 | |
| Noldo | |
| Angrod | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Pronunciation | S, [ˈaŋɡrɔd] |
| Other names | Angaráto (Q, fn) Angamaitë (Q, an) |
| Position | Lord of Dorthonion |
| Location | Eldamar Dorthonion |
| Language | Quenya Sindarin |
| Birth | Between Y.T. 1300 & 1362[note 1] Eldamar |
| Rule | F.A. 7 - 455 |
| Death | F.A. 455 (aged between c. 1,726 & c. 2,297[note 2]) In the Dagor Bragollach |
| Family | |
| House | House of Finarfin |
| Parentage | Finarfin & Eärwen |
| Siblings | Finrod Aegnor Galadriel |
| Spouse | Eldalótë |
| Children | Orodreth |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | Tall |
| Hair colour | Golden |
| Gallery | Images of Angrod |
Angrod was a Noldorin prince and son of Finarfin and Eärwen. He was born in Aman, but joined the Exile of the Noldor and returned to Middle-earth. In Beleriand, Angrod and his younger brother Aegnor ruled over Dorthonion as vassals of their elder brother Finrod. He was also the father of Orodreth.
Angrod is most notable for his role as messenger between the Noldor and Thingol. He was the first Noldo to enter Doriath where he reported on the strength and array of the Noldor, and offered a glossed account of their return. When Angrod brought Thingol's decree on where the Noldor were permitted to settle to a Noldor council, it was not well received and Caranthir angrily deriding the sons of Finarfin acting as representatives of the Noldor, and even questioned their loyalty, causing Angrod to depart in wrath. Later, after Thingol learned rumour of the Kinslaying at Alqualondë, Angrod, still bitter from Caranthir's words, confirmed the story and further shared the full truth of the misdeeds of the House of Fëanor; in response, Thingol banned the speaking of Quenya.
He, along with Aegnor, was slain in the Dagor Bragollach ("Battle of Sudden Flame").
History
Life in Valinor
Angrod was born in Aman as the second son of Finarfin and Eärwen. Through his father, he was descended of Finwë, King of the Noldor, and Indis of the Vanyar; through his mother he was descended of Olwë, King of the Teleri of Aman and younger brother of Elwë (Thingol). Angrod was thus ¼ Noldo, ¼ Vanya, and ½ Teler. His elder brother was Finrod, and his younger siblings were Aegnor and Galadriel.
Along with Finrod and Aegnor, Angrod was very close in friendship with the sons of Fingolfin, as though they were all brothers.[1] He married Eldalótë and fathered Orodreth.[2][note 3]
After the Darkening of Valinor, Angrod was present during Fëanor's speech where Fëanor claimed kingship and urged the Noldor to return to Middle-earth to win freedom and claim great realms. In this matter, Angrod stood with Fingon and Galadriel in a position of wishing to return to Middle-earth, but not accepting Fëanor as their leader. Finarfin in contrast urged caution to not act rashly and undertake deeds which could not be undone; at this Angrod held his peace and did not speak against his father.[3]
In the Exile of the Noldor, Finarfin's host marched in the rear, and were thus not present at the Kinslaying at Alqualondë. After a further great while, the hosts reached the borders of the empty wastes of Araman and heard the Doom of Mandos. At this, Finarfin and a great many of his people turned back, but his sons went forward as they would not forsake the sons of Fingolfin. After Fëanor stole the ships, the people of Fingolfin and Finarfin were stranded in Araman, and wondered long in misery until eventually venturing the cross the terror of the Helcaraxë. In this crossing, many were lost, and it was with a lessened host that they eventually arrived in Middle-earth.[3]
Life in Beleriand
In F.A. 2 the host of Fingolfin made camp on the north-shore of Lake Mithrim where there dwelt the House of Fëanor. Though Fëanor himself had since been slain, Fingolfin held his sons to be accomplices, and there was peril of war between the Noldor until Fingon assuaged the hatred by his rescue of Maedhros.[4]:§§58-61
