Rhudaur

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Rhudaur
Ted Nasmith - View of Rhudaur.jpg
General information
LocationBetween the Weather Hills and the Misty Mountains
People
PopulationPrimarily Men
LanguageWestron, Sindarin
History
Preceded byArnor
FoundationT.A. 861
Allied with AngmarBy T.A. 1349
GalleryImages of Rhudaur

Rhudaur was the hilly kingdom that originated from the break-up of Arnor in T.A. 861.

Geography

Rhudaur was a region in the North-east of Eriador, laying between the Ettenmoors, the Weather Hills, and the Misty Mountains. The land between the rivers Mitheithel and Bruinen, forming the the Angle, was also considered part of Rhudaur[1] as were the Trollshaws.[2]

Characterized by dreary and rising hills, dark trees with twisted roots hanging off of cliffs, and gloomy weather, Rhudaur was a sombre, threatening, and unfriendly country.[2]

Upon many heights and ridges were ancient stone walls, ruined towers, and ominous, evil-looking castles.[2]

History

When the Exiles of Númenor established Arnor in the Second Age, they spread out throughout Eriador and many Númenóreans settled the hills of Rhudaur.[3]

From the start of its existence as an independent kingdom, Rhudaur was unfriendly towards the two other successor states; the kingdom came into strife with Cardolan over the Tower of Amon Sûl and the Palantír associated with the tower.[1]

The first Stoor Hobbits entered Rhudaur, specifically the Angle around T.A. 1150.

By T.A. 1349, a lord of the Hill-men had seized power and had secretly allied with Angmar; few Dúnedain remained in Rhudaur and the only remaining descendant of the House of Isildur was Argeleb I, the King of Arthedain. As the Heir of Isildur, Argeleb claimed the lordship of all former Arnor which Rhudaur resisted. In 1356, Rhudaur and Angmar attacked the Weather Hills, and Argeleb was killed.[1]

By T.A. 1409, Rhudaur was occupied by evil Men subject to Angmar and the Dúnedain that remained there were slain or fled west. These peoples also worked with sorcery and built dark castles in the hills.[4] It was because of this hostile nature and climate of Rhudaur that the Stoors fled the Angle, with some of them moving west to Arthedain, and others moving back to Rhovanion.[1][5]

In the days of Argeleb II, the Witch-king sent many wights from Angmar and Rhudaur to inhabit the deserted mounds of the Barrow-downs.[1]

When war brought the North-kingdom to an end, all the evil Men who inhabited Rhudaur were killed but a shadow remained in the land. During the War of the Ring, Rhudaur was completely uninhabited.[2]

Etymology

The name Rhudaur is translated by Tolkien as "Troll shaw" (rhû "evil, wicked" and taur, "forest").[6] It is unknown whether it is intended to be the same as Trollshaws.

Portrayal in adaptations

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

Galadriel mentions the High Fells of Rhudaur as the place where the Witch-king was buried following the fall of Angmar.

2013: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

Gandalf and Radagast travel to the High Fells to examine the whereabouts of Nazgûl, only to discover that they have all escaped.

References