Rhûn: Difference between revisions

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{{location
{{footnotes}}{{location
| image=[[Image:Rhunmap.jpg|300px]]
| image=[[File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Rhun map.jpg|250px]]
| name=Rhûn
| name=Rhûn
| othernames=The East
| othernames=The East
| etymology=[[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[rhûn]]'' "east"
| etymology=[[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[rhûn]]'' "east"
| type=Realm
| type=Realm
| location=Eastern Lands of [[Middle-earth]], north of [[Mordor]]
| location=Eastern Lands of [[Middle-earth]], east of [[Mordor]] and [[Rhovanion]]
| inhabitants=[[Easterlings]]
| inhabitants=[[Easterlings]]
| realms=Rhûn
| realms=Rhûn
| description=Centered by [[Sea of Rhûn]]
| description=East of [[Mordor]]  and the [[Sea of Rhûn]]
| events=
| events=
| references=
| references=
|}}
}}
'''Rhûn''' refers to the little-known lands in the far 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]]).  


==History==
==History==
Almost nothing of the lands beyond the great [[Sea of Rhûn]] is known.  
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]].


Far beyond the Sea of Rhûn was another inland sea, the [[Sea of Helcar]], and beyond that 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.  We know also that it was a wide and vast land with many kingdoms, and strange and unexplored places.
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 [[Drúedain]] traveled west out of Rhûn. At the shores of the Sea of Rhûn, some of the Mannish tribes traveling west 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]].


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 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]].


During the [[Third Age]], Rhûn was visited by three [[Wizards]]; [[Saruman]], [[Rómestámo]] and [[Morinehtar]], and though Saruman returned into the west, the two [[Blue Wizards]] remained. Even [[Gandalf]] had never explored there, and though [[Aragorn]] had travelled there, but never reported of his doings.
==Geography==
[[File:Stefano Baldo - Rhûn.jpg|thumb|left|''Rhûn'' by Stefano Baldo]]
The western part of Rhûn was given in maps of the [[Westlands]] of Middle-earth. It contained the great [[Sea of Rhûn]], connected the [[River Running]] in the northwest. A forest lay to the northeast of the Sea, and near the southwestern shores there were many hills. Southwest of the Sea of Rhûn lay 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.
 
Further east in Rhûn were ancient regions where the [[Children of Ilúvatar]] 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 [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] clans were also located in Rhûn; their mansions were 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.


[[Sauron]] himself journeyed into the eastward lands, in hiding from the [[White Council]] during the centuries of the [[Watchful Peace]].
==Etymology==
The word '''''rhûn''''' means "east" in [[Sindarin]]. Compare [[Quenya]] ''[[rómen]]''.<ref>{{App|E2i}}</ref>


Rhûn was conquered by Gondor twice: under the Kings [[Rómendacil I]] and [[Rómendacil II]], but the Númenóreans never had full control over it. Rhûn was finally subdued in the [[Fourth Age]] under King Elessar and his son [[Eldarion]].
==Other versions of the Legendarium==


==Geography==
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>
The wstern part of Rhun is shown on the Lord of the Rings map. It contains the great [[Sea of Rhun]], connected with three rivers, one northeast, a part of [[River Running]], one northwest and one running south to [[Mordor]]. It also shows a small mountain range southeast of the sea and a forest northwest of it.
 
Northwest of the Sea of Rhun lays also the land of [[Dorwinion]].
==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]].


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


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').
The Wainriders as well as the Balchoth were known for traveling in great camps of wagons which they fortified.<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref> Given the eastern origins of the group, this bears much similarity to the [[Wikipedia:Orda (organization)|orda]] military structure employed by the [[Wikipedia:Turkic peoples|Turkic]] and [[Wikipedia:Mongols|Mongol]] peoples.{{fact}}


==Etymology==
{{references}}
*'''Rhûn''' means "east" in [[Sindarin]].
* {{FR|Council}}
* {{FR|Breaking}}
* {{TT|Gate}}
* {{TT|Herbs}}
* {{TT|Window}}
* {{RK|Maps}}
* {{App|Gondor}}
* {{App|Eorl}}
* {{PM|Elendil}}
* {{PM|Third}}
* {{PM|A}}
* {{PM|Dwarves}}


==Referecnces==
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rhun}}
*[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]: "[[The Council of Elrond]]", "[[The Breaking of the Fellowship]]"
[[Category:Sindarin nouns]]
*[[The Two Towers]]: "[[The Black Gate is Closed]],"; "[[Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit]],"; "[[The Window on the West]]"
[[Category:Eastern lands]]
*Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion", "The House of Eorl"
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
*[[The History of Middle-earth]], vol. XII, [[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]: "The Heirs of Elendil,"; "The Tale of Years of the Third Age,"; "The Making of Appendix A,"; "Of Dwarves and Men,".


[[Category:Realms]]
[[de:Rhûn]]
[[Category:Eastern Lands]]
[[fi:Rhûn]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/regions/rhun]]

Revision as of 17:20, 21 April 2017

'"How came you by it?" — Thorin
This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks page numbers and/or inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate.
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 Drúedain traveled west out of Rhûn. At the shores of the Sea of Rhûn, some of the Mannish tribes traveling west 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 was given in maps of the Westlands of Middle-earth. It contained the great Sea of Rhûn, connected the River Running in the northwest. A forest lay to the northeast of the Sea, and near the southwestern shores there were many hills. Southwest of the Sea of Rhûn lay 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 Ilúvatar 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 Dwarven clans were also located in Rhûn; their mansions were 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.[3]

Other versions of the Legendarium

In an addition by 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". Hammond and Scull suggest that Rûnaer is likely an alternative name of Rhûn.[4]

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."[5] 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",[6] 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."[7]

The Wainriders as well as the Balchoth were known for traveling in great camps of wagons which they fortified.[8] 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, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters"
  4. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, The Art of The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, p. 199
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Pryftan Fragment", p. 9
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Bladorthin Typescript", p. 40
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"