The Forodwaith were a people of Men who dwelt in the far north of Middle-earth, apparently dating back to the Elder Days. Not much is known about them.
History
The Forodwaith were noted as being a hardy people, accustomed to cold, as indeed would be necessary living in the icy lands close to Morgoth's realm.[1] The land they lived in was called Forodwaith, after its inhabitants.[2]
By the Third Age, the Lossoth, a remnant of the Forodwaith, lived mostly on the great Cape of Forochel north-west of the Icebay of Forochel. However, they often set up their camps on the southern shore of the bay at the feet of the Mountains.[1] The region north of the Mountains of Angmar and the Grey Mountains was still called Forodwaith on maps of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age.[3][4]
Etymology
Forodwaith is a Sindarin name, which means "Northmen".[5] It is a combination of the element forod[6] ("north")[7] and the element gwaith[8] ("people" associated by place and occupation)[9].
Other versions of the legendarium
In some drafts about Ælfwine, Tolkien uses the word Forodwaith to refer to the Vikings.[10]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", entry for king Arvedui, footnote about the Lossoth, p. 1041
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Introduction", "The Map of Middle-earth", footnote for Forodwaith
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entries WEG- and PHOR-
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry PHOR-
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Writing", "The Fëanorian Letters", Note, p. 1123
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", entry WEG-
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), entry root WĒ, pp. 189-90
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales": "Ælfwine of England", p. 318