Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Adam Tolkien

2010-04-04T00:02:46Z

96.238.25.234: not found

[[Image:Adam Tolkien.jpg|thumb]]
'''Adam Tolkien''' (born 1969) is the son of [[Christopher Tolkien]], brother to [[Rachel Tolkien]] and half brother to [[Simon Tolkien]]. He is a lighting engineer by profession, but has also translated into French several works of his grandfather: ''[[Pictures by J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' (1994), ''[[The Book of Lost Tales 1]]'' (1995), and ''[[The Book of Lost Tales 2]]'' (1998). In the preface to ''[[The Children of Húrin]]'' he is also credited as having helped his father edit his grandfather's notes.

==See also==
* [http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?docId=1000074611 "On The Children of Húrin" by Adam Tolkien ]
[[Category:Tolkien Family|Tolkien, Adam]]
[[Category:Authors|Tolkien, Adam]]
[[Category:Translators|Tolkien, Adam]]

Black Speech

2010-04-03T23:40:19Z

96.238.25.234: not found

Sauron created the '''Black Speech''', as an artificial language, to be the sole language of all the servants of Mordor, replacing the many different varieties of [[Orkish]] and other languages used by his servants. Tolkien describes the language as existing in two forms, the ancient "pure" forms used by Sauron himself, the [[Nazgûl]], and the [[Olog-hai]], and the more "debased" form used by the soldiery of the [[Barad-dûr]] at the end of the [[Third Age]]. The only example given of "pure" Black Speech is the inscription upon the [[One Ring]]:

:''Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul,''
:''ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.''

When translated into English, these words form the lines:

:''One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,''
:''One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.''

These are the first two lines from the end of a verse about the [[Rings of Power]].

Many Orkish dialects had adopted words from it. The Black Speech was at least in part based on [[Valarin]].

In real life, [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] created this language with the intention of making it harsh and ugly, although people who speak the European languages that he emulated may disagree with his methods. The Black Speech is unfortunately one of the more incomplete languages in Tolkien's novels, because the forces of good refuse to utter it, as it attracts the attention of the [[Eye of Sauron]]. Unlike [[Elvish]], there are no poems or songs written in it (apart from the Ring's inscription), and because Tolkien designed it to be unpleasant, he did not enjoy writing it. The result is a random collection of words that are hard to actually use in day-to-day conversation. We learn from the text in the ring and its translation that the Black Speech is a strongly agglutinating language.

For [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]], the linguist [[David Salo]] used what little is known of the Black Speech to create enough of a language for use in the movies. This is usually referred to by [[Tolkienists]] as neo-Black Speech.

==External links==
*[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/orkish.htm Orkish and the Black Speech - base language for base purposes]
*[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/blackspeech.htm Black Speech analysis by Craig Daniel]

[[Category:Black Speech| ]]
[[de:Schwarze Sprache]]
[[fi:Musta kieli]]
[[fr:encyclo/langues/parler noir]]

Enedwaith

2010-03-21T19:46:19Z

96.238.25.234:

{{cleanup}}
{{location
| image=[[Image:Enedwaith map.jpg|270px]]
| name=Enedwaith
| type=Region
| location=southeast of [[Minhiriath]], northwest of [[Rohan]]
| inhabitants=[[Men]]
| realms=[[Gondor]] [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=
| othernames=
| etymology=[[S.]] "middle-folk" or "middle-region"
| events=
| references=
|}}
'''Enedwaith''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[eˈnedwa͡ɪθ]}}), also spelled '''Enedhwaith''' (pron. {{IPA|[eˈneðwa͡ɪθ]}}), originally referred to both a region of [[Middle-earth]] and the men that inhabited it, although the region Enedwaith retained that name even when the Enedwaith people were no more.

==Geography==
The boundaries of the Enedwaith were defined in the north by the rivers [[Gwathló]] and [[Glanduin]], to the east by the [[Hithaeglir]], and to the west by [[Belegaer]]. The southern border was less clear, but was probably formed by the river [[Isen]].

==History==
During the [[First Age|First]] and early [[Second Age]] Enedwaith was deeply forested, but the arrival of the timber-hungry [[Númenóreans]], from the seventh century of the Second Age onwards, devastated the landscape.

