Places in Middle-Earth
Anduin
The greatest river in northwest ME, lying east of the Misty Mountains and west of
Mirkwood. It stretches from its source in the
Grey Mountains down for about 1500
miles to the Bay of Belfalas, passing through the Vales of Anduin,
Rohan, Anorien, Ithilien and Lebennin.
Beleriand
A land once part of Middle-Earth at the west of Ered Luin. It was populated by
various elven groups (the Sindar and Laiquendi
at first, later the Noldor who returned to get back the Silmarils), but also by
the Edain and dwarves. It was gradually overran by
Morgoth's forces. During the Great Battle,
the Host of Valinor destroyed Morgoth's armies but
Beleriand itself was ruined and sank to the Sea.
Dol Guldur
Literally "Hill of Sorcery". A hill southwest of
Mirkwood where a fortress of
Sauron stood. It was built by him at about
TA 1050 and grew in power until the Mirkwood was corrupted. On TA 2941, the White
Council drove Sauron (who was disguised as the Necromancer) out and he retreated
to Mordor. Dol Guldur was occupied by three of the
Nazgul. During the WR, armies from Dol Guldur
attacked both Lorien and the Woodland
realm but was beaten. After the fall of Sauron,
Celeborn took Dol Guldur and
Galadriel destroyed its walls and cleansed
its pits.
Erebor
Mountain in between the forest of Mirkwood and the Iron Hills,
first settled by Thrain I who came there with most of Durin's folk after fleeing
from Moria. He founded the Kingdom Under the Mountain on TA 1999
whose fame and riches grew for nearly 200 years until Smaug plundered the kingdom
on TA 2590. Smaug dwelt in Erebor until disturbed by Thorin and his company (with
Bilbo!) and the dragon was killed by Bard. Dain II reestablished the kingdom.
During the WR, it was beseiged by the Easterlings but with the help of the Men of
Dale defeated them. During the FoA, Erebor was independent but was allied with the
Reunited Kingdom.
Gondor
A Dunedain kingdom in the south part of Northeastern Middle-Earth, founded by Elendil
in the Third Age and ruled jointly by his sons, Isildur and Anarion. Its chief
cities are Osgiliath, Minas Anor (or Minas Tirith in the late TA), Minas Ithil,
Dol Amroth and Pelagir. It had always been under the attack of Sauron and his
allies from its very founding and had been invaded many times. Minas Ithil had been
taken by the Nazgul on TA 2002 and ruled there
until the end of the WR. Gondor had been ruled by the line of Anarion until it
failed on TA 2050. From then on, it was governed by the Ruling Stewards until the
return of the true king, Elessar in the
end of WR.
Isengard
A fortress built by Gondor near the Gap of Rohan. It
consist of a circular wall, with only one gate, surrounding a broad plain with
the tower of Orthanc at the center. Though it is a part of Rohan, the fortress was
kept by Gondor but was deserted. On TA 2759, with the permission of the Steward
of Gondor, Saruman began to live in it and
in TA 2963 began to fortify it as his own stronghold. He housed his own army
of orcs, men and wargs until during the WR, it was
demolished by the Ents who planted the Watchwood
around Orthanc.
Lorien
The shortened name of Lothlorien (its original name is Laurelindorinan). It
is an eleven realm on the west of Anduin, at the meeting
of the rivers Celebrant and Anduin. It is ruled by
Celeborn and
Galadriel, whose power protected Lorien's
beauty and timelessness. Most of its elves are Silvan Elves. Though it aided
Elrond and the Free People against Sauron, it
remained isolated from the outside world. During the WR, it was attacked by
Sauron's forces in nearby Dol Guldur but was
successfully defended. After the WR, with Galadriel going over the Sea and
with Celeborn moving to Rivendell, Lorien was left
largely deserted.
Middle-Earth
Also called Endor, the lands of Arda lying east of Belagaer (the Great Sea)
where most of Tolkien's stories took place. More exactly, the places where the
stories occur are only on the northwestern part of Middle-Earth.
Men and other mortals dwell here, with the
exemption of Elves who had not "went over
the Sea", that is journey over Belegaer to Aman.
Map of Middle-Earth
Mirkwood
The great forest east of the Misty Mountains and
Anduin River. It is originally called Greenwood the
Great until the power from Dol Guldur spread
throughout the forest. Although evil creatures such as
Orcs and
Great Spiders dwell in the forest,
the Woodmen and the Elves of the Woodland Realm (in the northern parts)
also live there. After the WR, Mirkwood was cleansed and renamed Eryn
Lasgalen (literally, "Wood of Green Leaves").
