The Green Book of the White Downs: Migrations and monuments: Part 6

Migrations and monuments: the story of the First Age in Eriador and Rhovanion

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“Migrations and monuments” quick links:

📗 Part 6] “A Darkness lies behind us”: the westward migrations of Men

“At the first rising of the Sun the Younger Children of Ilúvatar awoke in the land of Hildórien in the eastward regions of Middle-earth; but the first Sun arose in the West, and the opening eyes of Men were turned towards it, and their feet as they wandered over the Earth for the most part strayed that way. The Atani they were named by the Eldar, the Second People; but they called them also Hildor, the Followers, and many other names: Apanónar, the After-born, Engwar, the Sickly, and Fírimar, the Mortals; and they named them the Usurpers, the Strangers, and the Inscrutable, the Self-cursed, the Heavy-handed, the Night-fearers, the Children of the Sun.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 12: Of Men)

The awakening of Men in the east (Hildórien) with the first sunrise was a pivotal event for the history of Middle-earth (marked as F.A. 1). They were second of the expected Children of Ilúvatar but unlike the Elves, who were bound to Middle-earth, Men had a fate known only to Eru Ilúvatar. To the Elves, Men were known as Atani ("Second People"). In an early version of the Legendarium (“The Book of Lost Tales”), Men were first encountered by a Dark Elf called Nuin.

There are several sources that cover the journeys of Men westwards. These include:

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion (J.R.R. Tolkien)

📜 Chapter 12: Of Men

📜 Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West

The History of Middle-earth, Book 11: War of the Jewels (Christopher Tolkien)

📜 Part Two: The Later Quenta Silmarillion – 13. Concerning Dwarves

The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Christopher Tolkien)

📜 Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

Like with the Elves upon awakening, Men were discovered by Melkor. Unlike the Elves however, no Vala appeared to help free them from the lies weaved by Melkor:

“To Hildórien there came no Vala to guide Men, or to summon them to dwell in Valinor; and Men have feared the Valar, rather than loved them, and have not understood the purposes of the Powers, being at variance with them, and at strife with the world. Ulmo nonetheless took thought for them, aiding the counsel and will of Manwë; and his messages came often to them by stream and flood.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 12: Of Men)

Melkor’s manipulations divided the Men living in Hildórien, those who served him and those who refused, which led to a sundering and the departure and pursuit of those peoples who wanted freedom. The migrations of Men across Rhovanion, Eriador and eventually Beleriand echo the journeys and tribulations of the Elves during the Years of Trees.

We learn of this journey in the “Quenta Silmarillion” chapter “Of the Coming of Men into the West” of the “The Silmarillion” first when Finrod Felagund, King of the Noldor, encounters Bëor and his host camped in Ossiriand after crossing Ered Luin (the Blue Mountains). Finrod plays a song on a harp which awakens the sleeping camp who are enchanted by the music.

It was not long therefore before Felagund could hold converse with Bëor; and while he dwelt with him they spoke much together. But when he questioned him concerning the arising of Men and their journeys, Bëor would say little; and indeed he knew little, for the fathers of his people had told few tales of their past and a silence had fallen upon their memory. ‘A darkness lies behind us,’ Bëor said; ‘and we have turned our backs upon it, and we do not desire to return thither even in thought. Westwards our hearts have been turned, and we believe that there we shall find Light.’

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West)

This darkness was fuelled by the hatred of Melkor towards the Eldar and it forged his designs for Men who were to be his weapon against the Elves and the Valar:

“But it was said afterwards among the Eldar that when Men awoke in Hildórien at the rising of the Sun the spies of Morgoth were watchful, and tidings were soon brought to him; and this seemed to him so great a matter that secretly under shadow he himself departed from Angband, and went forth into Middle-earth, leaving to Sauron the command of the War. Of his dealings with Men the Eldar indeed knew nothing, at that time, and learnt but little afterwards; but that a darkness lay upon the hearts of Men (as the shadow of the Kinslaying and the Doom of Mandos lay upon the Noldor) they perceived clearly even in the people of the Elf-friends whom they first knew. To corrupt or destroy whatsoever arose new and fair was ever the chief desire of Morgoth; and doubtless he had this purpose also in his errand: by fear and lies to make Men the foes of the Eldar, and bring them up out of the east against Beleriand.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West)

The darkness Bëor hints was of course Melkor and his servants and creatures:

“…for they were ever at war with the vile things that he had bred, and especially with Men who had made him their God and believed that they could render him no more pleasing service than to destroy the ‘renegades’ with every kind of cruelty.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

