Rhûn: Difference between revisions

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'''Rhûn''' refers to the little-known lands to the east of [[Middle-earth]] inhabited by peoples known as the "[[Easterlings]]", from whom many attacks on [[Gondor]] and its allies came during the [[Third Age]].
'''Rhûn''' refers to the little-known lands in eastern [[Middle-earth]]. Almost nothing of the lands beyond the great [[Sea of Rhûn]] is known (see [[Uttermost East]]).  


It is known as a wide and vast land with many kingdoms, and strange and unexplored places. Almost nothing of the lands beyond the great [[Sea of Rhûn]] is known (see [[Uttermost East]]).
==History==
==History==
Far beyond the Sea of Rhûn was the range of [[Orocarni]], the Red Mountains. Somewhere in the lost east, too, lay [[Cuiviénen]] and [[Hildórien]], where [[Elves]] and [[Men]] first awoke: all the [[Children of Ilúvatar]] could trace their ancestries back to the eastward regions of Middle-earth. In ancient days, these lands stood near to the great [[Sea of Helcar]], which drained into the [[Great Gulf]] before the coming of the Second Age. It is possible that the Sea of Rhûn may be what remains of the old Sea of Helcar, though it is uncertain.<ref>{{WJ|Men}}</ref>
The first Elves awoke far east of the Sea of Rhûn, and many of them were led to the [[Westlands]] by [[Oromë]]. Some Elves foresook this [[Great Journey]] and chose to remain in the east; they were called the [[Avari]].


The first Men who were migrating to the West, passed from northern Rhûn where they met some [[Dwarves]].<ref>{{WJ|Dwarves}}</ref> At the shores of the inland Sea, the tribes separated and their languages soon diverged.<ref>{{PM|Ros}}</ref>


In the later [[Ages]] Rhûn was the domain of the [[Easterlings]], [[Men of Darkness]] who were ready to follow both the Dark Lords and fought as their allies in war. These lands, too, were peopled by lost Elves, [[Avari]] and [[Úmanyar]], and by four of the seven clans of the [[Dwarves]] who dwelt in the Orocarni.
The first Men also awoke in the far east, where they first met [[Dwarves]]<ref>{{WJ|Dwarves}}</ref> and Avari. The ancestors of the [[Edain]] and [[Drûedain]] traveled west out of Rhûn. At the shores of the Sea of Rhûn, some of the Mannish tribes traveling westward separated and their languages soon diverged.<ref>{{PM|Ros}}</ref> Other men remained in Rhûn, and many of them came under the dominion of [[Morgoth]] and, later, [[Sauron]]. These men were called [[Easterlings]], and they led many attacks against [[Gondor]] and its allies during the [[Third Age]].


[[Sauron]] himself journeyed into the eastward lands, in hiding from the [[White Council]] during the centuries of the [[Watchful Peace]].
The most western parts of Rhûn were conquered by Gondor twice, under the Kings [[Rómendacil I]] and [[Rómendacil II]], but the Númenóreans never had full control over it. Western Rhûn was finally subdued in the [[Fourth Age]] under [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] and his son [[Eldarion]].
 
Rhûn was conquered by Gondor twice: under the Kings [[Rómendacil I]] and [[Rómendacil II]], but the Númenóreans never had full control over it. Western Rhûn was finally subdued in the [[Fourth Age]] under [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] and his son [[Eldarion]].


==Geography==
==Geography==
[[File:Stefano Baldo - Rhûn.jpg|thumb|left|''Rhûn'' by Stefano Baldo]]
[[File:Stefano Baldo - Rhûn.jpg|thumb|left|''Rhûn'' by Stefano Baldo]]
The western part of Rhûn is given in maps of the [[Westlands]] of Middle-earth. It contains the great [[Sea of Rhûn]], connected to a part of the [[River Running]] in the northwest. A forest lies to the northeast of the Sea, and near the southwestern shores there are many hills.
The western part of Rhûn is given in maps of the [[Westlands]] of Middle-earth. It contains the great [[Sea of Rhûn]], connected to a part of the [[River Running]] in the northwest. A forest lies to the northeast of the Sea, and near the southwestern shores there are many hills.
Northwest of the Sea of Rhûn lays also the land of [[Dorwinion]].
Southwest of the Sea of Rhûn lays also the land of [[Dorwinion]].


