Name: The Complete Travels of Boromir | Tolkien Explained
Uploaded: 2023-07-19T09:08:08.000Z
Duration: 15 min 54 s
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He is among the most valiant warriors of  Gondor and the son of the Steward. His  

deeds in war and his heroic journeys would  define a life that would end much too soon.

Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover  the life and travels of Boromir.

Boromir is born in 2978 TA to his father  Denethor II and his mother Finduilas,  

sister of Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth. Five years  later, in 2983 TA, Finduilas gives birth to his  

younger brother Faramir. The following year,  Boromir's grandfather Ecthelion II dies at the  

age of 98, and Denethor takes over his father's  role, becoming the 26th Ruling Steward of Gondor.

Tragically, Finduilas would die just four  years later at the age of 38 after falling  

under the shadow of Mordor. She leaves behind  a 10-year old Boromir, a 5-year old Faramir,  

and a grieving husband. After his wife's death,  Denethor becomes more grim and silent than ever  

before. The brothers turn to each other and  form a great bond as they grow up together.

Over the years, Boromir grows to  become a great warrior. While his  

brother would learn wisdom from Gandalf the  Grey and develop a love of lore and music,  

Boromir would be far more interested in  warfare and tales of old battles. Despite  

the fact that Denethor would grow to heavily  favor Boromir, there was never any rivalry  

between the brothers. We are told Boromir would  always act as Faramir's helper and protector.

On the night of June 19, 3018, Faramir  and Boromir share a similar dream. This  

prophetic dream came to Faramir twice  previously, though he said nothing of  

it at the time. Boromir would recount the  dream during the later Council of Elrond:

"In that dream I thought the eastern sky  grew dark and there was a growing thunder,  

but in the West a pale light lingered, and out  of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying: 

Seek for the Sword that was broken: In Imladris it dwells; 

There shall be counsels taken Stronger than Morgul-spells. 

There shall be shown a token That Doom is near at hand, 

For Isildur's Bane shall waken, And the Halfling forth shall stand."

The following day, Sauron launches a sudden  attack on Osgiliath, where Boromir and Faramir  

are both stationed. The forces of Gondor  are outnumbered by the forces of Mordor,  

whose numbers are swelled by the Easterlings  and Haradrim. Boromir would later describe the  

presence of a power that had not been felt  before issuing from a great black horseman.  

Unknown to Boromir, this horseman was one of  the Nazgul - and the entire attack was made to  

test Gondor's strength and to provide cover for  the nazgul to search the north for the One Ring.

Only a remnant of Gondor's eastern force survives  the assault. Boromir and Faramir fight valiantly  

alongside a company of Gondorians defending the  last bridge across the Anduin. Finally, the bridge  

is destroyed, and the brothers and just two other  soldiers survive by swimming across the mighty  

river. With the eastern portion of Osgiliath  under his control and the bridge destroyed,  

Sauron calls off the assault. His purpose of  allowing the nazgul to pass in secret is achieved.  

Despite his victory, Sauron realizes that Gondor's  forces are indeed stronger than he expected, and  

he would spend the next several months amassing  a force with which to make war upon Minas Tirith.

Boromir and Faramir would speak with their father  of their shared dream. Denethor, who was said to  

have been wise in the lore of the kingdom, tells  his sons that the “Imladris” of the rhyme is  

Rivendell where the half-elven lord Elrond lives,  and that it is a dale located in the far north

Faramir is eager to seek for Imladris  himself, however since the way is full  

of doubt and danger, being that they  didn't even know Rivendell's location,  

Boromir takes the journey upon himself. On  July 4, 3018, Boromir departs Minas Tirith  

making his way north through the lands of  Rohan. He passes through the Gap of Rohan,  

traveling north through the lands  that lie west of the Misty Mountains.

