Edain: Difference between revisions

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The tribes of Men became [[Elf-friends]], they entered the service of the [[Eldar]] and were ennobled and consisted of the Three Mannish noble Houses:
The tribes of Men became [[Elf-friends]], they entered the service of the [[Eldar]] and were ennobled and consisted of the Three Mannish noble Houses:


# The '''[[House of Bëor]]''': these descended from the Lesser Folk, they were dark-haired and stoutly built, and most resembled the [[Noldor|Ñoldor]] of all Elves. They were first discovered by [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], Lord of [[Nargothrond]], and under his guidance later made their way to the lands of the Ñoldorin lord [[Amrod]], in a place later known as [[Estolad]], the Encampment. They remained loyal to the House of [[Finarfin]], and later settled in the lands of [[Dorthonion]].
# The '''[[House of Bëor]]''': these descended from the Lesser Folk, they were dark-haired and stoutly built, and most resembled the [[Noldor|Ñoldor]] of all Elves. They were first discovered by [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]], King of [[Nargothrond]], and under his guidance later made their way to the lands of the Ñoldorin lord [[Amrod]], in a place later known as [[Estolad]], the Encampment. They remained loyal to the House of [[Finarfin]], and later settled in the lands of [[Dorthonion]].
# The Second House, later known as the '''[[Haladin]]''' or the '''House of [[Haleth]]'''. They were a reclusive folk, dark-haired but smaller in stature than the Bëorians. They were unrelated to the other two Houses and kept separate from the other Men, and later received permission to settle in the [[Forest of Brethil]], part of [[Doriath]]. They mostly kept out of the wars.
# The Second House, later known as the '''[[Haladin]]''' or the '''House of [[Haleth]]'''. They were a reclusive folk, dark-haired but smaller in stature than the Bëorians. They were unrelated to the other two Houses and kept separate from the other Men. They settled in [[Thargelion]] before later receiving permission to settle in the [[Forest of Brethil]], part of [[Doriath]]. They mostly kept out of the wars.
# The '''House of Marach''', later best known as the '''[[House of Hador]]'''. They descended from the Greater Folk and thus were related to the First House. They were tall and golden-haired, and most resembled the [[Vanyar]] of all Elves. They were a very numerous and war-like tribe, and the [[Green-elves]] of [[Ossiriand]] feared them. They later settled in [[Hithlum]] by way of [[Estolad]]. They were loyal to [[Fingolfin]] and to his son [[Fingon]].
# The '''House of Marach''', later best known as the '''[[House of Hador]]'''. They descended from the Greater Folk and thus were related to the First House. They were tall and golden-haired, and most resembled the [[Vanyar]] of all Elves. They were a very numerous and war-like tribe, and the [[Green-elves]] of [[Ossiriand]] feared them. They later settled in [[Hithlum]] by way of [[Estolad]]. They were loyal to [[Fingolfin]] and to his son [[Fingon]].


A fourth kind of Men came with the Second House, and called themselves ''[[Drúedain|Drûg]]''. They were a strange people, living with the Haladin in the forest of [[Brethil]], some even apparently made it to [[Númenor]], but they died out or had left before the [[Downfall of Númenor|Fall]]. In the [[Third Age]], their far kin were known as the ''Woses'' of [[Drúadan Forest]].
The Drûg that accompanied the Haladin to Beleriand lived with the them in the forest of [[Brethil]], the Eldar named them [[Drúedain]] and admitted them into the rank of [[Atani]].<ref name=UTTD/>


During and after the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], the Edain suffered heavy losses.  
Some Edain grew suspicious of the Elves, believing that their journey to Beleriand was for nought and some returned to Eriador.<ref name=S17/>
The House of Bëor was nearly wiped out by [[Morgoth]], and the remainder of its people merged with the remaining Hadorians to become the [[Númenóreans]]. It would seem that the Haladin of Beleriand were completely wiped out, or at least disappeared as a separate people. [[Earendil]], of the House of Hador, who had blood from all three Houses, sailed to [[Valinor]] prior to the [[War of Wrath]].
 