In F.A. 6, due to their kinship, Thingol permitted those of Finarfin's house to pass through the Girdle of Melian and come to Menegroth. First of these was Angrod, who came as a messenger of Finrod. Angrod spoke at length with Thingol, and told him of the deeds of the Noldor, of their strength, and the ordering of their forces. However, deeming that the griefs had been forgiven, he did not speak of the misdeeds of Fëanor except for his valiant death. Thingol, in turn, gave Angrod a message to return to the Noldor: he gave them leave to dwell in Hithlum, Dorthonion, and East Beleriand, but he also cautioned that the Noldor properly conduct themselves, as he was the Lord of Beleriand and all shall hear his word. Lastly, he forbid any to enter Doriath except those he called as guests, or if he were sought in great need.[4]:§§63-64
In F.A. 7 the Noldor held council in Mithrim. At this council Angrod came bearing the words of Thingol. The Noldor thought this to be a cold welcome, with the sons of Fëanor especially wroth at them. Caranthir, the harshest of the brethren, and who loved not the sons of Finarfin, angrily remarked on Angrod sharing so much information with Thingol, or even being a spokesmen of the Noldor at all; further he insinuated that they were forgetting that their father was a Noldo in favour of their mother's kin. At these words Angrod grew extremely wroth, and departed from the council.[4]:§§66-68
Following this, the Noldor partially encircled Angband on the west, south, and east. In the south, together with Aegnor, Angrod held Dorthonion as a vassal of Finrod. Their people were few as the land was barren and the great highlands behind were deemed a barrier that Morgoth would not lightly seek to cross.[5] Among the people of Angrod were Gelmir and Arminas.[6]
In F.A. 60, Morgoth issued a major attack, with his main host set against Dorthonion. During this assault, Fingolfin and Maedhros led their own forces and hit Morgoth's host from either side, and it was destroyed utterly.[7]:102 The Noldor then tightened their leaguer, establishing the Siege of Angband.
In F.A. 67, Thingol was informed by Círdan of the whispered tales of the deeds of the Noldor before they came to Beleriand. It chanced that the sons of Finarfin were guests of Thingol at this time, having come to see Galadriel. Thingol spoke in ire to Finrod, chastising him for concealing so great a matter as the kinslaying, and coming to his board "red-handed" from the slaying of his own mother's kin, and seeking no pardon for it. Finrod, loath to defend himself by casting blame on the other princes of the Noldor, remained silent. Angrod, however, still bitter from the words of Caranthir, spoke openly against the sons of Fëanor, and told Thingol the truth of the kinslaying, the doom of Mandos, and of the burning of the ships at Losgar. Thingol was long silent before speaking. He commanded the sons of Finarfin to depart, as his heart was hot, but that they may in time return as he would not shut his doors forever against his kin. He stated he would also keep friendship with the folk of Fingolfin, as they had atoned for such ill as they did, and that in their mutual hate of Morgoth such griefs shall be lost. But, he also decreed that Quenya shall be held as the language of those who slay kin unrepentant, and thus banned all Sindar from speaking or answering to it.[4]:§§100-107
In F.A. 410 the House of Bëor was granted the fiefdom of Ladros within Dorthonion.[8]
In F.A. 422, with the strength of Men being added to the Noldor, Fingolfin pondered an assault against Angband; he knew they lived in danger while Morgoth was free to prepare and devise whatever evils he might and reveal them at his whim. But, because their lands had grown fair, and in such an attack many would surely perish, most of the Eldar were reluctant.[4]:§133 Of the Noldorin princes, only Angrod and Aegnor supported this, and it ultimately did not come to pass.[9]
In F.A. 455, Morgoth broke the Siege of Angband and both Aegnor and Angrod were slain in following assault.[9]
Characteristics
Like his brothers and sister, Angrod had golden hair. Early in his life he developed hands of great strength.[2]
When he first meets with Thingol he is described as "being true and wisehearted".[4]:§63
Etymology
Angrod is the Sindarized form of Angaráto, being a combination of ang ("iron") and raud (“lofty, high, noble”).[10]:49
Other names
It is probable that Angrod's father-name was, like Findaráto (Finrod), originally just Aráto ("a noble”),[10]:147 and later differentiated.[2]
From his hands of great strength, he received the epessë Angamaitë, being a combination of anga ("iron") and maitë ("having a hand", "handed").[10]:110
