Rhudaur: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(→‎Geography: cleaning up some subjective prejudice against Rhudaur which, like all Dúnedain realms, is a beautiful country as long as the Dúnedain watch over it)
m (→‎History: Removed repeated instance of "killed.")
 
(11 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 28: Line 28:
| followedby=
| followedby=
}}
}}
'''Rhudaur''' was the hilly kingdom that originated from the break-up of [[Arnor]] in {{TA|861}}.
'''Rhudaur''' was the hilly kingdom that originated from the break-up of [[Arnor]] in {{TA|861}}.


==Geography==
==Geography==
Rhudaur was a region in the North-east of [[Eriador]], lying between the [[Ettenmoors]], the [[Weather Hills]], and the [[Misty Mountains]]. The land between the rivers [[Mitheithel|Loudwater]] and [[Hoarwell]], forming the [[Angle (Eriador)|the Angle]], where the [[Trollshaws]] were located,<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref> was also a part of Rhudaur.<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', p. 1039</ref><ref name=ford>{{FR|I12}}</ref>
Rhudaur was a region in the North-east of [[Eriador]], lying between the [[Ettenmoors]], the [[Weather Hills]], and the [[Misty Mountains]]. The land between the rivers [[Mitheithel|Loudwater]] and [[Hoarwell]], forming the [[Angle (Eriador)|the Angle]], where the [[Trollshaws]] were located,<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref> was also a part of Rhudaur.<ref name=Eriador>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', pp. 1039-1040</ref><ref name=Flight>{{FR|Flight}}, pp. 201-202</ref>


Rhudaur was characterized by dreary and rising hills, dark trees with twisted roots hanging off of cliffs, and gloomy weather.<ref name=ford/>  
Rhudaur was characterized by dreary and rising hills, dark trees with twisted roots hanging off of cliffs, and gloomy weather, Rhudaur was a sombre, threatening, and unfriendly country.<ref name=Flight/>  


Upon many heights and ridges were ancient stone walls, ruined towers, and ominous castles.<ref name=ford/>
Upon many heights and ridges were ancient stone walls, ruined towers, and ominous, evil-looking castles.<ref name=Flight/>


==History==
==History==
When the [[Exiles of Númenor]] established [[Arnor]] in the [[Second Age]], they spread out throughout [[Eriador]] and many [[Númenóreans]] settled the hills of Rhudaur.<ref name=rings>{{S|Rings}}</ref>
When the [[Exiles of Númenor]] established [[Arnor]] in the [[Second Age]], they spread out throughout [[Eriador]] and many [[Númenóreans]] settled the hills of Rhudaur.<ref name=Rings>{{S|Rings}}</ref>


From the start of its existence as an independent kingdom, Rhudaur was unfriendly towards the two other successor states; the kingdom came into strife with [[Cardolan]] over the [[Tower of Amon Sûl]] and the ''[[Palantíri|Palantír]]'' [[Amon Sûl-stone|associated with the tower]].<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 strife 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 Arthedain. While the line of [[Isildur]] continued in Arthedain, it soon failed in Rhudaur and Cardolan.<ref name=Eriador/>


The first [[Stoors|Stoor]] [[Hobbits]] entered Rhudaur, specifically the [[Angle (Eriador)|Angle]] around {{TA|1150}}.  
The first [[Stoors|Stoor]] [[Hobbits]] moved to the [[Angle (Eriador)|Angle]] in Rhudar around {{TA|1150}}.<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year ''c.'' 1150, p. 1085</ref>


