LOTR Discussion: Appendix A, parts 2 and 3

[Forkbeard]

The House of Eorl and the Rohirrim are related to those peoples who dwelt
in Rhonvanion, and are in origin closely related to the Beornings; their
realm was south of Mirkwood before the invasions of the Wainriders, and
since the forefathers of Eorl were descended from the kings, they could
claim distant kinship with the kings of Gondor through the descendants
of Eldacar (see Appendix A.I.iv). During and after the invasions of the
Wainriders (see Appendix A.I.iv), the horse-lords moved westward and
dwelled between Gladden Fields and the Carrock. This land grew crowded,
and the shadow of Dol Guldur grew longer, and the Witch King had been
overthrown (see Appendix A.I.iii, iv), so they moved northward and drove
away the remnants of Angmar on that side of the mountains.

In 2510 of the Third Age, Gondor was beset by armies of wild men from
the East who crossed the Anduin, and also from the west by great number
of orcs who came down from the mountains. Cirion the Steward sent north
for any help (see Appendix A.I.iv, and also UT. Pt. III.ii, Cirion and
Eorl) , and eventually messengers came to Eorl, made king
after his father Leod was thrown from a horse he tried to tame. Eorl
sought out the horse, demanded weregild of the beast, and the horse
submitted. Eorl (OE: brave man, chief, later a nobleman) named him
Felarof (a lot of bravery), the first of the mearas (OE mearh=horse)
whose sires were believed to have come over the sea with Orome. Eorl
answered Gondor's pleas for help, and he and his force came to the Field
of Celebrant just as Gondor's army was being crushed between the forces
of the wild men and the orcs. The riders from the North cast fear into
the hearts and minds of their foes and the tide turned in Gondor's favor.

Cirion in gratitude for their aid, and to have the essentially
depopulated land to the north repopulated with a strong ally rather than
open to his enemies, ceded Calenardhon between the Anduin and the Isen
to Eorl and his people. They renamed it the Mark (OE mearc, district,
territory, province, also related to the kingdom of Mercia, the dialect
of OE that Tolkien liked best and where Oxford was located) of the
Riders, and called themselves Eorlingas; in Gondor they were known as
the Rohirrim (horse-lords) and their land Rohan.

Yet, the Eorlingas did not forget their homeland in the north and told
many stories and sang many songs relating tales of their land there.
They remembered Frumgar, the chieftain who led the people north to the
Eotheod. Fram, Frumgar's son, slew Scatha, the great worm of Ered
Mithrin. When the Dwarves who feuded with Scatha sought some
reparations and so claimed Scatha's hoard (most of which was stolen from
them in the first place), Fram sent them only a necklace of Scatha's
teeth. Though Fram grew wealthy because of Scatha's hoard, he
transferred the feud of the dwarves from Scatha to his own people.
Eorl reigned sixty years in the Mark. He died in battle against the
Easterlings in 2545. Felarof lay with him in death.
Brego (OE=ruler, chief) defeated the Easterlings and built the great
hall of Meduseld.(OE mead hall)

His son Baldor (OE Prince, ruler, and some will also recognize the name
of one of the Norse gods) at the feast in the hall vowed he would tread
the Paths of the Dead . He did not return. (see LoTR: RoTK, bk V,
chap. 2: The Passing of the Grey Company).

Brego's second son Aldor (OE chief, leader), known as the Old (a
linguistic joke: the name is a shortened form of OE ealdor, elder, old
man, etc and by extension chief, leader, king. Like Gamling the Old,
Tolkien is here having a double entendre and joke: The old leader the
old, you might say)for the length of his life and reign, some 75 years.

For the most part he had peace; he drove out the rest of the
Dunlendings, and the Rohirrim grew and prospered.
Frea (OE, master), Aldor's son, was old when he began to rule, little is
said of him or his son Freawine (lord-friend), or grandson Goldwine
(gold-friend, generous, goldwine and freawine are both used to describe
Hrothgar in Beowulf); these were peaceful and prosperous times.
Deor (noble, excellent), 2644-2718, had trouble with the Dunlendings,
who occupied Isengard and could not be overcome. His son Gram (the
fierce one) followed, and then comes Helm (helmet) Hammerhand.