The Enedwaithrim themselves "were forest dwellers, scattered communities without central leadership." They were distantly related to the [[Haladin]] of old, but this wasn't recognized in time by Númenóreans, who were mainly descended from the First and Third Houses of the [[Edain]], and therefore spoke a language which was not related. The Enedwaithrim were not ranked as [[Middle Men]], friends and distant kin of the Edain, but were ranked among the "people of darkness", enemies and aliens.

The denuded forests of Enedwaith, and much of those to the north in Eriador, were finally destroyed by the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] around 1700 S.A., during which much of what had survived the felling was burnt. Only remote corners like [[Eryn Vorn]] survived in Eriador, and the [[Old Forest]] still further north. Many surviving natives took refuge in the eastern highlands of Enedwaith, "the foothills of the Misty Mountains", which ultimately became [[Dunland]].

After S.A. 3320, Enedwaith formed the most northern part of the new Kingdom of [[Gondor]], at least officially. The south-east was still "in places well-wooded", but elsewhere Enedwaith was by this time "mostly grassland." Following the [[Great Plague]] in T.A. 1636 however, Gondor's authority permanently lapsed throughout the region.

[[Tharbad]], originally one of two ancient cities on the Gwathló, and the only one to survive beyond the early [[Third Age]], was finally abandoned following devastating floods in 2912 T.A., and thereafter, only two groups survived in Enedwaith: the [[Dunlendings]] in the far east, and a "fairly numerous but barbarous fisher-folk" wandering the coast.

In the early [[Fourth Age]], however, Tolkien wrote that Enedwaith was absorbed into the kingdom of [[Rohan]], whose people "multiplied exceedingly", and many Rohirrim moved there.

==Etymology==
Also spelled Enedhwaith. The name Enedwaith means "middle folk" or "middle region" in [[Sindarin]] from enedh meaning "middle" and waith from gwaith which means "people" but is also used for regions.
<hr>
{{navigation
| title=Enedwaith
| north-west=[[Minhiriath]]
| north=[[Eriador]]
| north-east=[[Dunland]]
| west=The [[Great Sea]]
| east=[[Grey Mountains]]
| south-west=The [[Great Sea]]
| south=[[Gondor]]
| south-east=[[Rohan]]
|}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Rohan]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]

Enedwaith

2010-03-21T19:45:43Z

96.238.25.234:

{{cleanup}}
{{location
| image=[[Image:Enedwaith map.jpg|270px]]
| name=Enedwaith
| type=Region
| location=southeast of [[Minhiriath]], northwest of [[Rohan]]
| inhabitants=[[Men]]
| realms=[[Gondor [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=
| othernames=
| etymology=[[S.]] "middle-folk" or "middle-region"
| events=
| references=
|}}
'''Enedwaith''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[eˈnedwa͡ɪθ]}}), also spelled '''Enedhwaith''' (pron. {{IPA|[eˈneðwa͡ɪθ]}}), originally referred to both a region of [[Middle-earth]] and the men that inhabited it, although the region Enedwaith retained that name even when the Enedwaith people were no more.

==Geography==
The boundaries of the Enedwaith were defined in the north by the rivers [[Gwathló]] and [[Glanduin]], to the east by the [[Hithaeglir]], and to the west by [[Belegaer]]. The southern border was less clear, but was probably formed by the river [[Isen]].

==History==
During the [[First Age|First]] and early [[Second Age]] Enedwaith was deeply forested, but the arrival of the timber-hungry [[Númenóreans]], from the seventh century of the Second Age onwards, devastated the landscape.

The Enedwaithrim themselves "were forest dwellers, scattered communities without central leadership." They were distantly related to the [[Haladin]] of old, but this wasn't recognized in time by Númenóreans, who were mainly descended from the First and Third Houses of the [[Edain]], and therefore spoke a language which was not related. The Enedwaithrim were not ranked as [[Middle Men]], friends and distant kin of the Edain, but were ranked among the "people of darkness", enemies and aliens.

