The Galadhrim were the Silvan Elves that inhabited the woods of Lothlórien. Some of the Nandor, the Telerin Elves who abandoned the march of the Eldar on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains settled down in the Vales of Anduin and later on established the realms of Mirkwood in the north and Lórien in the south of Greenwood the Great.

In the beginning the Elves of Lórien were a small and scattered people, but after the War of Wrath at the beginning of the Second Age many of the Sindar of Beleriand migrated eastward. The Silvan Elves of Lórien welcomed them. The coming of the Sindar was a great boost to the power and culture of the Silvan Elves. The Silvan language was replaced by Sindarin.

The arrival of one in particular affected the Nandor of Laurelindórenan: the coming of a Sinda named Amdír. He took over Laurelindórenan. Under his leadership the people of Lórien prospered and their numbers grew. But Amdir was slain in the Battle of Dagorlad along with most of the army of Lórien. And Amroth his son grew weary of Middle-earth and wished to go to Valinor. But he drowned in the Bay of Belfalas.

In her wisdom Galadriel saw that Lórien would be a stronghold and a point of power to prevent the shadow from crossing the Anduin, for the Galadhrim were hardy and valiant. But they needed a ruler of greater strength and wisdom than they possessed. That is why Galadriel and Celeborn took up their permanent abode in Lórien and its government. Under the leadership of Galadriel and Celeborn the Galadhrim prospered and their skill grew. They became proficient in making Lembas, Elven rope, Elven-cloaks and many other crafts.

The Galadhrim defended their home against orcs, who attacked around the end of the Third Age, just before Sauron was destroyed. The Galadhrim weathered all of the attacks. For a more complete history of these battles, see Lothlórien.

The Nandor (sg. Nando), later known as the Silvan Elves or "Wood-elves", were one of the Telerin races of Elves. The Nandor were the original elven inhabitants of Middle-earth east of Beleriand, but eventually they also stretched out across the Ered Luin as well into Ossiriand. They were the "green elves", loving forests, and easily the most common kindred of elf by the Third Age in Middle-earth.
Contents
[hide]

   

[edit] History

[edit] Lenwë and Denethor

The Nandor were originally simply a group of the Teleri indistinct from the others who were afraid to cross the Hithaeglir, and content to remain in the wide forested lands to the east, along the river Anduin. One of the Teleri, of the silver-haired kindred of Olwë that would later become the Falmari, rose to lead them. He was named Lenwë, and led a great number of the Teleri south along the Great River, where they fell out of the histories for a long time. They called themselves the Nandor, and they loved water and green things. Under Lenwë they developed great knowledge and skill with herbs and living things, tree and beast alike. Their culture became very distinct.1

Gradually, the Nandor spread out. They may have moved on to live in Eriador, or by the mouth of the Sea at the outpouring of Anduin. They were a simple folk, with no weapons of steel. They made friends, too, with the Naugrim, and were contented. But evil beasts came from the north, and they had no defense against such terrible weapons. They had been told by the Naugrim about King Thingol and the might of the Sindar, therefore Denethor, Lenwë's son, crossed over the Ered Luin into Beleriand, the western lands of Middle-earth. There they settled in the green and many-rivered Ossiriand, welcomed by Thingol as long-lost relatives. They were called the Laegrim.2

[edit] Wars of Beleriand

Thingol took advantage of their friendship on the first opportunity, when he was in great need. The Dark Lord Belegurth invaded Beleriand, cutting Thingol off from his other strong allies, the Falathrim. But Ossiriand was wide and Morgoth could not sever that connection. Thingol called Denethor to his aid, and the Laegrim came. Thingol attacked the orc-host from the west, and the Laegrim from the east, creating a hammer-and-anvil technique that succeeded. But this victory came at great cost. The Laegrim were lightly-armed, and the orcs shod in iron. Denethor was cut off at Amon Ereb; he and all those nearest about him were killed before Thingol could rescue him. The Laegrim loved him and mourned his loss, and henceforth would take no king. They became reclusive, pulling away from the many troubles of Beleriand, and fighting no longer against Belegurth.2

When the Noldor returned from over the Sea, they gave the Laegrim the name (in Quenya) Laiquendi. The Laiquendi did not participate in the great events of Belegaer throughout the First Age. The Laiquendi accepted Beren and Lúthien, who came to Tol Galen in the midst of their lands, and made it one of the most beautiful places in Beleriand. After the dreadful sack of Doriath and death of Thingol, many of the Laiquendi joined Beren in the Battle of Sarn Athrad. The green elves later sent the news to King Dior Eluchíl news of the final deaths of Beren and Lúthien.3

After the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, the Sons of Fëanor wandered in the lands of the Laiquendi, bereft of lands, often mixing with them.4

[edit] Second Age

(Henceforth see also Galadhrim and Elves of Mirkwood)

After the War of Wrath, Ossiriand survived no longer, and the survivors of the Laiquendi once more merged back into the main Nandorin population, who now were spread over the face of Middle-earth. The Nandor on both sides of the mountain range were of a somewhat less pure strain, those in Ossiriand having mixed blood with some Sindar, and those in the east having mixed blood with the Avari who came westwards. As the Second Age went on, the blood became even more mixed. Even their language changed from Nandorin to Sindarin. Gradually, the Nandor were changing into what became known as Silvan Elves or Tawarwaith, meaning "Forest People"5.

