The complete guide to mi.., p.21
The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, page 21
This was the Age of the Eldar and of Morgoth. It ended with the Wars of Beleriand and the Great Battle, in which Morgoth was cast out of Eä.
Also called the Elder Days and the Eldest Days.
For an attempt to establish a chronology of the First Age, see the Appendix to this Guide. (III 452, 519; ’93 ed. 414, 479; ’01 ed. 400, 465. S 7, 294. B 365.)
FIRST BATTLE OF THE FORDS OF ISEN See: Battles of the Fords of Isen. (III 465; ’93 ed. 426; ’01 ed. 412.)
FIRST-BORN, FIRSTBORN OF ILÚVATAR The Elves (q.v.), especially the Eldar. (I 294; ’93 ed. 269; ’01 ed. 249. S 18, 48. B 7, 48.)
FIRST DAY The period of the first blooming and waning of the Two Trees. (S 39. B 34.)
FIRST DEEP Level of Khazad-dûm just below the Great Gates (I 426; ’93 ed. 389; ’01 ed. 368.)
FIRST EASTFARTHING TROOP See: the Watch. (III 347; ’93 ed. 314; ’01 ed. 305.)
FIRST HOUSE OF THE EDAIN The kindred of Bëor, the first group of Edain to enter Beleriand. They dwelt for a time in Ossiriand and then in Estolad, but finally they allied themselves with the house of Finarfin and settled in Dorthonion, especially in Ladros. Some, though, led by Bereg, refused to enter the Wars and moved south out of Beleriand.
The First House was shattered during Dagor Bragollach and its aftermath. Most of the few survivors of the first onslaught and of Barahir’s defense of Finrod fled to Hithlum, where they were absorbed into the Third House. A few warriors, led by Barahir, became outlaws in Dorthonion; Beren was the only warrior of the First House to survive there. A remnant of the women and children of the House, led by Emeldir, fled Dorthonion and were absorbed into the other Houses.
The people of the First House were dark-haired and grey-eyed. In spirit they were like the Noldor, skilled of hand and eager and thoughtful of mind. Also called the House of Bëor. (III 388; ’93 ed. 350; ’01 ed. 342. S 140–43, 148, 151–52, 155, 157, 307. B 168–72, 177, 182, 187, 189, 381.)
FIRST LINE The first nine Kings of Rohan. The First Line began with Eorl, and the Kings of the First Line were descended from father to son. The last king of the First Line was Helm, who was succeeded by his nephew, his sons having fallen in the war against Wulf. (III 434–35; ’93 ed. 396–97; ’01 ed. 383–84.)
FIRST SHIRRIFF An office and title of the Mayor of Michel Delving in his capacity of head of the Watch. (I 31; ’93 ed. 29–30; ’01 ed. 11.)
FIRST WAR The initial conflict in Eä between the Valar and Melkor, in which Melkor hindered the completion of Arda until he fled at the coming of Tulkas. At length Arda was made firm, although its plan was altered. (S 21–22, 35. B 12, 29.)
FIRTH OF DRENGIST Drengist (q.v.). (S 80. B 89.)
FISHER BLUE A kingfisher of the Withywindle, in the Shire-poem Bombadil Goes Boating. (TB 18, 23.)
FLADRIF (S.: ‘skin-bark’) (FA-) Ent, one of the three eldest surviving Ents at the time of the WR. Fladrif lived west of Iséngard, and when Saruman became evil he was wounded by Orcs and many of his trees killed. After this, Fladrif retreated to the higher slopes of Fangorn and refused to come down from there.
Fladrif probably resembled a birch tree.
Called in Westron Skinbark. (II 97–98; ’93 ed. 91; ’01 ed. 77.)
FLAMBARD TOOK (TA 2887–2989) Hobbit of the Shire, son of Isembard Took. (III 475; ’93 ed. 436; ’01 ed. 424.)
FLAME IMPERISHABLE The creating spirit of Ilúvatar, by which the Ainur and Eä were made, possessed by Ilúvatar alone.
Also called the Imperishable Flame, the Fire, and perhaps the Flame of Anor.
See also: the Secret Fire. (S 15, 16, 20. B 3, 4, 12.)
FLAME OF ANOR The power wielded by Gandalf, possibly an allusion to the white light of the Sun as a symbol of the Secret Fire. (I 429; ’93 ed. 392; ’01 ed. 370.)
