Host of the Valar

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This article is about the Host of Valinor. For the other "Host of the West" during the War of the Ring, see Army of the West.

The Host of the Valar was the mighty army that overthrew Morgoth and his legions at the end of the First Age.

The army itself was composed of Vanyar under Ingwion[1], and the remaining Noldor of Valinor, under Finarfin. Manwë's herald Eönwë came with them, and possibly other Maiar and some Valar also joined the Host.[note 1]

They were brought to Middle-earth by the ships of Falmari, who took pity on the words of Elwing; however the Falmari refused to fight beside the Noldor, remembering the First Kinslaying.

This force was also known as the Host of the West, and met Morgoth's Host of the North in the titanic clash known the War of Wrath. The forces of Valinor were assisted by the Great Eagles and Earendil and were victorious.[2]

Notes

  1. No other Ainur are mentioned, but Eönwë's presence alone is an indication that other Maiar would accompany him, if not some Valar as well. This is implied by the name "Host of the Valar" itself as well as the cataclysmic result of the War which drowned Beleriand. Cf. Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 202 and Michael Martinez's article: " It would be reasonable to infer that some of the Valar also accompanied the Host — presumably Tulkas and Oromë would have wanted to be included in that conflict."

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: The Last Chapters of the Quenta Silmarillion"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"