Easterlings: Difference between revisions

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| affiliation=[[Sauron]]
| affiliation=[[Sauron]]
| rivalry=
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| language=[[Westron]], and several different Eastern tongues
| language=
| members=[[Khamûl]], [[Easterlings (First Age)]] ([[Brodda]], [[Lorgan]], [[Ulfang]], [[Uldor]], [[Ulfast]], [[Ulwarth]], [[Bór]], [[Borlach]], [[Borlad]], [[Borthand]])
| members=[[Khamûl]], [[Easterlings (First Age)]] ([[Brodda]], [[Lorgan]], [[Ulfang]], [[Uldor]], [[Ulfast]], [[Ulwarth]], [[Bór]], [[Borlach]], [[Borlad]], [[Borthand]])
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During these struggles Sauron reclaimed Mordor unnoticed in {{TA|2941}}.
During these struggles Sauron reclaimed Mordor unnoticed in {{TA|2941}}.
===Variags of Khand===
The ''Variags'' were from [[Khand]], and they first appeared to the east and south of [[Mordor]] in 1944 of the Third Age, fighting alongside the [[Wainriders]]. They were also present during the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], over a thousand years later. Little was known about them.
==="Easterlings with axes"===
During the [[War of the Ring]] itself, Easterlings are described as perhaps belonging to more than one culture, plus the Variags of Khand. One group is described as a "new" kind of Easterling that the men of Gondor had previously not encountered: fierce bearded men with axes.


=== War of the Ring ===
=== War of the Ring ===

Revision as of 17:24, 20 May 2018

Easterlings
People
John Howe - Easterlings.jpg
"Easterlings" by John Howe
General Information
Locationslands east of and including Rhûn; Rhovanion; March of Maedhros; Hithlum
AffiliationSauron
MembersKhamûl, Easterlings (First Age) (Brodda, Lorgan, Ulfang, Uldor, Ulfast, Ulwarth, Bór, Borlach, Borlad, Borthand)
Physical Description
DistinctionsUse of the war-wagons (Wainriders and Balchoth)
Hair colorDark
Skin colorSwarthy in the First Age
GalleryImages of Easterlings

The Easterlings were Men who lived in the East of Middle-earth, and were enemies of the Free peoples.

History

In the First Age, Men awoke in Hildórien in the East. Some of them were early corrupted by Morgoth, prompting others (the Edain) to migrate westwards.[1]

Centuries later, after Dagor Bragollach, tribes of Men joined the Edain in Beleriand, long after their arrival. These Swarthy Men came from the east, probably Eriador and were also called "Easterlings". Two of their leaders were Bór and Ulfang.[2]

In the Second Age Sauron escaped the judgment of the Valar and continued his former master's work, turning the Men of the East and South to evil and dominating them. Under the authority of the Dark Lord, many towns and walls of stone were built, and those under his influence became numerous and armed with iron. To these men, Sauron was feared as a king and god.[1][3] During the Dark Years Sauron dominated most of the Westlands, and when Sauron was driven back to Mordor, he continued his expansions eastwards gaining servants and worshippers.[1][4]

Third Age

After Sauron's defeat in the War of the Last Alliance, these "Wild Men" were released by his tyranny but they still had darkness in their hearts. Evil and restless, they battled against each other and some withdrew to the hated west.[5] Thus they encountered the lands of Gondor and since then, tribes brought trouble periodically with several attacks and migrations. Even Northmen often assailed Gondor for a long time.[6]

Easterlings often attacked Gondor from the plains between the Sea of Rhûn and the Ash Mountains. They first enter the records of Gondor in T.A. 490 and Tarostar managed a first victory against them in T.A. 500. In T.A. 541 they invaded Ithilien but Turambar of Gondor destroyed the horde and conquered a new territory in Rhûn for Gondor.[7]

In the following centuries the Easterlings cease, while Gondor was free to extend its borders to the south. That was until the days of Narmacil I when the Easterlings resumed their attacks, even some greedy Northmen oined them. In T.A. 1248 an Easterling army marched in the lands between Rhovanion and the Sea of Rhûn. Forces from Gondor - aided by Northmen of Rhovanion - defeated them and destroyed their camps and settlements east of the Inland Sea.[7]

After this defeat the Easterlings disappeared from the Gondorian records for some period, during which Gondor was again occupied with the south and the Corsairs of Umbar.

The Wainriders

During that time tribes of Easterlings form the confederacy known as the Wainriders (q.v.) who would trouble the Kingdom and the Northmen.[7]

Gondor was weakened by the Great Plague and the Wainriders defeated the Gondorian army in T.A. 1856, raided the lands of Rhovanion and enslaved its people. Some of these lands eventually were reclaimed by King Calimehtar.

In T.A. 1944 the Wainriders, allied with the Haradrim of Near Harad and the Variags of Khand, managed a brief victory against Gondor, despite the assistance by the Éothéod; eventually they were defeated in their camp during their celebrations.

After this defeat the might of the Wainriders was broken although still held Rhovanion, and they retreated east. Most importantly, King Ondoher and both his sons were slain in that assault, an event that led to the extinction for the line of the Kings of Gondor.

In T.A. 2063 the Necromancer (who was actually Sauron) retreated from Dol Guldur for some centuries. That period was known as the Watchful Peace for the Westlands, but during that time Sauron retreated to the East and managed to create a strong alliance between the various tribes of Easterlings.

The Balchoth

The Balchoth were a fierce race southeast of Mirkwood, under orders of Dol Guldur[8] and no doubt related to the Wainriders.[9] In T.A. 2510 they and Orcs overran the plains of Calenardhon and almost destroyed the army of Steward Cirion, but were defeated by the Éothéod.[8][9]

In T.A. 2545 some Easterlings renewed their attacks and entered the new-founded Rohan. Thus Eorl fell fighting in the Wold.[10]

During these struggles Sauron reclaimed Mordor unnoticed in T.A. 2941.

War of the Ring

Easterlings serving Mordor fought in the War of the Ring alongside the Haradrim and Variags. They appeared in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and the Battle of Dale.

In the Fourth Age some Easterlings were subdued by King Elessar and King Éomer.[11]

Culture

The Easterlings were in general more primitive than Gondor. They were motivated by Sauron to hate Gondor and seek its riches.

Troops mentioned in the Easterling forces aiding Sauron in the Third Age included swordsmen, spearmen, horsemen, mounted archers, and chariots ridden by chieftains.

The weapons that the Easterlings used were primarily crude, jagged spears, making them especially effective against cavalry, as well as a shorter, odd, glaive-like version used for close combat.[9]

Some like the Wainriders and the Balchoth had large chariots, wagons and wains which they used to run their foes down, as well as live in and used to fortify their camps.[9] During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Easterlings were bearded and used axes.[12]

See also

References