The Nandor, now known in their impure state as Tawarwaith, were soon pushed into refuge when Sauron rose to challenge elven power in Middle-earth. Some were forced to take refuge with the Noldor, who although weakened were still very powerful, in Lindon and Imladris. Others dwelt with Círdan the Sinda in Mithlond, and still others hid in their ancient forest homes Lórinand and Eryn Galen. They took leaders from the pure-blood clans of Noldor and Sindar; in the case of the latter two refuges, the Sindarin lords Amdír and Oropher respectively.

The Tawarwaith of Lórinand (the Galadhrim) and Eryn Galen played mostly a small role in the events of the Second Age, as they had in the First. Amdír and Oropher built up their kingdoms as the shadow of Sauron grew longer and longer, and evil more powerful. Both Amdír and Oropher took great hosts to join the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, and fought in the war that followed. Both hosts suffered immense losses; Amdír was cut off and killed in the Battle of Dagorlad with many of his followers, while Oropher rashly disobeyed King Gil-galad in Mordor and fell beside two thirds of the entire company5. The Tawarwaith entered the Third Age greatly weakened and disheartened, despite the seemingly final defeat of Sauron.

[edit] Third Age

Lórinand, now known as Lothlórien, and Eryn Galen, now known as Mirkwood, continued to host the larger populations of Tawarwaith. Amroth took over in Lothlórien, later passing the rulership on to Galadriel and Celeborn, while Thranduil became king in Mirkwood. Under these rulers the Tawarwaith prospered and became numerous once more, while the Noldor and Sindar were in slow but steady decline. Yet though mostly inactive, they were watchful of the growing of men and the ominous change the Third Age would bring5.

But the elves of both Lothlórien and Mirkwood were threatened by a new evil growing in south Mirkwood. The Necromancer was building Dol Guldur. As the Third Age continued and Sauron rose, the White Council was formed. Sauron was driven from Dol Guldur several times, but the Tawarwaith were still for the most part impassive. Eventually the War of the Ring came. Legolas, Thranduil’s son, became a hero of that war, while both Lothlórien and Mirkwood were invaded by Dol Guldur in the Rhovanion Campaign. All attacks were repulsed, and Dol Guldur was thrown down at last in a grand counterattack by Celeborn and his followers6. Mirkwood was renamed Eryn Lasgalen. Yet the Silvan population was again diminished. Galadriel and Celeborn passed west, and the light of Lórien faded.

Throughout the Fourth Age they aided the rising Reunited Kingdom, making Ithilien green, for instance7. Their eventual fate was to pass west to the land they had never seen, or else to remain in Middle-earth Changed and fade into forgetfulness.

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Noldor
From Tolkien Gateway
Noldor
Dominions

Tirion, Vinyamar, Hithlum, Nargothrond, Dorthonion, Gondolin, East Beleriand, Lindon, Eregion.
Languages

Noldorin Quenya.
Average height

Tall.
Skin color

White.
Hair color

Dark, sometimes red.
Distinctions

Great skill with metal and gems, deep knowledge.
Lifespan

Immortal.
Members

Finwë, Fëanor, Fingolfin, Finrod, Fingon, Gil-galad, Turgon, Galadriel, Indis, Celebrimbor, Orodreth.

The Noldor were those of the second clan of the Elves who came to Aman. They were highly skilled in crafts and gained much knowledge, which they passed on to Men after their Exile. Their King was originally Finwë, but he was slain by Morgoth, leading his son Fëanor to avenge him and the theft of his jewels by making war upon Morgoth in Middle-earth. The war of the Noldor against Morgoth comprises many of the tales of the First Age.
Contents
[hide]

    * 1 History
          o 1.1 The Noldor in Valinor
                + 1.1.1 The Kinslaying
          o 1.2 Exile to Middle-earth
                + 1.2.1 Kingdoms of the Noldor
                + 1.2.2 The Nirnaeth Arnoediad
          o 1.3 The Second Age
          o 1.4 The Third Age
    * 2 High Kings of the Noldor
    * 3 The House of Finwë
    * 4 Characteristics
    * 5 Names
    * 6 Other Versions of the Legendarium
    * 7 See also

[edit] History

According to legend, the clan was founded by Tata, the second Elf to awake at Cuiviénen, his spouse Tatië and their 54 companions, but it was Finwë, the first Noldo to come to Valinor with Oromë, who became their King, and led most of them to Valinor.

[edit] The Noldor in Valinor

The Noldor were accounted the greatest of the Elves and all the peoples in Middle-earth in lore, warfare and crafts. In Valinor "great became their knowledge and their skill; yet even greater was their thirst for more knowledge, and in many things they soon surpassed their teachers. The Noldor were changeful in speech, for they had great love of words, and sought ever to find names more fit for all things they knew or imagined". They were beloved of Aulë the Smith, and were the first to discover and carve gems. Their chief dwelling-place was the city of Tirion upon Túna. Among the wisest of the Noldor were Rúmil, creator of the first writing system and author of many books of lore. Fëanor, son of Finwë and Míriel, was the greatest of their craftsmen, "mightiest in skill of word and of hand", and creator of the Silmarils.

The Noldor earned the greatest hatred of Melkor, who envied their prosperity and, most of all, the Silmarils. So he went often among them, offering counsel, and the Noldor hearkened, being eager for lore. But amid his seemingly good advice, Melkor sowed lies to turn one House of the Noldor against another, and in the end the peace in Tirion was poisoned. After threatening his half-brother Fingolfin, Fëanor was banished from Tirion by the Valar, and with him went Finwë his father. Fingolfin remained as the ruler of the Noldor of Tirion.