Later, when there is dispute amongst Men over learning that Aman in the west is closed to them, two leaders (Bereg and Amlach) give voice to the terrors they had faced and attempted to avoid on the journey:

‘We took long roads, desiring to escape the perils of Middle-earth and the dark things that dwell there; for we heard that there was Light in the West. But now we learn that the Light is beyond the Sea. Thither we cannot come where the Gods dwell in bliss. Save one; for the Lord of the Dark is here before us…’

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West)

The Men that journeyed west across Rhovanion and Eriador towards Beleriand were, in a mirroring of the Elves, sundered through trauma and strife manipulated and orchestrated by Melkor, even when absent. Like the Elves, those who travelled westwards were eventually divided into three Houses:

👪 House of Bëor
👪 House of Haleth (Folk of Haladin - Haldad)
👪 House of Hador (Folk of Marach)

Collectively, those that made it over the Blue Mountains into Beleriand and eventually supported the Elves there in their wars against Melkor were known as the 👪 Edain. It is said that those who stayed in Eriador and further east were not counted as Edain. Those that allied with Melkor and later Sauron were known as the 👪 Men of Darkness.

We know the names of at least some of the leaders of each group, partly due to the name of the Houses. These include:

👨 Bëor
👩 Haleth
👨 Haldad
👨 Marach

When Men first travelled away from Hildórien as one group they then split into two hosts, one taking a northern route and the other a southern one. The northern group divided again later. The groups separately reached the Sea of Rhûn and settled for a time.

🌊 Southern host at the Sea of Rhûn: “Lesser Folk” (House of Bëor) arrived first and stayed in the foothills of the south-west coast of the Sea of Rhûn.
🌊 Northern host at the Sea of Rhûn: “Greater Folk” (House of Haleth and House of Hador) camped in woods off north-east shores of the Sea of Rhûn.

I’ve already mentioned there are parallels between the journeys of Elves and Men, and at the Sea of Rhûn this is represented by how both the Teleri and the House of Hador become boat builders to cross the barrier before them:

“The Atani had never seen the Great Sea before they came at last to Beleriand; but according to their own legends and histories the Folk of Hador had long dwelt during their westward migration by the shores of a sea too wide to see across; it had no tides, but was visited by great storms. It was not until they had developed a craft of boat-building that the people afterwards known as the Folk of Hador discovered that a part of their host from whom they had become separated had reached the same sea before them, and dwelt at the feet of the high hills to the south-west, whereas they [the Folk of Hador] lived in the north-east, in the woods that there came near to the shores. They were thus some two hundred miles apart, going by water; and they did not often meet and exchange tidings.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – XII. The Problem of Ros, Footnote 13)

The skills learned here would become instrumental for both Eldar and Atani later on in their journeys. Before we look at what are the known elements of the journeys Men made, two encounters with other races should be noted which were instrumental in the later development of relationships besides the encounters with Melkor and his servants.

In several places Tolkien states that Men met 🧔 Dwarves prior to meeting the (Calaquendi) Elves in Beleriand. Their first encounters were not favourable:

“For they had met some far to the East who were of evil mind. [This was a later pencilled note. On the previous page of the typescript my father wrote at the same time, without indication of its reference to the text but perhaps arising from the mention (p. 301) of the awakening of the eastern kindreds of the Dwarves: ‘Alas, it seems probable that (as Men did later) the Dwarves of the far eastern mansions (and some of the nearer ones?) came under the Shadow of Morgoth and turned to evil.’]”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages, Footnote 28)

The most easterly of the Dwarf clans in Middle-earth were:

“The other two places were eastward, at distances as great or greater than that between the Blue Mountains and Gundabad: the arising of the Ironfists and Stiffbeards, and that of the Blacklocks and Stonefoots. Though these four points were far sundered the Dwarves of different kindreds were in communication, and in the early ages often held assemblies of delegates at Mount Gundabad.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: Relations of the Longbeard Dwarves and Men)

Some of these had been swayed by Melkor and were hostile to the Men who resisted him. But it is also clear that across Eriador and Rhovanion the other Dwarf clans were travelling and encountered the Men escaping westwards:

“In the West at the end of the First Age the dealings of the Dwarves of the Ered Lindon with King Thingol ended in disaster and the ruin of Doriath, the memory of which still poisoned the relations of Elves and Dwarves in after ages. At that time the migrations of Men from the East and South had brought advance-guards into Beleriand; but they were not in great numbers, though further east in Eriador and Rhovanion (especially in the northern parts) their kindred must already have occupied much of the land. There dealings between Men and the Longbeards must soon have begun.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: Relations of the Longbeard Dwarves and Men)

