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Vales of Anduin

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:58:02 +0000

The long valley of the River Anduin, running north-to-south through Middle-earth from the cold north to the wide Bay of Belfalas in the south. From the beginning of Anduin at the confluence of the Langwell and Greylin rivers, to its wide Mouths at Ethir Anduin, the Vale of the Great River ran for some thousand miles. This great length is divided into upper and lower stretches.

The upper Vales ran between the Misty Mountains and the vast forest known as Greenwood the Great. This was a populous region in earlier times, and many of the Men who lived here were descended from the Edain of the First Age, or their relatives who had never crossed the Blue Mountains to the west. The earliest records of the Hobbits also place their ancestors in this part of Anduin’s Vales.

As time passed, these upper Vales became more and more crowded, and a shadow settled on the Forest, turning it from Greenwood the Great to Mirkwood. At this time, some of the peoples of the Vales were forced to move: the Hobbits travelled westward for the most part, while the horse-loving race of Men known as the Éothéod passed northward to the region around Anduin’s source. As the Third Age passed, this part of the valley became more and more dangerous, and eventually raids of Balchoth through the Forest left the region south of the Gladden’s inflow all but deserted.

South of Mirkwood, the river ran on through two great loops known as the Undeeps, and on southwards into the hills of the Emyn Muil. It’s unclear whether this flat stretch belonged to the Vales proper, but once Anduin had flowed through the Gates of Argonath, and poured over the Falls of Rauros, it entered the region known as the lower Vales of Anduin.

The lower Vales were much warmer than the upper, and settled by Men who gave allegiance to Gondor, at least in the earlier part of the Third Age. The horses from this region were much prized, even in the days before the Rohirrim settled in the lands along Anduin’s western bank. At Osgiliath, the Great River flowed through the largest city anywhere in its vales, and then ran on, widening as it went, to form a vast delta at the Mouths of Anduin before it flowed on into the Great Sea.

Tower of Amon Sûl

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:56:06 +0000

A tower built by Elendil in the founding years of Arnor, to hold one of the North-kingdom’s three palantíri. It stood on the hill known as Amon Sûl or Weathertop, which at that time lay in the central parts of Elendil’s northern domains. The later breakup of Arnor, though, left the Tower in exposed borderlands, and it was eventually destroyed by the invading armies of Angmar.

Siege of Angband

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:50:54 +0000

The Siege of Angband was the leaguer of the Ñoldor around the fortress of Morgoth called Angband in the early centuries of the Years of the Sun (FA 60), which began following the Dagor Aglareb. Fingolfin and Fingon kept watch from Hithlum, Finrod and then Orodreth from Tol Sirion, Angrod and Aegnor from Dorthonion, and the sons of Fëanor watched from the east.

The siege was incomplete, as Morgoth was still capable of sending out various forces of orcs to harass the elves, mainly from the unguarded North. The Noldor were grown strong enough, however, that these task forces posed no significant threat. However, the Noldor and their allies possessed insufficient force to assault Angband directly. After about four hundred years, the Siege was broken in the Dagor Bragollach.

Pass of Aglon

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:45:44 +0000

The pass between Himlad and Lothlann, to the northeast of Beleriand.

Music of the Ainur

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:41:41 +0000

The great song of the Ainur at the beginning of time, in which the world was created.

Master of the Fates of Arda

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:38:54 +0000

“Thou hast dared to mock me, and to question the power of Melkor, Master of the fates of Arda.”
Words of Morgoth to Húrin From The Silmarillion 20 Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad

A title claimed by Morgoth, the first Dark Lord. His claim was not an idle one: in the earliest history of Eä, Melkor had been the greatest of all the Valar, but he had chosen to extend his power throughout the material of the universe. This had left him far less powerful as an individual being, but his evil became bound up in the World, giving him vast power over it.

This power is most evident in the story of the Children of Húrin, in which Húrin Thalion is forced to watch through Morgoth’s eyes as he manipulates the fates of Húrin’s children, Túrin and Niënor. Túrin learned of this curse, and did everything in his power to escape it, but instead his actions left a trail of destruction across Beleriand, and in the end both he and his sister died by their own hands.