But Melkor had yet other designs to accomplish. Soon after with the aid of Ungoliant he destroyed the Two Trees, and coming to Formenos he killed Finwë, stole the Silmarils, and departed from Aman. Fëanor, driven by grief and desiring vengeance, rebelled against the Valar by coming back into Tirion and making a speech before the Noldor, in which he persuaded them to leave Valinor, follow Melkor to Middle-earth, and wage war against him for the recovery of the Silmarils. He swore a terrible oath, as did his sons, to pursue Melkor and reclaim the Silmarils at all costs. Fëanor then claimed the title of the High King since his father was dead, but though the greater part of the Noldor still held Fingolfin as King, they followed Fëanor into Exile due to their valor.

[edit] The Kinslaying

The Noldor led by Fëanor demanded that the Teleri let them use their ships. When the Teleri refused, they took the ships by force, committing the first kinslaying. A messenger from the Valar came later and delivered the Doom of Mandos, pronouncing judgment on the Noldor for the Kinslaying and rebellion and warning that if they proceeded they would not recover the Silmarils and moreover would be slain or tormented by grief. At this, some of the Noldor who had no hand in the Kinslaying, including Finarfin son of Finwë and Indis, returned to Valinor, and the Valar forgave them. Other Noldor led by Fingolfin (some of whom were blameless in the Kinslaying) remained determined to leave Valinor for Middle-earth. Prominent among these others was Finarfin's son, Finrod.

[edit] Exile to Middle-earth

The Noldor led by Fëanor crossed the sea to Middle-earth, leaving those led by Fingolfin, his half-brother, behind. Upon his arrival in Middle-earth, Fëanor had the ships burned. When the Noldor led by Fingolfin discovered their betrayal, they went farther north and crossed the sea at the Grinding Ice which cost them many lives.

Fëanor's company was soon attacked by Morgoth. When Fëanor rode too far from his bodyguard during the Dagor-nuin-Giliath, several Balrogs, including their Lord Gothmog, fought him. Despite battling valiantly, Fëanor was mortally wounded and would have been captured and taken to Angband had it not been for the swift arrival of his sons. However, Fëanor died whilst being taken back to his own people.

Because Fëanor had taken the ships and left the Noldor led by his half-brother on the west side of the sea, much enmity remained between the royal Houses of the Noldor. Fingon son of Fingolfin, saved Maedhros Fëanor's son from Morgoth's imprisonment, however, and the feud was settled. Maedhros was due to succeed Fëanor, but he regretted his part of the Kinslaying and left the High Kingship of the Noldor to his uncle Fingolfin, who became the first High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth. His brothers did not agree to this, and began to refer to themselves as the Dispossessed, because the High Kingship had passed them by.

[edit] Kingdoms of the Noldor

In the north-west of Middle-earth the Noldor made alliance with the Sindar, the Elves of Beleriand, and later with Men of the Three Houses of the Edain. Fingolfin reigned long in the land of Hithlum, and his younger son Turgon built the Hidden City of Gondolin. The Sons of Fëanor ruled the lands in Eastern Beleriand, while Finrod Finarfin's son was the King of Nargothrond and his brothers Angrod and Aegnor held Dorthonion. Fingolfin's reign was marked by warfare against Morgoth and in the year 60 of the First Age after their victory in Dagor Aglareb the Noldor started the Siege of Angband, the great fortress of Morgoth. In the year 455 the Siege was broken by Morgoth in the Dagor Bragollach, in which the north-eastern Elvish realms were conquered. Fingolfin in despair rode to Angband and challenged Morgoth to single combat. He dealt Morgoth seven wounds but perished, and he was succeeded by his eldest son Fingon, who became the second High King of the Noldor in Beleriand.

[edit] The Nirnaeth Arnoediad

In the year 472, Maedhros organised an all-out attack on Morgoth and this led to the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Betrayed by the new-come Easterlings, the forces of the Noldor, Sindar and Edain were utterly defeated. Fingon the Valiant was slain; he was succeeded by his brother Turgon.

Morgoth scattered the remaining forces of the Sons of Fëanor, and in 495 Nargothrond was also overridden. Turgon had withdrawn to Gondolin which was kept hidden from both Morgoth and other Elves. In 510, Gondolin was betrayed by Maeglin and sacked. During the attack Turgon was killed; however, many of his people escaped and found their way south. Turgon had no sons, so Gil-galad, last surviving male descendant of Finarfin, became the fourth and last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.

Finally the Valar came down to Middle-earth and in the years 545-583 the War of Wrath was fought and Morgoth was cast into the Void. But Beleriand sank into the sea, except for a part of Ossiriand (Lindon), and a few isles. The defeat of Morgoth marked the end of the First Age and the start of the Second.

[edit] The Second Age

Most of the Noldor sailed back to Aman at the End of the First Age; but some, like Galadriel daughter of Finarfin or Celebrimbor grandson of Fëanor, refused the pardon of the Valar and remained in Middle-earth. Gil-galad founded a new kingdom at Lindon, and ruled throughout the Second Age, longer than any of the High Kings except for Finwë. He was also accepted as High King by the Noldor of Eregion. But after a while Sauron had replaced his master Morgoth as the Dark Lord. With the aid of the Ruling Ring he fortified Mordor and began the long war with the remaining Elves. He attacked Eregion, destroying it, but was withstood in Rivendell and Lindon. With the aid of the Númenóreans, the Noldor managed to defeat him for a time.

