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Welcome to The Encyclopedia of ArdaThe Encyclopedia of Arda is a personal project - a tribute to and a celebration of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The site is evolving into an illustrated hypertext encyclopedia of Tolkien's realms and peoples. It already contains about four thousand entries, and we're constantly adding new entries and expanding existing ones. Inside the encyclopediaThe Encyclopedia of Arda contains thousands of articles covering topics from J.R.R. Tolkien's world, some brief, some lengthy and some containing detailed essays and discussions. You'll also find a selection of interactive tools, including a chronicle to help you explore Tolkien's fictional history, and calendar to translate dates and events, a lexicon of names, a glossary of old and rare words, and much more. Context and approachThe content of the Encyclopedia is written in the same context as Tolkien himself used; he presented himself simply as a translator, rather than originator of the tales. Hence, we try to describe his world from a 'historical' rather than a literary perspective, though sometimes it's useful to explore ideas in their wider context. Where relevant, therefore, you'll also find a few references to Tolkien's life or opinions, or to real historical or mythological parallels to events in his universe. About the name ArdaArda was the name given by the Elves to their world and all it contained, and so 'Encyclopedia of Arda' seemed a peculiarly apt title for this project. Special thanksThanks to all those who've e-mailed us over the years with their suggestions, corrections, ideas and just general support. But the real Special Thanks, though, belong to the memory of J.R.R. Tolkien for his extraordinary and unparalleled creation. For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2025. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.Discus is a powerful, flexible DISC profile solution - find out much more in our free guide. |
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Featured EntryChieftain of the RingwraithsA title of the Lord of the NazgûlA powerful sorcerer and leader of Men in the Second Age, who was selected by Sauron to be a bearer of one of the Nine Rings. Through that Ring of Power, he fell entirely under Sauron's will and was drawn into the Wraith-world. He was placed in command of the Nine Nazgûl or Ringwraiths, becoming their Lord or Chieftain. First appearing in this form in about the year II 2250, he would remain as Chieftain until the end of the Third Age, a period of more than four thousand years. After the Fall of Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance, the Ringwraiths were hidden for many centuries, but they gradually re-emerged. As the North-kingdom of the Dúnedain had become disunited, the Chieftain of the Ringwraiths took on the role of the King of Angmar, threatening the lands that had made up Arnor. In a campaign lasting nearly seven centuries, he dealt the Dúnedain reverse after reverse. He would eventually defeat all three of Arnor's successor kingdoms, but in the Battle of Fornost he was himself defeated and driven out of the northern lands. |
