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[[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]] or under the influence of [[Mordor]] and supplied it with horses, and twice came into the history of Gondor: first in {{TA|1944}} when the Variags together with the [[Wainriders]] attacked Gondor,<ref>{{App|Gondor}}</ref> and later during the [[War of the Ring]] when they fought at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]]. They were held in reserve in [[Osgiliath]] and were sent onto the battlefield by [[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]] after the death of the [[Witch-king]]. They were described as tall and ferocious warriors, wielding large battle-axes in combat and descending on their foes with great wrath.<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.
 
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==
[[File:Angus McBride - Variags.jpg|thumb|''Variags of Khand'' in [[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|MECCG]]]]
'''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>


'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:Variags of Khand is a Man Faction.
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Variags|Images of Variags]]
{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Easterlings]]
[[Category:Easterlings]]
[[category:Mannish words]]
[[Category:Mannish words]]
[[de:Variags]]
[[de:Variags]]
[[fr:encyclo/peuples/hommes/variags]]
[[fr:encyclo/peuples/hommes/variags]]
[[fi:Varjaagit]]
[[fi:Varjaagit]]

Revision as of 23:37, 8 March 2015

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 or under the influence of Mordor and supplied it with horses, and twice came into the history of Gondor: first in T.A. 1944 when the Variags together with the Wainriders attacked Gondor,[2] and later during the War of the Ring when they fought at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. They were held in reserve in Osgiliath and were sent onto the battlefield by Gothmog after the death of the Witch-king. They were described as tall and ferocious warriors, wielding large battle-axes in combat and descending on their foes with great wrath.[3]

Etymology

Variag is a word of a Harad language[4], 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.

It has been suggested that Tolkien adopted the Slavic term to indicate that the Variags were possibly mercenaries serving a possible Lord of Khand.[5]

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.[6][7]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

Variags of Khand is a Man Faction.

See also

References