However, in the year 3319 of the Second Age Númenor fell due to Ar-Pharazôn's rebellion against the Valar, in which Sauron had a great part. When Elendil with his sons escaped to Middle-earth and established the realms of Arnor and Gondor, Sauron tried to conquer Gondor before it could take root. Both Elendil and Gil-galad set out for Mordor in the Last Alliance of Men and Elves and defeated Sauron in the Battle of Dagorlad and finally in the Siege of Barad-dûr. There Gil-galad perished, and so ended the High Kingship of the Noldor. Of the descendants of Finwë in Middle-earth, only Galadriel and Elrond Half-elven remained (and the Númenórean Kings through Elrond's twin brother Elros).

[edit] The Third Age

In the Third Age, the Noldor in Middle-earth dwindled, and by the end of the Third Age the only big communities of Noldor remaining in Middle-earth were in Rivendell and Lindon. Their further fate of fading utterly from the World was shared by all Elves.

[edit] High Kings of the Noldor

    * In Valinor:

  1. Finwë, first High King.
  2. Fëanor, first son of Finwë; claimed the title after his father's death.
  3. Fingolfin, second son of Finwë; held to be the High King by the majority of the Noldor.
  4. Finarfin, third son of Finwë; ruled the Noldor remaining in Aman.

    * In Middle-earth:

  1. Fingolfin, after Maedhros son of Fëanor gave up his claims.
  2. Fingon, first son of Fingolfin.
  3. Turgon, second son of Fingolfin.
  4. Gil-galad, son of Orodreth, son of Angrod.

It is not known exactly how Finwë became High King: he may have been a descendant of the Noldorin primogenitor "Tata", or simply have been accepted as leader based on his status as ambassador to the Valar. The Noldor had many princely houses besides that of Finwë: Glorfindel of Gondolin and Gwindor of Nargothrond, while not related to Finwë, were princes in their own right. These lesser houses held no realms, however: all the Noldorin realms of Beleriand and later Eriador were ruled by a descendant of Finwë.

The Mannish descendants of Elros (the Kings of Arnor) called themselves High Kings, although their authority was only over the Dúnedain. As descendants through the female line Elros and his brother Elrond were not considered eligible, and Elrond indeed never claimed Kingship.

It is perhaps notable that Galadriel, the last of the House of Finwë in Middle-earth (other than the Half-elven) and Gil-galad's great-aunt, likewise never claimed a title, let alone that of High Queen. Indeed the only known Elven "kingdom" in Middle-earth after the Second Age was the Silvan realm of Mirkwood, ruled by the Sinda Thranduil.

[edit] The House of Finwë

The leaders of the Noldor were all members of the House of Finwë. The descendants of this house were also many of the major historical figures of the Second and Third Ages, culminating in Aragorn II and his wife Arwen. Below is a family tree showing the lines of descent from Finwë to the kings of Elves and Men in Middle-earth and Númenor. The names of the High Kings of the Noldor are in bold.

  (1) Míriel      =              Finwë                          =        Indis (2)
                  |                                              |
                  |                  --------------------------------------------------
                  |                  |                  |              |            |
Nerdanel  =  Fëanor              Findis  Anairë = Fingolfin      Irimë      Finarfin = Eärwen 
          |                                        |                                      |
          |                ---------------------------          ---------------------------
          |                |      |            |  |          |      |      |          |
Seven Sons of Fëanor      Fingon  Turgon = Elenwë |  Argon      Finrod Angrod Aegnor      |
          :                              |        |                      |                  |
    Celebrimbor                          |      Aredhel = Eöl      Orodreth    Celeborn = Galadriel
                                          |              |              |              |
                                Tuor = Idril          Maeglin      -------------        |
                                      |                            |          |        |
                                  Eärendil = Elwing          Gil-galad    Finduilas    |
                                          |                                              |
                            -----------------------------------------                    |
                            |                                      |                    |
                          Elros                                  Elrond    =        Celebrían
                            :                                              |
                            :                                  ------------------------
                            :                                  |                      |           
                        Aragorn            =              Arwen            Elladan and Elrohir
                                            |
                                  ----------------------
                                  |                    |
                                Eldarion      Numerous daughters
                                  :               
                        Kings of Reunited Kingdom

[edit] Characteristics

The Noldor were the Second Clan of the Elves in both order and size, the other clans being the Vanyar, a smaller group, and the Teleri, a much larger one. The Noldor typically had grey eyes and dark hair (except for those who had Vanyarin blood, most prominently the members of the House of Finarfin).

However, the Noldor were the proudest of the Elves; in the words of the Sindar, they came to Middle-earth because "they needed room to quarrel in". It was this pride that Melkor used to turn the Houses of Fëanor and Fingolfin against each other. The pride of the Noldor also led to their Fall and Exile (and their continued quarrels in Middle-earth, as noted by the Sindar).

[edit] Names

The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin.

The Noldor were called Golodhrim or Gódhellim by Sindarin-speakers and Goldoi by Falmari of Tol Eressëa; they are also known as Deep Elves.

[edit] Other Versions of the Legendarium

In the early versions of Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium (see: The History of Middle-earth), the Noldor were most often called Noldoli or Gnomes. They were still called Gnomes in early editions of The Hobbit. They were also the ones who spoke the language that later became Sindarin (then called Gnomish or Noldorin).

The spelling Ñoldor rather than Noldor was used by Tolkien in his later writings (the character ñ signifying the velar nasal, the sound found in the English word "sing"), but even in earlier versions the name Ñoldo came from a Primitive Quendian stem *ñolodō, which led to Ñoldo in Quenya and Golodh in Sindarin.

