Hengest and Horsa

This article is about the characters. For the poem, see Hengest. Additionally for the book, see Finn and Hengest: The Fragment and the Episode.

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This content is considered pre-canon. While the subject of this article is based on official information, it was replaced or emended in later stages of the legendarium.

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Hengest and Horsa were the sons of Ælfwine/Eriol and his first wife Cwén in earlier versions of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium.

Biography

When Hengest and Horsa were young, their mother Cwén died, prompting their father to leave his home and travel to Tol Eressëa. After Hengest and Horsa grew up, they avenged their grandfather Eoh killing his brother, Beorn. Upon this they became great chieftains of their people, and retained the "true tradition of the fairies".

Etymology

In Old English, Hengest means "stallion", while Horsa means "horse".

In other versions

Afterwards, the sons of Ælfwine led their people to the reconquest of Leithian and the established themselves in the land of Tavrobel the Old, who will become the village of Great Haywood, where they planted the Pine of Belawryn, a descendant of the Pine of Tavrobel.

Background

The characters are inspired by Hengist and Horsa, two legendary Anglo-Saxon leaders. In particular, Hengest is affiliated with the story of Finn and Hengest, and also appears in Beowulf.

Ælfwine was intended to be the introductory voice adapting Middle-earth and a number of other legends into Tolkien's concept of a new British mythology, wherefore his son also makes appearances. Tolkien lectured on this idea at Oxford and developed certain original theories, especially in connection with the appearance of Hengest in Beowulf. Ultimately, there are at least three different histories for persons called Ælfwine/Eriol in Tolkien's early mythology, specifically of Ottor Wæfre, Luthien, and one other (from c. 500, 900, and 1000 A.D. respectively).