Lord of Andúnië

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:36:54 +0000

The title of the lords of the shoreland region of Andúnië in western Númenor; descended from Tar-Elendil, the fourth King of Númenor, and ancestors of the Kings of Gondor and of Arnor. kinglistWrapper”> I Valandil The son of Silmariën and therefore grandson of King Tar-Elendil of Númenor. If the laws of succession had been as they later became, Valandil would have become King of Númenor in his own right. Instead, he became the founding Lord of Andúnië. II-XIV (Thirteen unnamed Lords) XV Eärendur Eärendur is noted in histories only as being the brother of Lindorië, and thus great uncle to King Tar-Palantir. His dates are unknown, but he lived at approximately the same time as Ar-Sakalthôr, placing him in the thirty-first century of the Second Age. XVI (One unnamed Lord) XVII Númendil The grandson of Eärendur was Lord of Andúnië at the time Tar-Palantir held the Sceptre of Númenor, and the two Men were close friends and allies. They sought to return Númenor to its old ways of respect for the Valar and friendship with the Eldar. XVIII Amandil When Ar-Pharazôn took the Kingship, the Númenóreans turned away from the Valar once again, especially after the King brought Sauron to the island. Attempting to follow the course of his distant ancestor Eärendil, Amandil sailed into the West to seek the forgiveness of the Valar, but was never heard from again. He warned his son Elendil to take ships and wait off the coasts of Númenor, and in that way at least some of the Dúnedain survived the Downfall.

King of Gondor and Arnor

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:33:44 +0000

The highest royal title of the Dúnedain in Middle-earth, sometimes also seen in the form ‘King of both Gondor and Arnor’, that was given to the ruler of the combined North- and South-kingdoms.

Tolkien only ever uses this title to refer to Aragorn, after he became King of the Reunited Kingdom, and it would presumably have passed on to his heir Eldarion and his descendants. It might also have been applied to Aragorn’s distant ancestors Elendil and Isildur, both of whom had ruled the Two Kingdoms as High King of the Dúnedain long before Aragorn’s time, but there is no record of either of them using the title.

For a list of known rulers of both Gondor and Arnor, see the entry for High King.

King of Arthedain

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:33:34 +0000

A title of fifteen lords of the Dúnedain, from Amlaith of Fornost to Arvedui Last-king. Arvedui’s eldest son, Aranarth, became the first Chieftain of the Dúnedain. kinglistWrapper”> I Amlaith of Fornost (Ruled for 85 years to III 946) He was the eldest son of Eärendur, the last King of Arnor, and therefore the rightful Heir of Isildur. After the break-up of his father’s kingdom, he ruled the western part of the lost land of Arnor, a region that came to be known as Arthedain. II Beleg (Ruled for 83 years to III 1029) In the later years of Beleg’s reign, the Istari (the Order of Wizards) arrived in Middle-earth. III Mallor (Ruled for 81 years to III 1110) During Mallor’s reign, the first Hobbits arrived in Eriador after crossing the Misty Mountains. IV Celepharn (Ruled for 81 years to III 1191) During his rule, the population of Hobbits in Eriador grew as the threat beyond the Mountains drove more and more of these people out of the Vales of Anduin. V Celebrindor (Ruled for 81 years to III 1272) VI Malvegil (Ruled for 77 years to III 1349) It was in Malvegil’s time that the realm of Angmar was founded by the Witch-king, far to the north and east of Arthedain. Angmar would eventually bring about the end of Malvegil’s kingdom, but not for more than six centuries after his death. VII Argeleb I (Ruled for 7 years to III 1356) By the time Argeleb became King, the royal line had died out in both Cardolan and Rhudaur. As the last remaining heirs of Isildur’s line, Argeleb and his successors claimed kingship over all the old lands of Arnor. Rhudaur forcefully resisted the claim, and Argeleb became the first King of Arthedain to die in battle, fighting the forces of Rhudaur and its new and dangerous ally, Angmar. VIII Arveleg I (Ruled for 53 years to III 1409) Arveleg avenged the death of his father Argeleb, driving back the forces of Angmar, and holding a frontier at the Weather Hills for many years. He died in battle, in the capture of the Tower of Amon Sûl by the Witch-king’s armies. IX Araphor (Ruled for 180 years to III 1589) Like Arveleg I before him, it fell to Araphor to avenge his father’s death. He fought valiantly against the Witch-king’s armies, and with aid from the Elves forced them to withdraw for a time into the east. X Argeleb II (Ruled for 81 years to III 1670) It was in the time of Argeleb II that Marcho and Blanco passed from Bree over the Baranduin into the green lands beyond. Argeleb allowed the Hobbits to dwell in that region, which became known as the Shire. XI Arvegil (Ruled for 73 years to III 1743) XII Arveleg II (Ruled for 70 years to III 1813) XIII Araval (Ruled for 78 years to III 1891) He was one of the stronger Kings of Arthedain’s latter years, reputedly winning at least one victory over the forces of the Witch-king. He attempted to return the Dúnedain to Cardolan, but was thwarted in his ambition by the Barrow-wights of Tyrn Gorthad. XIV Araphant (Ruled for 73 years to III 1964) Araphant renewed the old alliance with the South-kingdom, marrying his son Arvedui to Fíriel the daughter of King Ondoher of Gondor. XV Arvedui (Ruled for 10 years to III 1974) In Arvedui’s reign, the kingdom of Arthedain was overrun by the armies of the Witch-king and destroyed. Arvedui himself fled into the icy north, but was lost in the northern seas. His son Aranarth survived, and founded the line of Chieftains of the Dúnedain from which Aragorn would eventually descend.

