Elves of Beleriand

From Tolkien Gateway
The Realms of the Noldor and the Sindar by Christopher Tolkien

The Elves of Beleriand were those Elves, predominantly Eldar, who inhabited the subcontinent of Beleriand of Middle-earth and established their realms during the First Age. The Elves of Beleriand were protagonists in the War of the Jewels against Morgoth.

History[edit | edit source]

Steamey - Ossë and the Teleri

The Elves first entered Beleriand in Y.T. 1125 when the Minyar and Tatyar crossed the Ered Luin, while the remaining Nelyar still lagged behind in Eriador[1] But they were only passing as their final destination was the Bay of Balar and finally were ferried to Aman by Ulmo. The Nelyar finally entered Beleriand in Y.T. 1128 on their way to Balar, but part of them didn't wish to complete the journey: some of them, the Eglath, were looking for their leader Elwë who was lost in the forests, being enchanted by the Maia Melian; and others were persuaded by the Maia Osse to remain with him at the shores of Beleriand. Those became the Falathrim and built themselves the Havens of the Falas and became the first builders and sailors of ships.[2]

The entrance to Menegroth by Luis F. Bejarano

At long last Elwë awoke from the spell and returned to his people, founding a kingdom in the midst of Beleriand: Eglador, later Doriath, claiming overlordship of all Beleriand as King Elu Thingol. The Falathrim, along with the Eglath, were considered Sindar.[3]

Green Elves by Turner Mohan

Some of the Nelyar who had remained behind far in the East, resumed their westward journey and after many years entered Beleriand settling at last in the Land of Ossiriand. But after the First Battle of Beleriand those became reclusive, camouflaging in green, pulling away from the many troubles of Beleriand, and became the Laegrim, the Green-elves[3] although some joined their kin in Doriath.[4][5]

Although Moriquendi, never having actually set foot in Valinor, with the Calaquendi, the Sindar became the fairest and most wise and skillful of the elves of Middle-earth under the rule of Thingol and Melian, and considered themselves celbin persons of the Light.[6][7]

Some Avari, those of the original Elves who never took the Great Journey and stayed in the far East, eventually wandered west; sneaking from the South of the Blue Mountains, they settled caves and deep forests of Beleriand (such as Taur-im-Duinath[8][9]) remaining secretive and isolated from the Eldar; rarely they would be accepted into Sindarin society.[10]

Arrival of the Noldor[edit | edit source]

Turin's first sight of Eldar by Peter Xavier Price

At the rising of the Moon towards the end of the First Age, many of the Noldor returned to Beleriand from Aman to make war on Morgoth.[11]

Twenty years after their arrival, High King of the Noldor Fingolfin held a great celebratory feast to unite all Elves of Beleriand in one cause; ambassadors came from all realms of Beleriand, separate branches of the Noldor (Maedhros and Maglor alone from the Sons of Feanor), Sindar, Falathrim, the Green-elves, and two ambassadors from Doriath. The Mereth Aderthad was a great success, and the Elves made common cause there against their common enemy, despite some enmity between the Sindar and the Noldor (especially the Sons of Fëanor). Soon after Beleriand plunged into the Wars that would eventually destroy it.[12]

End of the First Age[edit | edit source]

See also: Elves of Sirion

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)", "Túrin in Doriath"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part One. The Grey Annals", pp. 112-3
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: A. The principal linguistic elements concerned", p. 362
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: B. Meanings and use of the various terms applied to the Elves and their varieties in Quenya, Telerin, and Sindarin", p. 376-377; 380; 408-409.
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beleriand and its Realms"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: B. Meanings and use of the various terms applied to the Elves and their varieties in Quenya, Telerin, and Sindarin", p. 377
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F, "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age", "Of the Elves", p. 1128
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor"