Lindon: Difference between revisions

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| othernames=
| othernames=
| location=West of the [[Blue Mountains]]
| location=West of the [[Blue Mountains]]
| capital=[[Grey Havens]]
| capital=
| towns=[[Forlond]] and [[Harlond (Lindon)|Harlond]]
| towns=[[Mithlond]], [[Forlond]], [[Harlond (Lindon)|Harlond]]
| regions=[[Forlindon|North]] and [[Harlindon|South]]
| regions=[[Forlindon|North]] and [[Harlindon|South]]
| population=[[Elves]] ([[Elves of Lindon]]), some [[Dwarves]]
| population=[[Elves of Lindon]]<br/>[[Dwarves of the Blue Mountains]]
| language=[[Sindarin]]
| language=[[Sindarin]], [[Khuzdul]], [[Westron]]
| govern1=[[Gil-galad]]
| govern1=[[Gil-galad]]
| govern2=[[Círdan]]
| govern2=[[Círdan]]
Line 33: Line 33:


==Geography==
==Geography==
Lindon was a name of [[Ossiriand]], a region west of the [[Blue Mountains]], in Eastern [[Beleriand]]. After the deluge of Beleriand in the [[War of Wrath]], Lindon became the westernmost land of the continent of [[Middle-earth]]. The [[Gulf of Lune]] broke into Lindon and the Blue Mountains and divided the realm into ''[[Forlindon]]'' (North Lindon) and ''[[Harlindon]]'' (South Lindon). The eastern border of Lindon was the [[River Lune]], beyond which was [[Arnor]].<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>
Lindon was a name of [[Ossiriand]], a region west of the [[Blue Mountains]], in Eastern [[Beleriand]]. After the deluge of Beleriand in the [[War of Wrath]], Lindon became the westernmost land of the continent of [[Middle-earth]]. The [[Gulf of Lune]] broke into Lindon and the Blue Mountains and divided the realm into ''[[Forlindon]]'' (North Lindon) and ''[[Harlindon]]'' (South Lindon). The eastern border of Lindon was the [[Lune]], beyond which was [[Arnor]].<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 51: Line 51:
In {{SA|600}} [[Entulessë]], a ship from [[Númenor]] arrived in Mithlond where Gil-galad welcomed the [[Númenóreans]], before reestablishing contact with their [[Mannish]] kin, the [[Middle Men]].<ref>{{App|B1}}, entry "600"</ref><ref>{{UT|Island}}</ref>
In {{SA|600}} [[Entulessë]], a ship from [[Númenor]] arrived in Mithlond where Gil-galad welcomed the [[Númenóreans]], before reestablishing contact with their [[Mannish]] kin, the [[Middle Men]].<ref>{{App|B1}}, entry "600"</ref><ref>{{UT|Island}}</ref>


During the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]], [[Sauron]] had overrun [[Eriador]]. The Elves called that time [[Dark Years|Days of Flight]] as many fled to Lindon where Sauron could not enter, and thence over the [[Sea]] to the [[Uttermost West]].<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> Eventually [[Tar-Minastir]] sent ships to Lindon, responding to Gil-galad's plea. The combined army of Elves and Númenóreans drove Sauron's forces out of Eriador.<ref name=app/>
During the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]], [[Sauron]] had overrun [[Eriador]]. The Elves called that time [[Dark Years|Days of Flight]] as many fled to Lindon where Sauron could not enter, and thence over the [[Sea]] to the [[Uttermost West]].<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref> Eventually [[Tar-Minastir]] sent ships to Lindon, responding to Gil-galad's plea. The combined army of Elves and Númenóreans drove Sauron's forces out of Eriador.<ref name=app/> The War and the establishment of [[Imladris]] diminished the realm of Lindon and didn't extend beyond the Blue Mountains any more.<ref>{{PM|XNotes}}, #75</ref>


In the tumult following the [[Downfall of Númenor]], Lindon suffered great loss as "''the sea rode in upon the land''", and therefore had shrunk when the Third Age began.<ref>{{PM|VI}}, p. 183</ref>
In the tumult following the [[Downfall of Númenor]], Lindon suffered great loss as "''the sea rode in upon the land''", and therefore had shrunk when the Third Age began.<ref>{{PM|VI}}, p. 183</ref>


===The Third Age: Rule of Círdan===
===The Third Age: Rule of Círdan===
After the War of the Last Alliance, most of the Ñoldor finally departed for [[Valinor]], and Lindon became depopulated, now ruled by Gil-galad's lieutenant, the [[Sindar]]in elf [[Círdan]] the Shipwright, who kept building ships for the departing Elves.