Mordor
Realm east of the lower Anduin, bounded and protected
by Ered Lithui on the north and Ephel Duath on the south and west. With
Sauron settling there at about SA 1000,
it had always been his stronghold of evil until his defeat by the Last Alliance
on SA 3441. He returned to Mordor in TA 2942 after secretly dwelling in
Dol Guldur and began rebuilding his dark tower
Barad-dur. During the WR, the forces of Mordor were unleashed against neighboring
Gondor but with the unmaking of the One Ring, most of Sauron's work were
destroyed and Mordor was devastated by earthquakes and by Orodruin's eruption.
Moria
Its real name is Khazad-dum. It is the greatest of all dwarves-hall, carved
in the caves overlooking Azanulbizar (in westron, Dimrill Dale). The mansion
and folk-home of Durin's folk, it is very large, extending vast areas under
the Misty Mountains. At the end of the SA, mithril was discovered and with their
friendship to the Nordor of Eregion, Khazad-dum flourished. In TA 1980, while
extending their mithril-mine, the dwarves accidentally released a balrog. After
the balrog slain the two kings of Khazad-dum, the dwarves fled and Sauron filled
the halls with orcs. During the start of WR, the Fellowship entered Moria and
Gandalf killed the balrog in a series of
battles there.
Northern Waste and Ered Mithrin
The lands north of the Misty Mountains and Ered Mithrin (also called the Grey
Mountains). Ered Mithrin is a mountain range north of
Mirkwood, where many dragons dwell. About TA 2200,
many of Durin's folk gathered in Ered Mithrin but was forced to leave because
of the dragons and cold-drakes. The mountains are also infested by
orcs.
Numenor
The rich and powerful kingdom of the Dunedain in the Second Age on a great
island on the western waters of Belegaer. The most westernmost of mortal lands,
Numenor was rewarded to the Edain by the
Valar for their valor and faithfulness during
the Wars of Beleriand. It was ruled by Elros Tar-Minyantur and his descendants.
The Numenoreans, enriched by the gifts and wisdom of the Eldar, became powerful
and wise. But soon the Numenoreans became proud and discontented, obsessing over
their mortality. In SA 3262, Ar-Pharazon humbled Sauron and took him to Numenor
as a prisoner. Sauron quickly corrupted Numenor and soon anarchy and chaos
resulted. Sauron convinced Ar-Pharazon to assault Valinor.
The Valar called upon Eru and Numenor was destroyed during the Change of the
World. Elendil, his family and the other Faithful had escaped the ruin and came to
Middle-Earth to establish Gondor.
Rivendell
Also called Imladris, it is an elven-refuge in a steep and hidden valley in between
the rivers Hoarwell and Bruinen. It is founded by
Elrond in SA 1697. Most of the elves there are
Eldar, like the great lords Gildor and
Glorfindel. Rivendell helped and provided
haven for those who needed it; it succored the Dunedain at need during the Third Age.
During peaceful times, it was the center of lore and counsel. After the WR, Elrond
and many others from Rivendell went over the Sea, but his sons, Elladan and Elrohir,
remained there and later with Celeborn
who joined them.
Rohan
The kingdom of the Rohirrim above Gondor and below the end of
the Misty Mountains. Once a part of Gondor, it was given to the Men of Eotheod (later
called Rohirrim) in return for their aid and friendship to Gondor. It was from then
on, ruled by King Eorl and his descendants. The Rohirrim farmed and raised horses
which are the best in Middle Earth. Though there are ancient fortresses like
Dunharrow and Helm's Deep, most Rohirrim dwelt in small villages and farms. Rohan is
the name given by Gondor; the Rohirrim (who call themselves Eorlingas) call their
land the Riddermark or the Mark.
The Shire
An area in Eriador where the hobbits of Middle-Earth lives. Except at the end of
the Third Age, the Shire is mostly kept isolated and secured from the outside
world, which was due, in part, to the Rangers' protection. It is divided into four
sections, the North, South, East, and West Farthing. Outside the Farthings are
Buckland and in the FoA, Westmarch. Hobbiton (where Bag End is located), Bywater
and Tookland are in West Farthing. The capital of the Shire is probably Michel
Delving.
Valinor
The land in Aman where the Valar (except Ulmo),
most of the Maiar and later, the
Vanyar live. Its only city is the Valimar. It was
lighted by the Two Trees until it was poisoned; then it was lighted by the Sun
and Moon. Among the places in Valinor are the halls of Mandos where the spirit of
the dead dwells, the woods of Oromė, the fields and garden of Yavanna, the
mansions of Aulė and Taniquentil, the mountain where Manwė and Varda reside.