Variags: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
m (Bot: CATEGORY and category to Category)
No edit summary
(6 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:John Howe - Variag.jpg|thumb|''Variag'' by [[John Howe]].]]
[[File:John Howe - Variag.jpg|thumb|[[John Howe]] - ''Variag'']]
The '''Variags''' were a little-known people who dwelt in the land of [[Khand]].
The '''Variags''' were a little-known people who dwelt in the land of [[Khand]].
==History==
==History==
They were allies of both [[Rhûn]] or [[Harad]], to neither of which they belonged.
They were allies of both [[Rhûn]] and [[Harad]], to neither of which they belonged.


Khand was east of [[Mordor]], at the time of the [[War of the Ring]]. They were allied to [[Sauron]], and their warriors were seen at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].
Khand was southeast of [[Mordor]] at the time of the [[War of the Ring]].<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref> The Variags were allied to [[Sauron]] and their warriors were seen at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].<ref>{{RK|V6}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
''Variag'' is a word of a [[Harad]] language<ref>{{HM|PM}}, [[The Appendix on Languages]]</ref>, but its meaning is unknown.
''Variag'' is a word of a [[Harad]] language<ref>{{HM|PM}}, [[The Appendix on Languages]]</ref>, but its meaning is unknown.
==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
[[Wikipedia:Variag|Variag]] is a Slavic word derived from [[Norse]] ''Varingar'' "mercenary people" (''vár'' "contract"). The Norse root indicates that perhaps Tolkien intended ''Variag'' to be a "translated" [[Northern Mannish]] word.
[[Wikipedia:Variag|Variag]] is a Slavic word derived from [[Norse]] ''Varingar'' "mercenary people" (''vár'' "contract"). The Varamgoa Guard were Norse body-guards of the Byzantine Emperor and founded [[Wikipedia:Kiev|Kiev]]. In modern Russian it means "travelling pedlar".
 
It has been suggested that Tolkien adopted the Slavic term to indicate that the Variags were possibly mercenaries serving a possible Lord of Khand.<ref>{{HM|IE}}, Obscure Languages</ref>


Also, the meaning suggests that the Variags of Khand were not an ethnic group but a kind of elite mercenaries or corps in service of Mordor.
==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[Image:Variags (Angus McBride).jpg|thumb|''Variags of Khand'' in [[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|MECCG]]]]
[[File:Angus McBride - Variags.jpg|thumb|''Variags of Khand'' in [[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|MECCG]]]]
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Variags, who speak the tongue Varadja, share ties with both Easterlings and Haradrim.<ref>{{ICE|2000}}</ref><ref>{{ICE|8003}}</ref>
:Variags, who speak the tongue Varadja, share ties with both Easterlings and Haradrim.<ref>{{ICE|2000}}</ref><ref>{{ICE|8003}}</ref>

Revision as of 00:44, 26 April 2014

John Howe - Variag

The Variags were a little-known people who dwelt in the land of Khand.

History

They were allies of both Rhûn and Harad, to neither of which they belonged.

Khand was southeast of Mordor at the time of the War of the Ring.[1] The Variags were allied to Sauron and their warriors were seen at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.[2]

Etymology

Variag is a word of a Harad language[3], but its meaning is unknown.

Inspiration

Variag is a Slavic word derived from Norse Varingar "mercenary people" (vár "contract"). The Varamgoa Guard were Norse body-guards of the Byzantine Emperor and founded Kiev. In modern Russian it means "travelling pedlar".

It has been suggested that Tolkien adopted the Slavic term to indicate that the Variags were possibly mercenaries serving a possible Lord of Khand.[4]

Portrayal in adaptations

Variags of Khand in MECCG

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Variags, who speak the tongue Varadja, share ties with both Easterlings and Haradrim.[5][6]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

Variags of Khand is a Man Faction.

See also

References