Places of Middle-earth

Information Furnished by Josh Parsons

The Fellowship of the Ring

The Shire- 18,000 sq. miles of land in western Middle-earth, perfect for agriculture. It became the home to most of the Hobbits, and was divided into four farthings: North, South, East, and West. This area wasn’t very well known to the other peoples of Middle-earth, as the Hobbits liked being left to themselves. This credit can be given partially to the Rangers who protected the borders of the Shire.  

Old Forest- Forest that lay between Buckland and the Barrow-downs. The trees were mobile, especially Old Man Willow, and others by the Withywindle. Tom Bombadil lived on the eastern end of the Forest, and he had great power inside it. In Third Age, 1409, some of the Dúnedain of Cardolan took refuge there when Angmar overran their land. Later, in the Third Age, the trees attacked Buckland and attempted to get over the Hay, but they were driven away by the Hobbits, who set a fire in the area--later known as the Bonfire Glade. 

Bree- A town not far east of the Shire. Men settled it in the Second Age, and Hobbits settled there in the Third Age. It was once an important town, but it had dwindled by the time the War of the Ring had begun. This is where Frodo and his friends first met Aragorn, a.k.a. Strider, on their way to Rivendell.

Weathertop- Amon Sûl in Sindarin. The southernmost of the Western Hills, where the Tower of Amon Sûl was built. This is where the Nazgûl attacked Aragorn and the Hobbits, and the Witch-King stabbed Frodo with a Morgul-Knife.  

Rivendell- Known as the Last Homely House. It was ruled by Lord Elrond--the wisest elf--as a refuge from the dark forces in the Second Age. Most of the Elves of Rivendell were Eldar. Some of the Dúnedain, including Aragorn, lived there, or were raised there by Lord Elrond. This is where Frodo was reunited with Gandalf, and the Fellowship was created. After the War of the Ring, Elrond and many of his people left to travel West, but Ellandan and Elrohir stayed and were joined by Celeborn. It is not known when Rivendell was finally deserted.  

Moria- Known as Khazad-Dúm. This was the greatest of the Dwarf-halls and was the home of Durin’s Folk. Durin I, in the First Age, carved it in the caves overlooking Azanulbizar. It was expanded many times, and eventually took up much of the area beneath Barazinbar, Zirak-Zigil, and Bundushathûr. In the Second Age, a tunnel was built to Eregion.

The population grew, near the end of the First Age, when Dwarves from the Ered Luin came after the ruin of Nogrod and Belegost. Mithril was discovered early in the Second Age, and the friendship between Durin’s Folk and the Noldor of Eregion began. The gates were closed during the War of Elves and Sauron, which enabled the Dwarves to survive the Second Age.

While the Dwarves were extending their mithril-mines in Third Age 1980, they released the Balrog hidden beneath Barazinbar. The Dwarves fled the next year, after two Kings had been slain. Around 2480, Sauron sent orcs to Khazad-Dûm, where they murdered Thrór in 2790. This led to the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, which ended in 2799 with the Battle of Azanulbizar. In 2989, a large group of Dwarves of Erebor, led by Balin, established a Dwarf-kingdom. However, they were trapped by the Watcher in the Water at the West-gate, and a large army of Orcs at the East-gate, and they perished in 2994. In January 3019, the Fellowship passed through Khazad-Dûm, and Gandalf slew the Balrog in a series of battles which ruined the Chamber of Mazarbul, Durin’s Bridge, the Endless Stair, and Durin’s Tower.  

Khazad-Dûm was called the Dwarrowdelf in Westron. and Hadhodrond in Sindarin. However, the more usual Elvish name, especially after the freeing of the Balrog, was Moria. From the name Moria, came the Westron Black Pit, Black Chasm, and Mines of Moria. 

Lórien- Elven realm west of Anduin, also known as Lothloríen and Laurelindórinan, which was ruled by Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. It was founded in the Second Age by Galadriel, and was modeled after Doriath. Most of the inhabitants were Silvan Elves, and Sindarin was the common language. Galadriel used the power of Lórien to help Lord Elrond in the Second and Third Ages, but it was usually isolated from the rest of Middle-earth. When the Fellowship stayed with the Elves, it marked the first time in years a dwarf entered the Golden Wood. During the War of the Ring, Sauron’s forces from Dol Guldur assaulted Lórien three times, but the enemy was driven back each time. After Sauron’s downfall, Celeborn led the forces of Lórien to Dol Guldur, where they destroyed its pits. After Galadriel and Celeborn left Middle-earth, Lórien was mostly deserted. The capitol was Caras Galadon, and the Elves were known as the Galadrim. 

Isengard- A fortress built by the Men of Gondor. It was made of a natural circular ring of stone on a plain with one gate facing south. In the middle the tower, Orthanc, was built.

