Greatest Warrior of ME?
What's your opinion of who's the greatest warrior of Middle Earth? Note that I said greatest, not best. There's a difference. Think about how they helped others, how they changed the course of a battle, their personality, attitude, non-combat actions and ect.
I won't put a poll since there are alot and I want to include all possible heroes
Greatest warrior... imo Beleg 🙂 He was incontestably one of the best, but also one of the most modest... he never put himself above others, supported the people round him as good as he could, was willing to give his life to rescue others, was never too proud nor tried to manipulate / rule those that were not as "great" as he was.
I think one of the scenes in the books that portrays him best is when Túrin fled from Doriath and he is late for the trial, but brings Nellas - someone nobody else thought about, though she was the only one who actually saw that it had been Saeros who started to attack Túrin
If you do not wish for guests, you should keep better watch. Why do you welcome me thus? I come as a friend and seek only a friend. Neithan I hear that you call him...
Like Cyn said, Beleg is definitely one of the greatest warriors in Arda. 😄
At the same time though, I also go with Húrin Thalion and Túrin Turambar. Clearly, Tolkien and the Elves recognize them as Great, and lets not forget Faramir's reverence for Húrin more than 6,000 years later.
Húrin was a great warrior. Remember his deeds when he defended Turgon. When everybody else were slain, he still fought and believed that Morgoth will face his end. Even though the Orcs would have been trying to kill him, I don't think they could have done that much sooner. I think that Gothmog would have met his end much sooner, if fought with Húrin.
And after taken to Angband, he defied Morgoth for 28 years, spat on his face, and I think would have lasted even longer, if would not have been released. As somebody said, there was no escape for Húrin, for he couldn't move or even die, so it was an eternal doom. But I think Húrin would have given up anyways. He defied the Greatest of the Beings of Arda. It was no small deed.
Húrin is clearly one of the greatest warriors of all time, and his selfless act will forever stand amoung the greatest of deeds.
Turning now on Túrin...
Túrin lived his entire adult life under the curse of the greatest being on earth, and also got on the bad side of the father of Dragons. I think what he accomplished is amazing despite being screwed from the very start (and despite the fact that I want to hit him on the head time and again 😛 ).
First, he made a name for himself on the northern marches of Doriath, being named with Beleg as the greatest of Doriath's warriors. Then he went into the wild and took over a band of Men and did more harm to Morgoth's armies, once again making his territory feared by enemies.
After that he went to Nargothrond, and even though Orodreth was "in charge" it was clear from the books that Túrin was basically ordering things the way he wanted. And I believe that is extremely telling, the fact that he rose to the absolute top of a powerful Elvish kingdom, where there were great Elf lords in abundance. He rose even above them. And once again, he did some serious damage to Morgoth while there.
After a run in with Glaurung, during which he showed no fear, he went on to Brethil and quickly established himself as the top dog there, and once again knocked Morgoth's forces around. And this was where he accomplished perhaps his greatest feat by slaying Glaurung.
Then finally, after having his eyes opened by Mablung, he basically realized that he was a plague everywhere he went because of Morgoth's curse, so he decided he would do no further harm and take his fate into his own hands, whereupon he took his life.
Considering how tragic his life was; losing his first sister, being separated from his father, then being separated from his mother, being wrongfully accused in Doriath, accidentally killing his best friend Beleg, losing Finduilas, and finally marrying his sister, I think what Túrin still managed to do was amazing. I would've snapped under those same circumstances. I think if he would've been given a better chance, such as being born before his lands and people in Dor-lomin fell, he would've become the greatest Lord of Men ever known.
I also think it's interesting that in early writings of The Last Battle (at the end of the world), Tolkien said that it would be Túrin with his black sword that would deal Melkor his death blow, and called Túrin the conqueror of fate, and named him among the Gods. Apparently, Tolkien thought he was pretty special.
