Post by Móreadhiel on Jan 16, 2007 12:35:02 GMT -5
Cirion
Steward who gave Rohan to Eorl the Young. Cirion was born in 2449. His father was the Steward Boromir. In 2489, Boromir died of the lingering effects of a Morgul-wound he had received in the defense of Osgiliath. Cirion succeeded his father as the twelfth Ruling Steward of Gondor.
During his rule, Cirion was hard pressed to defend the borders of Gondor. The southern coastline was harried by the Corsairs, while the line of the Anduin was threatened by a group of Men from Rhun called the Balchoth. The Balchoth had been growing in numbers. They made frequent raids on settlements along the eastern side of the Anduin until most of the inhabitants fled.
Cirion feared that the Balchoth would soon cross the Anduin and invade the sparsely populated province of Calenardhon. He sent watchmen to the forts along the Anduin which had been neglected during the centuries of the Watchful Peace. He also sent spies into enemy territory to gather intelligence. From them he learned that a great force was gathering south of Mirkwood.
In 2510, Cirion prepared to lead an army to defend the line of the Anduin, leaving his son Hallas in command of Minas Tirith. But he knew his forces would not be sufficient to withstand the greater numbers of the Balchoth. Cirion sent messengers north through hostile territory to the source of the Anduin to request help from the Eotheod, who were allies of Gondor. Of the six messengers, only Borondir reached his destination.
The Balchoth crossed the Anduin on rafts and boats and swept away the defenses on the western shore. When Cirion led his army into Calenardhon, they were cut off by the Balchoth and were driven north over the River Limlight into the Field of Celebrant. There they were suddenly attacked from the west by Orcs from the Misty Mountains.
All seemed lost for Cirion's forces, but then the Eotheod arrived from the North led by Eorl the Young. Together the forces of the Eotheod and Gondor defeated the Balchoth and the Orcs in the Battle of the Field of Celebrant. Borondir died defending Cirion. The Eotheod drove the enemy forces back across the Limlight and hunted them over the plains of Calenardhon until none remained.
Three months after the battle, Cirion brought Eorl to the summit of Halifirien in the Firien Wood. There he gave Eorl and his people the land of Calenardhon, which became Rohan. Eorl responded by swearing an oath to remain a friend and ally of Gondor.
In granting the Gift of Cirion, the Steward considered both the needs of the Eotheod who had done Gondor a great service and the needs of his own realm which needed a strong ally on its borders. Thus Cirion forged a vital and lasting alliance which benefited Gondor many centuries later when the Rohirrim rode to defend Minas Tirith in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Cirion died in 2567 and was succeeded by his son Hallas.
Names & Etymology:
The name Cirion is composed of kir meaning "ship" and the ending ion meaning "son."
Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Window on the West," p. 287
Appendix A of LotR: "The Stewards," p. 333-34; "The House of Eorl," p. 344-45
Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," passim
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for KIR and YO, YON
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 205
Steward who gave Rohan to Eorl the Young. Cirion was born in 2449. His father was the Steward Boromir. In 2489, Boromir died of the lingering effects of a Morgul-wound he had received in the defense of Osgiliath. Cirion succeeded his father as the twelfth Ruling Steward of Gondor.
During his rule, Cirion was hard pressed to defend the borders of Gondor. The southern coastline was harried by the Corsairs, while the line of the Anduin was threatened by a group of Men from Rhun called the Balchoth. The Balchoth had been growing in numbers. They made frequent raids on settlements along the eastern side of the Anduin until most of the inhabitants fled.
Cirion feared that the Balchoth would soon cross the Anduin and invade the sparsely populated province of Calenardhon. He sent watchmen to the forts along the Anduin which had been neglected during the centuries of the Watchful Peace. He also sent spies into enemy territory to gather intelligence. From them he learned that a great force was gathering south of Mirkwood.
In 2510, Cirion prepared to lead an army to defend the line of the Anduin, leaving his son Hallas in command of Minas Tirith. But he knew his forces would not be sufficient to withstand the greater numbers of the Balchoth. Cirion sent messengers north through hostile territory to the source of the Anduin to request help from the Eotheod, who were allies of Gondor. Of the six messengers, only Borondir reached his destination.
The Balchoth crossed the Anduin on rafts and boats and swept away the defenses on the western shore. When Cirion led his army into Calenardhon, they were cut off by the Balchoth and were driven north over the River Limlight into the Field of Celebrant. There they were suddenly attacked from the west by Orcs from the Misty Mountains.
All seemed lost for Cirion's forces, but then the Eotheod arrived from the North led by Eorl the Young. Together the forces of the Eotheod and Gondor defeated the Balchoth and the Orcs in the Battle of the Field of Celebrant. Borondir died defending Cirion. The Eotheod drove the enemy forces back across the Limlight and hunted them over the plains of Calenardhon until none remained.
Three months after the battle, Cirion brought Eorl to the summit of Halifirien in the Firien Wood. There he gave Eorl and his people the land of Calenardhon, which became Rohan. Eorl responded by swearing an oath to remain a friend and ally of Gondor.
In granting the Gift of Cirion, the Steward considered both the needs of the Eotheod who had done Gondor a great service and the needs of his own realm which needed a strong ally on its borders. Thus Cirion forged a vital and lasting alliance which benefited Gondor many centuries later when the Rohirrim rode to defend Minas Tirith in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
Cirion died in 2567 and was succeeded by his son Hallas.
Names & Etymology:
The name Cirion is composed of kir meaning "ship" and the ending ion meaning "son."
Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Window on the West," p. 287
Appendix A of LotR: "The Stewards," p. 333-34; "The House of Eorl," p. 344-45
Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," passim
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for KIR and YO, YON
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 205