===Wars of Beleriand===
The Edain were allies of the Elves and took part in the [[Wars of Beleriand]] and suffered heavy losses throughout the course of the war against Morgoth. In the [[Dagor Bragollach]] the House of Bëor was nearly wiped out and their folk massacred, the few remaining fled to [[Hithlum]] and [[Himring]].<ref>{{S|18}}</ref>
 
After Morgoth's victory in the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] the lands of the Hadorians were invaded by [[Easterlings (First Age)|Easterlings]] and they were subjugated by them.<ref>{{S|20}}</ref>


===Later history===
===Later history===
After the [[War of Wrath]], the Edain were honoured and blessed by [[Eönwë]] in body and mind. They were granted the island of [[Númenor]] by the [[Valar]] as a gift for their fight during the [[Wars of Beleriand]], their loyalty to the Elves and their suffering.<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref> Those of the Folk of Hador settled most of the island, while those of Bëor settled mostly to the western part, maintaining their Sindarin tongue.<ref name=atani>{{PM|Atani}}</ref>{{rp|329}}<ref>{{UT|Numenor}}</ref> Few (if any) of the dwindling Folk of Haleth had survived the ruin of Beleriand.<ref>{{PM|Ros}}, n.2 and n.17</ref> Thus the Edain's descendants became a race far greater than all other men in Middle-earth, living within sight of the blessed realm.
[[Eärendil]], a descendant of all Three Houses of the Edain, sailed to [[Valinor]] and begged the [[Valar]] for aid against the power of Morgoth in Middle-earth which they accepted. The Edain fought with the [[Host of Valinor]] against the forces of Morgoth in the conflict known as the [[War of Wrath]]. Morgoth was ultimately defeated at the end.<ref>{{S|24}}</ref>
 
After the [[War of Wrath]], the Edain were honoured and blessed by [[Eönwë]] in body and mind. They were granted the island of [[Númenor]] by the [[Valar]] as a gift for their fight during the [[Wars of Beleriand]], their loyalty to the Elves and their suffering.<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref>  


Some of the Edain could have fled the disaster of the War to [[Eriador]] in the east, and their descendants remembered rumours of the deluge of the land beyond the [[Blue Mountains]] and feared to look upon the [[Sea]].<ref name=atani>{{PM|Atani}}</ref>
Those of the Folk of Hador settled most of the island, while those of Bëor settled mostly in the north-west, where they continued to maintain using the Sindarin language.<ref name=atani>{{PM|Atani}}</ref>{{rp|329}}<ref>{{UT|4}}, Note 19</ref> Few of the Folk of Haleth had survived the ruin of Beleriand,<ref>{{PM|Ros}}, Note 17</ref> and some of them settled the island along with the Drúedain that lived with them.<ref>{{UT|Druedain}}, Note 7</ref> Thus the Edain's descendants became a race far greater than all other men in Middle-earth, living within sight of the blessed realm.


When the Númenóreans returned to [[Middle-earth]] in the [[Second Age]], they encountered many Men who were obviously related to the Atani: they classified these Men as ''[[Middle Men]]'', and established friendly relations with them. Examples are the [[Northmen]] or the [[Men of Bree]].<ref name=atani/>
Some of the Edain did not leave Middle-earth to Númenor, some fled the disaster of the war to [[Eriador]] in the east, and their descendants remembered rumours of the deluge of the land beyond the [[Blue Mountains]] and feared to look upon the [[Sea]].<ref name=atani/>


Other Men, such as the [[Dunlendings]], were not recognised as Middle Men because they were related to the Haladin rather than Bëorians or Marachians, and they were hostile to Númenor.
When the Númenóreans returned to [[Middle-earth]] in the [[Second Age]], they encountered many Men who were related to the Atani: they classified these Men as ''[[Middle Men]]'', and established friendly relations with them, such as the the [[Northmen]] or the [[Men of Bree]]. Other Men, such as the ancestors of the [[Dunlendings]], were not recognised as Middle Men even though they share some kinship with the Folk of Haleth, but because they were hostile to the Númenoreans.<ref name=atani/>


==Appearance, traits and culture==
==Appearance, traits and culture==

Revision as of 20:58, 17 July 2020

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Edain
People
Wouter Florusse - The Edain.jpg
"The Edain" by Wouter Florusse
General Information
Pronunciationeh-deyen
Other namesAtanatári, Atani
OriginsMen who crossed into Beleriand
LocationsBeleriand, Middle-earth, Númenor
LanguagesMannish, Sindarin
MembersHúrin, Túrin, Tuor, Beren, Barahir, Andreth, Morwen, Bëor
Physical Description
Lifespanc. 90[1]
GalleryImages of Edain
"We have looked on the faces that have seen the Light, and heard the voices that have spoken with Manwe."
― Húrin Thalion[2]

The Edain was the name given by the Elves to the Men of the First Age who made their way into Beleriand during the Long Peace. They became close allies with the Elves and fought with them in the Wars of Beleriand.