The family tree given above is correct in the placement of Orodreth and Gil-galad: Orodreth was Angrod's son, and Gil-galad was Orodreth's son, thus the grandson of Angrod and great-grandson of Finarfin, and brother to Finduilas. These are wrongly placed in the published Silmarillion. (See Orodreth and Gil-galad articles for details). Argon, the third son of Fingolfin, does not appear in the published Silmarillion at all.

    nce they were to come in the days of the power of Melkor, Aulë made the dwarves strong to endure. Therefor they are stone-hard, stubborn, fast in friendship and in enmity, and they suffer toil and hunger and hurt of body more hardily than all other speaking peoples; and they live long, far beyond the span of Men, yet not forever. . ."
    – The Silmarillion, Of Aulë and Yavanna

Dwarves
Dominions

Erebor, Khazad-dûm, Belegost, Nogrod, Iron Hills, Orocarni, Glittering Caves, Grey Mountains, Northern Misty Mountains, Blue Mountains
Languages

Khuzdul (Dwarvish), Iglishmek (sign language)
Average height

4 to 5 feet
Skin color

Probably white
Hair color

Red, white, grey, blonde, brown, black
Distinctions

Short in stature, beards
Lifespan

250 years is the average
Members

Durin I, Gimli, Thorin II Oakenshield

The Dwarves, or Khazâd, were beings of short stature, often friendly with Hobbits although long suspicious of Elves. They were typically blacksmiths and stoneworkers by profession, unrivaled in some of their arts even by the Elves.

While there were several tribes (Houses) of the Dwarves, the most prominent had been that of the Longbeards.
Contents
[hide]

    * 1 History
          o 1.1 Origin
          o 1.2 Contact and growth
          o 1.3 Fourth Age
    * 2 Nature
    * 3 Language
    * 4 Houses of the Dwarves
    * 5 Dwarf-women
    * 6 The Longbeards
    * 7 Names
    * 8 Inspiration
    * 9 Other versions
    * 10 See also
    * 11 Sources

[edit] History

[edit] Origin

Unlike Elves and Men, the Dwarves are not counted among the Children of Ilúvatar. Their creator was Mahal, known as Aulë the Smith. Aulë created the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves somewhere in Middle-earth, from whom all other Dwarves are descended. Aulë though, did not have the divine power to grant independent life to any creation; Aulë repented and confessed to Ilúvatar and promised to destroy them; the voice of Ilúvatar though spoke to Aulë and agreed to grant them true life, and include them in His plan for Arda. Ilúvatar granted the Dwarves life, and therefore they are known as the Adopted Children of Ilúvatar and they were to awake after the Awakening of the Elves.
Dwarves as portrayed in The Battle for Middle-earth II game.
Dwarves as portrayed in The Battle for Middle-earth II game.

The Seven Fathers awoke in their places in pairs: the Firebeards and Broadbeams beneath Mount Dolmed, where they built the cities of Nogrod and Belegost, Ironfists and Stiffbeards, Blacklocks and Stonefoots in the Red Mountains, and Durin I the father of the Longbeards, who awoke alone under Gundabad. He settled in the caves above Kheled-zâram. Which later became the greatest of Dwarf realms, Khazad-dûm.

[edit] Contact and growth

The Dwarves for many years did not know any other folk, until Firebeards and Broadbeams had their first meeting with the Elves in Beleriand in the year 1250 of the Years of the Trees. From that time on there was friendship, between the Sindar and the Dwarves, creating ring-mails, and many other works; the Dwarves of Nogrod were unmatched in Middle-earth in smithing. They delved the caves of Menegroth, and adopted the writing of Daeron. It was the Dwarves who told the Sindar about Orcs attacking their Elven kin on the other side of the mountains and King Thingol, began a build up of arms which the Dwarves made for him.

Later on a great army of Orcs attacked the Elves, but in the First Battle of Beleriand were defeated and fled. Those that got away ran south right into a army of Dwarves who issued from Mount Dolmed and decimated them.

After the Return of the Noldor, Finrod Felagund desired to settle himself in the Caves of Narog and the Dwarves of the Ered Luin aided him and gave him the dwarven name Felak-gundu (Felagund). They eventually made for him the Nauglamír.

Things finally came to a head between the forces of Morgoth and the Elves, Men, and Dwarves in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad. The Dwarves fought for the Union of Maedhros

In early Second Age the Firebeards and Broadbeams clans migrated to Khazad-dûm from Blue Mountains which were perhaps destroyed during the sinking of Beleriand.

The Dwarves did not participate in any important event of history. However their friendship with the Elves perhaps became more close than ever; the Dwarves of Moria maintained close connections to the Gwaith-i-Mírdain of Eregion; The Doors of Durin of Moria were built to facilitate the communication between the two people, and was constructed jointly by both races.

When Eregion was sacked by Sauron's forces, the Dwarves assailed them from behind however it was too late to stop him from conquering all Eriador.

In Third Age 1980, a Balrog awoke in the deeps of of the Misty Mountains and killed King Durin VI. The next year, his son Náin I was killed, and the Dwarves fled Khazad-dum, which from then on was called Moria, which means "Black pit".

Most of Durin's folk left for the Grey Mountains in the North, while some followed the new king, Thráin I, who went to Erebor on the eaves of Mirkwood in Third Age 1999 and started his kingdom there. For a little over two-hundred years the Dwarves that followed the king lived in Erebor, mining for gold and jewels and finding the most precious of jewels, the Arkenstone. When Thráin died in Third Age 2190, his son Thorin I became King under the Mountain. In Third Age 2210, when he heard that his kinsmen were gathering in the mountains to the North, and how rich and unexplored they were, he left Erebor for the Ered Mithrin.

