The Encyclopedia of Arda - Borlach (original) (raw)
One of the three sons of Bór
Borlach originated as an Easterling of the people known as the Swarthy Men, who came into Beleriand in the late First Age and joined themselves to the Sons of Fëanor in their wars against Morgoth. Borlach was one of the three sons of Bór, and with his father and his brothers Borlad and Borthand he allied himself with the forces of Maedhros and Maglor. Bór was said to have been an important chieftain among his people, and so Borlach was himself the equivalent of a prince among the Easterlings.
It was later discovered that Bór and his sons, as well as the people of another Easterling chieftain named Ulfang, had joined the Elves as part of a scheme of the Dark Lord. Morgoth intended that these Men would pretend friendship with the Elves, but betray their allies at a vital time. The Elves suspected nothing of this treachery, and indeed accepted more Easterlings into their ranks and helped to train and equip Borlach and his people.
The moment that Morgoth had planned for came at the time of the great battle known as the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. Maedhros was delayed by the Easterlings in setting out to war, undermining the plans of his own allies, and when battle was finally joined, the forces of Ulfang turned on their former allies, attacking them from the rear. Borlach and his brothers, however, chose to remain faithful to the Elves, and attacked Ulfang's Men instead. Borlach and his brothers slew Ulfang's sons Ulfast and Ulwarth, but they did not survive the battle. Afterward, the Elves gave Borlach and his brothers names prefixed with Bor- meaning 'faithful', and it is by these names that they are known to history.
Notes
| 1 | We know that the Bor- in Borlach's name comes from an Elvish word meaning 'faithful' (because he and his brothers remained faithful to the Elves when the sons of Ulfang turned against them). The brothers' names are addressed in The Etymologies in volume V of The History of Middle-earth, but unfortunately the name Borlach appears there in an earlier form Borlas, so we cannot be so confident about the name's second element. It is, however, very likely derived from the word lach meaning 'flame' or 'fire'. |
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- Updated 18 November 2023
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