Edain is the Sindarin word for Men and thus applied to all Men, though it is normally associated with those of the Three Houses. Edain does not refer to other groups of Men who entered Beleriand later in the First Age, such as the Easterlings who were noted as being swarthier than the Edain and a large portion of whom would later betray the Elves.

The Edain were the ancestors of the Númenóreans, the High Men of the Second Age.

Origins

Steamey - Men met Dark Elves

The ancestors of the Edain were those Men that awoke in Hildórien when the Sun first rose. Later they began migrating west after coming into conflict with other Men that fell under the Shadow.[3] They were drawn to the west seeking the rumoured Great Sea and the Light of the West. These Men were divided into three distinct peoples with their own language and appearance.[4]

As they continued moving west at some point the tribes separated into two hosts, two tribes moving north and the other south. The northern host was separated again,[5] the Lesser Folk of that host arrived at the shores of the Sea of Rhûn and dwelt at the feet of the nearby hills in the south-west. The other folk of the north host which was much greater than the previous came later and dwelt in the north-east woods near the shores. When the Greater Folk were able to craft boats so they could sail the sea they eventually discovered the Lesser Folk dwelling in the hills, but they didn't meet or exchange tidings often, as their tongues had already diverged from their original common tongue but they continued to remain in kinship.[6] The Greater Folk seemed to had been related to the ancestors of the Northmen.[7] They also encountered Dwarves whenever they travelled near mountains.[8]

During their wanderings the Lesser Folk made contact with the Dark Elves that still dwelt in the east[9] and they adopted "many words and devices" that influenced their language.[3].

The tribe that followed the southern route was different from the two Folk of the north and spoke an unrelated language.[3] They settled in the valleys of the White Mountains and were joined by a group of strange folk whom they called Drûg when they resumed their way to the west.[10] but also some remained behind, in Minhiriath and Eriador; those were the ancestors of the Gwathuirim, or Dunlendings and the Bree-landers.[4]

Eventually the three Folks crossed Eriador and arrived at the Blue Mountains, Bëor and some of his folk were the first of these Men to enter Beleriand around the fourth century of the First Age. The next year the vanguard of the southern tribe followed and made contact with the Elves of Ossiriand, followed by the Greater Folk of the north. These Men therefore spoke two different languages, one of them being divided in at least two dialects.[3] They already had met Dwarves and Avari in the East and had adopted some of their speech.

Not all of the Men crossed into Beleriand, during their westward migration some of their kin abandoned the march and settled in Eriador and lands east of the Misty Mountains.[4]

History

The Three Houses

Ted Nasmith - Felagund Among Bëor’s Men

The tribes of Men became Elf-friends, they entered the service of the Eldar and were ennobled and consisted of the Three Mannish noble Houses:

  1. The House of Bëor: these descended from the Lesser Folk, they were dark-haired and stoutly built, and most resembled the Ñoldor of all Elves. They were first discovered by Finrod Felagund, King of Nargothrond, and under his guidance later made their way to the lands of the Ñoldorin lord Amrod, in a place later known as Estolad, the Encampment. They remained loyal to the House of Finarfin, and later settled in the lands of Dorthonion.
  2. The Second House, later known as the Haladin or the House of Haleth. They were a reclusive folk, dark-haired but smaller in stature than the Bëorians. They were unrelated to the other two Houses and kept separate from the other Men. They settled in Thargelion before later receiving permission to settle in the Forest of Brethil, part of Doriath. They mostly kept out of the wars.
  3. The House of Marach, later best known as the House of Hador. They descended from the Greater Folk and thus were related to the First House. They were tall and golden-haired, and most resembled the Vanyar of all Elves. They were a very numerous and war-like tribe, and the Green-elves of Ossiriand feared them. They later settled in Hithlum by way of Estolad. They were loyal to Fingolfin and to his son Fingon.

