Balchoth

From Tolkien Gateway
Balchoth
People
Stephen King - Balchoth.jpg
Physical Description
Distinctionsjourneying in great wagons; closely akin if not the same as the Wainriders

The Balchoth were a clan of Easterlings under the sway of Dol Guldur, who lived in Rhovanion, the lands southeast of the forest of Mirkwood.[1] They were no doubt related to the Wainriders.[2]

They had crude weapons and few horses, used mostly for drawing their large wains.[2]

History

In 2510 of the Third Age, they attempted, with the assistance of Orcs, an invasion of Calenardhon, a minimally populated northern province of Gondor. After pushing back the northern Gondorian army, they were repulsed by Eorl, who arrived with the Éothéod, after receiving the plea of Cirion late. The Balchoth were no match for the horsemen of the Éothéod, and during the Battle of the Field of Celebrant, they were hunted down and utterly destroyed.[1][2]

Etymology

The compound Balchoth consists of Westron balc ("horrible") + Sindarin hoth ("horde"). It was actually a generic term for cruel peoples, including the Orcs.[3]

References