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(Replaced Harondor with South Gondor, because only the term South Gondor is used in the appendices of LOTR and is thus better known and to avoid going through the Harondor redirect page to South Gondor, it is referred to as a fief in the entry for Gondor in J.R.R. Tolkien's Unfinished Index for LOTR)
 
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'''Harnen''' (Southing) was a river south of [[Gondor]].
__NOTOC__
The '''Harnen''' was a river in the south of [[Gondor]].
==Course==
The approximately 500 mile course of the Harnen began in the southern slopes of the [[Ephel Dúath]], it flowed south-west for about 250 miles, after that it bent west and then sped for another 250 miles to the [[Belegaer]], which it entered in a wide delta by the [[Bay of Belfalas]]. The mouth of the Harnen is located about halfway between the mouths of the [[Anduin]] and [[Umbar]]. The [[Harad Road]] crosses the Harnen about 65 miles upstream from the point where the river turns west.<ref name=utmap>{{UT|Map}}</ref>


It formed the southern border of the contested land of [[Harondor]], South Gondor, and as such formed the southern border of [[Dúnedain]] influence. South of the Harnen lay the land of [[Near Harad]].
==History==
In the year {{TA|1050}}, [[Ciryaher]] crossed the Harnen with his army and defeated the Men of the Harad. Thereafter their kings acknowledged the overlordship of Gondor and their sons lived as hostages in the court of the king of Gondor. In the time of King Ciryaher the realm of Gondor extended south to the river Harnen and beyond it along the coast to the peninsula and haven of Umbar.<ref name=Ciryaher>{{App|Gondor}}, entry for King Ciryaher, p. 1045</ref>


A good 600 [[Númenórean]] miles long, it began in the [[Ephel Dúath]] of [[Mordor]] and then flowed sout-west for about 350 miles, when it bent west and sped to [[Belegaer]], which it entered in a wide delta. The Great South Road into [[Harad]] crossed the Harnen shortly after it bent westwards. This road was used by [[Sauron]]'s followers later in the [[Third Age]].
After the wars of the [[Kin-strife]], Castamir's sons and their followers sailed from [[Pelargir]] in the year {{TA|1448}} and established an independent realm in Umbar,<ref name=Eldacar>{{App|Gondor}}, entry for King Eldacar,  p. 1047</ref> which had been a part of Gondor since its conquest by [[Eärnil I]] in the year {{TA|933}}.<ref>{{App|Gondor}}, entries for King Eärnil I and King Ciryandil, pp. 1044-5</ref> After that date the river formed the southern border of the fief [[South Gondor]],<ref>{{HM|UI}}, entry ''Gondor'', p. 17</ref><ref name=utmap/> which was contested between Gondor and the Corsairs of Umbar.<ref name=Eldacar/> It is possible that the northern portion of the river Harnen upstream from the point where the Harad road crossed the river Harnen was the border between Gondor and [[Near Harad]].<ref name=Ciryaher/><ref name=utmap/>


==Etymology==
Harnen seems to be a [[Sindarin]] name<ref name=Eldamo>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=https://www.eldamo.org/content/words/word-4040590107.html|articlename=S. ''Harnen'' loc.|website=Eldamo|accessed=20 July 2023}}</ref><ref name=Tolkiendil>{{webcite|author=Association Tolkiendil|articleurl=https://www.tolkiendil.com/langues/english/i-lam_arth/compound_sindarin_names|articlename=Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth|website=Tolkiendil|accessed=20 July 2023}}</ref><ref name=Guide>{{HM|Guide}}, entry "Harnen", p. 189</ref> meaning "South Water"<ref name=Eldamo/><ref name=Guide/> or "South(ern) River"<ref name=Tolkiendil/>. It seems to be a compound of the prefixal form ''har-'' of ''[[harn]]'' ("south") and ''[[nen]]'' ("water", "lake", "pool", "(lesser) river").<ref name=Eldamo/><ref name=Tolkiendil/>
{{references}}
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Harnen]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/eaux/gondor/harnen]]
[[fi:Harnen]]

Latest revision as of 15:24, 18 February 2024

The Harnen was a river in the south of Gondor.

Course[edit | edit source]

The approximately 500 mile course of the Harnen began in the southern slopes of the Ephel Dúath, it flowed south-west for about 250 miles, after that it bent west and then sped for another 250 miles to the Belegaer, which it entered in a wide delta by the Bay of Belfalas. The mouth of the Harnen is located about halfway between the mouths of the Anduin and Umbar. The Harad Road crosses the Harnen about 65 miles upstream from the point where the river turns west.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

In the year T.A. 1050, Ciryaher crossed the Harnen with his army and defeated the Men of the Harad. Thereafter their kings acknowledged the overlordship of Gondor and their sons lived as hostages in the court of the king of Gondor. In the time of King Ciryaher the realm of Gondor extended south to the river Harnen and beyond it along the coast to the peninsula and haven of Umbar.[2]

After the wars of the Kin-strife, Castamir's sons and their followers sailed from Pelargir in the year T.A. 1448 and established an independent realm in Umbar,[3] which had been a part of Gondor since its conquest by Eärnil I in the year T.A. 933.[4] After that date the river formed the southern border of the fief South Gondor,[5][1] which was contested between Gondor and the Corsairs of Umbar.[3] It is possible that the northern portion of the river Harnen upstream from the point where the Harad road crossed the river Harnen was the border between Gondor and Near Harad.[2][1]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Harnen seems to be a Sindarin name[6][7][8] meaning "South Water"[6][8] or "South(ern) River"[7]. It seems to be a compound of the prefixal form har- of harn ("south") and nen ("water", "lake", "pool", "(lesser) river").[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", entry for King Ciryaher, p. 1045
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", entry for King Eldacar, p. 1047
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", entries for King Eärnil I and King Ciryandil, pp. 1044-5
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, entry Gondor, p. 17
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Paul Strack, "S. Harnen loc.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 20 July 2023)
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Association Tolkiendil, "Compound Sindarin Names in Middle-earth", Tolkiendil (accessed 20 July 2023)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Harnen", p. 189
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