beleg returns to Doriath, he asks the
king’s leave to return to his friend in the wild. Thingol grants Beleg’s wish and sends with
him a sword of his choosing - Anglachel - the black sword. In that year of 487, Beleg returns to Turin,
and brings him the gifts from Doriath - returning to him the Dragon-helm of Dor-lomin and as
well as Lembas from Queen Melian. Once again, this is a momentous occurrence
as it had never before been given to mortal men - and would seldom be done so again. Beleg joins Turin and once again they accomplish
great deeds in the struggle against Morgoth. Turin becomes a great lord among men, and
is now called Gorthol - the Dread Helm. Due to the incredible deeds of valor of Turin
and Beleg, the land itself becomes known as the Land of Bow and Helm - and people would
come from other regions to follow Turin in fighting back against Morgoth. Sadly, the lordship of Turin would be betrayed
by their host. Mim the petty-dwarf encounters a group of
orcs and agrees to betray the group on the condition that Turin would not be slain and
that Beleg would be left for Mim to kill. 489 - Thus, the House of Ransom falls to the
orcs of Morgoth. Turin is taken captive and led away and Beleg
is left bound. Beleg escapes, Mim flees in fear, and the
elf pursues the orcs north toward Angband. He tracks the group to Taur-nu-Fuin where
he meets the elf Gwindor - who had escaped slavery under Morgoth. Together they infiltrate the orc camp and
rescue Turin, but as Beleg is cutting his bonds, his hand slips and he pricks Turin. Turin, unaware and in a state of delirium,
believes the orcs have returned to torture him and flies into a rage - he kills Beleg
with the sword Anglachel. As lightning flashes across the sky, he sees
the lifeless body of his dearest friend. Turin, now in a state of uttermost despair
and in a daze, is led by Gwindor to the Pools of Ivrin, which bring him back to his senses. The pair then proceed to Nargothrond, (490
FA) where Gwindor had dwelt before his captivity. There, Turin gives himself the name Agarwaen,
son of Umarth meaning “Bloodstained, son of ill-fate”. However, his secret identity wouldn’t last
long. Finduilas, the daughter of King Orodreth comes
to love Turin, but since she had been betrothed to Gwindor before his capture and maiming
- Turin avoided her out of respect for his friend. Gwindor, however, sees the way Finduilas looks
at Turin and in his jealousy, reveals to her his true identity. Learning of this, Orodreth gives Turin great
honor in Nargothrond. Due to his great experience in war, Turin
over time becomes the chief counsellor of Orodreth, who follows nearly all of his advice
- including the building of a great bridge crossing the river Narog by the gates of the
hidden city. Also at Turin’s behest, they abandon their
strategy of secrecy and move to more open war with the forces of Morgoth. Turin takes the sword of Beleg and has it
reforged by the elven smiths - it’s new name is Gurthang - Iron of Death. Turin’s deeds with this weapon earn him
the name Mormegil - Black Sword. With Turin revealed to him once more, Morgoth
sends Glaurung, the father of dragons to Nargothrond. And despite messengers from Cirdan, bringing
the words of the vala Ulmo that they should destroy the bridge and fortify the city - Turin
convinces Orodreth to ride out and meet the oncoming host of Angband. Thus, in the Fall of 495 - They meet their
enemy in the disastrous battle of Tumhalad, where Orodreth is killed and Gwindor is mortally
wounded. Turin grabs his friend and bears him away
from the battle. There, with his last words, Gwindor deems
that Turin must save Finduilas - for she is the only chance for him to avoid the curse
upon him. Turin returns to Nargothrond to find it sacked
by the orcs of Morgoth and the great dragon. As he comes to the city, he is trapped by
the gaze of Glaurung - still as a statue he stands as Finduilas and the captives of Nargothrond
are led past him en route to Angband. Glaurung taunts Turin saying: “Hail, son
of Hurin. Well met!” He goes on to say, “As thralls thy mother
and thy sister live in Dor-lomin, in misery and want. Thou art arrayed as a prince, but they go
in rags; and for thee they yearn, but thou carest not for that. Glad may thy father be to learn that he hath
such a son; as learn he shall.” Glaurung releases Turin from his gaze, who
is now faced with a choice - to pursue the orcs and rescue Finduilas - or heed the words
of the dragon and return home to Dor-lomin for the sake of his mother and sister. As Turin heads toward Dor-lomin, the great
dragon is glad, for his evil purposes have come to bear - and he is left to rule as a
dragon-king in Nargothrond. In November, 495 Turin once again passes the
Pools of Ivrin, where he is spotted by Tuor, who has no idea that the man passing in the
distance is his own cousin. Finally in early 496, Turin returns to Dor-lomin
- 23 years after leaving as a small boy. There, he meets Sador once again and learns
the truth about Morwen and Nienor - they were not thralls in Dor-lomin, but had left for
Doriath a year earlier. In his rage at the mistreatment of his people,
Turin kills Brodda and the people of Dor-lomin rise up against the easterlings in his hall,
leaving none alive. Sador, one of those who rise up against their
enemies, dies in the skirmish. Turin’s actions will once again prove hazardous
to those around him - for they know that the Easterlings will only persecute the people