The Drûg that accompanied the Haladin to Beleriand lived with the them in the forest of Brethil, the Eldar named them Drúedain and admitted them into the rank of Atani.[10]

Some Edain grew suspicious of the Elves, believing that their journey to Beleriand was for nought and some returned to Eriador.[3]

Wars of Beleriand

The Edain were allies of the Elves and took part in the Wars of Beleriand and suffered heavy losses throughout the course of the war against Morgoth. In the Dagor Bragollach the House of Bëor was nearly wiped out and their folk massacred, the few remaining fled to Hithlum and Himring.[11]

After Morgoth's victory in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad the lands of the Hadorians were invaded by Easterlings and they were subjugated by them.[12]

Later history

Eärendil, a descendant of all Three Houses of the Edain, sailed to Valinor and begged the Valar for aid against the power of Morgoth in Middle-earth which they accepted. The Edain fought with the Host of Valinor against the forces of Morgoth in the conflict known as the War of Wrath. Morgoth was ultimately defeated at the end.[13]

After the War of Wrath, the Edain were honoured and blessed by Eönwë in body and mind. They were granted the island of Númenor by the Valar as a gift for their fight during the Wars of Beleriand, their loyalty to the Elves and their suffering.[14]

Those of the Folk of Hador settled most of the island, while those of Bëor settled mostly in the north-west, where they continued to maintain using the Sindarin language.[4]:329[15] Few of the Folk of Haleth had survived the ruin of Beleriand,[16] and some of them settled the island along with the Drúedain that lived with them.[17] Thus the Edain's descendants became a race far greater than all other men in Middle-earth, living within sight of the blessed realm.

Some of the Edain did not leave Middle-earth to Númenor, some fled the disaster of the war to Eriador in the east, and their descendants remembered rumours of the deluge of the land beyond the Blue Mountains and feared to look upon the Sea.[4]

When the Númenóreans returned to Middle-earth in the Second Age, they encountered many Men who were related to the Atani: they classified these Men as Middle Men, and established friendly relations with them, such as the the Northmen or the Men of Bree. Other Men, such as the ancestors of the Dunlendings, were not recognised as Middle Men even though they share some kinship with the Folk of Haleth, but because they were hostile to the Númenoreans.[4]

Appearance, traits and culture

The Edain were noble in spirit, and their appearances differed between houses, although during the progress of the First Age, they mingled by the disasters of the War of the Jewels and intermarriage, so their differences became less marked.[4] Those of the First House were for the most part dark-haired and stocky, with grey or brown eyes and skin ranging from fair to swarthy. Little is known of the characteristics of the Second House, save for that they were dark of hair. Those of the Third House were golden-haired and tall, with fair skin and blue eyes.[4]:308

Upon their arrival to Beleriand, they were taught much lore and wisdom by the Eldar and their manners and arts were enhanced.[4] They were loyal to their benefactors, strong and fierce in battle. Their lifespan approached 90, probably quite more than of their ancestors, although that was the case only in peaceful times.[18]

Their descendants, the Númenóreans, were further blessed and ennobled. Their first King Elros the Half-elven was a descendant of two unions between the Edain and the Eldar.

In Beleriand, most of the Edain adopted the Sindarin tongue, although their native language was Mannish with elements from Avarin and Khuzdul[19] after their first contact with the Dark Elves and Dwarves, respectively. The language of the survivors of the First and Third Houses was the ancestor of Adûnaic; the language of the Second House was unrelated to them. (See also: Taliska.)

Etymology

edain is the plural of adan, "man" in Sindarin.

The Sindarin word Edain, singular Adan (Quenya Atani, Atan), literally meant Second People, and originally referred to all Men, but later it only applied to the Men of Beleriand and their descendants. The Quenya term Atani kept its old meaning.

The noble Edain were also known as Atanatari which means Fathers of Men.

References

  1. ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 106, entry "Edain"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)", "The Words of Húrin and Morgoth"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Coming of Men into the West"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "The Atani and their Languages"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Notes", 45
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XII. The Problem of Ros", Note 13
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", Note 4
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Two. The Later Quenta Silmarillion: Concerning the Dwarves (Chapter 13)", §6
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Men"
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain"
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin"
  12. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
  13. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Voyage of Eärendil and the War of Wrath"
  14. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Akallabêth: The Downfall of Númenor"
  15. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife", Note 19
  16. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "XII. The Problem of Ros", Note 17
  17. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Drúedain", Note 7
  18. ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 106, entry "Edain"
  19. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men"
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