The denuded forests of Enedwaith, and much of those to the north in Eriador, were finally destroyed by the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] around 1700 S.A., during which much of what had survived the felling was burnt. Only remote corners like [[Eryn Vorn]] survived in Eriador, and the [[Old Forest]] still further north. Many surviving natives took refuge in the eastern highlands of Enedwaith, "the foothills of the Misty Mountains", which ultimately became [[Dunland]].

After S.A. 3320, Enedwaith formed the most northern part of the new Kingdom of [[Gondor]], at least officially. The south-east was still "in places well-wooded", but elsewhere Enedwaith was by this time "mostly grassland." Following the [[Great Plague]] in T.A. 1636 however, Gondor's authority permanently lapsed throughout the region.

[[Tharbad]], originally one of two ancient cities on the Gwathló, and the only one to survive beyond the early [[Third Age]], was finally abandoned following devastating floods in 2912 T.A., and thereafter, only two groups survived in Enedwaith: the [[Dunlendings]] in the far east, and a "fairly numerous but barbarous fisher-folk" wandering the coast.

In the early [[Fourth Age]], however, Tolkien wrote that Enedwaith was absorbed into the kingdom of [[Rohan]], whose people "multiplied exceedingly", and many Rohirrim moved there.

==Etymology==
Also spelled Enedhwaith. The name Enedwaith means "middle folk" or "middle region" in [[Sindarin]] from enedh meaning "middle" and waith from gwaith which means "people" but is also used for regions.
<hr>
{{navigation
| title=Enedwaith
| north-west=[[Minhiriath]]
| north=[[Eriador]]
| north-east=[[Dunland]]
| west=The [[Great Sea]]
| east=[[Grey Mountains]]
| south-west=The [[Great Sea]]
| south=[[Gondor]]
| south-east=[[Rohan]]
|}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Rohan]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]

Minhiriath

2010-03-21T19:43:21Z

96.238.25.234:

{{location
| image=[[Image:Miniriath map.jpg|250px]]
| name=Miniriath
| type=Region
| location=Southern [[Eriador]]
| inhabitants=[[Men]], [[Elves]]
| realms=[[Arnor]] [[Cardolan]] [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=
| othernames=
| etymology=[[S.]] "between the rivers"
| events=[[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
| references=[[Appendix A]] of [[The Lord of the Rings]], [[Unfinished Tales]]
|}}
'''Minhiriath''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[minˈhirjaθ]}}) was located in [[Eriador]], a name for all the lands between the [[Brandywine River|Brandywine]] and the [[Greyflood]] river.

==Geography==
Minhiriath was located between the [[Brandywine River]] on its northern border and the [[Greyflood]] on its southern border. [[The Shire]] was north of the Brandywine across [[Sarn Ford]]. The region called Enedwaith was south of the Greyflood.
The eastern border of Minhiriath was probably around the [[North-South Road]]. On the west, Minhiriath had a coast on the Sea. The forest of [[Eryn Vorn]] was on a cape on the coast of Minhiriath.

The city of [[Tharbad]] was on the Greyflood on the border between Minhiriath and [[Enedwaith]]. The port of [[Lond Daer]] was also on the Greyflood where it flowed into the Sea.

==History==
===Earliest inhabitants===
The original inhabitants of Minhiriath were descended from the same [[Atani]] as the ancestors of the [[Númenóreans]], but because they spoke mutually unintelligible languages, the Númenóreans did not class the Minhiriathrim as [[Middle Men]].
===Second Age===
When the large-scale deforestation of their land began under the Númenórean "[[Ship Kings]]" after the 7th century Second Age, the folk of Minhiriath became openly hostile, and were persecuted. Only those who fled from Minhiriath into the dark woods of the great Cape of [[Eryn Vorn]] survived. Most, if not all of these forest-dwellers subsequently welcomed [[Sauron]] and hoped for his victory over the Men of the Sea, but they were to be disappointed - and permanently trapped - by Sauron's burning of much of the rest of the surviving forest, and final defeat, in [[Second Age 1701|S.A. 1701]].