After the War of the Last Alliance, most of the Ñoldor finally departed for [[Valinor]], and Lindon became depopulated, now ruled by Gil-galad's lieutenant, the [[Sindar]]in elf [[Círdan]] the Shipwright,{{fact}} who kept building ships for the departing Elves.
During the days of Kings, most of the [[High Elves]] that still lingered in [[Middle-earth]] were found in Lindon. Some Dwarves had dwelt in the eastern side of the Ered Luin, such as at [[Thorin's Halls]], especially the part south of the Gulf.<ref>{{App|Durin}}</ref> Men did not go to Lindon.<ref name=eriador/>


During the days of Kings, most of the [[High Elves]] that still lingered in [[Middle-earth]] were found in Lindon. Some Dwarves had dwelt in the eastern side of the Ered Luin, especially the part south of the Gulf, such as the [[Halls of Thorin]]. Men did not go to Lindon. In the [[Fourth Age]], few Elves remained, if any at all.<ref name=eriador/>
Aside from Elves, [[Gandalf]], [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Frodo Baggins]] also went to Valinor from the Grey Havens, and a family tradition held that [[Samwise Gamgee]], having been himself a [[Ring-bearer]], albeit briefly, did likewise, in the year {{FoA|61}}.  
 
In the [[Fourth Age]], few Elves remained, if any at all.<ref name=eriador/>
 
The [[Last Ship]], carrying [[Cirdan]] and [[Celeborn]],<ref>{{FR|Prologue}}</ref> apparently sailed before {{FoA|120}} based on [[Aragorn]]'s final words to [[Arwen]]. Aragorn suggests Arwen might still sail into the West, and one of the reasons she gives that this is impossible is that "There is now no ship that would bear me hence...".<ref name=AppTale>{{App|Tale}}</ref> This implies that the Last Ship had already sailed by {{FoA|120}}, the year in which this conversation took place.<ref name=AppTale/>


==Names and Etymology==
==Names and Etymology==

Revision as of 00:54, 29 March 2019

"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
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Lindon
Matěj Čadil - Lindon.jpg
General information
LocationWest of the Blue Mountains
Major townsMithlond, Forlond, Harlond
RegionsNorth and South
People
PopulationElves of Lindon
Dwarves of the Blue Mountains
LanguageSindarin, Khuzdul, Westron
GovernanceGil-galad
Círdan
History
Preceded byOssiriand
EstablishedS.A. 1
GalleryImages of Lindon
"...the last whose realm was fair and free
between the Mountains and the Sea.
"
The Fall of Gil-galad

Lindon was a region of the Westlands. Initially populated by Laiquendi, in the following Ages it became an important Elvish realm, known for its harbors and Elven Ships that would sail for the West.

Geography

Lindon was a name of Ossiriand, a region west of the Blue Mountains, in Eastern Beleriand. After the deluge of Beleriand in the War of Wrath, Lindon became the westernmost land of the continent of Middle-earth. The Gulf of Lune broke into Lindon and the Blue Mountains and divided the realm into Forlindon (North Lindon) and Harlindon (South Lindon). The eastern border of Lindon was the Lune, beyond which was Arnor.[1]

History

The First Age

Main article: Ossiriand

The name Lindon was first used by the exiled Noldor for the region of Ossiriand.[2]

Lindon was the only part of Beleriand that survived the War of Wrath, the rest of the land having been broken or submerged by the tumults.[3] However, Belegaer the Great Sea broke through the mountain chain, creating the Gulf of Lhûn.

Many of the surviving Elves of drowned Beleriand, especially the exiled Noldor, relocated to Lindon by the beginning of the Second Age, where they were ruled by Gil-galad.[3]

The Second Age: Kingdom of Gil-galad

Liz Danforth - Elves of Lindon

Gil-galad founded the Kingdom of Lindon in S.A. 1 ruling over the Noldor and Sindar and all the Elves of Lindon alike. They also built the Havens (Mithlond, and also likely Harlond and Forlond)[4] and many Elves left from there to Valinor.

The Noldor mainly dwelt in Forlindon, and the Sindar (and surviving Green-elves[source?]) in Harlindon (a fief under the rule of Celeborn).[5][6] Presumably the surviving Edain also stayed for some time alongside the Elves of Lindon, until they left for Elenna (S.A. 32). But there was some tension between the Elves; some of the Sindar did not wish to live under Gil-galad alongside the Noldor, and went to the Silvan Elves in the east, who were their Telerin kin.[7] Some Noldor also left to found Eregion (S.A. 700), the second of the two Noldorin realms.