FLAME OF UDÛN The fire of the Balrog.
See: Udûn. (I 429; ’93 ed. 392; ’01 ed. 370.)
FLAMMIFER OF WESTERNESSE Eärendil (q.v.), as a star, so called because it guided the Edain to Númenor. (I 311; ’93 ed. 285; ’01 ed. 265.)
FLET Talan (q.v.). (I 444; ’93 ed. 405; ’01 ed. 384.)
FLOATING LOG, THE A good inn in Frogmorton, closed during the WR by Sharkey’s Men. (III 345–46; ’93 ed. 312; ’01 ed. 303–4.)
FLÓI (d. TA 2989) Dwarf. Flói went to Khazad-dûm with Balin in 2989 and was slain by an Orc-arrow in a battle outside the Great Gates. It seems that before he was slain Flói killed an important enemy fighter, perhaps a troll or an uruk. He was buried near the Mirrormere. (I 418; ’93 ed. 382; ’01 ed. 361.)
FLOWER OF SILVER The Moon (q.v.), so called because it was the last flower of Telperion. (S 100. B 115.)
FOAMRIDERS The Teleri (q.v.) of Eldamar. (S 171. B 207.)
FOE OF THE VALAR Melkor (q.v.). (S 85. B 95.)
FOLCA (TA 2804–64) Man, thirteenth King of Rohan (2851–64). A great hunter. Folca killed the last of the Orcs remaining in Rohan from the invasion of 2799, and also slew the boar of Everholt. He died of the tusk-wounds given him by the boar. (III 435; ’93 ed. 397; ’01 ed. 385.)
FOLCO BOFFIN (fl. WR) Hobbit of the Shire, a good friend of Frodo Baggins. Folco was most probably a guest at the Farewell Party. (I 71, 102; ’93 ed. 66, 95; ’01 ed. 46, 75.)
FOLCRED (TA 2858–85) Man of Rohan, son of King Folcwine and twin brother of Fastred (q.v.). (III 436; ’93 ed. 397; ’01 ed. 385.)
FOLCWINE (TA 2830–2903) Man, fourteenth King of Rohan (2864–2903). Folcwine recovered the area between the Adorn and Isen from the Dunlendings, and in 2885 he sent an army commanded by his twin sons Fastred and Folcred to the aid of Gondor in the Battle of the Crossings of Poros. (III 435–36; ’93 ed. 397; ’01 ed. 385.)
FOLDE Area of Rohan near Edoras, the homeland of the royal family. (III 14, 92, 93; ’93 ed. 17, 83, 84; ’01 ed. xvi, 70, 71. L 185.)
FOLK OF THE MOUNTAIN The Dwarves (q.v.). (III 304; ’93 ed. 275; ’01 ed. 266.)
FOLK OF THE WOOD The Elves (q.v.). (III 304; ’93 ed. 275; ’01 ed. 266.)
FOLLOWERS Men (q.v.). (S 18. B 7.)
FORBIDDEN DOOR The Dark Door (q.v.). (III 459; ’93 ed. 421; ’01 ed. 407.)
FORD OF BRITHIACH Brithiach (q.v.). (S 131. B 157.)
FORD OF BRUINEN Ford across the Bruinen, on the Great East Road. On their way to Rivendell in TA 3018, Frodo and his companions were attacked here by the Nazgûl, but the Black Riders were defeated by Aragorn and Glorfindel and a flood created by Elrond.
Also called the Ford of Rivendell. (I 16, 269; ’93 ed. 14–15, 246; ’01 ed. xv, 226. H 12, 55; ’93 ed. map, 45; ’01 ed. xii, 45.)
FORD OF CARROCK Ford across Anduin, kept open at the time of the WR by the Beornings.
In H, the Ford of Carrock only connects the Carrock and the east bank of the Anduin; perhaps the reference on I 301 (’93 ed. 276; ’01 ed. 256) should be to the Old Ford. (I 301; ’93 ed. 276; ’01 ed. 256. H 116–18, 131; ’93 ed. 112–14, 129; ’01 ed. 113–15, 129.)
FORD OF RIVENDELL The Ford of Bruinen (q.v.). (I 283; ’93 ed. 259–60; ’01 ed. 240.)
FORDS OF ISEN Fords across the Isen in western Rohan, the chief entrance into Rohan from the west. In TA 2758 the Fords were the site of a battle between King Helm and Wulf, and during the WR two battles were fought here between the Rohirrim and Saruman’s forces.