From [[Second Age 3320|S.A. 3320]], Minhiriath became nominally part of the newly established Kingdom of [[Arnor]].
===Third Age===
From [[Third Age 861|T.A. 861]], Minhiriath was inherited by one of Arnor's three successor states, [[Cardolan]], but the "ravaging" of Cardolan by evil forces in [[Third Age 1409|T.A. 1409]] no doubt caused extensive depopulation of the whole country. Even worse was the advent of the [[Great Plague]] in [[Third Age 1636|1636]], after which Minhiriath was "almost entirely deserted". After [[Third Age 1975|1975]], even though a few secretive hunter-folk lived in the woods throughout the [[Third Age]], Minhiriath was claimed by no kingdom at all.

Many of the inhabitants of Minhiriath died during the Great Plague of 1636. The Dúnedain of Cardolan were wiped out. In [[Third Age 2912|2912]], Minhiriath was devastated by floods in the spring thaw following the Fell Winter. Tharbad was ruined at this time.

Although it was still thickly forested in several places by the time of the [[War of the Ring]], the once continuously forested Minhiriath bore the permanent scars of over 5000 years of felling, burning and war.

After the War of the Ring at the end of the [[Third Age]], the North-kingdom of Arnor was reestablished by [[Elessar]]. Minhiriath and other regions of [[Eriador]] were repopulated during the [[Fourth Age]].

==Etymology==
The name Minhiriath means "between the rivers" in [[Sindarin]] in reference to the [[Brandywine]] and [[Greyflood]]. The word ''[[min]]'' means "between"; ''hiriath'' is lenited from ''siriath'' meaning "rivers".

{{references}}

==Navigation==
{{navigation
| title=Miniriath
| north-west=[[Blue Mountains]]
| north=[[The Shire]]
| north-east=[[South Downs]]
| west=[[Harlindon]]
| east=[[Dunland]]
| south-west=[[Belegaer]]
| south=[[Enedwaith]], [[Belegaer]]
| south-east=[[Enedwaith]]
|}}
[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]

Orthanc

2010-03-21T19:26:41Z

96.238.25.234:

{{location
| image=[[Image:Alan Lee-Orthanc.jpg|250px]]
| name=Orthanc
| othernames=[[Minas Anor]]
| etymology=[[S.]] of "Mount Fang"; see below
| type=Tower
| location=Near the [[Gap of Rohan]]
| inhabitants=[[Gondorians]]; later [[Saruman]], [[Orcs]] and [[Uruk-hai]]
| realms=[[Gondor]] [[Rohan]] [[Isengard]] [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=Carved black Tower
| events=[[Battle of Isengard]]
| references=
|}}
'''Orthanc''' was the black tower of [[Isengard]].
== History ==
Orthanc was built during the [[Third Age]] by the [[Númenórean|Númenóreans]] of [[Gondor]] out of a single piece of stone by an unknown process and then hardened. No known weapon could harm it. Orthanc rose up 500 feet above the plain of Isengard, and ended in four sharp peaks. Its only entrance was at the top of a high stair, and above that was a small window.

Orthanc housed one of the [[palantíri]] of the South Kingdom, and was guarded by a special warden until Isengard was mostly abandoned by Gondor around the time of foundation of [[Rohan]]. After that the tower was [[Key of Orthanc|locked]].

When [[Beren, Steward of Gondor|Beren]], [[Ruling Steward]] of Gondor gave [[Isengard]] to [[Saruman]], he also gave the keys to Orthanc to the [[Istari|Wizard]]. Saruman made it his base of operations during his search for the [[One Ring]] and later his attack on [[Rohan]] during the [[War of the Ring]].
After Saruman's defeat he was confronted by [[Théoden]] King, [[Gandalf]] and [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]], at which time [[Gríma Wormtongue]], Saruman's servant, threw the Palantír at the group trying to kill them. Saruman was then locked in Orthanc and guarded by [[Treebeard]], but subsequently escaped.

During the [[Fourth Age]] Orthanc was searched by Aragorn King Elessar, and he found there many heirlooms of [[Isildur]], among them the original [[Elendilmir]], the Star of [[Arnor]], which proved that Saruman had found (and probably destroyed) Isildur's remains. Aragorn also found there a casket which obviously had been intended to hold the [[One Ring]].