For more than 300 years the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains prospered. After many years, however, the Dragons in the far North started to gain strength; their population grew, and they made war against the Dwarves, plundering and destroying their works. At last, in Third Age 2589, King Dáin I, along with his second oldest son Frór, was killed at the gates of his halls by a great Cold-drake.

Once again the Dwarves were exiled from their homes. Most of the Dwarves left the Ered Mithrin. Some followed Dáin's youngest son Grór to the Iron Hills, while most one being the king's brother Borin followed the the new king Thrór to Erebor again to start a new Kingdom under the Mountain.

For over 200 years Durin's folk prospered, having friendship with Men who dwelt near; the Men of Dale were able to drive away all enemies from the East, until the dragon Smaug descended upon Erebor in Third Age 2770; not long after the kingdom was destroyed and Smaug made for himself a bed of gold in the Great Hall. Many of of the Dwarves escaped the sacking, last of all King Thrór with his son Thráin II from a secret passage. The King decided to wander South along with a small company of family and followers, while most of the survivors went to the Iron Hills.

Eventually Durin's folk settled in Dunland, and in Third Age 2790 King Thrór gave to his son the Last of the Seven Rings of the Dwarves, and departed with his old friend Nár; they travelled North over the Redhorn Pass to the East-gate of Moria, where he entered proudly into the ancient kingdom.

[edit] Fourth Age

Not much is known about the Dwarves in the Fourth Age. After the War of the Ring, Gimli brought a part of Durin's Folk from Erebor to the Glittering Caves and started a colony. Gimli, was later permitted to go across the sea to Valinor with Legolas in the year Fourth Age 120.

It is said that Durin VII (the Last), retook Moria and brought Khazad-dum back to its original splendor, and that the Dwarves lived there till the world grew old and the days of Durin's race ended.

It seems likely that the Dwarves' population increased during the FA like the Hobbits and Men.

[edit] Nature

The Dwarves were created by Aule to be strong, resistant to fire and durable to the evils of Morgoth. Thus they were secretive, proud and hardier than any other race, and never forgot a wrong or debt. They lived to 250 years or more and were generally less corruptible than Men.

Despite being 4.5-5 feet tall, they were known for their strength and endurance in battle, as well as their fury, particularly when avenging their fallen kin, and for being some of the greatest warriors in all of Middle-earth. They fought valiantly in many wars and battles over the Ages holding axes.

Also, as creations of Aule, they were attracted to the substances of Arda and crafts. They mined and worked precious metals throughout the mountains of Middle-earth but were noted for their gold lust, which was augmented by the Seven Rings; they committed their share of rash and greedy acts. Among these are the slaying of Elu Thingol and the dispute over the Nauglamír, which first brought suspicion and hate between Elves and Dwarves.

The Dwarves although sometimes flourished, were marked for their waning numbers, suffering heavily in the wars. Dwarves married around the age of 100; few women were born and not all did wed.

The Elves claim that the Dwarves will have no future in the Arda Unmarred, but the Dwarves hope that Mahal will gather them to the Halls of Mandos with the other Children of Ilúvatar. About their death, some other peoples believe that Dwarves melt into the stones they are made of.

[edit] Language

The Dwarven language was created by Aulë, and was called Khuzdul. It was a strange language to Elves and Men, and few non-Dwarves learned it, also because they kept it secret. The Dwarves preferred to communicate with the languages of their neighbors, and did not reveal their names (the petty-dwarves were an exception). During the Third Age, the Longbeards used northern Mannish names in public.

The Dwarves also had devised a secret gesture language to communicate between themselves in silence, the iglishmêk

However, one Dwarven phrase is well known: the ancient battle cry, going back to at least the First Age: "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!", which means "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!"

[edit] Houses of the Dwarves

Most Dwarves mentioned in Tolkien's works are of Durin's folk, the clan founded by Durin I of Khazad-dûm, called the Longbeards. (A notable exception are the inhabitants of the dwarf-cities of Nogrod and Belegost in the Blue Mountains, spoken of in The Silmarillion). The seven different groups of Dwarf-folk originated in the locations where the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves first awoke before the First Age. There were three pairs of Dwarf Fathers that awoke together, and their Folk would build their halls near each other, though Durin himself had awoken alone. (In his letters, Tolkien adds that all the Dwarf Fathers except for Durin also had wives who awoke with them). Therefore the halls of the Longbeards at Khazad-dûm were not located near the halls of another Dwarf-kingdom. The seven clans of the Dwarves were:

    * Longbeards, Durin's Folk, originally from Khazad-dûm.
    * Firebeards, originally from Nogrod. Paired with the
    * Broadbeams, originally from Belegost.
    * Ironfists, originated in the Orocarni in the far East. They were paired with the
    * Stiffbeards.
    * Blacklocks, originated in the Orocarni. They were paired with the
    * Stonefoots.

There was also an eighth group of Dwarves that was not a separate member from these seven kindreds, but composed of exiles from each: the Petty-dwarves, who were hunted like animals to the point of extinction by the Elves in the First Age.

