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[[File:Peter Xavier Price - Ingwe, Finwe and Elwe.jpg|250px|thumb|right|''Ingwe, Finwe and Elwe'' by [[Peter Xavier Price]]]]
'''Calaquendi''' (the "'''Elves of the Light'''" or "'''Light-elves'''"), referred to those [[Elves]] who had seen the light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]] in [[Valinor]]. This group was also often called the '''High Elves'''.
'''Calaquendi''' (the "'''Elves of the Light'''" or "'''Light-elves'''"), referred to those [[Elves]] who had seen the light of the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]] in [[Valinor]]. This group was also often called the '''High Elves'''.
==History==
==History==
The Calaquendi included the [[Vanyar]], [[Noldor]], and those [[Teleri]] (the [[Falmari]]) who passed over [[Belegaer]], as well as the [[Sindar]]in King [[Thingol]] (alone of all his people). Another name for them was the [[Amanyar]] (with the exception of Thingol, who was not counted among them), "Those of Aman". Those kindreds who settled in [[Aman]] or descended from them were also referred to as '''High Elves''', or '''Tareldar'''<ref>{{HM|PM}}, pp. 349, 360</ref> in the lore of the [[Dúnedain]].<ref>{{PM|Atani}}</ref>
Those of the Elves who refused the summons of the [[Valar]] or did not complete the [[Great Journey]] to [[Valinor]] were called the ''Úmanyar'', meaning "Not of Aman" and "[[Moriquendi]]", or Dark Elves (those who had not seen the light). King [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]] of [[Doriath]] held the unique status of being both among the Calaquendi and the Úmanyar, since he originally saw the Light, being one of the three ambassadors brought to Aman by [[Oromë]], but did not return to Aman during the [[Great Journey]].


The Calaquendi included the [[Vanyar]], [[Noldor]], and those [[Teleri]] who passed over [[Belegaer]], as well as the [[Sindar]]in King [[Thingol]] (alone of all his people). Another name for them was the [[Amanyar]] (with the exception of Thingol, who was not counted among them), "Those of Aman". Those kindreds who settled in [[Aman]] or descended from them were also referred to as '''High Elves''', or '''Tareldar'''.<ref>{{HM|PM}}, pp. 349, 360</ref>
The High Elves returned to [[Middle-earth]] because of the [[Exile of the Noldor]], participated in the [[Wars of Beleriand]] and other events of the [[Second Age|Second]] and [[Third Age]].  


Those of the Elves who refused the summons of the [[Valar]] or did not complete the [[Great Journey]] to [[Valinor]] were called the ''Úmanyar'', meaning "Not of Aman" and "[[Moriquendi]]", or Dark Elves (those who had not seen the light). King [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]] of [[Doriath]] held the unique status of being both among the Calaquendi and the Úmanyar, since he originally saw the Light, being one of the three ambassadors brought to Aman by [[Oromë]], but did not return to Aman during the [[Great Journey]].
By the later Third Age, most of the High Elves resided in or had returned to Aman; only a few remained in [[Middle-earth]], some in [[Rivendell]]. [[Wandering Companies]] of High Elves would traverse [[Eriador]] and [[the Shire]] from time to time; [[Frodo Baggins]] recognised one of those bands as being High Elves, because of chanting the name of [[Elbereth]].<Ref>{{FR|Three}}</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The name ''Calaquendi'' consists of [[Quenya]] ''[[cala]]'' ("light"), and ''[[quendi]]'' ("elves"); thus: "Elves of Light".
The name ''Calaquendi'' consists of [[Quenya]] ''[[cala]]'' ("light"), and ''[[quendi]]'' ("elves"); thus: "Elves of Light".
The singular form of the Quenya noun is ''Calaquendë''.


Cognates of the name ''Calaquendi'' in other languages are [[Telerin]] ''[[Calapendi]]'' and [[Sindarin]] ''[[Calben|Calbin]]''.
Cognates of the name ''Calaquendi'' in other languages are [[Telerin]] ''[[Calapendi]]'' and [[Sindarin]] ''[[Calben|Calbin]]''.{{fact}}


==Other versions of the Legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
 
In ''[[The Hobbit]]'', '''Light-elves''' was a name given to the [[Vanyar]].<ref name=H8>{{H|8}}</ref> This term was used just once in this application, and never again in any [[Canon|canonical]] source.<ref group=note>The other two groups of Elves mentioned in this part of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' were the "[[Noldor|Deep-elves]]" (referring to the [[Noldor]]) and the "[[Falmari|Sea-elves]]" (referring to the [[Falmari]]).</ref>
In ''[[The Hobbit]]'', '''Light-elves''' was a name given to the [[Vanyar]].<ref name=H8>{{H|8}}</ref> This term was used just once in this application, and never again in any [[Canon|canonical]] source.<ref group=note>The other two groups of Elves mentioned in this part of ''[[The Hobbit]]'' were the "[[Noldor|Deep-elves]]" (referring to the [[Noldor]]) and the "[[Falmari|Sea-elves]]" (referring to the the [[Falmari]]).</ref>


