Anórien

From Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 12:17, 29 October 2020 by Fornad95 (talk | contribs)
Anórien
Region/fief
Mark Fisher - Anorien.png
General Information
LocationNorth of the White Mountains, between the Mering Stream in the west and Minas Tirith in the east
TypeRegion/fief
DescriptionThe royal lands around Minas Tirith
RegionsDrúadan Forest, Firien Wood
People and History
InhabitantsPrimarily Gondorians (A remnant of the Drúedain lived in the Drúadan Forest)
EventsSiege of Gondor, Battle of the Pelennor Fields

Anórien was a region and fiefdom of Gondor.

History

During the Elder Days, the region was occupied by Pre-Númenóreans.[1] These were separated relatives of the House of Haleth while the Edain migrated to the west during the First Age. The aboriginal Woses fled to the forests of that region, hunted by the Men of Darkness.[2]

At the end of the Second Age, the region was given to Anárion as part of the Realms in Exile and was named 'Anórien' after him. Anárion built Minas Anor on Amon Tirith of the Mindolluin.

Peoples from Anórien, as well as from Ithilien and Calenardhon joined with Eldacar against Castamir in the Kin-strife.[3]

As the Great Plague spread, cities were evacuated and many fled to Ithilien and Anórien.

Steward Túrin II fortified the isle of Cair Andros to defend Anórien.[4]

By the time of the War of the Ring, Anórien was one of the few fiefs which was dominated by the Dúnedain of Gondor; specifically, in Minas Tirith and the adjacent townlands where Sindarin was still known and used as a daily language.[5][6] It would appear that the western part of Anórien (from Min-Rimmon westward) was deserted or depopulated by this time, as tidings of the coronation of Aragorn went out into "all parts of Gondor, from Min-Rimmon even to Pinnath Gelin and the far coasts of the sea".[7]

When Sauron released a secondary force from the Morannon, they overwhelmed the defenders of Cair Andros, and used the island to cross into Anórien. They blocked the eastward progress of the Rohirrim as they rode to Gondor's aid, though after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Elfhelm and 3000 Rohirrim chased them down and pushed them back out of Anórien.[8]

Geography

Anórien lay north of the line of the White Mountains, and formed a narrow strip of land consisting of the valleys of the White Mountains, and its borders were the Mering Stream in the west, and the Mouths of the Entwash in the north. Its eastern border was the border of Gondor at the Anduin.

After Calenardhon was given to the Éothéod to become the Kingdom of Rohan, Anórien remained as the only part of the northern half of the realm.

The Greenway road traversed the fief.

The land contained the Drúadan Forest and fertile farmlands. Except Minas Anor and Osgiliath, no cities were in Anórien but, following the line of the North-South Road that led through Rohan to Arnor were built the Warning beacons of Gondor.

Etymology

The name is Sindarin for 'Sun-land'; Anor "sun" and -ien place name suffix. Called Sunlending by the Rohirrim.

The name does not refer to the Sun or the climate, but is 'heraldic', related to the name and the emblem of Anárion, son of Elendil: the land is immediately attached to the Minas Anor.[9]

References

Route of the Fellowship of the Ring
Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Rohan · Edoras · Hornburg · Isengard · Dunharrow · Paths of the Dead · Gondor · Hill of Erech · Lamedon · Linhir · Lebennin · Pelargir · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Boromir
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen
Frodo and Sam
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Emyn Muil · Dead Marshes · Black Gate · Ithilien · Henneth Annûn · Cross-roads · Morgul Vale · Stairs of Cirith Ungol · Cirith Ungol · Shelob's Lair · Tower of Cirith Ungol · Mordor · Morgai · Plateau of Gorgoroth · Mount Doom · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Gandalf
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Celebdil† · Lothlórien · Fangorn Forest · Edoras · Hornburg · Isengard · Rohan · Anórien · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Cair Andros · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Merry
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Parth Galen · Amon Hen · Emyn Muil · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Wellinghall · Derndingle · Isengard · Hornburg · Dunharrow · Drúadan Forest · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard
Pippin
Rivendell · Eregion · Caradhras · Moria · Lothlórien · Caras Galadhon · Anduin · Amon Hen · Parth Galen · Emyn Muil · Eastemnet · Fangorn Forest · Wellinghall · Derndingle · Isengard · Rohan · Anórien · Gondor · Minas Tirith · Osgiliath · Cross-roads · Ithilien · Dagorlad · Black Gate · Field of Cormallen · Gondor · Cair Andros · Minas Tirith · Anórien · Rohan · Edoras · Isengard