In the Mark, between Eorl and Theoden, the most is told of Helm
Hammerhand. Toward the end of his reign, an earl of the kingdom,
thought to have Dunlendish heritage in his line, named Freca (OE has two
"freca" words: a) greedy and b) warrior), became
rich and powerful in his way. He approached Helm at council for the
hand of Helm's daughter for his son, Wulf. Helm rebuffed him, Freca
responded none to well to the king's jest. Helm suggested that he and
Freca deal with it later. After the council, Helm forced Freca outside
and away from friends and supporters, spoke his mind, and backed it up
with a blow with his fist. Freca fell and died. Helm declared all of
Freca's family outlaws, and so Freca's kin fled. Four years later,
Gondor was attacked by Corsairs, and Rohan was beset from the East over
the Anduin. The Dunlendings then also rose up with Wulf, Freca's son,
at their head and crossed the Isen. They were bolstered by enemies of
Gondor that landed at the mouths of the Isen and Lefnui rivers, came
upriver, and swelled the numbers of the Dunlendings. Gondor was unable
to send aid. Rohan was overrun, and Helm took refuge in the Hornburg.
Wulf took Edoras and killed Helm's son Haleth (hero). At this time the
Long Winter ravaged the Eorlingas and their enemies alike, and many on
both sides died from the cold and starvation. In midwinter at Yule,
Helm's son Hama (name of a Germanic hero who stole the Broslings
necklace, appears in Beowulf)led a small force out to foray, but they
were lost in the snow. In despair, Helm would go out clad all in white
and stalk his enemies, kiilling them with his bare hands. His enemies
quailed, and when he signaled his intent by winding his great horn, they
fled down the Coomb rather than fight the king. Eventually Helm died,
a solid white figure, knees unbent, standing on the Dike. Even still,
the Dunlendings feared to approach.

The winter broke. Frealaf (beloved leader), son of Hild (war), Helm's
sister, descended from
Dunharrow and destroyed Wulf, caught unaware and surprised in Meduseld.
Over the following months, the Easterlings withdrew, and aid from
Gondor came, and the Dunlendings were driven back. Frealaf became king
and began the new line of kings. It was almost a century before the
Rohirrim regained their strength. At Frealaf's crowning, Saruman
appeared seeking to dwell in Isengard. Beren, Steward of Gondor, gave
him the keys, but still claimed the fortress for Gondor, Saruman was but
occupant.

Frealof has already been mentioned. His son was Brytta (governor),
called by his people Leofa (Beloved) so much did his people love him.
In his time war was renewed with the Orcs who sought to make refuge in
the White mountains, refugees of the war of the Orcs and Dwarves. (see
Appendix A:I;iv Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion: The Stewards, and
Appendix A:III Durin's Folk; also see Appendix B: year TA 2793).
Walda (fr. weald, might, power)had a short reign, he was trapped by orcs
as he and his friends rode in the mountains from Dunharrow.
Folca (the people, the tribe), known as a great hunter, avenged his
father and stamped out the last orc stronghold in the White Mountains.
Folcwine (people's friend) reconquered the west march that the
Dunlendings had long occupied. He also sent aid to Gondor who was being
attacked by the Haradrim. His twin sons went in his place and both died
in service to Gondor.

Fengel (lord, king), the fourth son of Folcwine, is not remembered well.
He was greedy, made strife with his children and his counselors. His
son Thengel (prince, king)left and lived in Gondor in the service of
Turgon. Thengel married late and wed Morwen of Lossarnach, whom the
Rohirrim called Steelsheen for her slender grace, pride, and fair
complexion. They had 3 children in Gondor, Thengel the first son but
second child. When Fengel died, the Rohirrim recalled Thengel, but he
was relunctant to go. He had two more children in Rohan, Theodwyn was
the more beautiful and her brother Thengel loved her dearly. Soon into
Thengel's reign Saruman declared himself Lord of Isengard.
Theoden (chief, king) reigned from 2948 to 3019. He is known as Theoden
Ednew (renewed), since he fell into a decline but was renewed by Gandalf
(see LoTR: TT: bk iii, The Golden Hall). Most of his story is related
in the LoTR. Elements that are not mentioned in the main text are
mentioned here.