By {{TA|1349}}, a lord of the [[Hill-men]] had seized power and had secretly allied with [[Angmar]]; few [[Dúnedain of the North|Dúnedain]] remained in Rhudaur and the only remaining descendant of the [[House of Isildur]] was [[Argeleb I]], the [[King of Arthedain]]. As the [[Heir of Isildur]], Argeleb claimed the lordship of all former Arnor which Rhudaur resisted. In {{TA|1356|n}}, Rhudaur and Angmar attacked the [[Weather Hills]], and Argeleb was killed.<ref name=eriador/>  
During the reign of King [[Argeleb I]] of [[Arthedain]], which started in {{TA|1349}},<ref>{{App|North}}, ''Arthedain'', date after Malvegil, p. 1038</ref> Argeleb claimed the lordship over all former Arnor, because no descendants of Isildur remained in Cardolan and Rhudaur, but Rhudaur resisted his claim. In Rhudaur an evil lord of the [[Hill-men]] who had a secret alliance with Angmar had seized power and there were only few Dúnedain in Rhudaur. As a consequence, Argeleb fortified the Weather Hills, which were on the border between Arthedain and Rhudaur.<ref name=Argeleb>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', paragraph about King Argeleb son of Malvegil, p. 1040</ref> In {{TA|1356}},<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1356, p. 1086</ref> Argeleb was killed in a battle with Rhudaur and Angmar. Around this time the Stoors left the Angle and some of them returned to [[Rhovanion]].<ref name=Argeleb/>


By {{TA|1409}}, Rhudaur was occupied by evil Men subject to [[Angmar]] and the [[Dúnedain of Arnor|Dúnedain]] that remained there were slain or fled west. These peoples also worked with sorcery and built dark castles in the hills.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> It was because of this hostile nature and climate of Rhudaur that the [[Stoors]] fled [[Angle (Eriador)|the Angle]], with some of them moving west to [[Arthedain]], and others moving back to [[Rhovanion]].<ref name=eriador/><ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> Rhudaur and Angmar attacked and ravaged [[Cardolan]] in {{TA|1409}}, destroying [[Weathertop]] and slaying the [[last prince of Cardolan]] (later interred in the Barrow-downs).<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, 'Cardolan, [[Last prince of Cardolan|last prince of]]'</ref>.
In {{TA|1409}} Angmar attacked and ravaged [[Cardolan]] and surrounded and destroyed [[Weathertop]]. Angmar defeated the Dúnedain of Cardolan and Arthedain and the [[last prince of Cardolan]] (later interred in the Barrow-downs)<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, 'Cardolan, [[Last prince of Cardolan|last prince of]]'</ref> and King Arveleg of Arthedain were killed. Rhudaur was occupied by evil men who were subject to Angmar. The Dúnedain that had remained in Rhudaur were killed or fled westwards.<ref>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', paragraph about King Arveleg, p. 1040</ref>


In the days of [[Argeleb II]], the [[Witch-king]] sent many [[wights]] from [[Angmar]] and Rhudaur to inhabit the deserted mounds of the [[Barrow-downs]].<ref name=eriador/>
In the days of [[Argeleb II]], the [[Witch-king]] sent [[wights]] from [[Angmar]] and Rhudaur to inhabit the deserted mounds of the [[Barrow-downs]].<ref>{{App|Eriador}}, ''The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain'', paragraph about King Argeleb II, p. 1041</ref>


When war brought the North-kingdom to an end, all the evil Men who inhabited Rhudaur were killed but a shadow remained in the land. During the [[War of the Ring]], Rhudaur was completely uninhabited.<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>
When war brought the North-kingdom to an end, all the evil Men who inhabited Rhudaur were killed, but a shadow remained in the land. During the [[War of the Ring]], Rhudaur was completely uninhabited.<ref name=Flight/>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Rhudaur'' is a [[Sindarin]] name. According to [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] it means "Troll shaw" and contains the element ''[[rhû]]'' ("evil, wicked"). [[Christopher Gilson]] suggests in his editorial annotation within brackets that the second element is ''[[taur]]'' ("forest").<ref>{{PE|17}}, entry "S '''Rhudaur''' and entry S ''rhû'', p. 115 and entry '''OKO''', p. 170</ref> Shaw is an archaic word meaning "thicket, small wood, copse, or grove".<ref name=>{{HM|RC}}, p. Ixiii</ref> The Trollshaws were located in Rhudaur.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, Commentary, manuscript B entry Earendur "Rhudaur north of the R. Bruinen (where later were the Trollshaws)"</ref>
''Rhudaur'' is a [[Sindarin]] name. According to [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] it means "Troll shaw" and contains the element ''[[rhû]]'' ("evil, wicked"). [[Christopher Gilson]] suggests in his editorial annotation within brackets that the second element is ''[[taur]]'' ("forest").<ref>{{PE|17}}, entry "S '''Rhudaur''' and entry S ''rhû'', p. 115 and entry '''OKO''', p. 170</ref> Shaw is an archaic word meaning "thicket, small wood, copse, or grove".<ref name=>{{HM|RC}}, p. Ixiii</ref> The Trollshaws were located in Rhudaur.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, Commentary, manuscript B entry Earendur "Rhudaur north of the R. Bruinen (where later were the Trollshaws)"</ref>


