Five Guardians

From Tolkien Gateway

The Five Guardians were a group of Maiar appointed by the Valar to guard the firstborn Elves.

History[edit | edit source]

After Oromë found the Elves in Cuiviénen, the Valar planned to make War against Melkor. Oromë and Tulkas had dwelt with the Elves for many years, protecting them, so when they left to make war preparations,[1] the Valar put a guard about Cuiviénen to protect the Elves from battle for the following two Valian Years.[2]

It was a group of great Maiar to guard the Elves meanwhile. They were Tarindor (later Saruman), Olórin (Gandalf), Hrávandil (Radagast), Palacendo and Haimenar. They were led by Melian, who had travelled to Cuiviénen before the Five Guardians; she was the sixth Maiar guardian and was the only female spirit among them.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

The Annals of Aman mention the Valian guard set to protect the Elves, but its nature is not specified. The Five Guardians appear in a late and unfinished version of the legendarium, written by J.R.R. Tolkien while revising key dates of the Valian Years. As the editor Carl F. Hostetter comments, these five Maiar were apparently the later Istari, but the last two names are not specified,[3] so it is unclear if they correspond to the earlier Blue Wizards.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part One. Time and Ageing: XIII. Key Dates", pp. 95, 99
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Morgoth's Ring, "The Annals of Aman": §47-8
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part One. Time and Ageing: XIII. Key Dates", "Notes", p. 102, note 7