His sister Theodwyn (people's joy) in 2989 married Eomund of Eastfold,
the chief Marshal. She bore him 2 children, Eomer and Eowyn. This
period was dark, as Sauron arose again, Saruman encroached on Rohan's
borders, orcs stole and slew horses. Eomund was killed in 3002 in a
raid against a band of orcs. His wife soon after grew ill and in time
died. Theoden took Eomer and Eowyn into his own house and called them
his son and his daughter. Theoden had only one child of his own,
Theodred. Theoden's wife Elfhild died in child birth. Theodred died in
the First Battle of the Fords of Isen, February 25, 3019.
Theoden died before the gates of Minas Tirith (Mundburg). His nephew
and heir, Eomer, became king and so began the third line of kings since
Eorl. Eomer reigned 65 years, made the friendship of Aragorn, King
Elessar, and of Prince Imrahil. He married Lothiriel, daughter of
Imrahil. His son Elfwine the Fair ruled after him. King Elessar
renewed Cirion's grant, and Eomer repeated Eorl's oath.

Turning to Durin's folk, nothing is said of the origins of the dwarves in the appendices. Durin, the name of the eldest of the seven fathers of the dwarves, awoke and eventually made his way to Kheled-zaram, the Mines of Moria as they were afterwards called, and there made his home and gathered his people to him. He lived long, nicknamed the deathless, but eventually he did pass the way of all flesh. His line however did not fail, and his five successors all looked and seemed so much like him that they too were called Durin.

After the First Age ended, many dwarves whose homes lay in ruins came as refugees to Durin's doors increasing the wealth and power of Moria and so they endured in their mountain fastness through the Dark Years. (The appendices re: the dwarves make no mention of the events of the Second Age, the dwarves' friendship with the elves of Hollin, or the making of the rings. See UT: The History of Galadriel and Celeborn for some of this; for the origin of the Dwarves see Silmarillion: Of Aule and Yavanna, and see Silm: Of the Sindar for a brief account of the elves and dwarves in the First Age, see also Of the Ruin of Doriath which in part relates the story of the Necklace of the Dwarves, Nauglamir and the involvement of Mim the Petty Dwarf; mention of the 7 rings for the dwarves is made briefly in Of the Rings of Power) Towards the middle of the Third Age Durin was again king in Moria, the sixth. This was at the time of Sauron's regrouping, and the shadow had just begun to take shape in Mirkwood, not yet looking toward Moria. Then the dwarves seeking the ever elusive and ever more scarce mithril were delving beneath cruel Caradhras and roused form sleep a balrog of Morgoth: “...a thing of terror that, flying from Thangorodrim, had lain hidden at the foundations of the earth since the coming of the Host of the West.” It slew Durin, and a year later his son Nain. And with them passed the glory of Moria, and its people destroyed or scattered.