[edit] Dwarf-women

    Main article: Dwarf-women

Dwarf-women made up only about a third of the total population. They seldom walked abroad, and that only in great need. Dwarf-women are also so alike in voice and appearance, and garb when they must travel, that it is hard to tell them apart from Dwarf-men. It is because of the fewness of women that the Dwarf population increases slowly. Dwarves only take one husband or wife in their lifetime, and are jealous, as in all matters of their rights. The number of Dwarf-men that marry is actually less than a third, and not all the Dwarf-women take husbands either; some desire none, some want one they cannot have, and will have no other one. There are also many Dwarf-men that don't want a wife, because they are obsessed with their crafts.

They are also seldom named in genealogies. They join their husbands' families. But if a son is seen to be 110 years than his father, this usually indicates an elder daughter. Thorin Oakenshield's sister Dís was named simply because of the gallant death of her sons Fíli and Kíli. The sentiment of effection for sister's children was strong all peoples of the Third Age, but less so among Dwarves than Men or Elves among whom it was strongest.

[edit] The Longbeards

                Main article: Longbeards

Dori by Angelo Montanini.
Dori by Angelo Montanini.

Thorin Oakenshield brought twelve Dwarves to Bag End to recruit Bilbo for their treasure hunt in The Hobbit. The Twelve Dwarves were:

    * Dori, Nori, and Ori.
    * Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur.
    * Oin, and Glóin.
    * Balin, and Dwalin.
    * Fili, and Kili.

Dain II Ironfoot, lead more than five-hundred heavily armed Dwarves, to the Lonely Mountain to aid Thorin Oakenshield, and ended up participating in the Battle of Five Armies. He would later become King Under the Mountain.

Gimli son of Glóin joined the Fellowship of the Ring and befriended Legolas of Mirkwood in The Lord of the Rings.

[edit] Names

The Dwarves called themselves the Khazâd, the name Aulë gave them; this is adapted as Hadhodrim in Sindarin, and Casari in Quenya. Casari was the common word for Dwarves among the Noldor, but the Sindar usually called them Naugrim or Nogothrim, the Stunted People.

In Westron, the Dwarves were called *Naragin.

[edit] Inspiration

Almost all the names of the dwarves of Middle-earth are taken from the Icelandic saga of Völuspá.

According to Tolkien, the "real 'historical'" plural of dwarf is dwarrows or dwerrows. He once referred to dwarves as "a piece of private bad grammar" (Letters, 17), but in Appendix F to The Lord of the Rings he explains that if we still spoke of dwarves regularly, English might have retained a special plural for the word dwarf as with man. The form dwarrow only appears in the word Dwarrowdelf, a name for Moria. Tolkien used Dwarves, instead, which corresponds with Elf and Elves, making its meaning more apparent. The use of a different term also serves to set Tolkien's Dwarves apart from the similarly-named creatures in mythology and fairy-tales.

The enduring popularity of Tolkien's books, especially The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, has led to the popular use of the term dwarves to describe this race in fantasy literature. Before Tolkien, the term dwarfs (with a different spelling) was used, as seen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. In fact, the latter spelling was so common that the original editor of The Lord of the Rings "corrected" Tolkien's dwarves to dwarfs (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, 13)

Easterlings
From Tolkien Gateway
Easterlings by John Howe.
Easterlings by John Howe.

Easterlings were Men who lived in the east of Middle-earth, and were enemies of the Free Peoples.
Contents
[hide]

    * 1 Easterlings of the First Age
          o 1.1 Sons of Bór
          o 1.2 Sons of Ulfang "the Accursed"
    * 2 Easterlings of the Third Age
          o 2.1 Wainriders
          o 2.2 Balchoth
          o 2.3 Variags

[edit] Easterlings of the First Age

During the First Age, the term was applied to the sons of Bór and Ulfang, or the Swarthy Men, who came into Beleriand much later than the Edain, and who were for a part secretly in league with Morgoth.

The Easterlings of the First Age should not be confused with those of later ages. The term in the First Age was used to refer to any peoples who came from the east of the Ered Luin, and as such, the Easterlings of the First Age could well have come from Eriador, rather from the further east in the Wilderland of the area of the Sea of Rhûn.

[edit] Sons of Bór

Bór was a leader of Men who came into Lothlann, Beleriand, in the year 463. His sons were Borlach, Borlad and Borthand. Bór was welcomed by Maedhros, who gave him and his followers land north of the March of Maedhros, and south of it. Bór and his sons swore allegiance to Maedhros, and remained faithful, though he was told by Morgoth to betray the banner of Caranthir. All of them were wiped out during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

[edit] Sons of Ulfang "the Accursed"

Ulfang also came in Lothlann, Beleriand, in 463, shortly after Bór. He was the father of Ulfast, Ulwarth, and Uldor. Ulfang was welcomed by the sons of Fëanor, and he and his sons swore allegiance to Caranthir. They were given lands to dwell in the north and south of the March of Maedhros. Ulfang and his sons were secretly in the employ of Morgoth, and betrayed the Eldar and Edain during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad in what is now known as the Treachery of Men.

The Easterlings were betrayed by their lord Morgoth, and confined to Hithlum. After the War of Wrath, those that survived fled back over the Ered Luin to Eriador and beyond.

[edit] Easterlings of the Third Age

In the third age, the Easterlings were a significant threat to Gondor; they were a more regimented force than the Orcs or even the Haradrim. It is likely that Sauron drew much of his inspiration for his Orc armies from these wicked men. Sauron suffered a harsh and heavy defeat from the Last Alliance, who vanquished his numerically superior Orcs with a ranked and ordered army. The Easterlings were all this and more, so Sauron greatly valued his alliance with the men of Rhûn.

