Twelve Men of Barahir

The men who hid and fought with Barahir in Dorthonion during the years 456 - 460 of the First Age and had their abode near Tarn-Aeluin. They were in the end betrayed by Gorlim the Unhappy and were all slain save Beren Onehand who were out hunting alone.

Some of the names are found in the book The Shaping of Middle-earth and some in the Lays of Beleriand from where the part of the Lay of Leithian are copied.

These are the names of the twelve men : Gorlim, Radhruin, Dagnir, Ragnor, Dairuin, Gildor, Urthel, Arthad, Hathaldir, Belegund, Barahir and Beren.

Here follows a part of the Lay of Leithian :

Twelve men beside him still there went,

still faithful when all hope were spent.

Their names are yet in elven-song

remembered, though the years are long.

since doughty Dagnir and Ragnor,

Radhruin, Dairuin and Gildor,

Gorlim Unhappy, and Urthel,

and Arthad and Hathaldir fell;

since the black shaft with venomed wound

took Belegund and Baragund,

the mighty sons of Bregolas;

since he whose doom and deeds surpass

all tales of Men was laid on bier,

fair Beren son of Barahir.

For these it was, the chosen men

of Bëor`s house, who in the fen

of reedy Serech stood at bay

about King Inglor ( Finrod ) in the day

of his defeat, and with their swords

thus saved of all the Elven-lords

the fairest; and his love they earned.

And he escaping south, returned

to Nargothrond his mighty realm,

where still he wore his crowned helm;

but they to their northern homeland rode,

dauntless and few, and there abode

unconquered still, defying fate,

pursued by Morgoth`s sleepless hate.