Also called the Crossings of Isen. (II 168, 198–99; ’93 ed. 156, 183–84; ’01 ed. 142, 169–70. III 432; ’93 ed. 394; ’01 ed. 382.)
FORELITHE The sixth month of the Shire Reckoning (q.v.), coming before the Lithe, and thus roughly corresponding to our June.
Called Lithe in Bree. (III 478, 483; ’93 ed. 439, 444; ’01 ed. 426, 431.)
FOREST GATE Western entrance to an elf-path crossing northern Mirkwood. Thorin and Company were shown this gate by Beorn in TA 2941, and entered Mirkwood through it. (H 13, 140; ’93 ed. map, 139; ’01 ed. xiii, 140.)
FOREST OF BRETHIL Brethil (q.v.). (S 120. B 142.)
FOREST OF NELDORETH Neldoreth (q.v.). (S 121. B 145.)
FOREST OF REGION Region (q.v.). (S 132. B 158.)
FOREST RIVER River flowing from the Ered Mithrin through northern Mirkwood and into the Long Lake. (H 13, 172, 180; ’93 ed. map, 176, 185; ’01 ed. xiii, 177, 186.)
FOREYULE The last month of the Shire Reckoning (q.v.), roughly corresponding to our December.
Called Yulemath in Bree and the Eastfarthing. (III 478, 483; ’93 ed. 439, 444; ’01 ed. 426, 431.)
FORGOIL (Dunlendings: ‘strawhead’) Name given the Rohirrim by the Dunlendings. (II 180; ’93 ed. 167; ’01 ed. 153. III 509; ’93 ed. 470; ’01 ed. 455.)
FORLINDON (S.: ‘north Lindon’) That portion of Lindon north of the Gulf of Lhûn. In the Second Age Gil-galad lived in Forlindon. (I 16; ’93 ed. 14; ’01 ed. xiv. III 452; ’93 ed. 414; ’01 ed. 400.)
FORLOND (S.: ‘north-haven’) Harbor on the northern side of the Gulf of Lhûn.
Misspelled ‘Forland’ on I 16. (I 16; ’93 ed. 14; ’01 ed. xiv. III 411; ’93 ed. 372; ’01 ed. 362.)
FORLONG (d. TA 3019) Man of Gondor, Lord of Lossarnach. Although old, he fought valiantly in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where he was slain by Easterlings after becoming separated from his men.
He was called Forlong the Fat because he was. Forlong is of pre-Númenórean (early Second Age) Mannish origin. (III 49, 148, 152, 508; ’93 ed. 46, 137, 470; ’01 ed. 30–31, 120, 124, 455.)
FORMEN (Q.: ‘north’) Name for the tengwa (number 10). This tengwa was commonly used to indicate the compass-point ‘north’, even in languages in which the word for ‘north’ did not begin with this sign. (III 500; ’93 ed. 461; ’01 ed. 447.)
FORMENOS (Q.: ‘north-citadel’) The fortress and treasury of the house of Finwë, built in northern Valinor during Fëanor’s exile from Tirion. Melkor stole the Silmarils from Formenos and slew Finwë there. (S 71, 75, 76. B 78, 83, 84.)
FORN Name given Tom Bombadil (q.v.) by the Dwarves. (I 347; ’93 ed. 318; ’01 ed. 297.)
FORNOST ERAIN (S.: ‘north fortress of the kings’) City on the North Downs, second capital of Arnor and its chief city in the Third Age. Fornost was also the capital and chief city of Arthedain, but it was captured by Angmar in TA 1974. Although freed the next year in the Battle of Fornost, Fornost was deserted, since the North-kingdom ended.
A palantír (q.v.) was kept at Fornost until 1974.
Called Norbury, or Norbury of the Kings, in Westron. After its abandonment, Fornost was known as Deadman’s Dike. (I 16, 320–21; ’93 ed. 14, 294; ’01 ed. xiv, 274. III 337, 398, 411; ’93 ed. 304, 360, 373; ’01 ed. 295–96, 351, 363. S 291. B 360.)
FOROCHEL (S.: ‘north—’) Cold, barren area in northern Middle-earth, about 300 miles north of the Shire. Its climate was imposed by Morgoth. In the Third Age the Lossoth were its sole inhabitants.
See also: Cape of Forochel. (I 16; ’93 ed. 14; ’01 ed. xiv. III 398–400; ’93 ed. 360–61; ’01 ed. 351–52.)
