Brand

Brand was the son of King Bain and grandson of Bard the Bowman who had killed the dragon Smaug.

He became the king of Dale and by Third Age 3018 he had extended the realm of Dale far south and east of Esgaroth.

At the Council of Elrond the dwarf Glóin reported that a year earlier (in Third Age 3017) a messenger from Mordor had come to speak to Dáin. He also said that messengers had spoken to King Brand and that he was afraid, for war appeared to be gathering on his eastern borders.

King Brand remained steadfast though. In Third Age 3019 when a host of Sauron's allies crossed the River Carnen he retreated into Dale. There the Men of Dale and the Dwarves of Erebor fought for three days. Brand was slain at the side of Dáin II Ironfoot during the Battle of Dale, at the end of which the victorious Easterlings drove the allies (including his son, Bard) into Erebor where they were besieged.

However, when news of Sauron's defeat came his northern army was dismayed with his son (and Dáin's son, Thorin) breaking the siege. King Brand was succeeded by his son, Bard II.

J.R.R. Tolkien possibly derived the name Brand from Old English brand ("fire-brand, torch; sword"). Jim Allan suggests that it is derived from the Germanic element brand, which means "brand".

Brand in adaptations

2001-2007: The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game:

Despite not featuring in The Lord of the Rings film series, Decipher produced a card depicting the character.

2012: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Brand makes two minor appearances during the Battle of Dale and before the Siege of Erebor in two adventure "instances" designed for groups of six or twelve players. Unlike in the books, Brand is depicted being slain by arrows in the crossing of the River Running while guarding his people's retreat to the Mountain. This inconsistency is referenced in a later quest in which a notorious dwarf tale-spinner describes events unfolding this way, and the player has the option to agree with the veracity of his tale or to disagree in favour of the canonical version of Brand's death.

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