The encounters with these Dwarves, most likely when the Houses reached Ered Luin, but also potentially before near Khazad-dûm and the Iron Hills, was certainly not hostile and Tolkien even notes friendship and sharing of culture developed:

“In ancient days the Naugrim dwelt in many mountains of Middle-earth, and there they met mortal Men (they say) long ere the Eldar knew them; whence it comes that of the tongues of the Easterlings many show kinship with Dwarf-speech rather than with the speeches of the Elves.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 11: War of the Jewels (Part Two: The Later Quenta Silmarillion – 13. Concerning Dwarves)

There is a mention on Tolkien Gateway of the Dwarves meeting Men north of the Sea of Rhûn but I could not find evidence or reference of this in the works I consulted. Perhaps the mention is meant to be about the evil Dwarves that came into conflict with Men in the east?

Men didn’t just find friendship with Dwarves whilst traversing Eriador and Rhovanion, but also with the group of Elves who had themselves refused their call to the West, those 🧝 Elves called Moriquendi:

“Yet it is told that ere long they met Dark Elves in many places, and were befriended by them; and Men became the companions and disciples in their childhood of these ancient folk, wanderers of the Elven-race who never set out upon the paths to Valinor, and knew of the Valar only as a rumour and a distant name.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 12: Of Men)

In their later meeting with Finrod Felagund on the boundary of Beleriand it is made clear that the Dark Elves had taught Men language:

"It is said also that these Men had long had dealings with the Dark Elves east of the mountains, and from them had learned much of their speech; and since all the Elvish speech was interpreted in each mind according to its measure."

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West)

Though other arts were to be taught to Men later by the Elves who had heeded the call of the Valar:

“…and he played music upon it such as the ears of Men had not heard; for they had as yet no teachers in the art, save only the Dark Elves in the wild lands.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West)

The migration of Men faced the same physical obstacles that the Elves had on their journey across Rhovanion and Eriador. We’ve seen above that the Sea of Rhûn divided the Men but ahead lay the Anduin and Hithaeglir to the north and further away in Eriador, Ered Luin. Sadly, there is not much in terms of textual evidence from Tolkien, often just hints, and he focuses on the latter part of the journey, at least in descriptions of the migrations of the Houses of Men.

After the division at the Sea of Rhûn it seems the three Houses made their own way towards Ered Luin in Eriador. The House of Hador take a more northernly route, from evidence given later it appears the House of Haleth took a more southernly route. The House of Bëor’s direction across Eriador remains unknown.

It is the House (Hador) settled on the northwest coast of the Sea of Rhûn that we learn more about, again in a similar way with the Elves who took a more northerly route, and In both cases it is as they reach the Greenwood and the Anduin that causes a divide in the marching peoples:

“The Men with whom they were thus associated were for the most part akin in race and language with the tall and mostly fair-haired people of the ‘House of Hador’, the most renowned and numerous of the Edain, who were allied with the Eldar in the War of the Jewels. These Men, it seems, had come westward until faced by the Great Greenwood, and then had divided: some reaching the Anduin and passing thence northward up the Vales; some passing between the north-eaves of the Wood and the Ered Mithrin. Only a small part of this people, already very numerous and divided into many tribes, had then passed on into Eriador and so come at last to Beleriand. They were brave and loyal folk, truehearted, haters of Morgoth and his servants; and at first had regarded the Dwarves askance, fearing that they were under the Shadow”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

The peoples who headed north are said to have become the ancestors of the 👪 Northmen: 👪 Woodmen, 👪 Men of Dale and 👪 Lake-town. In this we see a clear settlement of land in Rhovanion during the First Age by Men.

For the rest of the northerly-moving migration, we don’t really get more textual evidence. The next we see the House of Hador is at Ered Luin, the first to arrive in the foothills of Ered Luin but actually the last house to cross over. They spent time trying to discover a southerly route around the mountains before them. The first House to cross Ered Luin was the House of Bëor.

We’ll look at the southerly migration route of the House of Haleth properly soon, but that involves an important unmentioned group (so far), so before we do that, let’s jump ahead and look at what we learn from the conversation between Finrod Felagund and Bëor about what each house brought with them on their journeys.

Bëor’s group, though they arrived first in Beleriand (F.A. 310), seem to have been the least well-equipped. They crossed Ered Luin ahead of the other Houses and it was their encampment that Finrod came upon whilst wandering:

“The Folk of Bëor were the first Men to enter Beleriand – they were met in the dales of East Beleriand by King Finrod the Friend of Men, for they had found a way over the Mountains. They were a small people, having no more, it is said, than two thousand full-grown men; and they were poor and ill-equipped, but they were inured to hardship and toilsome journeys carrying great loads, for they had no beasts of burden.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

Their travelling light had been both a benefit and hardship, but it put the House of Bëor in good-stead for they were able to negotiate a new life for themselves (and the other Houses following behind them) with Finrod.