== Description ==
[[Image:J.R.R._Tolkien_-_Orthanc.jpg|left|thumb|150px|''Orthanc'' by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]]]
{{quote|A great ring-wall of stone, like towering cliffs, stood out from the shelter of the mountain-side, from which it ran and then returned again... one who passed in and came at length out of the echoing tunnel, beheld a plain, a great circle, somewhat hollowed like a vast shallow bowl: a mile it measured from rim to rim. Once it had been green and filled with avenues, and groves of fruitful trees, watered by streams that flowed from the mountains to a lake. But no green thing grew there in the latter days of Saruman. The roads were paved with stone-flags dark and hard; and beside their borders instead of trees there marched long lines of pillars, some of marble, some of copper and of iron, joined by heavy chains."...to the centre all the roads ran between their chains. There stood a tower of marvelous shape. It was fashioned by the builders of old, who smoothed the Ring of Isengard, and yet it seemed a thing not made by the craft of [[Men]], but riven from the bones of the earth in the ancient torment of the hills. A peak and isle of rock it was, black and gleaming hard: four mighty piers of many-sided stone were welded into one, but near the summit they opened into gaping horns, their pinnacles sharp as the points of spears, keen-edged as knives. Between them was a narrow space, and there upon a floor of polished stone, written with strange signs, a man might stand five hundred feet above the plain.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Road to Isengard]]"}}

==Etymology==
{{Transcribed|Orthanc_tengwar.png|Orthanc|Tengwar, Sindarin mode}}

''Orthanc'' displays a curious double etymology since it has a meaning both in [[Old English]] and Tolkien's constructed language [[Sindarin]].

In Sindarin, it means for "Mount Fang", containing root ''[[or]]'' and the word ''[[tanc]]'' "tooth". In [[Old English]] (used to render [[Rohirric]]) ''orþanc'' or ''orþonc'' means "intelligence, understanding, mind; cleverness, skill; skillful work, mechanical art".

Tolkien gave both etymologies as valid and co-existing in [[Middle-earth]], and said that the [[Rohirrim]] reinterpreted and understood the word as such in their languages.

However another curiosity arises in that although Old English is used to "translate" Rohirric, the Rohirrim did not speak Old English. So, it is likely that it also had a different meaning in original Rohirric (although its etymology is not given).

{{references}}
[[Category:Towers]]
[[Category:Isengard and Saruman]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]

Umbar

2010-03-21T19:23:13Z

96.238.25.234:

{{location
| image=[[Image:Umbar.jpg|300px]]
| name=Haven of Umbar
| type=City/Port
| location=Southern [[Middle-earth]], west of [[Harad]]
| inhabitants=[[Men]] ([[Black Númenóreans]], [[Corsairs]], [[Haradrim]])
| realms=[[Umbar]] [[Gondor]] [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=natural harbour of enclosing rock, with a stronghold and a port located within it
| othernames=
| etymology=native word, meaning "fate" in [[Quenya|Quenya]]
| events=
| references=
|}}
The '''Haven of Umbar''' was a great haven to the far south of [[Gondor]] in [[Middle-earth]].

==History==
===Foundation and Numenorian Rule===
Like the earlier [[Lond Daer Ened|New Haven]] in [[Enedwaith]], and the later [[Pelargir]] on the [[Anduin]], Umbar became a base from which Númenórean influence spread over Middle-earth. It was at Umbar that the last king of Númenor, [[Ar-Pharazôn]] the Golden, landed in 3261, to challenge Sauron.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Akallabêth]]"</ref>

After the Downfall of Númenor 58 years later, Umbar remained in the hands of the Númenóreans, in essence a realm-in-exile alongside [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]. But unlike these others, Umbar had been used by the [[King's Men]], who had turned to the worship of Melkor in the last days of Númenor. These "King's Men" were not friendly to the [[Elves]] or to their fellow Númenórean survivors who were allied to the elves, and became known as [[Black Númenóreans]].

Two Black Númenórean lords, [[Herumor (Black Númenórean)|Herumor]] and [[Fuinur]], were probably from Umbar, as at the end of [[Second Age]] they became very powerful amongst the [[Haradrim]], a neighbouring people. Their fate is unknown, but they likely shared Sauron's defeat at the hands of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]].

