A broad term used at the time of the War of the Ring to describe the people of Middle-earth who had not fallen under the power of Sauron. The Free Peoples (sometimes simply called 'the Free') consisted of Elves, Dwarves and Hobbits, and those Men2 who had not fallen under the power of Sauron.
Notes
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The term 'Free Peoples' is only recorded during the final years of the Third Age, but it could have come into use much earlier. Sauron first came to power in Middle-earth during the Second Age, and those who resisted him even then would have had a claim on the title 'Free Peoples', though there is no record of them using this particular term.
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2 |
Actually, Elrond categorised the Free Peoples of the world as Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves and Men, without qualification. However, many of the Men of the East and South of Middle-earth were servants of Sauron, and it seems implausible that Elrond meant to include all of them within the class of 'Free Peoples'.
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See also...
Aman, Black Years, Council of Elrond, Easterlings, Fortress of Sauron, Free Folk, Great Enemy, Great War of the Ring, Living Creatures, Maiar, Men of Darkness, Misty Mountains, Powers of the World, Ring of Doom, River Anduin, [See the full list...]Shadow Host, The Free, Three Keepers, War of the Last Alliance, Wizards
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 4 December 2011
- This entry is complete
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