Post by Móreadhiel on Jan 16, 2007 13:55:02 GMT -5
Guthláf
Banner-bearer of King Theoden. Guthlaf carried the banner of Rohan, a white horse on a green field. He accompanied King Theoden to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019. As the Rohirrim charged onto the field, Theoden used Guthlaf's horn to rally his Riders, and the horn broke from the force of his blast. Guthlaf followed his King and stayed near him. A chieftain of the Haradrim saw the King's banner and rode to attack, but Theoden slew him.
But then the Lord of the Nazgul descended on the field mounted on a Fell Beast. Theoden was slain and Guthlaf was also killed. The banner was given to Eomer, the new king. The bodies of Guthlaf and the other slain Riders were set apart from their foes and their spears were planted around them until they could be removed from the battlefield. Guthlaf was buried in the Mounds of Mundburg with other Men of Rohan and Gondor who were slain in the battle. His name was remembered in song in Rohan.
Etymology:
The meaning of Guthláf is not certain. In Old English, guð means "battle, war." The word láf is interpreted with various meanings including "remnant, survivor, legacy, heirloom, sword." Thus, Guthláf may mean something like "war legacy," "war sword," or, ironically, "survivor of battle."
Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Ride of the Rohirrim," p. 112; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 114-15, 118-20. 124-25
A Tolkien Dictionary by Robert Ireland
Old English Made Easy
The Riddle of the Remnant: The Solving of Laf by Phyllis Portnoy
Banner-bearer of King Theoden. Guthlaf carried the banner of Rohan, a white horse on a green field. He accompanied King Theoden to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019. As the Rohirrim charged onto the field, Theoden used Guthlaf's horn to rally his Riders, and the horn broke from the force of his blast. Guthlaf followed his King and stayed near him. A chieftain of the Haradrim saw the King's banner and rode to attack, but Theoden slew him.
But then the Lord of the Nazgul descended on the field mounted on a Fell Beast. Theoden was slain and Guthlaf was also killed. The banner was given to Eomer, the new king. The bodies of Guthlaf and the other slain Riders were set apart from their foes and their spears were planted around them until they could be removed from the battlefield. Guthlaf was buried in the Mounds of Mundburg with other Men of Rohan and Gondor who were slain in the battle. His name was remembered in song in Rohan.
Etymology:
The meaning of Guthláf is not certain. In Old English, guð means "battle, war." The word láf is interpreted with various meanings including "remnant, survivor, legacy, heirloom, sword." Thus, Guthláf may mean something like "war legacy," "war sword," or, ironically, "survivor of battle."
Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Ride of the Rohirrim," p. 112; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 114-15, 118-20. 124-25
A Tolkien Dictionary by Robert Ireland
Old English Made Easy
The Riddle of the Remnant: The Solving of Laf by Phyllis Portnoy
