The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
First emerged c. I 3101
Location
Found throughout Eriador and Rhovanion; many would eventually migrate to the land of Rohan
Origins
Complex and uncertain: see the entry for Northmen for a discussion on this point
Race
Cultures
Numerous, but important historical cultures include the Northmen of Rhovanion, the Men of the Éothéod and the Rohirrim
Settlements
Primarily in the northern Vales of Anduin; at least some later travelled southward to settle in the land that would become known as Rohan, whose capital was at Edoras
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 6 October 2023
  • This entry is complete

Northern Men

Speakers of an ancient tongue

Primordial Men
Edain
Men of Darkness
House of
Bëor

House of
Haleth

House of
Hador

Northern Men

The descent of the Northern Men is unusually complex; for a full discussion, see the entry for Northmen

A term that seems to be essentially equivalent to 'Northmen': that is, the peoples who originally dwelt around the upper reaches of the Anduin, and gave rise to the Rohirrim, among other peoples. They were distinguished by their own distinct language, separate from the Common Speech, which is represented by Tolkien as a dialect of Old English. The tongue of the Northern Men gave rise to such names such as Saruman and Orald.


Notes

1

We have very little information about the divisions of Men during the long westward journey early in their history. The date given here is the year in which Bëor led his people across the Blue Mountains into Beleriand, giving rise to the first Edain. At least some of the Northern Men were of the kin of the Edain, but remained eastward of the mountains, so this date represents at least one point at which the Northern Men divided from their fellows. There may have been, and almost certainly were, other earlier points of division that are now lost in the mists of history.

See also...

Orald

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 6 October 2023
  • This entry is complete

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