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
 
In [[Norse mythology]], there are the Light Elves (''[[Wikipedia:Light elves|Ljósálfar]]'') and the [[Moriquendi|Dark Elves]] (''Dökkálfar'' or ''[[Wikipedia:Svartálfar|Svartálfar]]''), a tradition which was well known to [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].<ref>{{HM|SG}}, "Appendix A: Origins of the Legend", p. 359</ref>
In Norse mythology, there are the Light Elves (''[[Wikipedia:Light elves|Ljósálfar]]'') and the [[Moriquendi|Dark Elves]] (''Dökkálfar'' or ''[[Wikipedia:Svartálfar|Svartálfar]]''), a tradition which was well known to [[J.R.R. Tolkien]].<ref>{{HM|SG}}, "Appendix A: Origins of the Legend", p. 359</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Amanyar]]
*[[Amanyar]]
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{{elves}}
[[Category:Elven peoples]]
[[Category:Elven peoples]]
[[Category:Quenya names]]
[[Category:Quenya demonyms]]
[[de:Calaquendi]]
[[de:Calaquendi]]
[[fr:encyclo:peuples:elfes:calaquendi]]
[[fr:encyclo:peuples:elfes:calaquendi]]
[[fi:Calaquendi]]
[[fi:Calaquendi]]

Revision as of 00:55, 12 November 2021

Ingwe, Finwe and Elwe by Peter Xavier Price

Calaquendi (the "Elves of the Light" or "Light-elves"), referred to those Elves who had seen the light of the Two Trees in Valinor. This group was also often called the High Elves.

History

The Calaquendi included the Vanyar, Noldor, and those Teleri (the Falmari) who passed over Belegaer, as well as the Sindarin King Thingol (alone of all his people). Another name for them was the Amanyar (with the exception of Thingol, who was not counted among them), "Those of Aman". Those kindreds who settled in Aman or descended from them were also referred to as High Elves, or Tareldar[1] in the lore of the Dúnedain.[2]

Those of the Elves who refused the summons of the Valar or did not complete the Great Journey to Valinor were called the Úmanyar, meaning "Not of Aman" and "Moriquendi", or Dark Elves (those who had not seen the light). King Elu Thingol of Doriath held the unique status of being both among the Calaquendi and the Úmanyar, since he originally saw the Light, being one of the three ambassadors brought to Aman by Oromë, but did not return to Aman during the Great Journey.

The High Elves returned to Middle-earth because of the Exile of the Noldor, participated in the Wars of Beleriand and other events of the Second and Third Age.

By the later Third Age, most of the High Elves resided in or had returned to Aman; only a few remained in Middle-earth, some in Rivendell. Wandering Companies of High Elves would traverse Eriador and the Shire from time to time; Frodo Baggins recognised one of those bands as being High Elves, because of chanting the name of Elbereth.[3]

Etymology

The name Calaquendi consists of Quenya cala ("light"), and quendi ("elves"); thus: "Elves of Light". The singular form of the Quenya noun is Calaquendë.

Cognates of the name Calaquendi in other languages are Telerin Calapendi and Sindarin Calbin.[source?]

Other versions of the legendarium

In The Hobbit, Light-elves was a name given to the Vanyar.[4] This term was used just once in this application, and never again in any canonical source.[note 1]

Inspiration

In Norse mythology, there are the Light Elves (Ljósálfar) and the Dark Elves (Dökkálfar or Svartálfar), a tradition which was well known to J.R.R. Tolkien.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. The other two groups of Elves mentioned in this part of The Hobbit were the "Deep-elves" (referring to the Noldor) and the "Sea-elves" (referring to the Falmari).

References

Elves
(Quendi · People of the Stars · Firstborn · Elder Kindred)
Three Kindreds:
(Eldar · Eldalië · Edhil)
 Vanyar (Fair-elves · Minyar) · Noldor (Deep-elves · Tatyar) · Teleri (Lindar · Nelyar)
Calaquendi:
(High-elves · Amanyar)
 Vanyar · Noldor · Falmari
Úmanyar:  Sindar (Grey-elves · Eglath · Falathrim) · Nandor (Green-elves · Silvan Elves)
 Moriquendi:  Úmanyar · Avari (Cuind · Hwenti · Kindi · Kinn-lai · Penni · Windan)
See also:  Awakening of the Elves · Sundering of the Elves · Great Journey