The inland [[Sea of Rhûn]] was located in western Rhûn on the border between Rhûn and [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]]. There were mountains on the southwest side of the Sea of Rhûn and a forest on the northeast side. Wild white [[Kine of Araw]], or oxen, lived near the shores of the Sea of Rhûn.
The inland [[Sea of Rhûn]] was located in western Rhûn on the border between Rhûn and [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]]. There were mountains on the southwest side of the Sea of Rhûn and a forest on the northeast side. Wild white [[Kine of Araw]], or oxen, lived near the shores of the Sea of Rhûn.


Rhûn's ancient geography can be gleaned a little from [[The Silmarillion]]; throughout most of the [[First Age]] the vast [[Sea of Helcar]] was located there and beyond that the [[Orocarni]] ('red mountains').
Further east in Rhûn were ancient regions where the [[Children of Illuvator]] first awoke: [[Cuiviénen]] for the Elves, which lay on the shores of [[Sea of Helcar]] near the [[Orocarni]] (Red Mountains); and [[Hildórien]] for Men. Four [[Dwarf]] clans were also located in Rhûn; these mansions were located at least as far east from [[Mount Gundabad]] in the [[Misty Mountains]] as Mount Gundabad lay east of the [[Blue Mountains]]. Additionally, Sauron maintained a fortress in Rhûn in the Third Age.


==Etymology==
==Etymology=
The word '''''rhûn''''' means "east" in [[Sindarin]]. Compare [[Quenya]] ''[[rómen]]''.<ref>{{App|E2i}}</ref>
The word '''''rhûn''''' means "east" in [[Sindarin]]. Compare [[Quenya]] ''[[rómen]]''.<ref>{{App|E2i}}</


==Other versions of the Legendarium==
==Other versions of the Legendarium==ref>


In an addition by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] (dating from [[1948]] or later) inscribed on his ''[[General Map of Middle-earth]]'', an arrow is drawn from the [[River Running]] with the direction to the end of the map, and carries the note: "To Sea of Rûnaer". [[Wayne G. Hammond|Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|Scull]] suggest that '''''Rûnaer''''' is likely an alternative name of ''Rhûn''.<ref>{{HM|AoL}}, p. 199</ref>
In an addition by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] (dating from [[1948]] or later) inscribed on his ''[[General Map of Middle-earth]]'', an arrow is drawn from the [[River Running]] with the direction to the end of the map, and carries the note: "To Sea of Rûnaer". [[Wayne G. Hammond|Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|Scull]] suggest that '''''Rûnaer''''' is likely an alternative name of ''Rhûn''.<ref>{{HM|AoL}}, p. 199</ref>=


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration=
Rhûn and the easternmost lands of Middle-earth seem to be based primarily on the lands of [[Wikipedia:South Asia|southern]], [[Wikipedia:Central Asia|central]], and [[Wikipedia:East Asia|eastern Asia]] in our world.
Rhûn and the easternmost lands of Middle-earth seem to be based primarily on the lands of [[Wikipedia:South Asia|southern]], [[Wikipedia:Central Asia|central]], and [[Wikipedia:East Asia|eastern Asia]].


In the earliest drafts of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Bilbo offered to walk from the [[The Shire|Shire]] "to ''[cancelled: [[Wikipedia:Hindu Kush|Hindu Kush]]]'' the [[Wikipedia:Gobi Desert|Great Desert of Gobi]] and fight the Wild Wire worm(s) of the [[Wikipedia:China|Chinese]]."<ref>{{HH|Pryftan}}, p. 9</ref> In a slightly later version [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] altered this to say "to the last desert in the East and fight the Wild Wireworms of the Chinese",<ref>{{HH|Bladorthin}}, p. 40</ref> and in the final version it was altered once more to say "to the East of East and fight the wild [[Were-worms]] in the [[Last Desert]]."<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref>
In the earliest drafts of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Bilbo offered to walk from the [[The Shire|Shire]] "to ''[cancelled: [[Wikipedia:Hindu Kush|Hindu Kush]]]'' the [[Wikipedia:Gobi Desert|Great Desert of Gobi]] and fight the Wild Wire worm(s) of the [[Wikipedia:China|Chinese]]."<ref>{{HH|Pryftan}}, p. 9</ref> In a slightly later version [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] altered this to say "to the last desert in the East and fight the Wild Wireworms of the Chinese",<ref>{{HH|Bladorthin}}, p. 40</ref> and in the final version it was altered once more to say "to the East of East and fight the wild [[Were-worms]] in the [[Last Desert]]."<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref>

