Caranthir

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 18:13, 16 February 2006 by Hyarion (talk | contribs) (Fixed Helevorn link)

Caranthir, the fourth of the sons of Fëanor, was also the harshest, and the quickest to anger ; he was also called "Caranthir the Dark".

As the other Sons of Fëanor, Caranthir was bound by an oath to recover his father's Silmarils, which had been stolen by the Dark Lord Morgoth. This oath took the seven brothers to Middle-earth during the First Age where they established realms in exile, waged war against the armies of Morgoth, fought their own Elvish kind, and eventually brought ruin upon themselves.

Caranthir's realm was in Thargelion, and was sometimes called Dor Caranthir (Caranthir's land) ; his abode was on the shores of Lake Helevorn. After the Dagor Bragollach he fled south to Amon Ereb with his brother Amrod.

He rescued the Edain lady Haleth and her people, the Haladin, as they were besieged by Orcs. He then saw the valour of Men, and offered the Haladin free lands in the North, but Haleth, thanking him, refused and left.

He perished along with his brothers Celegorm and Curufin during the Second Kinslaying — the attack by the Sons of Fëanor on Menegroth to recover the Silmarils from Elven King Thingol of Doriath.

He was called Cranthir in early versions of The Quenta Silmarillion.