The weapons that the Easterlings used were primarily jagged spears, making them especially effective against cavalry, as well as a shorter, odd, glaive-like version used for close combat. They also were known to run their foes down in great Wains, or wagons.

[edit] Wainriders

Main Article: Wainriders

The Wainriders were a confederation of Easterling tribes who were united by their hate of Gondor, fueled by the dark lord Sauron. Following the Great Plague which weakened Gondor, they started their attacks in Third Age 1856, defeating the Gondorian army and killing king Narmacil II. They rode in great wagons and chariots (which gave them their name), and raided the lands of Rhovanion, destroying or enslaving its people. Gondor gradually lost all of its possessions east of Anduin to them. The thirtieth king of Gondor, Calimehtar son of Narmacil, defeated the Wainriders at the Field of Celebrant, buying some rest for his land. However the Wainriders struck back in 1944, allying themselves with the Haradrim of Near Harad and the Variags of Khand. They managed to kill king Ondoher and both his sons, but instead of riding on to Minas Anor and taking the city, they paused to celebrate. Meanwhile, general Eärnil of Gondor's southern army had defeated the Haradrim and rode north to defend his king. He came too late to rescue Ondoher, but managed to decisively defeat the Wainriders. Eärnil was later crowned king. After this defeat the might of the Wainriders was broken, and they retreated east. They still held Rhovanion, but never troubled Gondor again. It later turned out that their attacks were staged by Sauron to allow him to reclaim Mordor while Gondor's watch was diverted.

[edit] Balchoth

Main Article: Balchoth

The Balchoth were a fierce race of Easterlings, who attacked Gondor while under orders of Dol Guldur. In 2150 they overran the plains of Calenardhon and almost destroyed the army of the Ruling Steward Cirion, but were defeated by the Éothéod under Eorl the Young. Like the Wainriders they rode in chariots and wagons, and they may have been descendants of this people.

[edit] Variags

Main Article: Variags

The Variags (in the real world, this is another name for the Varangians) were from Khand, and they first appeared in the West in 1944 of the Third Age, fighting alongside the Wainriders. They later appeared during the battle of the Pelennor Fields. Little was known about them, but they appeared to be a race of horse-men much like the Rohirrim, although they were fiercely loyal to Mordor.

The Haradrim or Southrons were the proud and warlike people of the Harad, in the south of Middle-earth.
Contents
[hide]

    * 1 History
    * 2 Appearance
    * 3 Portrayal in Adaptations
    * 4 See also

[edit] History

Ancient enemies of Gondor, they allied with Sauron during the War of the Ring.

During the Second Age the Men of Númenor built a great city in the firth of Umbar, a vast natural harbour on the southern shores of the Bay of Belfalas, eventually turning the city into a fortified citadel from whose gates the Men of Númenor could levy great tributes upon the tribes of Harad.

At the time of the War of the Ring, the Southrons were in league with Sauron and fought alongside his Orc army. In the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, they deployed cavalry and gigantic, elephant-like Mûmakil. King Théoden of Rohan killed their leader, who bore the standard of the Black Serpent, during the battle.

Once Sauron was destroyed, the Southrons submitted to the rule of King Elessar.

[edit] Appearance

Tolkien provided a description of one of their dead in The Lord of the Rings:

    "He came to rest in the fern a few feet away, face downward, green arrow-feathers sticking from his neck below a golden collar. His scarlet robes were tattered, his corslet of overlapping brazen plates was rent and hewn, his black plaits of hair braided with gold were drenched with blood. His brown hand still clutched the hilt of a broken sword."
    – "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit"

[edit] Portrayal in Adaptations
Haradrim from Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings
Haradrim from Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings

2001-3: The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy:

    The Haradrim appear briefly in The Two Towers when Frodo and Sam witness a raid on one of their columns by Faramir's rangers. They are featured more prominently in The Return of the King, in which the battle between the Rohirrim and the Mûmakil is a major action sequence.

    While the book depicts the Southron army as primarily cavalry armed with scimitars, we see no horsemen in the movie: the Haradrim fight almost exclusively from platforms mounted on the backs of their monstrous oliphaunts. They have also adorned the animals' tusks with spikes and shafts that crush and impale numerous enemy horsemen.

    The costumes of the Haradrim in the movie are Middle Eastern in style and dark brown or black in color, while the Haradrim wore red livery in the book.

he troll-men of Far Harad are a fictional race (or a subset of a race) from J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy book, The Lord of the Rings.

In the third volume, The Return of the King, Tolkien makes a passing reference to "black men like half-trolls" fighting in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields:

"...Easterlings with axes, and Variags of Khand, Southrons in scarlet, and out of Far Harad black men like half-trolls with white eyes and red tongues."

He later mentions "troll-men" as being amongst those driven off by the knights of Dol Amroth.

"...East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them: troll-men and Variags and orcs that hated the sunlight."

It is commonly assumed by readers that these two references apply to the same group, though there are of course exceptions. There is disagreement on whether they were just large Men who are being compared to Trolls, and thus another group of Southrons (Haradrim), or some sort of crossbreed between the two races. Supporters of the latter interpretation point to the similar terms "half-orcs" and "goblin-men", appearing in the same book (chiefly in the second volume, The Two Towers), and "Orc-men" and "Man-orcs", appearing in later writings (published in Morgoth's Ring) — all applied to the products of Sauron and Saruman's Orc-Man breeding programs. (The interpretation of these terms as referring to specific "breeds", especially with the Uruk-hai, who had Mannish blood, is another source of disagreement.)