The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Came into Beleriand shortly after the Dagor Bragollach of I 455; apparently died before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad in I 4721
Race
Division
Culture
An Easterling who followed the people of Caranthir
Pronunciation
u'lfang
Meaning
Possibly 'wolf fang'2
Titles

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 23 January 2009
  • Updates planned: 18

Ulfang the Black

Betrayer of the Sons of Fëanor

The treacherous Easterling who, with his three sons, allied himself with Caranthir son of Fëanor. His sons followed Caranthir to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, but granted Morgoth the victory when they turned suddenly against the Sons of Fëanor.


Notes

1

Though the betrayal of the Noldor by Ulfang's people was unquestionably driven by Ulfang himself, there's no mention of his being present at the Nirnaeth Arnoediad to put his plots into action. Instead it was left to his three sons to turn the tide of the battle to Morgoth. This implies that Ulfang had died before the battle, though he may simply have been too old to take part.

2

Ulfang's name seems clearly interpretable as 'wolf fang' (or possibly some related form, such as 'seizing wolf'). These interpretations would make a linguistic connection between Ulfang's people and the Northmen who gave rise to the Rohirrim, though the two peoples were physically quite different. It seems unlikely that Tolkien intended a connection here (indeed at the time he named Ulfang, the Rohirrim would not be invented for some years). In volume V of The History of Middle-earth, it's said that this people spoke a quite alien language, so that it's possible that the simple interpretation 'wolf fang' is misleading, and this name has another meaning that remains unknown.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 23 January 2009
  • Updates planned: 18

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