The rulers of Umbar retained much influence over the [[Haradwaith]] well into [[Third Age]]. When not part of Gondor, its system of government was no doubt tyrannical, but it may also have been a duumvirate: Black Númenórean and Corsair Lords are paired when mentioned; Herumor/Fuinur for example, and later Angamaite/Sangahyando.

Gondor's power, however, eclipsed that of Umbar as the Third Age progressed, and in 933 Gondor's King [[Eärnil I]] captured Umbar in a [[Surprise Attack on Umbar|Surprise Attack]], although this was "at great cost."

===Umbar as part of Gondor===
For the following 500 years, Umbar was an important Gondorian city: not only a major sea-port, but as the site of the submission of Sauron to Ar-Pharazôn, and so served as a proud reminder of the might of the Dúnedain of old.
<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', "The Heirs of Elendil"</ref>

Many Black Númenóreans had fled Umbar from the assault of [[Third Age]] 933, to their subjects in Near Harad, but 82 years later, in a vain attempt to recapture it, came up with great power against the stronghold.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[The Lord of the Rings]]", ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Appendix A]]", "Annals of the Kings and Rulers"</ref> This "great power" availed the Men Of Harad little, however, for despite investing and besieging the fortress of Umbar for 35 years, they failed to take it, as its supply was easily maintained, "because of the sea-power of Gondor." In 1050, the late King Earnil's son [[Ciryandil]] defeated the [[Haradrim]] force by sending troops by land, crossing the [[River Harnen]] and by sea.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[The Lord of the Rings]]", ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Appendix A]]", "Annals of the Kings and Rulers"</ref>

===Corsairs of Umbar===
[[Image:John Howe - Corsairs of Umbar.jpg|thumb|right|170px|Corsair Ship by [[John Howe]]]]
Gondorian possession of Umbar came to an abrupt end. In 1448, but not at the hands of an external foe. Following the disastrous [[Kin-strife]], the sons of [[Castamir|Castamir the Usurper]] arrived there with many men and most of the fleet of Gondor. There they made a "refuge for all the enemies of the [[King of Gondor|King]], and a lordship independent of his crown".<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[The Lord of the Rings]]", ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Appendix A]]", "Annals of the Kings and Rulers"</ref>

These men became known as the '"[[Corsairs of Umbar]]"', and within two centuries became a major threat to Gondor. In 1634 Castamir's great-grandsons [[Angamaitë]] and [[Sangahyando]] raided [[Pelargir]], from Umbar, killing King [[Minardil]], but Gondor could not retaliate as it was ravaged by the [[Great Plague]]. Vengeance, if not swift, was certainly devastating: 78 years after Minardils death, his great-grand nephew succeeded in briefly recapturing Umbar, and even renamed himself [[Umbardacil]]. However,
{{quote|...in the new evils that soon befell Gondor Umbar was again lost, and fell into the hands of the Men Of Harad.|"Annals of the Kings and Rulers" from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]}}

Throughout the rest of The Third Age, Umbar was home a new generation of 'Corsairs of Umbar', who must have been closely related to the Haradrim, if not even merely Haradrim themselves. These new Corsairs were cruel slavers who often raided the coasts of [[Belfalas]] and [[Anfalas]] in Gondor: in 2746 for example, Amrothos, the 15th Prince of [[Dol Amroth]] fell defending Dol-en-Ernil against them.

In 2758 Umbar joined a massive co-ordinated attack with Men of the Harad and even of [[Dunland]], against Gondor and the new realm of [[Rohan]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[The Lord of the Rings]]", ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Appendix A]]", "Annals of the Kings and Rulers"</ref>. In 2885, Umbar supported the Haradrim who claimed Harondor, although this had long "been a debatable land between the Corsairs and the Kings", and when Sauron declared himself openly in 2951, Umbar declared its alliegance to him, and the great monument commemorating Ar-Pharazôn's triumph at Umbar was thrown down.

Umbar's fleet was largely destroyed 29 years later, when [[Thorongil]] ([[Aragorn]] Elessar, as it later turned out) in the service of the [[Steward of Gondor]] [[Ecthelion II]] led a taskforce south and burned them, killing the [[Captain of the Haven]] in the process.

