Cardolan: Difference between revisions

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==History==
==History==
In {{TA|861}} Arnor's tenth King, Eärendur, died.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref>  Due to dissensions between his sons the realm was split into [[Arthedain]], [[Rhudaur]] and Cardolan. While the line of [[Isildur]] continued in Arthedain, in both Rhudaur and Cardolan the line soon failed; despite accepting Arnor’s sovereignty, Cardolan seemingly retained a [[Last prince of Cardolan|prince]] as its ruler.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145</ref><ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> The three kingdoms was led to strife because Arthedain held [[Weathertop]] and possessed its ''[[Amon Sûl-stone|Palantír]]'' as well as two others.<ref name="Eriador"/>
In {{TA|861}} Arnor's tenth King, Eärendur, died.<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 861, p. 1085</ref>  Due to dissensions between his sons the realm was split into [[Arthedain]], [[Rhudaur]] and Cardolan. There was often stife among the three kingdoms, because Rhudaur and Cardolan desired to possess the Weather Hills and the land westwards towards Bree, especially [[Weathertop]], because the tower on it contained the most important ''[[Amon Sûl-stone|Palantír]]'' of the North and the other two palantíri of the North were also held by Arthedeain.<ref name="Eriador"/> While the line of [[Isildur]] continued in Arthedain, it soon failed in Rhudaur and Cardolan.<ref name="Eriador"/> Despite accepting Arnor’s sovereignty, Cardolan seemingly retained a [[Last prince of Cardolan|prince]] as its ruler.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145</ref><ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>
   
   
In {{TA|1050|n}} the [[Harfoots]] came into Eriador and in {{TA|1150|n}} they were joined by the [[Fallohides]].<ref name="TA"/> It is likely that some of these [[Hobbits]] settled in Cardolan.
In {{TA|1050|n}} the [[Harfoots]] came into Eriador<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1050, p. 1085</ref> and in {{TA|1150|n}} they were joined by the [[Fallohides]].<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1150, p. 1085</ref> It is possible that some of these [[Hobbits]] settled in Cardolan.
 
===War with Angmar===  
===War with Angmar===  
Around {{TA|1272|n}}<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> [[Orcs]] began to trouble the region<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> and around {{TA|1300}}, the [[Witch-king]] founded the kingdom of [[Angmar]] north of the [[Ettenmoors]].  This event caused many Hobbits to move to [[Bree]].<ref name="TA"/>
Around {{TA|1272|n}}<ref name="North">{{App|North}}</ref> [[Orcs]] began to trouble the region<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> and around {{TA|1300}}, the [[Witch-king]] founded the kingdom of [[Angmar]] north of the [[Ettenmoors]].  This event caused many Hobbits to move to [[Bree]].<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year ''c.'' 1300, p. 1086</ref>
   
   
No descendants of Isildur remained in Cardolan and Rhudaur and [[Argeleb I]] of Arthedain claimed lordship over all of former Arnor. Rhudaur resisted this claim and made league with Angmar.<ref name="Eriador"/>  Argeleb I fell in battle with Rhudaur in {{TA|1356|n}}.<ref name="TA"/> Cardolan, and [[Lindon]], assisted his son, [[Arveleg I]], to avenge his father by pushing the enemy from the Weather Hills. For many years Arthedain and Cardolan held a frontier along the Hills, the [[East Road]] and the lower [[Hoarwell]].<ref name="Eriador"/>
No descendants of Isildur remained in Cardolan and Rhudaur and [[Argeleb I]] of Arthedain claimed lordship over all of former Arnor. Rhudaur resisted this claim and made league with Angmar.<ref name="Eriador"/>  Argeleb I fell in battle with Rhudaur in {{TA|1356|n}}.<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1356, p. 1086</ref> Cardolan, and [[Lindon]], assisted his son, [[Arveleg I]], to avenge his father by pushing the enemy from the Weather Hills. For many years Arthedain and Cardolan held a frontier along the Hills, the [[East Road]] and the lower [[Hoarwell]].<ref name="Eriador"/>
   
   
However, in {{TA|1409}} a great host issued from Angmar and invaded Cardolan and took Weathertop. A remnant of the [[Dúnedain]] of Cardolan held out in the Barrow-downs and the [[Old Forest]]. The [[last prince of Cardolan]] was interred in the Barrow-downs that year (some say that it was the tomb where [[Frodo Baggins]] was trapped during the [[War of the Ring]], and it's likely that Merry saw his last memories in dreams, for he mentioned the "men of [[Carn Dûm]]").<ref name="Eriador"/><ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, 'Cardolan, [[Last prince of Cardolan|last prince of]]'</ref>
However, in {{TA|1409}} a great host issued from Angmar and invaded Cardolan, took Weathertop and destroyed the tower of Amon Sûl. The [[last prince of Cardolan]] was interred in the Barrow-downs that year (some say that it was the tomb where [[Frodo Baggins]] was trapped during the [[War of the Ring]], and it's likely that Merry saw his last memories in dreams, for he mentioned the "men of [[Carn Dûm]]").<ref>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', p. 1041</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, 'Cardolan, [[Last prince of Cardolan|last prince of]]'</ref> A remnant of the [[Dúnedain]] of Cardolan held out in the Barrow-downs and the [[Old Forest]].<ref>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', p. 1041</ref>
 
