Balchoth
Balchoth | |
---|---|
People | |
Physical Description | |
Distinctions | journeying in great wagons; closely akin if not the same as the Wainriders |
The Balchoth were a clan of Easterlings under the sway of Dol Guldur, who lived in Rhovanion, the lands southeast of the forest of Mirkwood.[1] They were no doubt related to the Wainriders.[2]
They had crude weapons and few horses, used mostly for drawing their large wains.[2]
History
In 2510 of the Third Age, they attempted, with the assistance of Orcs, an invasion of Calenardhon, a minimally populated northern province of Gondor. After pushing back the northern Gondorian army, they were repulsed by Eorl, who arrived with the Éothéod, after receiving the plea of Cirion late. The Balchoth were no match for the horsemen of the Éothéod, and during the Battle of the Field of Celebrant, they were hunted down and utterly destroyed.[1][2]
Etymology
The compound Balchoth consists of Westron balc ("horrible") + Sindarin hoth ("horde"). It was actually a generic term for cruel peoples, including the Orcs.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan" (Note 24)