===War of the Ring===
During the [[War of the Ring]], Umbar had not fully recovered from this, but could still send 50 "great ships" and smaller vessels "beyond count", to raid the coastlands of Gondor and draw off major forces from the defence of Minas Tirith. They were once again defeated by Aragorn, and the [[Army of the Dead]]. With the Fall of [[Barad-dûr]], Umbar, weakened and defeated, finally lost its sovereignty and submitted to the crown of King Elessar.

==Overview==
The great cape and land-locked firth of Umbar south of the [[Bay of Belfalas]] formed a natural harbour of enclosing rock, but the "great fortress of [[Númenor]]" that was located within it was not built until [[Second Age]] 2280, when [[Sauron]] dared to threaten Númenor.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Akallabêth]]"</ref>

Umbar appeared on the bottom edge of the maps found in earlier editions of Lord of the Rings, but it is absent from modern editions, which regrettably map a slightly smaller area of Middle-earth.

==Etymology==
"Umbar" was a name of unknown meaning given to the area by its original inhabitants. The Númenóreans adopted the name, probably aware of the fact that ''[[umbar]]'' was the [[Quenya]] word for 'fate'.
==See Also==
*[[Corsair Wars]]
{{References}}
[[Category:Cities]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Realms]]
[[Category:Southern Lands]]
[[category:Mannish words]]

Pinnath Gelin

2010-03-21T02:29:09Z

96.238.25.234:

{{location
| image=
| name=Pinnath Gelin
| type=Hill-range
| location=Western [[Gondor]]
| inhabitants=[[Gondorians]]
| realms=[[Gondor]] [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=Hill-range, with unnamed settlements
| othernames=Green Hills, Green Slopes, Green Downs
| etymology=
| events=[[War of the Ring]]
| references=''[[The Return of the King]]''
|}}
The '''Pinnath Gelin''' or '''Green Hills''' was a fief in the far west of [[Gondor]], bounded to the west by the River [[Lefnui]], and to the east by the [[Morthond]].
==History==
At the time of the [[War of the Ring]], the lord of this region was [[Hirluin the Fair]]. He led three hundred of his soldiers to the defence of [[Minas Tirith]], all dressed in green.<ref name="MT">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Minas Tirith (chapter)|Minas Tirith]]"</ref> Hirluin never went back to the Green Hills of his home - he was slain in the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].<ref name="BPF">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[The Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]"</ref>

==Etymology==
Usually translated as '''Green Hills''',<ref name="MT"/> and sometimes as '''Green Downs''',<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''Unfinished Index'', in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'' (eds. [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]]), page 525</ref> the name's meaning would be actually closer to Green Ridges, Green Slopes or Green Crests. The first word was a [[Gondor Sindarin]] form of [[Sindarin]] ''pennath'', "slopes", merged with ''pinn'', "crest". The second was the plural of the word ''[[calen]]'', "green". <ref name="PE1724">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "Words, Phrases and Passages in ''The Lord of the Rings''", in [[Parma Eldalamberon]] (ed. [[Christopher Gilson]]), [[Parma Eldalamberon 17|vol. 17]], July [[2007]], page 24</ref>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Locations]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Gondor]]

Pelargir

2010-03-21T02:28:24Z

96.238.25.234:

{{location
| image=[[Image:Pelargir overview.jpg|250px]]
| name=Pelargir
| type=City
| location=Southern [[Gondor]], on the [[Anduin]]
| inhabitants=[[Gondorians]]
| realms=[[Gondor]] [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=Port city
| othernames=Garth of Royal Ships
| etymology=
| events=[[Kin-strife]], [[War of the Ring]]
| references=
|}}
{{quote|At Pelargir the Heir of Isildur will have need of you.|[[Aragorn]]<ref name="tLD">{{HM|RK}}, "[[The Last Debate]]"</ref>}}
'''Pelargir''' was a great city on the river [[Anduin]], and the main harbour of [[Gondor]].