Finarfin used Angrod's epessë as a differentiating prefix, and thus Angrod ended up with the father-name Angaráto. This name is given in the Telerin form, with the adjectival element placed second; in Quenya, the more natural form would have been Artanga.[2]
In The Earliest 'Silmarillion', he was initially called Anrod.[11]
In Ælfwine’s translation of the Quenta into Old English; Old English equivalents of Elvish names, he is called Angel;[12] in Old English, this could mean either a "fisherman's hook", or the modern meaning of "divine messenger".[13]
Genealogy
| Míriel d. Y.T. 1170 | Finwë d. Y.T. 1495 | Indis b. Y.T. | Olwë b. Y.T. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fëanor Y.T. 1169 - 1497 | Findis b. Y.T. | Fingolfin Y.T. 1190 - F.A. 456 | Írimë b. Y.T. | Finarfin b. Y.T. 1230 | Eärwen b. Y.T. | unknown sons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finrod Y.T. 1300 - F.A. 465 | ANGROD d. F.A. 455 | Eldalótë b. Y.T. | Aegnor d. F.A. 455 | Galadriel b. Y.T. 1362 | Celeborn b. F.A. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orodreth d. F.A. 495 | Elrond b. F.A. 532 | Celebrían b. S.A. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FinduilasNB F.A. 272 - 495 | Gil-galad d. S.A. 3441 | Elladan b. T.A. 130 | Elrohir b. T.A. 130 | Arwen T.A. 241 - Fo.A. 121 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other versions of the legendarium
In The Earliest 'Silmarillion', from the fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth, Anrod was the third son of Finrod (Finarfin), following Felagund and Orodreth,[note 4] and preceding Egnor (Aegnor). During Fëanor's speech he, along with Orodreth and Egnor, sided with the sons of Fëanor. Following the breaking of the Siege of Angband, Felagund and his brothers founded the realm of Nargothrond, aided by Celegorm and Curufin.[11]
In The Earliest Annals of Valinor, the friendship of Orodreth, Angrod, and Egnor is more specifically given to Celegorm and Curufin, who loved them in return. So great was their friendship that Orodreth, Angrod, and Egnor, alone among those not of the host of Fëanor, sailed to Middle-earth with Fëanor in the stolen ships. Angrod and Egnor eventually perish in the breaking of the Siege.[14]
In the 1937 Quenta Silmarillion, from the fifth volume of The History of Middle-earth, when Finrod (Finarfin) turned back from Exile, Angrod and Egnor went not with him as they would not forsake their friends Celegorm and Curufin.[15]
In The Annals of Aman, from the tenth volume of The History of Middle-earth, an earlier version had Angrod still standing by Fingon, but with Fingon supporting Fingolfin against Fëanor.[16]:note 12
Notes
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "The Annals of Aman", p. 106 lists 1300 as the birth of Finrod (then named "Inglor") and 1362 as the birth of Galadriel
- ↑ Years of the Sun. Each Year of the Trees is equal to 9.582 Years of the Sun, and the Years of the Trees ended in the year 1500.
- ↑ Orodreth being Angrod's son was a late development: in earlier legendarium material, including the published Silmarillion, Orodreth is Angrod's elder brother
- ↑ This was an emendation from him following Orodreth and Felegoth
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XI. The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Flight of the Noldor"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Túrin Turambar"
- ↑
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West (Chapter 14)"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "II. The Earliest 'Silmarillion' (The 'Sketch of the Mythology')"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: Appendix 1: Fragments of a translation of The Quenta Noldorinwa into Old English, made by Ælfwine or Eriol; together with Old English equivalents of Elvish names"
- ↑ An Anglo-Saxon dictionary : based on the manuscript collections of the late Joseph Bosworth. Supplement, pg. 40
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "VI. The Earliest Annals of Valinor"
- ↑ 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, VI. Quenta Silmarillion"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Notes [on Section 5]"
Born | Angrod | Died |
None Position established | Lord of Dorthonion | None |