 | |
| Nando | |
| Lenwë | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Pronunciation | Q, pron. [ˈlɛnwɛ] |
| Other names | Denweg (N) Denwego |
| Position | Leader of the Nandor |
| Birth | between Y.T. 1050 and 1115[1] |
| Rule | from Y.T. 1115[1] to unknown date |
| Family | |
| Children | Denethor |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Lenwë |
Lenwë was the first leader of the Nandor, the Eldar who started the Great March, but repented and forsook it before entering into Beleriand. He was the father of Denethor, the leader of the Green-elves who would later enter Beleriand and befriend Thingol.
History
Though Noldorin histories remember him as "Lenwë", his actual name was likely *Denwego, or Denweg in the Nandorin language.[2]:note 17 He was a Teler of the host of Olwë.[3]:§62
Denweg journeyed with the Eldar until reaching the River Anduin, where they established the settlement of Atyamar. Many of the Eldar enjoyed their life at Atyamar, as it was safe and rich in flowers and food. Though their chiefs urged them on, they were unwilling to leave. Eventually, the weather worsened and the winters become hard, and the chiefs gave an order to advance across the Anduin the following Spring; many among the Teleri, however, fought this. When the time came to cross, a great company under the leadership of Denweg, over 3,000 Eldar from the total population of about 28,000, refused and chose to remain at Atyamar. These folk became known as the Nandor.[4]
It was said that many Nandor remained at Atyamar for thousands of years, though others migrated south down the Anduin and settled on the shores south of the White Mountains, especially in later Belfalas. Others went on along the coasts until a number, including Denweg's son Denethor, came up into southeast Beleriand.[5]:VII The March of the Quendi, fn2
Etymology
Lenwë is a Quenya word meaning "leaving, departure". It was derived from the ✶ledmē, which included the root LED ("go").[6]:51
Denwego probably meant "lithe-and-active" from ✶dene- ("thin and strong", "pliant", "lithe")[2]:note 17 and WEG ("live", "be active").[6]:190
Other names
In earlier versions of the legendarium the character was initially named Dan.[7]:note 14 This became revised to Dân in the tongue of his people, but he was known as Nano otherwise.[8]:§62 The meanings of these names are not glossed.
Genealogy
Other versions of the legendarium
In The Later Annals of Valinor, Dan was from a company of Noldoli (Noldor) who forsook the host of Finwë early in the Great Journey and turned south. However, these lands they found were dark and barren due to never having been visited by the Valar, and the sky was scant in stars. After they turned back north, they then marched west with much wandering and grief. Of these people some under [Denithor >] Denethor eventually came to Beleriand. The people of Dan became known as the Danians. This entry was a later addition to the annals, made by Pengolod, as this was not known to Rúmil.[9][note 1]
In The Lhammas the followers of Dan were briefly emended from Noldorin of the host of Finwë, to Lindarin (Vanyarin) of the host of Ingwë.[10]
In the Annals of Aman, Nano's people forsook the journey at the time of the crossing of the Anduin and the crossing of the Misty Mountains. Nano then led his people south down the river and passed out of knowledge of the Eldar. The year for this was 1115.[11]:§62
In Quendi and Eldar, his people explicitly rejected crossing the Misty Mountains.[12]
Notes
- ↑ This was originally stated in The Earliest Annals of Valinor, though with less details
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman": §62, p. 83
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Author's Notes to Quendi and Eldar"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Third section of the Annals of Aman"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part One. Time and Ageing: VII. The March of the Quendi"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Footnotes"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 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)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "VI. The Earliest Annals of Valinor: Notes"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Third section of the Annals of Aman"
- ↑ 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, II. The Later 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, V. The Lhammas"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "Part Two. The Annals of Aman: Third section of the Annals of Aman"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix C. Elvish names for the Orcs"