of Dor-lomin all the more for these actions. Turin and those who are able travel south,
fleeing Dor-lomin. Turin attempts to pick up the trail of the
orcs who had taken Finduilas, which leads him to Brethil. He meets the woodmen of the region who mournfully
tell him that Finduilas had been killed by the orcs and they lead him to her grave. Turin collapses on the mound in weariness
and despair and is taken by the men to their settlement, known as Ephel Brandir. In Brethil, he is tended to by the leader,
Brandir, until the darkness passes. Turin, in his pride takes the name Turambar
“Master of Fate” - declaring that his curse was now over. Turin leads the able-bodied soldiers of Brethil
in hunting the Orcs who pass their lands. One day, later in 496, Turin and his men come
across a woman lying naked on the Haudh-en-Elleth - the grave of Finduilas. This woman has no idea her name, where she
came from, or even how to speak. Turin covers her in his cloak, gives her the
name Niniel, and leads her back to Ephel Brandir. Over the coming months, she learns to speak
and comes to care for the man she knows as Turambar. Two years later, they are wed on Midsummer’s
Day (498). Later that year, as orcs begin raiding Brethil,
Turin once again takes up the black sword Gurthang to wreak havoc on Morgoth's forces. Word of this reaches Nargothrond, and in the
spring of 499, Glaurung issues forth, heading toward Brethil. Around this time, Niniel becomes pregnant
with Turin’s child. As word comes to Brethil of the coming of
the dragon, Turin puts a plan into motion. Believing that Glaurung is likely to cross
the river Taeglin where the gap in the ravine is thin, he heads to Cabed-en-Aras, and waits
below. As Glaurung heaves his front legs to the other
side, he plunges Gurthang into the belly of the dragon - all the way up to the hilt. As he comes upon the mortally wounded dragon,
he gloats: Hail, Worm of Morgoth! Well met again! Die now and the darkness have thee! Thus is Túrin son of Húrin avenged." But as Turin heaves the sword from the dragon,
black blood covers his hand, causing him to swoon into a deep, dark unconscious state. Meanwhile, Niniel could not bear to stay behind,
unaware of the fate of her beloved, and she came to that place and Glaurung would speak
his last words to her. For this was not their first meeting - and
in that moment she remembered her past - of fleeing Nargothrond after the dragon had taken
her memory, of travelling to Doriath searching for her kin, of her childhood in Dor-lomin,
of her mother, Morwen. Hail, Nienor, daughter of Húrin. We meet again ere the end. I give thee joy that thou hast found thy brother
at last. And now thou shalt know him: a stabber in
the dark, treacherous to foes, faithless to friends, and a curse unto his kin, Túrin
son of Húrin! But the worst of all his deeds thou shalt
feel in thyself.' With that, Glaurung dies and his spell is
lifted and Niniel is left with the knowledge that
she is truly Nienor, sister of Turin. Thinking Turin dead, and driven by grief for
all that she had learned, Nienor Niniel casts herself from the brink of Cabed-en-Aras and
is forever lost to the river. With the death of Glaurung, Turin awakes from
his swoon and returns to the men of Brethil. There, Brandir tells him all that he overheard
from the dragon - and that Niniel was Nienor, his sister. Refusing to believe, Turin kills Brandir thinking
him a slanderer. That very day, he learns from Mablung, an
elf of Doriath - that his sister had indeed gone missing at Nargothrond - and describes
her appearance just as Turin had known his wife. Overcome with the weight of a life of deeds
gone awry, Turin goes back to Cabed-en-Aras and turns to Gurthang to end his life. He casts himself upon the sword, ending the
line of Hurin. There, the men of Brethil bury their captain
and the shards of Gurthang. On the mound, they set a stone - the Stone
of the Hapless - which reads: Turin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga - Turin, Conqueror of Fate,
Slayer of Glaurung and also they carve the name Nienor Niniel. Two years later (501) Hurin - having been
released by Morgoth - finds Morwen at the stone, mourning the loss of their children. She dies in Hurin’s arms and is buried alongside
their son. This site would be one of the very few to
survive the destruction of Beleriand. It lives on, even into the third age and beyond
as the isle of Tol Morwen. In Tolkien’s earlier versions of The Silmarillion,
it was prophesied that Turin would play a large role in the Dagor Dagorath - the final
battle with Morgoth at the ending of the world: When the world is much older, and the Gods
weary, Morgoth will come back through the Door, and the last battle of all will be fought. Fionwë will fight Morgoth on the plain of
Valinor, and the spirit of Túrin shall be beside him; it shall be Túrin who with his
black sword will slay Morgoth, and thus the children of Húrin shall be avenged. The Tale of the Children of Hurin is indeed
one of Tolkien’s most tragic, but it is also one of my favorite for it’s depth,
characters, and connections to the larger story of Middle-earth. If you’ve never read it - I highly recommend
it - especially the audiobook version read by Christopher Lee, which is incredible. Please like, subscribe, and hit the bell so
you never miss a video from the world of Middle-earth here on Nerd of the Rings!