J.R.R. Tolkien's translation was published in [[Parma Eldalamberon 17]] in 2007. [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] suggested in 2005 that ''Rhudaur'' is a Sindarin name, which means "east forest" and that is is a compound of ''[[Rhûn|rhu-]]'' ("east") and ''[[taur]]'' ("forest").<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 690</ref>
J.R.R. Tolkien's translation was published in [[Parma Eldalamberon 17]] in 2007. [[David Salo]] suggested in 2004 and [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] suggested in 2005 that ''Rhudaur'' is a Sindarin name, which means "eastern wood" or "east forest", respectively, and that it is a compound of ''[[Rhûn|rhu-]]'' ("east") and ''[[taur]]'' ("forest").<ref>{{HM|GS}}, entry '''Rhudaur''' p. 390</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 690</ref>
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
An earlier manuscript version of what would later become the Annals of the Kings and Rulers mentions that an evil people who are workers of sorcery and subjects of Angmar kill the remnants of the Dúnedain in Rhudaur and build dark forts in the hills.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, manuscript C, the Northern Line of Arnor: the Isildurioni, entry 18. Arveleg I</ref>
 
An earlier manuscript version of the the Tale of Years of the Third Age mentions that the Witch-king destroyed the remmants of the Dúnedain that lived in Rhudaur and that an evil people from the north that was much given to sorcery lived in Rhudaur for a long time.<ref>{{PM|Third}}, manuscript T4, entry for the year 1409</ref>


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
:[[Galadriel]] mentions the [[High Fells of Rhudaur]] as the place where the [[Witch-king]] was buried following the fall of [[Angmar]].
:[[Galadriel]] mentions the [[High Fells of Rhudaur]] as the place where the [[Witch-king]] was buried following the fall of [[Angmar]].

Latest revision as of 11:13, 17 March 2023

Rhudaur
Ted Nasmith - View of Rhudaur.jpg
General information
LocationBetween the Weather Hills and the Misty Mountains
People
PopulationPrimarily Men
LanguageWestron, Sindarin
History
Preceded byArnor
FoundationT.A. 861
Allied with AngmarBy T.A. 1349
GalleryImages of Rhudaur

Rhudaur was the hilly kingdom that originated from the break-up of Arnor in T.A. 861.

Geography[edit | edit source]

Rhudaur was a region in the North-east of Eriador, lying between the Ettenmoors, the Weather Hills, and the Misty Mountains. The land between the rivers Loudwater and Hoarwell, forming the the Angle, where the Trollshaws were located,[1] was also a part of Rhudaur.[2][3]

Rhudaur was characterized by dreary and rising hills, dark trees with twisted roots hanging off of cliffs, and gloomy weather, Rhudaur was a sombre, threatening, and unfriendly country.[3]

Upon many heights and ridges were ancient stone walls, ruined towers, and ominous, evil-looking castles.[3]

History[edit | edit source]

When the Exiles of Númenor established Arnor in the Second Age, they spread out throughout Eriador and many Númenóreans settled the hills of Rhudaur.[4]

In T.A. 861 Arnor's tenth King, Eärendur, died.[5] Due to dissensions between his sons the realm was split into Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan. There was often strife 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 Arthedain. While the line of Isildur continued in Arthedain, it soon failed in Rhudaur and Cardolan.[2]