Gondor kept Isengard when Calenardhon was given to the Rohirrim in Third Age 2510, but it was deserted. Around 2700, it was taken by the Dunlendings, who were driven out by Freáláf in 2759. In that same year, with the permission of the Beren of Gondor, Saruman moved into Orthanc and began to fortify Isengard with stone and machinery. There he housed Orcs, Men, and wolves until the Ents demolished Isengard during the War of the Ring. The Ents planted the Watchwood there, and renamed Isengard the Tree-garth of Orthanc.

Argonath- The carved rocks at the upper end of the chasm at the northern entrance to Nen Hithoel, on Anduin. The carved figures were immense statues of Isildur and Anárion, one on either side of the river. Rómendacil II built them about Third Age 1340 to mark the northern border of Gondor.

Amon Hen- One of three peaks at the southern end of Nen Hithoel, located on the western bank of the Anduin. The Seat of Seeing was built on the summit of Amon Hen. From this seat, one could see the lands for hundreds of miles around.

 The Two Towers 

Rohan- Kingdom of the Rohirrim. Once a province of Gondor, known as Calenardhon, the land was given to the Men of Éothéod by Cirion of Gondor in Third Age 2510 in return for their aid in the Battle of the Fields of Celebrant and their swearing to the Oath of Eorl.

The Rohirrim raised horses and farmed on the green plains. They restored ancient fortresses and refuges in the Ered Nimrais, the most of important of which were Dunharrow and Helm’s Deep. Their greatest concern was for their horses, which were the best in the world.

In 2758, the Dunlendings led by Wulf overran Rohan, but they were defeated the next spring by Freáláf. After 2799, Orcs fleeing from the Battle of Nanduhirion troubled Rohan, and they were not completely driven out of Ered Nimrais until 2864. Around 2960, Saruman began harassing Rohan until the War of the Ring, when a large army of Orcs and Dunlendings attacked. The Rohirrim were defeated in the two Battles of the Fords of Isen. But the invaders were crushed with the help of Gandalf and the Huorns, in the Battle of Hornburg.

 Rohan was closely allied with Gondor throughout its history. Rohan performed its greatest service to the Dúnadan realm during the War of the Ring, when the Riders of Rohan played a crucial role in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.  

Rohan was given its name in Gondor; the Rohirrim called their land Riddermark, the Mark of the Riders, or the Mark. 

Edoras- Capitol of Rohan, located on the Snowbourn at the foot of Ered Nimrais. Edoras was built by Eorl and Brego, and contained the greatest feast-hall of Meduseld.

Helm’s Deep- Gorge winding into the Ered Nimrais below the Thrihyrne. It was the defensive center of the Westfold of Rohan; it and Dunharrow were the major fortresses and refuges of the realm. Helm’s Deep was defended by Helm in Third Age 2758-59, and this gave the entire area its name. During the War of the Ring, King Théoden defended it.

The Deeping Stream flowed out of it and the Deeping Wall was built across the entrance to the Deep. The name of the actual fortress is Hornburg. 

Fangorn Forest- A very old wood east of the southern end of the Misty Mountains, watered by the Entwash and Limlight. Fangorn was once the eastern end of the great forest that once covered all of Eriador and extended into Beleriand. The Ents lived in Fangorn during the War of the Ring. During the Third Age, Orcs of Isengard did damage to the forest but this ended when the Ents destroyed Isengard during the War of the Ring.  

Fangorn was named after the Ent, Fangorn who was the oldest living Ent and the guardian of the Forest.  

Gondor- One of the Dúnedain kingdoms in Middle-earth, founded by Elendil in Second Age 3320 and committed by him to the joint ruling of his sons Isildur and Anárion. At the height of its power, Gondor extended north to Celebrant, east to the Sea of Rhûn, south to the River Harnen island and Umbar on the coast, and west to Gwathlo. Various realms to the east and south were tributary states: Osgiliath, Minas Anor, Minas Ithil, Dol Amroth, and Pelargir.

Gondor was always under attack from Sauron’s forces or his allies in Rhûn, Harad, or Umbar. Ithilien was attacked many times; beginning in Second Age 3429, until in Third Age 2002 Minas Ithil was taken by the Nazgûl and held until the end of the War of the Ring.

After the death of Elendil in Second Age 3441, the Line of Anárion ruled Gondor until it was broken in Third Age 2050. From that time until the restoration of the kingdom by Elessar (Aragorn II) in 3019, Gondor was governed by the Ruling Stewards.     

Minas Morgul- Name given to Minas Ithil in Third Age 2002 after its capture by the Nazgûl, who made it their home. War was directed against Gondor from Minas Morgul until Ithilien was deserted. During the War of the Ring, the army that attacked Osgiliath and undertook the Siege of Gondor came from Minas Morgul.

Minas Morgul was much like Minas Ithil; only beauty was replaced by terror. The topmost course of the tower revolved slowly, and the walls of Morgul shone with a pale, frightening light. 

Cirith Ungol- Pass over the Ephel Dúath just north of Minas Morgul, guarded by the Tower of Cirith Ungol. This pass was used in Third Age 2002 when the Nazgûl set out from Mordor to besiege Minas Ithil, and also by Frodo during the Quest to get into Mordor.