Near Tharbad, Boromir crosses the Greyflood  using a dangerous ford and in the process,  

loses his horse. Thus, he is left to make the  rest of his journey on foot. In Unfinished Tales,  

Tolkien gives us a note on how great  an accomplishment this journey was:

When Boromir made his great journey from Gondor  to Rivendell — the courage and hardihood required  

is not fully recognized in the narrative — the  North-South Road no longer existed except for  

the crumbling remains of the causeways, by which  a hazardous approach to Tharbad might be achieved,  

only to find ruins on dwindling mounds, and a  dangerous ford formed by the ruins of the bridge,  

impassable if the riverhad not been  there slow and shallow — but wide.

Boromir arrives in Rivendell on October 24  - the very day Frodo awakens in Imladris.

With his fortuitous timing, Boromir attends  the Council of Elrond on October 25. There  

he speaks of Gondor's efforts to keep the  armies of Sauron from crossing the Anduin.  

The purpose of his journey however is not  aid, but counsel. He tells them of the dream  

and receives some answers - Aragorn reveals  the shards of Narsil - the blade that was  

broken, and the halfling Frodo Baggins  produces the One Ring, Isildur's Bane.

Boromir then attempts to persuade the council to  let him take The One Ring to Gondor so that it may  

be used in defense of the realm. Elrond, however,  explains this is not an option - that only Sauron  

alone could use the ring and any attempt of doing  good with the One Ring would be twisted to evil.

Boromir joins the Fellowship of the Ring to aid  Frodo Baggins in his journey to destroy the One  

Ring. He joins not to go the entire way, but  with the intention to travel with the others  

until breaking off for Minas Tirith. Throughout  their journey, Boromir proves to be both wise  

and mighty. When they make for the pass of  Caradhras, he says each of the Fellowship  

should take with them a small bundle of wood. When  the Fellowship is caught on the mountain pass,  

having this wood prevents the company from  freezing to death. Aragorn and Boromir would then  

plow their way back down the mountain, carrying  the hobbits and leading the others to safety.

With the Redhorn Pass no longer an option,  Boromir suggests the company travel south  

along the Misty Mountains and either  pass through the Gap of Rohan, or go  

through the southern lands of Gondor. Gandalf  replies that because of Saruman's treachery,  

it was not safe to go that direction and that  they should instead go through the Mines of Moria.  

Boromir says he will only go that route should  the entire rest of the company vote against him.

The Fellowship of course travels  to Moria, and on January 13,  

3019 as they arrive at the doors, Boromir  is frustrated by Gandalf not knowing the  

password and throws a stone into  the nearby water. The Watcher in  

the Water would be roused and attack the  group before they escape into the mines.

The Fellowship travels for two days, coming to  the Chamber of Mazarbul, where they are attacked  

by orcs. Boromir fights valiantly, blocking  the western door and hewing at the arm of the  

cave-troll. When the Fellowship later reaches the  Bridge of Khazad-dum, they are attacked again by  

orcs and the mysterious presence from Mazarbul  is revealed to be a balrog. Boromir sounds his  

Great Horn, causing the orcs to temporarily  pause before leading a second charge. When  

Gandalf fights the balrog, the mighty warriors  Boromir and Aragorn run toward him, but as they  

reach the bridge, it breaks and both Gandalf  and his foe are lost to the depths far below.

As Aragorn now leads the company after the loss of  Gandalf, he leads them to Lothlorien. Boromir is  

wary, saying the woods are perilous and few escape  unscathed. Aragorn corrects him, saying only those  

who are evil or bring evil with them have reason  to fear Lorien. When they leave Lorien on February  

16, Boromir's gift from Galadriel is a golden  belt. As the Fellowship continues their journey,  

it becomes apparent that Boromir is being  affected by The One Ring. He begins muttering  

to himself and occasionally paddles his boat,  shared by Merry and Pippin, closer to Frodo's.  

Pippin even notices an odd glint in  Boromir's eye as he looks at the ringbearer.

When the company reaches the lake  of Nen Hithoel near Amon Hen,  

they must decide which route to take. Frodo  goes off into the woods to consider the options,  

and after a while, Boromir follows.  Their discussion of what Frodo should  

do would make Boromir's falling under the  influence of the ring all the more apparent…

'Were you not at the Council?' answered  Frodo. 'Because we cannot use it,  