Escapees from Moria made their way northwards. Thrain I, son of Nain, son of Durin VI, came to Erebor and the Lonely Mountain and became King under the Mountain. There in their new works, Thrain found the Arkenstone, the heart of the mountain. Thrain's son Thorin went further north into the Grey Mountains where other of Durin's folk were gathering. But north of the Grey Mtns were dragons and they became strong again and attacked the dwarves of the Grey Mtns. Dain I and his son Fror were slain at the door to their hall by a great dragon. Durin's folk then abandoned the Grey Mtns. Gror, another son of Dain, took many and went to the Iron Hills; Thror, Dain's heir, with Borin his father's brother, took the remainder and came to the Lonely Mountain. The Lonely Mountain prospered and had good relations with the men living in Dale, related to the men of Rohan, and with those living further south on the Long Lake. The men grew stronger and were able to hold the Easterlings at bay, and so the dwarves had peace. News of their wealth and success was noised abroad, and even the dragons heard of it. One, a young drake named Smaug, came down on the mountain unannounced and unaware and laid waste to it killing and consuming all the dwarves he could. From the destruction many escaped, last of all King Thror, son of Thrain I, and his son Thrain II by a secret door. Most of the survivors went to the Iron Hills, but Thror and his immediate family wandered for a long time. When he was old Thror left with one retainer named Nar; and he gave to Thrain his son his only possession: one of the 7 rings and told Thrain of its importance. Thror and Nar went to see what could be seen at Moria; Thror marched in as “an heir returning”, but Nar waited in hiding outside. After a few days, Nar saw Thror's body flung out, and from the doorway Azog, leader of the orcs living there, made Nar his messenger offering insult upon insult to the dwarves. Nar sought out Thrain who sent messages to all dwarves who then gathered together to avenge the heir of one of the 7 fathers and so began the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. One by one the dwarves attacked and sacked all the orc strongholds they could until at last they came to Moria. The Battle of Azanulbizar was bloody and horrible, the memory of which makes the orcs shudder yet and the dwarves hide their faces and weep; but eventually the dwarves had the victory but at such a great cost that the victory could only be Pyrrhic at best. The dwarves of the Iron Hills made the battle at the end, and turned the tide. Nain, son of Gror metnioned above fought Azog, and died. But Nain's son Dain avenged his father and slew Azog, and he alone of the dwarves went inside Moria and came quickly out in fear. During the battle, Thrain's son Thorin lost his shield, hewn in two as he fought. So he grasped the bough of an oak tree, cut it from the tree, and used it to ward off the blows of the orcs as he fought, and so earned the name Oakenshield. After the battle, the dwarves and orcs were greatly diminished in numbers. Thrain claimed Moria, but the dwarves of the other houses, their wrath spent, returned to their homes. Those of the house of Durin listened to the counsel of the young Dain: Durin's Bane still awaited them in Moria, do not return. Dain led his people back to the Iron Hills. Thrain and Thorin again wandered working where they could until the came to the Ered Luin and made a home and prospered for a time in a small way.

Like his father before him, Thrain in old age left to wander, his mind returning to Erebor and the Lonely Mountain. Sauron had risen and discovered his whereabouts, seeking to find the last remaining ring free of his knowledge or control, save the One. Thrain was pursued, at first in secret, but later the more he attempted to go North or towards Erebor, the more misfortune prevented him. One night, taking refuge under the eaves of Mirkwood from bad weather, Thrain went missing, disappearing from the camp in the middle of the night and never again found. And so Thorin became Durin's heir; it was not until long afterward that it was discovered what happened to Thrain (see LoTR Bk II, Ch. 2 The Council of Elrond)

Thorin inherited from his father and his father's father the avenging on Smaug and as the years passed he conceived of returning to the Lonely Mountain and retaking it. As he thought on these things he encountered Gandalf the Wizard on an evening while both happened to be in Bree: Thorin pressed Gandalf to come to his halls and counsel on the return to Erebor, and Gandalf did come and aided Thorin's plans. What happened thereafter is told of elsewhere (see The Hobbit or There and Back Again; see also UT: The Quest of Erebor, see also references in LoTR BK II, ch. 2 and in Bk I. ch. 2). In sum, the dragon was slain by the future King Bard of Dale, there was battle in Erebor as Bolg of the North came upon the dwarves to avenge his father Azog, and Dain led his people from the Iron Hills to aid Durin's heir: thus was fought the first battle of Dale, also known as the Battle of the Five Armies. The orcs were defeated, but Thorin was slain and laid to rest with the Arkenstone on his breast in the heart of the mountain. Dain became King under the Mountain, and the kingdom knew peace, friendship with elves and men around, and so prospered.

