The host of the Valar[1], also called the Host of Valinor[2][1] or Host of the West[3][4], was the mighty army that overthrew Morgoth and his legions at the end of the First Age.
The army itself was composed of Eönwë, the herald of Manwë; possibly other Maiar and some of the Valar;[note 1] the Noldor of Valinor under Finarfin; and the Vanyar under Ingwion.[5]
They were brought to Middle-earth by the ships of Falmari, who took pity on the words of Elwing; however the Falmari refused to fight beside the Noldor, remembering the First Kinslaying. Once they landed, the Host of the Valar drove away the Orcs of the shores of the Belegaer in the Battle of Eglarest.[6]
The Host of the West met Morgoth's host of the North in the titanic clash of the War of Wrath. Assisted by the Great Eagles and Earendil, they were victorious.[7]
Notes
- ↑ No other Ainur are mentioned, but Eönwë's presence alone is an indication that other Maiar would accompany him, if not some Valar as well. This is implied by the name "Host of the Valar" itself as well as the cataclysmic result of the War which drowned Beleriand. Cf. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 202 and Michael Martinez's article: " It would be reasonable to infer that some of the Valar also accompanied the Host — presumably Tulkas and Oromë would have wanted to be included in that conflict."
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 S QS.24.022Digital Tolkien Project Citation Systems, The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion", "Of the Voyage of Eärendil", Paragraph 22
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B: The Tale of Years (Chronology of the Westlands), p. 1420
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk", p. 1407
- ↑ S QS.24.024Digital Tolkien Project Citation Systems, The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion", "Of the Voyage of Eärendil", Paragraph 24
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion"
- ↑ 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, III. The Later Annals of Beleriand"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"