Elves of Lindon

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Elves of Lindon
People
Liz Danforth - Elves of Lindon.jpg
Elves of Lindon by Liz Danforth
General Information
Other namesEldar of Lindon
OriginsSurvivors of the destruction of Beleriand in the War of Wrath
LocationsLindon
AffiliationLast Alliance of Elves and Men, Host of the West, White Council
RivalriesSauron
LanguagesSindarin, Westron, Quenya, Nandorin
MembersCirdan, Gil-galad, Celeborn, Oropher, Elrond, Galdor of the Havens
Physical Description
LifespanImmortal

The Elves of Lindon were those Elves who dwelt in Lindon in the west of Middle-earth, between the Blue Mountains and the Great Sea.

History

Rule of Gil-galad

In S.A. 1,[1] the Elves built the Grey Havens in the newly-formed Gulf of Lune where the Eldar sailed the Straight Road, but most of them were unwilling at first to forsake the lands they fought in and preferred to linger there.[2] This was the foundation of Lindon and its people.[1] Among those that remained were Círdan the Shipwright, Celeborn of Doriath, Galadriel, Elrond, and Celebrimbor.[3] Gil-galad was the last heir of the kings of the Noldor in exile, and acknowledged as High King of the Elves of the West and so, he was their king.[2][1]

In the beginning of the Second Age, most of the Noldor that remained in Middle-earth dwelt in Lindon but,[1] many Teleri, survivors of Doriath and Ossiriand, left Lindon before S.A. 1000 to establish realms among the Silvan Elves.[4] Galadriel and Celeborn brought many Noldor, Sindar, and Green-elves[5] out of Lindon into Eriador to dwell there for some time.[5] Many of the Noldor in Lindon lead by Celebrimbor established the realm of Eregion in S.A. 750 near the West-gate of Khazad-Dûm due to the recent discovery of mithril in Khazad-Dûm.[1]

A fair being calling himself Annatar, an emissary of the Valar, came seeking entrance. Gil-galad and Master Elrond sensed that he was not what he seemed, and denied him. Messengers were sent from Lindon with warnings; but they were unheeded, and Annatar was received gladly, mostly in Eregion. However, Gil-galad and Elrond were proven correct, as Annatar was indeed Sauron and later, there was war in Eriador.[2] Elrond led the Elves of Lindon in battle to defend Eregion. With them, and other Elves who fled the destruction of Eregion, he established Imladris in S.A. 1697.[1] In the Dark Years, Sauron had conquered most of the Westlands, but in S.A. 1700 Tar-Minastir sent a fleet to Lindon, aiding the Elves of Lindon to drive Sauron out of Eriador.[1][2] After those events, the Elves of Lindon were diminished and did not extend their realm east of the Blue Mountains anymore.[6]

When Ar-Pharazôn captured Sauron and took him to Númenor, the Westlands found peace, and Gil-galad was free to extend his power and influence so that the Elves of Lindon controlled most of the Westlands, even to the borders of Greenwood the Great, until the Downfall of Númenor, when Sauron returned to Middle-earth.[2]

At the end of the Age, Gil-galad joined the Last Alliance and led the Elves of Lindon to the War of the Last Alliance. Some of the Silvan Elves felt hostility towards the Noldor of Lindon, and didn't cooperate, suffering heavy losses.[4]

Decline

Northern Waste by Angelo Montanini

After the fall of Gil-galad (during the time of the Kings of Arnor), there was still a remnant of his people, the Noldor, who dwelt at the Grey Havens of further inland in Lindon, who, aside from Rivendell, were most of the remaining Noldor of Middle-earth.[7][2] The Elves of Lindon would often wander into Eriador but they mostly dwelt by the sea building the elven-ships in which many Eldar would depart to Valinor.[2] Cirdan remained the Lord of the Havens and ruled the Elves of Lindon.[7][2]

During the Third Age, the Elves of Lindon under Cirdan supported Arnor in the Angmar War. They assisted Arveleg I and Cardolan drive off the Hill-men from the Weather Hills.[7] Later, with Círdan's help, Arveleg's young son, Araphor, drove Angmar's armies from Fornost and the North Downs.[7] Combining forces with Rivendell, and the Galadhrim who joined them from beyond the Misty Mountains, they subdued Angmar for some time.[7] Araval, in coalition with the Elves of Lindon and Rivendell, won a battle with the forces of Angmar in T.A. 1851.[8] In T.A. 1975, Elves from Lindon brought a ship to Forochel to rescue the Arvedui Last-king.[7] The crew endured a perilous journey, but Arvedui rashly attempted to return that winter, and all aboard perished.[7] The next year, the Elves of Lindon joined the Host of the West, and were lead to victory in the Battle of Fornost under the leadership of Círdan.[7][9]

During the War of the Ring, Galdor was sent to Rivendell on an errand for Círdan and he represented the Elves of Lindon at the Council of Elrond.[10]

The Last Ship, carrying Círdan and Celeborn,[11] sailed early in the Fourth Age.

Population

The original Elves of Lindon (Ossiriand) in the First Age, were Laiquendi, but after the Elder Days passed, they were joined by other Elves of the former Beleriand: Noldorin exiles (especially from Gondolin, but also from the Houses of Finarfin and Fëanor), and Sindar from Doriath and from the Falas.[4][12]

The Elves of Harlindon, the people of Lindon south of the Gulf of Lhûn, were mostly Sindar, ruled by Celeborn for some time.[1][13]

Early in the Second Age, Lindon concentrated most of the High Elven population in the Westlands, but many Sindar, who were from Doriath, were uneasy living among the Noldor under Gil-galad and left for the east.[4][1] Many Laiquendi accompanied them.[2]

In the Third Age, the Elves of Lindon consisted most of the High-elves that still lingered in Middle-earth.[7]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves"
  5. 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", Note #75
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", pp. 195, 209-210
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue"
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Amroth and Nimrodel"
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", Note 2