Directly after the House of Bëor are mentioned in the text above, the House of Hador are brought into the tale, which confuses matters because the House of Hador are in fact the third and last House to cross Ered Luin. Because their description is first we’ll look at them next and then lastly at the House of Haleth (who actually cross second).

House of Hador had already divided in the Vale of Anduin, leaving some of their number to settle there. Their House was said to be the largest:

“Not long after the first of the three hosts of the Folk of Hador came up from southward, and two others of much the same strength followed before the fall of the year. They were a more numerous people; each host was as great as all the Folk of Bëor, and they were better armed and equipped; also they possessed many horses, and some asses and small flocks of sheep and goats.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

This early animal husbandry was remembered much later in a tale from the Second Age:

“Ancalimë was all unused to such company as his, and she took delight in his singing, in which he was skilled; and he sang to her songs that came out of far-off days, when the Edain pastured their flocks in Eriador long ago, before ever they met the Eldar.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, Unfinished Tales (Part Two: The Second Age – II: Aldarion and Erendis)

A note shows that the House of Hador arrived in the area first, ahead of Bëor and Haleth:

“They had crossed Eriador and reached the eastern feet of the Mountains (Ered Lindon) a year or more ahead of all others, but had not attempted to find any passes, and had turned away seeking a road round the Mountains, which, as their horsed scouts reported, grew ever lower as they went southwards.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

Bëor makes it clear that it is the House of Hador, led by Marach, who were passed as they delayed:

“They were before us on the westward march, but we passed them; for they are a numerous people, and yet keep together and move slowly, being all ruled by one chieftain whom they call Marach.’

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West)

Though a little out of sequence in terms of the crossing of Ered Luin, we now look at the House of Haleth, who followed the House of Bëor and were the second House to cross the mountains. Their story contains a surprise which reveals they took a more southerly migration route. We’ll look at that soon.

After the crossing of Bëor, the other Houses followed:

“First came the Haladin; but meeting the unfriendship of the Green-elves they turned north and dwelt in Thargelion, in the country of Caranthir son of Fëanor: there for a time they had peace, and the people of Caranthir paid little heed to them. In the next year Marach led his people over the mountains; they were a tall and warlike folk, marching in ordered companies, and the Elves of Ossiriand hid themselves and did not waylay them.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West)

Remember that the Haladin are the House of Haleth here. We learn that the House of Haleth gets pushed away from Ossiriand on arrival by the Elves living there whilst the House of Haldor (led by Marach) are left alone since the elves are fearful.

There is a notable discrepancy here in the text of “The History of Middle-earth Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth” and “The Silmarillion”. One claims the House of Hador came in small groups secretly whilst the other says they marched in orderly companies.

Haldad (of the Haladin) is the father of Haleth (a known leader of these peoples) but before the crossing of Ered Luin it is less clear who is leading:

“Now the Haladin did not live under the rule of lords or many together, but each homestead was set apart and governed its own affairs, and they were slow to unite.”

-- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion (Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17: The Coming of the Men into the West)

Once the House of Haleth arrived in Beleriand and then moved away from Ossiriand due to the fear/anger of the Elves dwelling there, they move into an area called Thargelion which is known to the Elves as the land of Caranthir, the fourth of the Sons of Fëanor. During this settlement they are assaulted by an Orc-raid sent by Melkor and Haldad is killed. At this point they take on a leader.

We then learn more about who is leading:

“Those who eventually moved westward and entered into friendship and alliance with the Eldar were called the Folk of Haleth, for Haleth was the name of their chieftainess who led them to the woods north of Doriath where they were permitted to dwell.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

In Haleth we have the first known female leader of Men and not only that:

“One of the strange practices spoken of was that many of their warriors were women, though few of these went abroad to fight in the great battles. This custom was evidently ancient; for their chieftainess Haleth had been a renowned amazon with a picked bodyguard of women.”

-- Christopher Tolkien, The History of Middle-earth, Book 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Part Two: Late Writings – X. Of Dwarves and Men: II The Atani and their Languages)

This is one of the few moments in Middle-earth history and Tolkien’s works where we see such a situation, besides Galadriel, and the House of Haleth had other surprises amongst them…

Next:
📜 Part 7] In their image: the faithful Drúedain and their watch-stones

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Saturday 8 July 2023

Migrations and monuments: Part 6 - Men

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