Forgive my long post, but I just love the tragic hero that tries his best to rise above his human flaws and less than perfect circumstances. (Boromir...😍 )
Like father, like son. Húrin and Túrin are on top of my list. 😄
Now, let's consider the others:
Beren Erchamion
Lets look at a selective list of Beren's accomplishments, which to his credit go far beyond one fine day of axe swinging, and were not all by use of Arms, but entailed matters of character:
1. His deeds among Barahir's companions
2. His rescuing of the Ring of Felagund
3. His deeds as a solitary outlaw
4. His unrivaled traverse over Ered Gorgoroth, through Dungortheb and into Doriath
5. His tireless pursuit of Lúthien
6. His wooing of Lúthien
7. His nobility in front of Thingol
8. His persuasion of Finrod and others to his aid
9. His saving of Lúthien from two sons of Féanor (Leap of Beren)
10. His attempt to go to Angband alone, but willingness to accept Lúthien’s power
11. His unwillingness to give up the quest, because of his and Lúthien's honor
12. His secreting into the pits the Hell
13. Protecting Lúthien from Carcharoth
14. Surviving and returning to Thingol and gaining his blessing
15. The final hunt and saving of Thingol's life.
16. Tarrying in the Halls of Mandos
17. Living a life of peace, in obedience to the Valar, thereafter and siring the first of the great lineage.
Now, there's poor Aragorn who has become a mere baby-sitter of Hobbits, and for which a few moments of indecision in leading the Fellowship are a major problem.
Lets consider how over his long life he not only redeemed his own few failings, but redeemed all the race of Men and the failings of his ancestors through Arnor, Isíldur, the Kings of Númenor and even the tragic Édain like Túrin.
Or, don't forget that he acted prudently but bravely his whole life, resisted the lure of the Ring, was steadfast in his pursuit of the Evil Powers, escaped their attempts to capture him, wooed one nearly as lofty as Lúthien, gave her the Ring of Felagund, acquired the great Elfstone, and through to his dying day exhibited wisdom and humility.
For seventy some years prior to meeting Frodo, he had become the greatest Hero of that Age of Men, traversing the world and foiling works of the enemy. Think if he had not destroyed the forces at Umbar in the raid he led under Denethor's father. If not for that, the forces of Umbar would have been much stronger by the time of War of the Ring. They could have overwhelmed Gondor's coastal navies, and launched a real expeditionary force. As it were, they could only break up the Lower Anduin and engage in a blocking maneuver. (Southern Gondor was not really under threat ruin from them directly, but only unable to aid Minas Tirith sufficiently, because of this diversionary tactic which Aragorn brilliantly countered) And through all that, he found time to be the Chieftain of the Dunédain of the North, which provided selfless and indispensable security to the Shire and other places.
Now, lets look at what he did during the War of the Ring, before becoming the first King of the Fourth Age, and a Lord of all Free Peoples for more than a hundred years, in which he delivered peace and prosperity, and saw to the destruction of Sauron’s military legacy. Túrin and Húrin may not have had such an opportunity, or Elendil for that matter, but I think Aragorn was more than just lucky.
1. He protected four still naïve Hobbits from the Nazgûl, fought them directly, and cured others such as Faramir affected by the Evil Breath
2. Brought back and renamed the Sword that was Broken.
3. Always saw the Ring for what it was, and did not try to claim his crown too quickly
4. Made the right decision in using the Palantír, and seriously weakened Sauron’s confidence and the carefulness of his hitherto plans.
5. Led the three runners across the fields of Rohan
6. Successfully led forces at the battles of Helm’s Deep, Pelargir, and Pelennor Fields, and didn’t just go down in glorious defeat. Sometimes winning is better than losing, and all the more remarkable when outnumbered.
7. But he was prepared to fulfill the ultimate sacrifice before the Gates of Mordor, where he might have equaled Húrin.
8.Oh yeah … the Paths of the Dead.
😛
Whow, Shadowy 😄 😆 *reads the post again*
I think Finrod, Fingon, Fingolfin and so on are all among the greatest warriors, but some of them are a little too good for my opinion, too heroic, what makes them kinda less "interesting" I think... they're all the same and because of their nearly-flawless-ness kinda impersonal
Other great warriors are Ecthelion and Glorfindel... both died defending Gondolin and its people against the balrogs (Glorfindel killed one, Ecthelion even killed four or five or something)
Originally posted by Ddraiglais
Hmmm, it doesn't seem that there is a restriction on which age. I'll have to vote with Ungoliath with Morgoth a close second.
🙄^^
of course not, Finrod and Fingolfin didnt make it pastthe first age, most of the greatest warriors lived in the first age...
now in reply to your message, "Ungoliant"(you spelt it wrong), wasnt such a warrior, never did any real fighting and wasnt recorded for anything much except for being the first spider and being very fat and hungry for the lights of trees most of the time...
the second age didnt contain much great warriors in such that I can recall, Elrond and Gil-Gilad