In {{TA|1636}} those people who remained in the Barrow-downs died from the [[Great Plague]]. Angmar then sent [[Barrow-wights]] to infest and haunt the downs. In {{TA|1851}} [[King of Arthedain]] [[Araval]]<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, pp. 195, 209-210</ref> attempted to re-occupy Cardolan, but the "evil [[wights]]" terrified anyone who attempted to dwell there and Cardolan was soon lost again.<ref name="Eriador"/>
In {{TA|1636}}<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1636, p. 1086</ref> most of the people of Cardolan died from the [[Great Plague]], especially in Minhiriath. Angmar then sent [[Barrow-wights]] to infest and haunt the downs.<ref>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', p. 1041</ref> In {{TA|1851}} [[King of Arthedain]] [[Araval]] attempted to re-occupy Cardolan, but the "evil [[wights]]" terrified anyone who attempted to dwell there and Cardolan was soon lost again.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, pp. 195, 209-210</ref>


===Legacy===
===Legacy===
The region remained unpopulated even after the final fall of Arnor and destruction of Angmar ({{TA|1974|n}}<ref name="TA"/>).
The region remained unpopulated even after the final fall of Arnor and destruction of Angmar ({{TA|1974|n}}.<ref>{{App|TA}} entry for the year 1974, p. 1086</ref>).


During the [[War of the Ring]] ({{TA|3018}}) the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] entered Cardolan around September 24. Their chief, the [[Witch-king]], moved to [[Andrath]] and visited the Barrow-downs, where he stayed for three days in order to rouse the Barrow-wights. According to the rare manuscript ''[[The Hunt for the Ring|The Hunt for the Ring: Time Scheme - Black Riders]]'', the [[Witch King]] empowered the Barrow-wights and slew the [[Ranger]]s in order to trap the [[Ring]]-bearer - a strategy that would almost work; he left on September 27.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145-6</ref><ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight to the Ford", p. 180</ref><ref>{{UT|Other}}</ref>  
During the [[War of the Ring]] ({{TA|3018}}) the [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] entered Cardolan around September 24. Their chief, the [[Witch-king]], moved to [[Andrath]] and visited the Barrow-downs, where he stayed for three days in order to rouse the Barrow-wights. According to the rare manuscript ''[[The Hunt for the Ring|The Hunt for the Ring: Time Scheme - Black Riders]]'', the [[Witch King]] empowered the Barrow-wights and slew the [[Ranger]]s in order to trap the [[Ring]]-bearer - a strategy that would almost work; he left on September 27.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145-6</ref><ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, "Flight to the Ford", p. 180</ref><ref>{{UT|Other}}</ref>  

Revision as of 16:38, 2 March 2022

Cardolan
Cardolanrotwk.jpg
General information
LocationSouthern Eriador; south of the East Road between the Brandywine and Greyflood
Major townsTharbad
RegionsMinhiriath
People
PopulationDúnedain
Hobbits
LanguageWestron, Sindarin, Hobbitish
GovernanceKing of Cardolan
Prince of Cardolan (vassal of Arthedain)
History
Preceded byArnor
Dissolution of ArnorT.A. 861
AbandonedT.A. 1636

Cardolan was a breakaway realm of the Dúnedain kingdom of Arnor. After the death of Arnor's King Eärendur, his sons divided the realm into the kingdoms of Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan.

Description

The borders of Cardolan were the river Brandywine from the Brandywine Bridge down to the Sea in the west, the river Hoarwell from the Last Bridge down to the river Gwathló and down to the Sea in the east, the Great East Road in the north and the coast of Minhiriath from the mouth of the Brandywine to the mouth of the Gwathló in the south. The possession of the Weather Hills and the land westwards towards Bree was disputed between Cardolan, Rhudaur and Arthedain.[1] Notable features within Cardolan were the Old Forest, the Barrow-downs, the South Downs, and the Greenway.[2]

History

In T.A. 861 Arnor's tenth King, Eärendur, died.[3] Due to dissensions between his sons the realm was split into Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan. There was often stife among the three kingdoms, because Rhudaur and Cardolan desired to possess the Weather Hills and the land westwards towards Bree, especially Weathertop, because the tower on it contained the most important Palantír of the North and the other two palantíri of the North were also held by Arthedeain.[1] While the line of Isildur continued in Arthedain, it soon failed in Rhudaur and Cardolan.[1] Despite accepting Arnor’s sovereignty, Cardolan seemingly retained a prince as its ruler.[4][5]

In 1050 the Harfoots came into Eriador[6] and in 1150 they were joined by the Fallohides.[7] It is possible that some of these Hobbits settled in Cardolan.