In S.A. 600 Entulessë, a ship from Númenor arrived in Mithlond where Gil-galad welcomed the Númenóreans, before reestablishing contact with their Mannish kin, the Middle Men.[8][9]

During the War of the Elves and Sauron, Sauron had overrun Eriador. The Elves called that time Days of Flight as many fled to Lindon where Sauron could not enter, and thence over the Sea to the Uttermost West.[10] Eventually Tar-Minastir sent ships to Lindon, responding to Gil-galad's plea. The combined army of Elves and Númenóreans drove Sauron's forces out of Eriador.[4] The War and the establishment of Imladris diminished the realm of Lindon and didn't extend beyond the Blue Mountains any more.[11]

In the tumult following the Downfall of Númenor, Lindon suffered great loss as "the sea rode in upon the land", and therefore had shrunk when the Third Age began.[12]

The Third Age: Rule of Círdan

After the War of the Last Alliance, most of the Ñoldor finally departed for Valinor, and Lindon became depopulated, now ruled by Gil-galad's lieutenant, the Sindarin elf Círdan the Shipwright, who kept building ships for the departing Elves.

During the days of Kings, most of the High Elves that still lingered in Middle-earth were found in Lindon. Some Dwarves had dwelt in the eastern side of the Ered Luin, such as at Thorin's Halls, especially the part south of the Gulf.[13] Men did not go to Lindon.[1]

Aside from Elves, Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins also went to Valinor from the Grey Havens, and a family tradition held that Samwise Gamgee, having been himself a Ring-bearer, albeit briefly, did likewise, in the year Fo.A. 61.

In the Fourth Age, few Elves remained, if any at all.[1]

The Last Ship, carrying Cirdan and Celeborn,[14] apparently sailed before Fo.A. 120 based on Aragorn's final words to Arwen. Aragorn suggests Arwen might still sail into the West, and one of the reasons she gives that this is impossible is that "There is now no ship that would bear me hence...".[15] This implies that the Last Ship had already sailed by Fo.A. 120, the year in which this conversation took place.[15]

Names and Etymology

In a post-LotR writing, J.R.R. Tolkien says that the name Lindon was coined by the Green-elves, derived from Nandorin(?) *Lindānā. The Sindar called the country Dor Lindon and the Noldor Lindóne (or Lindónë[16]) but both also adopted the name Lindon.[17]

The name Lindon contains the element lin- "sing, song" as also seen in Lindar.[18] Lindon (Q, pron. [ˈlindon]) means "land of music",[19]

The translation "Land of the singers", conceived to be a name in the Ossiriandic tongue, has been suggested by David Salo, Arden Smith, Patrick Wynne, et al. in their linguistic contribution to Arnor: The Land

Other Versions of the Legendarium

In early versions of the The Lord of the Rings Appendices, Gil-galad is said to have founded Lindon in S.A. 10.[20]

Portrayals in Adaptations

Middle-earth Role Playing:

A supplement on Lindon was never released by ICE, although there were such plans,[21] and Jeff J. Erwin and Oliver Schick were commissioned to write supplements on Lindon and Mithlond, respectively (both supplements were nearly finished at the time ICE lost their license from Tolkien Enterprises).[22] However, scattered information on Lindon and its prominent individuals can be found in several supplements.[23][24][25][26]

See also

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages", p. 78
  4. 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men", p. 328 (Note 65)
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", (Introduction & Note 2)
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age", entry "600"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "A Description of the Island of Númenor"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", #75
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VI. The Tale of Years of the Second Age", p. 183
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  14. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue"
  15. 15.0 15.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The History of Middle-earth Index
  17. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: C. The Clan-names, with notes on other names for divisions of the Eldar", p. 385
  18. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names"
  19. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
  20. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VI. The Tale of Years of the Second Age", pp. 168, 173
  21. John Crowdis (1990), Rogues of the Borderlands (#8014), p. 15
  22. Oliver Schick, Mailing list message of 9 Oct 2007, at Yahoo groups Fan modules
  23. John Crowdis (1990), Rogues of the Borderlands (#8014), pp. 3-4, 10-11, 14-15
  24. Mark Rabuck (1992), Northwestern Middle-earth Gazetteer (#4002), pp. 16, 44-46
  25. Wesley J. Frank, et al. (1996), Arnor: The People (#2022), pp. 61, 148
  26. Wesley J. Frank, et al. (1997), Arnor: The Land (#2023), pp. 68-69
Remnants of Drowned Beleriand
 Isles:  Himring · Tol Fuin · Tol Morwen
Mainland:  Lindon