Summary: F.A. 369-404
Morgoth makes trouble
Okay, I realize that the subtitle of this one could really apply to the entirety of The Silmarillion…specifically, here he’s making trouble for the Edain.
This will the the last of the summary posts before we return to your regularly-scheduled programming. Some important births and deaths among the Edain are included in the chronology below; others are summarized via the family trees.
F.A. 369 (May 27): A council of Men is held in Estolad concerning their residence in Beleriand and association with the Eldar. Bereg (age 29) of the House of Bëor opposes settlement of the Men in Beleriand and their involvement in the war of the Eldar against Morgoth. Someone appearing to be Amlach (son of Imlach and nephew of Malach Aradan; age 32), another opponent, claims that neither Morgoth nor the Valar exist and that the Eldar are lying about them to gain control of Middle-earth; but later Amlach returns and says that he was never present. Bereg leads a thousand of the people of Bëor away southwards out of Beleriand. Those of Marach's people who agree with Bereg choose a new leader and return east over the mountains into Eriador. Amlach, angry at being impersonated by some servant of Morgoth, changes his views and goes north and enters the service of Maedhros.
But there arose one who seemed to all to be Amlach son of Imlach, speaking fell words that shook the hearts of all who heard him: 'All this is but Elvish lore, tales to beguile newcomers that are unwary. The Sea has no shore. There is no Light in the West. You have followed a fool-fire of the Elves to the end of the world! Which of you has seen the least of the Gods? Who has beheld the Dark King in the North? Those who seek the dominion of Middle-earth are the Eldar. Greedy for wealth they have delved in the earth for its secrets and have stirred to wrath the things that dwell beneath it, as they have ever done and ever shall. Let the Orcs have the realm that is theirs, and we will have ours. There is room in the world, if the Eldar will let us be!' Then those that listened sat for a while astounded, and a shadow of fear fell on their hearts; and they resolved to depart far from the lands of the Eldar. But afterwards Amlach returned among them, and denied that he had been present at their debate or had spoken such words as they reported; and there was doubt and bewilderment among Men. (The Silmarillion, Chapter 17, "Of the Coming of Men into the West")
F.A. 375 (May 30): 375: Morgoth, angered at the decision of most of the Edain to stay and ally with the Eldar, sends an orc-raid against the Haladin in Thargelion, attacking from the Blue Mountains to the east. The Haladin live in independent homesteads and have no leader, but Haldad (age 60) gathers them and retreats to a stockade built in the angle of land between Ascar and Gelion, where they are besieged. His children Haldar and Haleth (both age 34; Haldar's son Haldan is 9 years old) both fight valiantly in the defence. At last, when the people in the stockade are short of food, Haldad is killed in a sortie against orcs, and Haldar is killed when he rushes out to protect his father's body from the orcs. Then Haleth holds the people together, and after seven days, just when the orcs break through the stockage, Caranthir's forces arrive and destroy the orcs. Caranthir invites Haleth and her people to live further north in Thargelion, but she refuses.
F.A. 376 (May 31):
Haleth leads her people to Estolad.
Death of Marach (age 94). He has lived in Estolad for all of his time in Beleriand. A large part of his people have moved westwards in earlier years, under the leadership of his son Malach Aradan.
F.A. 380 (June 1): Death of Baran (eldest son of Bëor and chieftain of the Bëorings) at age 91. His son Boron (age 65) becomes chieftain of the Bëorings.
Around F.A. 383-388: Around this time (when Andreth of House of Bëor is a young woman; she is 22-27 during this time), she and Aegnor (Finrod's brother) meet and fall in love, as the Bëorings are living in Dorthonion. However, Aegnor rejects her, and she is grieved.
[From a conversation between Finrod and Andreth when Andreth is in her 40s]:
"For one year, one day, of the flame I would have given all: kin, youth, and hope itself: adaneth [mortal woman] I am," said Andreth.
