Caranthir

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 18:33, 24 October 2020 by LorenzoCB (talk | contribs) (Forgot a category)
"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
Caranthir
Noldo
Elena Kukanova - Caranthir.jpeg
"Caranthir" by Elena Kukanova
Biographical Information
Other names"the Dark"
Morifinwë (Q, fn),
Carnistir (Q, mn)
LocationTirion; Thargelion (Dor Caranthir)
AffiliationOath of Fëanor
LanguageQuenya and Sindarin
Birthafter Y.T. 1190 and before Y.T. 1497
Tirion
DeathF.A. 506
Second Kinslaying: Menegroth
Family
HouseHouse of Fëanor
ParentageFëanor & Nerdanel
SiblingsMaedhros, Maglor, Celegorm, Curufin, Amrod and Amras
SpouseUnnamed[1]
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorDark
GalleryImages of Caranthir

Caranthir, the fourth of the Sons of Fëanor, was also the harshest and the quickest to anger. He was known as "Caranthir the Dark".

History

The Wife of Caranthir. Art by Marya Filatova

As the other Sons of Fëanor, Caranthir was bound by the Oath of Fëanor to recover his father's Silmarils, which had been stolen by the Dark Lord Morgoth. This oath took the Noldor to Middle-earth right before the beginning of the First Age.[2] When the Noldor presented themselves to Thingol for first time, some of the House of Finarfin reached first the king, who gave his permission to the Noldor to dwell in some free lands, as he considered himself Lord of Beleriand. Maedhros laught at Thingol's claims, but Caranthir felt angry and dispised the children of Finarfin. Maedhros rebuked him, but division between Noldor increased.[3]

The people of Caranthir went to the furthermost East Beleriand, reaching Ered Luin, being the first Noldor who encountered the Dwarves. Despite Caranthir despised the ugly Dwarves, they allied with them, as both peoples were interested on handcraft and fighting Morgoth. Thanks to this alliance, all the trading that came to Beleriand from the Dwarves came first to Caranthir's hands, getting great wealth.[3] Caranthir's realm was in Thargelion, and was sometimes called Dor Caranthir ("Caranthir's Land"). His abode was on the shores of Lake Helevorn. [4]

In F.A. 375, Caranthir rescued Haleth and her people, the Haladin, as they were besieged by Orcs. When he saw the valor of Men, he offered the Haladin a fiefdom in his lands to the North. However Haleth, wanting her people to serve no lord, thanked him but removed to the Forest of Brethil.[5]

In the Dagor Bragollach, Caranthir was forced to retreat and joined the remnant of his people to the scattered folk Amrod and Amras. They fled to the south and maintained a watch upon Amon Ereb, aided by the Laegil.[6]

In F.A. 463, the Easterling Ulfang led his people over the Blue Mountains and swore allegiance to Maedhros. They were given land in Lothlann and became subjects of Caranthir.

In F.A. 472, the disaster of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad ("Battle of Unnumbered Tears") occurred, caused by the betrayal of the people of Ulfang.

In F.A. 505, he perished along with his brothers Celegorm and Curufin during the Second Kinslaying, the attack by the Sons of Fëanor on Menegroth to recover a Silmaril from King Dior Eluchíl of Doriath.

Etymology

Caranthir is the Sindarinized version of his name Carnistir ("Red-face"), being the compound of caran + thir.[7]

Names

Caranthir's father-name was Morifinwë ("Dark Finwë"), as he was black-haired as his grandfather.[8]

His mother-name was Carnistir ("Red-face"). Although he was not a redhead like his mother (but dark brown haired), he had the ruddy complexion of her.[8]

Genealogy

Mahtan
b. Y.T.
 
Míriel
d. Y.T. 1170
 
Finwë
d. Y.T. 1495
 
Indis
b. Y.T.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nerdanel
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
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maedhros
d. F.A. 587
 
Maglor
b. Y.T.
 
Celegorm
d. F.A. 506
 
CARANTHIR
d. F.A. 506
 
Curufin
d. F.A. 506
 
Amrod
d. F.A. 538
 
Amras
d. F.A. 538
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Celebrimbor
d. S.A. 1697
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Other versions of the legendarium

In The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, chapter called "The Nauglafring", he was called Cranthor, while in the early version of the Quenta Silmarillion, found in The Lost Road and Other Writings, he was named Cranthir.

References