Arthedain was a division of the old North-kingdom of the Dúnedain, and its Kings were descendants of Eärendur, the last King of that realm. Eärendur in turn was descended in right line from Isildur the eldest son of Elendil. So, by right, the Kings of Arthedain had a claim on the lordship of all the Dúnedain of Middle-earth.

For all their noble blood, the forces of history had conspired against them. Amlaith was Eärendur’s eldest son, and he fell into dispute with his brothers over his father’s inheritance. The result was the division of Arnor the North-kingdom into three separate realms: Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. Each of these was ruled by a descendant of the old Kings of the Dúnedain, but the true bloodline was maintained in Arthedain, and Amlaith became its first King.

After this settlement was reached, Arthedain’s first six Kings saw a time of relative peace and prosperity. It was in this period that the first Hobbits were seen in Eriador, fleeing from the dangers beyond the Misty Mountains to the east.

It was in the reign of the sixth King, Malvegil, that the peace of early years of Arthedain began to fail. A new and powerful force emerged in the northern Mountains, where a mysterious figure known only as the ‘Witch-king’established himself as an enemy of the Dúnedain. This Witch-king was later revealed to be the Lord of the Nazgûl, who had come into the north to challenge the remnant of the Dúnedain there.

Open warfare broke out in the time of Malvegil’s son Argeleb I. By this time, the royal line had failed in both Cardolan and Rhudaur, and Argeleb sought to establish himself as ruler of all the old lands of Arnor. Rhudaur had forged a secret league with Angmar, and resisted Argeleb’s claim with force of arms. Argeleb himself was killed in battle, and the conflict between the northern lands continued throughout the rest of Arthedain’s history, eventually bringing about its downfall.

Arthedain resisted Angmar for many more centuries, but the Witch-king’s power grew. Foreseeing the imminent danger of defeat, the fourteenth King, Araphant, rebuilt the ancient alliance with Gondor in the south. His son Arvedui even pressed a claim for the throne of Gondor, but this was rejected. Arvedui was given his name by Malbeth the Seer: its meaning was ‘Last-king’, and that proved to be the truth. In his time, Arthedain was overrun by the Witch-king and destroyed.

Though the kingdom was lost, the royal line lived on in Arvedui’s son Aranarth. After Angmar’s victory, the Northern Dúnedain were reduced to a wandering people, but their lords – who took the title Chieftain – still continued the ancient heritage of Elendil of Númenor. It was out of this heritage, many centuries later, that Aragorn would arise and finally reclaim the Crown of Gondor.

King of Arnor

Kjell Arne Brudvik — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:33:31 +0000

The title of ten lords of the Dúnedain, from Elendil to Eärendur. Eärendur’s eldest son, Amlaith, became the first King of Arthedain. kinglistWrapper”> I Elendil (Ruled for 121 years to II 3441) He founded both Arnor and Gondor, and ruled the two kingdoms as High King. His royal seat was in his own capital in the north, Annúminas. He formed the Last Alliance, and marched to the defeat of Sauron, but he himself was lost in that great victory. II Isildur (Ruled for 2 years to III 2) He succeeded his father as High King, but before departing into the north, spent time ordering the South-kingdom. In the second year of the Third Age, he left Gondor in the care of his nephew Meneldil, the son of his brother Anárion, and rode away into the north. On his journey, Isildur was ambushed by Orcs and slain. III Valandil (Ruled for 247 years to III 249) Three of Isildur’s four sons died with him at the hands of the Orcs, but the youngest, Valandil, remained safe at Rivendell. He succeeded his father as King of Arnor, but the South-kingdom of Gondor fell under the rule of his cousin Meneldil, and the Two Kingdoms would not be reunited until the time of Aragorn at the end of the Third Age. IV Eldacar (Ruled for 90 years to III 339) V Arantar (Ruled for 96 years to III 435) VI Tarcil (Ruled for 80 years to III 515) VII Tarondor (Ruled for 87 years to III 602) VIII Valandur (Ruled for 50 years to III 652) Valandur died a violent and untimely death, but no details of his fall are recorded. IX Elendur (Ruled for 125 years to III 777) X Eärendur (Ruled for 84 years to III 861) Eärendur was the last King of Arnor. After his death, there was conflict over the succession between his sons, and the realm became divided into three. The true line of the Heirs of Isildur was carried on by his eldest son, Amlaith, in the new kingdom of Arthedain.