...It is a long tale...
 | |
| Green-elf | |
| Denethor | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Position | King of the Laiquendi |
| Location | East of Ered Luin Ossiriand |
| Language | Nandorin |
| Birth | Between Y.T. 1050 and 1115 |
| Rule | Y.T. 1350 - 1497 |
| Death | Y.T. 1497 Amon Ereb |
| Family | |
| Parentage | Lenwë |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
Denethor was the son of Lenwë, the original leader of the Nandor.
History
Daunted by the towering peaks of the Hithaeglir, Lenwë, his son Denethor, and other Teleri forsook the Great March of the Elves to the West and passed southward down the Anduin. Much later Denethor would lead a part of those people, the Nandor, west into Beleriand.[1]
In the First Age,[2] centuries before the first rising of the Sun, the Orcs and other foul creatures of Morgoth began to harass the Nandor east of the Blue Mountains. Hearing of the power and protection of the Elf King Thingol, Denethor led many of his people over the Blue Mountains into Beleriand. They settled in Ossiriand and Denethor became their king. They were called the Laiquendi (Quenya for "Green-elves").
Years later, in Y.T. 1497, Morgoth loosed an army on Beleriand, beginning the First Battle in the Wars of Beleriand.[3] The lightly-armed Laiquendi were driven back to the great hill of Amon Ereb, where Denethor was slain.[4] While the Laiquendi survived, they became a reclusive people, seldom taking up arms, and never again naming a king.[5]
Etymology
In an explanation of the name of Denethor II (who was named after this elf), the Steward of Gondor, it is stated that Denethor is Nandorin fit into the Sindarin sound range, and is said to mean "Lithe and lank".[6]
In the earlier The Lost Road, the name Denethor is said to contain the word element Dani.[7] According to The Lhammas, it derives from Primitive Elvish Ndani-thārō, meaning "Saviour of the Dani", as he was the one who led them to the West. Other derivatives of this name are: Daintáro in Telerin, Nanisáro in Qenya, Dainthor in Noldorin and Denipor in Doriathrin.[8]
Genealogy
Other versions of the legendarium
A discarded name for this character was Denilos.[9]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XVIII. The Breaking of the Fellowship", p. 375, note 7
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §36
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals": §39
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Author's Notes to Quendi and Eldar", Note 17
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies" entry DAN-
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, V. The Lhammas"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, "Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, V. The Lhammas"