Revision as of 07:40, 4 April 2017

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Rhûn
Realm
The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Rhun map.jpg
General Information
Other namesThe East
LocationEastern Lands of Middle-earth, east of Mordor and Rhovanion
TypeRealm
DescriptionEast of Mordor and the Sea of Rhûn
RegionsRhûn
InhabitantsEasterlings
GalleryImages of Rhûn

Rhûn refers to the little-known lands in eastern Middle-earth. Almost nothing of the lands beyond the great Sea of Rhûn is known (see Uttermost East).

History

The first Elves awoke far east of the Sea of Rhûn, and many of them were led to the Westlands by Oromë. Some Elves foresook this Great Journey and chose to remain in the east; they were called the Avari.


The first Men also awoke in the far east, where they first met Dwarves[1] and Avari. The ancestors of the Edain and Drûedain traveled west out of Rhûn. At the shores of the Sea of Rhûn, some of the Mannish tribes traveling westward separated and their languages soon diverged.[2] Other men remained in Rhûn, and many of them came under the dominion of Morgoth and, later, Sauron. These men were called Easterlings, and they led many attacks against Gondor and its allies during the Third Age.

The most western parts of Rhûn were conquered by Gondor twice, under the Kings Rómendacil I and Rómendacil II, but the Númenóreans never had full control over it. Western Rhûn was finally subdued in the Fourth Age under King Elessar and his son Eldarion.

Geography

Rhûn by Stefano Baldo

The western part of Rhûn is given in maps of the Westlands of Middle-earth. It contains the great Sea of Rhûn, connected to a part of the River Running in the northwest. A forest lies to the northeast of the Sea, and near the southwestern shores there are many hills. Southwest of the Sea of Rhûn lays also the land of Dorwinion.

The inland Sea of Rhûn was located in western Rhûn on the border between Rhûn and Wilderland. There were mountains on the southwest side of the Sea of Rhûn and a forest on the northeast side. Wild white Kine of Araw, or oxen, lived near the shores of the Sea of Rhûn.

Further east in Rhûn were ancient regions where the Children of Illuvator first awoke: Cuiviénen for the Elves, which lay on the shores of Sea of Helcar near the Orocarni (Red Mountains); and Hildórien for Men. Four Dwarf clans were also located in Rhûn; these mansions were located at least as far east from Mount Gundabad in the Misty Mountains as Mount Gundabad lay east of the Blue Mountains. Additionally, Sauron maintained a fortress in Rhûn in the Third Age.

=Etymology

The word rhûn means "east" in Sindarin. Compare Quenya rómen.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag=

=Inspiration

Rhûn and the easternmost lands of Middle-earth seem to be based primarily on the lands of southern, central, and eastern Asia.

In the earliest drafts of The Hobbit, Bilbo offered to walk from the Shire "to [cancelled: Hindu Kush] the Great Desert of Gobi and fight the Wild Wire worm(s) of the Chinese."[3] In a slightly later version J.R.R. Tolkien altered this to say "to the last desert in the East and fight the Wild Wireworms of the Chinese",[4] and in the final version it was altered once more to say "to the East of East and fight the wild Were-worms in the Last Desert."[5]

The Wainriders as well as the Balchoth were known for traveling in great camps of wagons which they fortified.[6] Given the eastern origins of the group, this bears much similarity to the orda military structure employed by the Turkic and Mongol peoples.[source?]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Concerning the Dwarves (Chapter 13)"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XII. The Problem of Ros"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Pryftan Fragment", p. 9
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Bladorthin Typescript", p. 40
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
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