Beleg

Beleg, also known as Beleg Cúthalion or Beleg Strongbow for his good bowmanship, was a Sindarin Elf who served in the army of King Elu Thingol of Doriath as the chief of the MarchwardensThe Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XXI: "Of Túrin Turambar" - and was a predominant companion of Túrin Turambar.
==Biography==
Beleg "followed no man", and "could not be restrained".
When Melkor's Orcs invaded the forest of Brethil, Halmir, Chieftain of the Haladin, called to Thingol for aid. Thingol sent Beleg with force of Sindar to aid the Haladin, and the two peoples ambushed and destroyed an orc-legion in the deeps of the forest. Afterwards, the Orcs dared not cross the Teiglin for many years, leaving the peoples north of the river in relative peace.The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XVIII: "Of the Ruin of Beleriand" 
He and his friend Mablung were the only Elves of Doriath to fight with the Union of Maedhros in the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, as King Thingol would have nothing to do with the war.The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XX: "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
He and Mablung were great captains of the Sindar, and Beleg was part of the Hunting of the Great Wolf Carcharoth during the trials of Beren and Lúthien.The Silmarillion: Quenta Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Lúthien"
Later, he became a good friend and brother-in-arms of Túrin Turambar, a young Man of Dor-lómin. When Túrin left Doriath, Beleg received permission from Thingol to follow him into exile and bring him the king's pardon, wielding the black sword Anglachel that Eöl had forged and given to Thingol in tribute.The Children of Húrin, Narn i Chîn Húrin, The Tale of the Children of Húrin, V: "Túrin in Doriath" Beleg found the band of outlaws Túrin was leading while Túrin was away scouting, and was tortured by some of them until Túrin found and released him. Unable to persuade Túrin to return to Doriath with him, Beleg returned to King Thingol and gained permission to join Túrin in his free exploits, taking with him the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin as a gift for Túrin.The Children of Húrin, Narn i Chîn Húrin, The Tale of the Children of Húrin, VI: "Túrin among the Outlaws" He went into the wilds again and found Túrin on Amon Rûdh.The Children of Húrin, Narn i Chîn Húrin, The Tale of the Children of Húrin, VII: "Of Mîm the Dwarf" Together with Túrin, he became for a while a captain against Morgoth, and the land they dwelt in became known as the Land of Bow and Helm or Dor-Cúarthol in Sindarin.The Children of Húrin, Narn i Chîn Húrin, The Tale of the Children of Húrin, VIII: "The Land of Bow and Helm"
When Túrin was captured by the Orcs, Beleg was grievously wounded, yet with the knowledge and strength of an elite Elven warrior he recovered and followed the Orcs. He met the escaped thrall Gwindor in Taur-nu-Fuin, and together they rescued Túrin, but as Beleg cut the bonds from Túrin's wrists and ankles he slipped, accidentally cutting Túrin with his sword. Túrin awoke and did not recognize Beleg in the darkness, assuming the shape bent over him with a blade was an Orc and that he was to be tortured again. In a sudden rage of self-defense, he wrested the sword from Beleg and killed him.The Children of Húrin, Narn i Chîn Húrin, The Tale of the Children of Húrin, IX: "The Death of Beleg"
After his death Túrin made the song Laer Cú Beleg, The Song of the Great Bow, and was known to sing it at times of grief and pain, in honor of his fallen friend and comrade.The History of Middle-earth, Vol. III: The Lays of Beleriand, I: "The Lay of the Children of Húrin"
==Etymology==
In Sindarin the name, Beleg means "mighty".The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin names His epessë (i.e. surname) Cúthalion means "Strongbow", from the Sindarin cu ("bow") and thalion ("strong, dauntless").The Silmarillion, Index of NamesThe Children of Húrin, List of NamesThe History of Middle-earth, Vol. V: The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies"
==Weapons==
He wielded the sword Anglachel, forged by Eöl, and given to Beleg by King Thingol. His bow was called Belthronding and his arrow was Dailir.
==Other versions==
In early writings, Beleg was not immediately killed by Túrin. After an ambush, Túrin was taken alive and Beleg was left for dead. He was eventually healed of his wounds by Melian, which allowed him to continue in search for his friend. He came upon Gwindor in Taur-nu-Fuin, and together they rescued Túrin. However, Túrin slew Beleg by misadventure.The History of Middle-earth, Vol. V: The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Two: "Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings"
==Appearances==
*The Silmarillion
*Unfinished Tales
*The Children of Húrin
==Translations==
Foreign Language 	Translated name
Belarusian Cyrillic	Белег
Bulgarian Cyrillic 	Белег
Chinese (Hong Kong)	畢烈格
Danish 	Beleg ("Buespænder")
Greek 	Βελεγ
Hebrew 	בלג
Korean 	벨레그
Macedonian Cyrillic	Белег
Persian 	(Beleg Cúthalion) به‌لگ کوتالیون (Beleg) به‌لگ
Russian 	Белег
Serbian 	Белег (Cyrillic) Beleg (Latin)
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Characters in Beren and Lúthien
Category:Characters in The Children of Húrin
Category:Characters in The History of Middle-earth
Category:Elves
Category:Elves of Doriath
Category:Gaurwaith
Category:Grey Elves
Category:Sindarin names & words
Category:The Silmarillion characters
de:Beleg
es:Beleg Arcofirme
fr:Beleg Cúthalion
it:Beleg
pl:Beleg Cúthalion
ru:Белег Куталион
pt-br:Beleg
Category:Elves of Beleriand