War with Angmar

Around 1272[8] Orcs began to trouble the region[9] and around T.A. 1300, the Witch-king founded the kingdom of Angmar north of the Ettenmoors. This event caused many Hobbits to move to Bree.[10]

No descendants of Isildur remained in Cardolan and Rhudaur and Argeleb I of Arthedain claimed lordship over all of former Arnor. Rhudaur resisted this claim and made league with Angmar.[1] Argeleb I fell in battle with Rhudaur in 1356.[11] Cardolan, and Lindon, assisted his son, Arveleg I, to avenge his father by pushing the enemy from the Weather Hills. For many years Arthedain and Cardolan held a frontier along the Hills, the East Road and the lower Hoarwell.[1]

However, in T.A. 1409 a great host issued from Angmar and invaded Cardolan, took Weathertop and destroyed the tower of Amon Sûl. The last prince of Cardolan was interred in the Barrow-downs that year (some say that it was the tomb where Frodo Baggins was trapped during the War of the Ring, and it's likely that Merry saw his last memories in dreams, for he mentioned the "men of Carn Dûm").[12][13] A remnant of the Dúnedain of Cardolan held out in the Barrow-downs and the Old Forest.[14]

In T.A. 1636[15] most of the people of Cardolan died from the Great Plague, especially in Minhiriath. Angmar then sent Barrow-wights to infest and haunt the downs.[16] In T.A. 1851 King of Arthedain Araval attempted to re-occupy Cardolan, but the "evil wights" terrified anyone who attempted to dwell there and Cardolan was soon lost again.[17]

Legacy

The region remained unpopulated even after the final fall of Arnor and destruction of Angmar (1974.[18]).

During the War of the Ring (T.A. 3018) the Black Riders entered Cardolan around September 24. Their chief, the Witch-king, moved to Andrath and visited the Barrow-downs, where he stayed for three days in order to rouse the Barrow-wights. According to the rare manuscript The Hunt for the Ring: Time Scheme - Black Riders, the Witch King empowered the Barrow-wights and slew the Rangers in order to trap the Ring-bearer - a strategy that would almost work; he left on September 27.[19][20][21]

Presumably the area remained deserted until the reestablishment of the northern kingdom under king Elessar at the end of the Third Age.

Tom Bombadil was seemingly involved (at least as a spectator) in the wars between Cardolan and Angmar, although it is unknown at which extent. After freeing the hobbits from the barrow, he took a brooch for Goldberry and showed grief discovering it belonged to a “fair” woman he met long ago, usually identified with the wife of the last prince of Cardolan.[22]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the earlier versions of the story, Cardolan was an unnamed ancient kingdom that “fought against the evil foes” long ago. The cairn where the Hobbits were trapped was the barrow of a prince who died during the war (the identification with the last prince and the occurrence of Cardolan, Angmar and Carn Dûm are only subsequent).[23][24]

Also, in the earlier versions of Tom Bombadil’s statement regarding the blue-jewelled brooch he took for Goldberry, and the mysterious lady that once wore it, he mentioned that “they shall not forget” the kings, the warriors, the children and the fair maidens of the disappeared kingdom, suggesting Bombadil had personally met the men of Cardolan.[25]

Etymology

Cardolan is a Sindarin name. Its meaning is not glossed, but several authors suggest it means "Red Hill Land" and is a compound of caran ("red"), dol ("hill") and -(i)an(n) ("land").[26][27][28][29]

An alternative etymology has been suggested by Roger Clewley: Cardolan deriving from Noldorin car ("house"), dolen ("hidden) ("secret"), and the toponymical ending -and, thus meaning "place/land of hidden houses" (a reference to the "dead entombed there").[29]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, p. 1039
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 861, p. 1085
  4. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1050, p. 1085
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1150, p. 1085
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil"
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year c. 1300, p. 1086
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1356, p. 1086
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, p. 1041
  13. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, 'Cardolan, last prince of'
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, p. 1041
  15. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1636, p. 1086
  16. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, p. 1041
  17. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", pp. 195, 209-210
  18. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age" entry for the year 1974, p. 1086
  19. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145-6
  20. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Flight to the Ford", p. 180
  21. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Hunt for the Ring", "(ii) Other Versions of the Story"
  22. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 146-7
  23. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The First Phase: VII. The Barrow-wight", p. 127-8
  24. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, From Bree to the Ford and Rivendell, p. 37
  25. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The First Phase: VII. The Barrow-wight", p. 128
  26. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 690
  27. ↑ David Salo (2004), A Gateway to Sindarin, p. 371
  28. ↑ Paul Strack, "S. Cardolan loc.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 8 February 2022)
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Roger Clewley, "On the Name Cardolan (#36363)" dated 7 September 2012, Elfling (mailing list) (accessed 11 September 2012)
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