"That he knew," said Finrod, "and he withdrew and did not grasp what lay to his hand: elda he is…Andreth adaneth, the life and love of the Eldar dwells much in memory; and we (if not ye) would rather have a memory that is fair but unfinished than one that goes on to a grievous end. Now he will ever remember thee in the sun of morning, and that last evening by the water of Aeluin in which he saw thy face mirrored with a star caught in thy hair." (Morgoth’s Ring, The History of Middle-earth Volume 10)
F.A 390 (June 6): Haleth (age 49), living in Estolad, desires to lead her people further west, and leads them through Nan Dungortheb with much loss, for the road is very dangerous. Some settle in independent homesteads in the woods of Talath Dirnen south of Teiglin, while others remain with Haleth and settle in the forest of Brethil. Brethil is part of Doriath, though not within the Girdle of Melian, but Finrod convinces Thingol to allow the Haladin to settle there.
Now Brethil was claimed as part of his realm by King Thingol, though it was not within the Girdle of Melian, and he would have denied it to Haleth; but [Finrod] Felagund, who had the friendship of Thingol, hearing of all that had befallen the people of Haleth, obtained this grace for her: that she should dwell free in Brethil, upon the condition only that her people should guard the Crossings of Teiglin against all enemies of the Eldar, and allow no Orcs to enter the woods. To this Haleth answered: "Where are Haldad my father and Haldar my brother? If the King of Doriath fears a friendship between Haleth and those who have devoured her kin, the thoughts of the Eldar are strange to men." (The Silmarillion, Chapter 17, "Of the Coming of Men into the West")
Also in F.A 390 (June 6): Birth of Hador Lórindol (son of Hathol and grandson of Magor and great-grandson of Malach Aradan). Hathol is 25 years old, and has lived most of all of his life in the land south of Hithlum around the sources of the river Teiglin. This is only a little northwest of the lands that the Haladin now inhabit.
F.A. 398 (June 10): Death of Malach Aradan at the age of 91.
F.A. 400 (June 11): Aredhel and Maeglin (age 80; probably the equivalent to the mid-20s for a human) flee Eöl while he is on a visit to the dwarves, and return to Gondolin. They are secretly followed by Eöl. Eöl comes to Gondolin; he kills Aredhel with a poisoned spear and is then executed.
Suddenly, swift as a serpent [Eöl], he seized a javelin that he held hid beneath is cloak and cast it at Maeglin, crying: “The second choice [death] I take and for my son also! You shall not hold what is mine!”
But Aredhel sprang before the dark, and it smote her in the shoulder; and Eöl was overborne by many and set in bonds, and led away, while others tended Aredhel. But Maeglin looking upon his father was silent.
It was appointed that Eöl should be brought on the next day to the King’s judgement; and Aredhel and Idril moved Turgon to mercy. But in the evening Aredhel sickened, though the wound had seemed little, and she fell into the darkness, and in the night she died; for the point of the javelin was poisoned, though none knew until it was too late.
Therefore when Eöl was brought before Turgon he found no mercy; and they led him forth to the Caragdûr, a precipice of black rock upon the north side of the hill of Gondolin, there to cast him down from the sheer walls of the city. And Maeglin stood by and said nothing; but at the last Eöl cried out: “So you forsake your father and his kin, ill-gotten son! Here shall you fail of all your hopes, and here may you yet die the same death as I.” (The Silmarillion, Chapter 16, “Of Maeglin”)
Family Trees
Houses of Finwë and of Thingol
Aredhel’s death is the first death in the House of Finwë since the death of Fëanor upon his arrival in Beleriand and the death of Turgon’s wife Elenwë on the Grinding Ice.
Bereg, Amlach, Haleth, and Andreth are highlighted in the family trees below, due to their role in the events of this post.
House of Bëor
House of Marach
House of Haleth (Haladin)
Optional Readings
If you want to read the parts of The Silmarillion that cover the events in this post, they are in the following chapters:
Chapter 17 (“Of the Coming of Men into the West”), paragraphs 17 to 29, beginning with “But many men remained in Estolad”, and continuing to the end of the paragraph that begins “Now Brethil was claimed as part of his realm by King Thingol…”
Chapter 16 (“Of Maeglin), from paragraph 11 to the end of the chapter, beginning with “As Maeglin grew to full stature…”