The first Stoor Hobbits moved to the Angle in Rhudar around T.A. 1150.[6]

During the reign of King Argeleb I of Arthedain, which started in T.A. 1349,[7] Argeleb claimed the lordship over all former Arnor, because no descendants of Isildur remained in Cardolan and Rhudaur, but Rhudaur resisted his claim. In Rhudaur an evil lord of the Hill-men who had a secret alliance with Angmar had seized power and there were only few Dúnedain in Rhudaur. As a consequence, Argeleb fortified the Weather Hills, which were on the border between Arthedain and Rhudaur.[8] In T.A. 1356,[9] Argeleb was killed in a battle with Rhudaur and Angmar. Around this time the Stoors left the Angle and some of them returned to Rhovanion.[8]

In T.A. 1409 Angmar attacked and ravaged Cardolan and surrounded and destroyed Weathertop. Angmar defeated the Dúnedain of Cardolan and Arthedain and the last prince of Cardolan (later interred in the Barrow-downs)[10] and King Arveleg of Arthedain were killed. Rhudaur was occupied by evil men who were subject to Angmar. The Dúnedain that had remained in Rhudaur were killed or fled westwards.[11]

In the days of Argeleb II, the Witch-king sent wights from Angmar and Rhudaur to inhabit the deserted mounds of the Barrow-downs.[12]

When war brought the North-kingdom to an end, all the evil Men who inhabited Rhudaur were killed, but a shadow remained in the land. During the War of the Ring, Rhudaur was completely uninhabited.[3]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Rhudaur is a Sindarin name. According to J.R.R. Tolkien it means "Troll shaw" and contains the element rhû ("evil, wicked"). Christopher Gilson suggests in his editorial annotation within brackets that the second element is taur ("forest").[13] Shaw is an archaic word meaning "thicket, small wood, copse, or grove".[14] The Trollshaws were located in Rhudaur.[15]

J.R.R. Tolkien's translation was published in Parma Eldalamberon 17 in 2007. David Salo suggested in 2004 and Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull suggested in 2005 that Rhudaur is a Sindarin name, which means "eastern wood" or "east forest", respectively, and that it is a compound of rhu- ("east") and taur ("forest").[16][17]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

An earlier manuscript version of what would later become the Annals of the Kings and Rulers mentions that an evil people who are workers of sorcery and subjects of Angmar kill the remnants of the Dúnedain in Rhudaur and build dark forts in the hills.[18]

An earlier manuscript version of the the Tale of Years of the Third Age mentions that the Witch-king destroyed the remmants of the Dúnedain that lived in Rhudaur and that an evil people from the north that was much given to sorcery lived in Rhudaur for a long time.[19]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

Galadriel mentions the High Fells of Rhudaur as the place where the Witch-king was buried following the fall of Angmar.

2013: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

Gandalf and Radagast travel to the High Fells to examine the whereabouts of Nazgûl, only to discover that they have all escaped.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 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, pp. 1039-1040
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford", pp. 201-202
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 861, p. 1085
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year c. 1150, p. 1085
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur", Arthedain, date after Malvegil, p. 1038
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 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, paragraph about King Argeleb son of Malvegil, p. 1040
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1356, p. 1086
  10. ↑ 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'
  11. ↑ 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, paragraph about King Arveleg, p. 1040
  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, paragraph about King Argeleb II, p. 1041
  13. ↑ 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), entry "S Rhudaur and entry S rhû, p. 115 and entry OKO, p. 170
  14. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. Ixiii
  15. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", Commentary, manuscript B entry Earendur "Rhudaur north of the R. Bruinen (where later were the Trollshaws)"
  16. ↑ David Salo (2004), A Gateway to Sindarin, entry Rhudaur p. 390
  17. ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 690
  18. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", manuscript C, the Northern Line of Arnor: the Isildurioni, entry 18. Arveleg I
  19. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VIII. The Tale of Years of the Third Age", manuscript T4, entry for the year 1409
Retrieved from "https://tolkiengateway.net/w/index.php?title=Rhudaur&oldid=370590"