FORODWAITH (S.: ‘north-people’) Men of the First Age, the inhabitants of Forochel and other areas in the extreme north of Middle-earth. (III 399; ’93 ed. 360; ’01 ed. 351.)
FORSAKEN ELVES The Umanyar (q.v.). (S 233. B 288.)
FORSAKEN INN, THE Inn one day’s journey east of Bree, the easternmost inn on the Great East Road. (I 253; ’93 ed. 231; ’01 ed. 212.)
FORTINBRAS TOOK (TA 2745–2848) Hobbit of the Shire, son of Ferumbras Took and, as Fortinbras I, twenty-fifth Thain of the Shire (2801–48). (III 475; ’93 ed. 436; ’01 ed. 424.)
FORTINBRAS TOOK (TA 2878–2980) Hobbit of the Shire, son of Isumbras II and, as Fortinbras II, twenty-ninth Thain of the Shire (2939–80). (III 475; ’93 ed. 436; ’01 ed. 424.)
FOSCO BAGGINS (TA 2864–2960) Hobbit of the Shire, paternal grandfather of Frodo Baggins. He married Ruby Bolger. (III 474; ’93 ed. 435; ’01 ed. 422.)
FOUR FARTHINGS The Shire (q.v.). (I 306; ’93 ed. 280; ’01 ed. 260.)
FOURTH AGE The age of the Dominion of Men. The Fourth Age began with the passing of the Three Rings and various heroes of the Third Age after the defeat of Sauron (September, TA 3021), but the first day of the Fourth Age was March 25, TA 3021.
In the Fourth Age most of the Elves, especially the Eldar, passed over Sea, and those of the non-Mannish races that remained in Middle-earth dwindled and hid, for their time was past and Men no longer understood them.
Also called the New Age and the Younger Days. (III 308, 387, 470, 486; ’93 ed. 278, 349, 431, 447; ’01 ed. 269, 341, 418, 433–34. S 304. B 378.)
FOX DOWNS Misprint for the Far Downs (q.v.). (I 24; ’93 ed. 23; ’01 ed. 5.)
FRAM (fl. TA 21st Cent.) Man, Lord of Éothéod, son of Frumgar. Fram slew the dragon Scatha and won his hoard. He later quarreled with the Dwarves, who claimed the treasure, and may have been slain by them. (III 430; ’93 ed. 392; ’01 ed. 380.)
FRAMSBURG Town or fortress on the extreme northern Anduin, probably a stronghold of the Éothéod. (PB.)
FRÁR (d. TA 2994) Dwarf. Frár went to Khazad-dûm with Balin, and was slain in the defense of Durin’s Bridge and the Second Hall. (I 419; ’93 ed. 383; ’01 ed. 362.)
FRÉA (TA 2570–2659) Man, fourth King of Rohan (2645–59). (III 434; ’93 ed. 396; ’01 ed. 384.)
FRÉALÁF (TA 2726–98) Man, tenth King of Rohan (2759–98) and the first of the Second Line, son of Hild, King Helm’s sister. During the Dunlending invasion of 2758, Fréaláf took refuge in Dunharrow with many of the Rohirrim, and early the next spring he took Meduseld and Edoras in a surprise attack in which Wulf was slain. In the course of 2759, Fréaláf, with aid from Gondor, drove the Dunlendings out of all of Rohan. Since King Helm and his sons had died in the invasion, Fréaláf was made king.
During Fréaláf ’s reign Saruman came to Isengard, and the wizard aided the Rohirrim, who had been greatly weakened by the war with Wulf and the Long Winter. (III 433, 435; ’93 ed. 395, 397; ’01 ed. 382–83, 384.)
FREÁWINE (TA 2594–2680) Man, fifth King of Rohan (2659–80). (III 435; ’93 ed. 396; ’01 ed. 384.)
FRECA (d. TA 2754) Man of mixed Rohirric and Dunlending blood, father of Wulf. Freca was very rich and powerful and had much land near the Adorn. King Helm distrusted him, and after Freca insulted the king for refusing an offer to marry his daughter to Wulf, Helm slew him. (III 431–32; ’93 ed. 393; ’01 ed. 381.)