==History==
Pelargir was built in [[Second Age 2350]] as a haven of the [[Faithful]].<ref>{{HM|AB}}, "The Second Age"</ref> The [[King's Men]] established havens farther South.<ref>{{HM|S}}, "[[Akallabêth]]"</ref> It became an even greater haven in the days of the [[Ship-kings]]. [[Tarannon Falastur]] built a great house there, with its roots in the water which he so dearly loved. His wife, [[Berúthiel]], did not, however, and preferred to live in [[Osgiliath]] with her [[Cats of Queen Berúthiel|cats]].<ref>{{HM|UT}}, "[[Cirion and Eorl]]", note 7</ref> Tarannon's nephew [[Eärnil I]], who succeeded him, rebuilt Pelargir and built a great navy to conquer [[Umbar]].<ref name="Anarion">{{HM|AA}}, "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"</ref>

[[Castamir]] was highly loved in the the shore regions of the land, and when he usurped the throne, he purposed to move the throne from Osgiliath to Pelargir.<ref name="Anarion"/> Though he did not do so, he did move his base there. After turning the tide in the [[Kin-strife]] at the [[Battle of the Crossings of Erui]], [[Eldacar of Gondor|Eldacar]] eventually drove Castamir out of Pelargir in [[Third Age 1447]].<ref name="tTA">{{HM|AB}}, "The Third Age"</ref> Castamir's great-grandsons [[Angamaitë]] and [[Sangahyando]] eventually retook Pelargir in [[Third Age 1634|T.A. 1634]], and slew king [[Minardil]].<ref name="Anarion"/><ref name="tTA"/>

Like his namesake, the great general [[Eärnil II|Eärnil]] took up residence in Pelargir. His Army of the South was stationed there during the [[Wainrider/Balchoth War|long war with the Balchoth]]. News of the [[Disaster of the Morannon]] reached him on [[July 9]], [[Third Age 1944|1944]], and he set out to [[Battle of the Camp|battle]]. He returned victorious, and with the King and his sons slain, the general (of royal blood) was crowned King Eärnil II.<ref>{{HM|UT}}, "[[Cirion and Eorl]]"</ref>

During the [[War of the Ring]], Pelargir was overrun by [[Corsairs]] once again. Their fleet of some fifty great ships and many more smaller vessels laid in dock, ready to sail to [[Harlond (Gondor)|Harlond]]. It was not to be: [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] and the [[Dead Men of Dunharrow]] stroke fear into the men of Umbar, and they fled or dove into the river [[Anduin]]. After manning the Black Ships with [[Grey Company|his own troops]], Aragorn released the spell that had haunted the Dead Men since the day of [[Isildur]].<ref name="tLD"/>

==Etymology==
''Pelargir'' was [[Sindarin]] for "Garth of Royal Ships".<ref>{{HM|S}}, "Index"</ref> It was composed of the elements ''[[pel]]'' ("go round, encircle"), ''[[ar]]'' (a word relating to royalty), and ''[[cir]]'' ("ship" or "ships").<ref>{{HM|S}}, "[[Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names]]"</ref>

==Portrayal in Adaptations==
'''1980: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Pelargir appears on a map when Gandalf explains the coming of the Black Ships.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Peargir is one of the settings in which skirmishes can be fought.

{{references}}
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Cities]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]

Amon Sûl-stone

2010-03-12T00:10:15Z

96.238.25.234:

[[Image:Arveleg rotwk.JPG|thumb|King [[Arveleg I]] of the ancient Kingdom of [[Arthedain]] using the Amon Sûl Palantír.]]The '''Stone of [[Amon Sûl]]''' was a [[Palantíri|palantír]] that rested on the [[Arnor]]ian [[Tower of Amon Sûl]]

In [[Third Age 1409|T.A. 1409]] the watchtower was burned and destroyed when [[Angmar]]'s forces overran [[Arthedain]]. Its last King, [[Arvedui]], saved the palantír as well as the [[Annúminas-stone]].

With these and other heirlooms, he fled into the far north, where he was given shelter by the [[Lossoth]]. At last a ship from the [[Grey Havens]] came to rescue Arvedui, but after he had boarded, its hull was crushed by the ice, and all aboard were lost. The Stone of Annúminas, along with that of Amon Sûl, were lost in the shipwreck, and sank.
[[category:palantíri]]