Near Harad

From Tolkien Gateway
Near Harad
Region
Christopher Tolkien - Map of Harad.jpg
Map of Harad by Christopher Tolkien
General Information
LocationSouth of Mordor, east of the Harnen, south-west of Khand
TypeRegion
DescriptionLandlocked desert
InhabitantsHaradrim

Near Harad was an indefinite region of Harad that lay to the south of Gondor and Mordor, beyond the River Harnen.[1]

Near Harad was home to camels and, in the South, Oliphaunts.[2]

Its inhabitants were enemies of Gondor during parts of its history. Once men of Near Harad made an alliance with those of Khand and with the Wainriders to attack Gondor. King Ondoher anticipated their strike, and created a Southern Army to defend his land against them. Under the command of Eärnil, the Southern Army destroyed the army of Harad in South Ithilien.[3][4] It seems likely that many of the Haradrim who troubled Gondor, actually were men of Near Harad.

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1982-1997: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Several settlements, sites, hills and rivers in Near Harad are mentioned in the MERP module Southern Gondor: The Land.[5]

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. General Map of Middle-earth
  2. "Tolkien’s annotated map of Middle-earth transcribed" dated 10 November 2015, The Tolkien Society (accessed 11 November 2015)
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", entry for King Ondoher
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "(i) The Northmen and the Wainriders", including note 14
  5. Jason Beresford, Anders Blixt, Mats Blomqvist, Gunnar Brolin, Jeff Hatch, Tim Innes, Åke Rosenius, Martin Rundkvist, Erik, Rågvik, Chris Seeman, Magnus Seter (1996), Southern Gondor: The Land (#2021)