FREDEGAR BOLGER (fl. WR) Hobbit of the Shire, son of Odovacar Bolger, a guest at the Farewell Party, and a good friend of Frodo Baggins. He came from Budgeford. In 3018 Fredegar helped cover Frodo’s departure from Crickhollow and was nearly slain by the Nazgûl. During Lotho and Saruman’s control of the Shire, Fredegar led a band of rebels in the Brockenbores, but was captured and imprisoned in the Lockholes.
Fredegar was called Fatty before he was imprisoned and half-starved. He was a typical Hobbit in that, despite his friendship with Frodo, he had no desire to leave the Shire with him in 3018 to seek adventure, but became a partisan when it was necessary. (I 71, 153, 238–39; ’93 ed. 66, 141, 218–19; ’01 ed. 46, 121, 199–200. III 372, 475; ’93 ed. 336, 436; ’01 ed. 328, 424.)
FREE FAIR Fair held once every seven years on the Lithe. The Fair was held on the White Downs and was attended by Hobbits. The Mayor of the Shire was elected at the Free Fair. (I 31; ’93 ed. 29; ’01 ed. 11. III 377; ’93 ed. 340; ’01 ed. 332.)
FREE FOLK See: the Free Peoples. (I 368; ’93 ed. 336; ’01 ed. 315.)
FREE LORDS OF THE FREE A general term used by Boromir to refer to the mighty lords of the Free Peoples such as the Steward of Gondor and Elrond. (I 350; ’93 ed. 320; ’01 ed. 300.)
FREE PEOPLES The ‘good’ races of Middle-earth: Men (especially the Dúnedain), Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits. The term was used specifically to refer to those races which were in opposition to Sauron.
The Free Folk were those individuals who comprised the Free Peoples.
Also called the Free. (I 361, 368; ’93 ed. 330, 336; ’01 ed. 309, 315.)
FRERIN (TA 2751–2799) Dwarf of Durin’s line, second son of Thráin II and younger brother of Thorin II. Frerin escaped with his family from Erebor when Smaug attacked the Dwarf-kingdom in 2770, and wandered with Durin’s Folk until he was slain in the Battle of Azanulbizar. (III 440, 443, 450; ’93 ed. 402, 404, 413; ’01 ed. 389, 391, 398.)
FRERY In Bree and the Eastfarthing, the name given Afteryule (q.v.). (III 483; ’93 ed. 444–45; ’01 ed. 431.)
FRIEND OF THE NOLDOR Aulë (q.v.), so called because he instructed the Noldor, who shared his interest in substances and crafts. (S 39. B 35.)
FRODO BAGGINS (TA 2968–) Hobbit of the Shire, Ring-bearer, Elf-friend, and hero, the only son of Drogo Baggins and Primula Brandybuck. In 2980, on the death of his parents, he was adopted by his cousin Bilbo and went to live with him in Bag End. In 3001, when Bilbo left the Shire, Frodo inherited all his goods, including Bag End and the One Ring.
In 3018, on Gandalf ’s advice, Frodo, under the name of Mr. Underhill, went to Rivendell to escape the Nazgûl. Along the way, he met Aragorn and was nearly slain by the Lord of the Nazgûl. In Rivendell, he volunteered to undertake the Quest of Mount Doom. After great adventures and heroic deeds with the Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo reached the Sammath Naur, but at the last moment he claimed the Ring for himself. However, Gollum bit off Frodo’s ring-finger and then fell into the Sammath Naur, thus fulfilling the Quest.
After the WR, Frodo was for a while (November 3019–Midyear’s Day, 3020) Mayor of Michel Delving. However, discontented in mind and wounded in body (from his stabbing by the Nazgûl-lord and his poisoning by Shelob), he passed over Sea with the Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings, leaving his goods to his beloved servant and friend, Sam Gamgee.
Frodo wrote the account of the War of the Ring and the Quest of Mount Doom contained in the Red Book of Westmarch; he also composed a few songs.
Even before the WR, Frodo was more thoughtful and moody than Hobbits were wont to be, and eagerly sought out news of far lands. Although this was in part because of Frodo’s responsibility as Ring-bearer, he was also uncommonly perceptive of the hearts of those he met. The Ring influenced Frodo surprisingly little; although it caused him to age very slowly and he was greatly troubled by the burden and eventually succumbed to it, his resistance was very great. Frodo knew Sindarin and a little Quenya, and was said to show uncommon skill in pronouncing foreign languages. He seems to have had few friends of his own age, although he was close to Bilbo and a number of Hobbits younger than himself. He was unmarried.