Gimli son of Gloin, the latter who accompanied Thorin on his quest, relates that dwarf women are few, and so the number of dwarves increases but slowly. For his part, Gimli came with his father to the Council of Elrond, and so became part of the Fellowship of the Ring. After the War of the Ring, Gimli brought some of his people south from Erebor into Rohan and became Lord of the Glittering Caves, the caves he discovered at the Hornburg. With him came Legolas who brought some of his people south to dwell in Ithilien and made it again a fair country. When King Elessar died, it is said that Legolas sought the sea and the Uttermost West, and with him went Gimli the Dwarf.

Discussion Questions:

1. The Eorlingas seem to be on the cusp of this history all the way through. Why, and why aren't they more central sooner?

2. Why haven't either Rohan or Gondor seen the usefulness of "wains" and adapted some of the milt forces to chariots?

3. The marriages in LoTR all seem to be significant in terms of the overall history. What is significant about Eomer marrying Imrahil's daughter?

4. One of the lines consistent re: the Realms in Exile is that their lines became mixed with lesser men: isn't this exactly what is happening with marriages of Eomer and Eowyn: high Numenoreans with untainted family lines marrying lesser, albeit noble, people?

5. Why did the Dunlendings seem to hate the Rohirrim more than they did Gondor?

6. There is an odd pattern among the dwarves: the heir of Durin in exile goes one direction, the majority of the people go another: why?

7. What heppened to the other dragons, esp. after the dwarves desert the Grey mtns and men move southward?

8. Why is Dain named "Ironfoot"?

9. After the War of the Ring, why did no dwarves return to the now empty (save perhaps for a few remaining orcs) Moria, and why was not the fair land of Hollin repopulated?

10. How many important Middle Earth events were conceived and planned over Butterbur's beer?

11. Didn't Gimli take an awful chance going West, possibly being left alone on the sea when Legolas gets West but he isn't allowed in?

[jammi567]

put up your hand if you think Forkbeard spent way too much time doing this *puts up hand*

[Forkbeard]

Originally Posted by jammi567

put up your hand if you think Forkbeard spent way too much time doing this *puts up hand*

Well, to be honest I did most of the Eorlingas material was done on a previous occasion for another Tolkien site and simply cut and paste my previous material. So the only stuff I spent time on this time was the material on Durin's Folk and the questions.

[jammi567]

woah. that's okay then. i take back what i said earlier

[Valandil]

Alright spammi567 - you can discuss the chapter - don't discuss Forkbeard's use of his time.

Forkbeard - thank you for the introduction!

[Valandil]

Since so many people seem to get interested in either Rohan, or Dwarves, I'm surprised this thread isn't just bursting with posts.

Interesting questions, Forkbeard. I'll only try to take on a few now:

- - - - - - -

4. One of the lines consistent re: the Realms in Exile is that their lines became mixed with lesser men: isn't this exactly what is happening with marriages of Eomer and Eowyn: high Numenoreans with untainted family lines marrying lesser, albeit noble, people?

Political alliances to some degree. Also - maybe part of Tolkien's explanation for why the Dunedain aren't around anymore, as a distinct people (although maybe we could see in some, as in Denethor, a glimpse of their former glory).

5. Why did the Dunlendings seem to hate the Rohirrim more than they did Gondor?

Maybe just proximity? I guess Gondor had occupied that land (which they called Calenardhon) for over 2600 years before Rohan existing - but perhaps their population was always sparse there - and concentrated in the eastern portions - nearer Osgiliath & Minas Anor/Minas Tirith. Also - it might just be that the Dunlendings hated the Gondorians while they were there - and then hated the Rohirrim when they were there.

6. There is an odd pattern among the dwarves: the heir of Durin in exile goes one direction, the majority of the people go another: why?

Interesting observation, and it DOES happen repeatedly... After the appearance of the Balrog at Moria, and the subsequent slayings of Durin VI and Nain, perhaps the ring-bearing Kings were considered to be cursed - or at least "bad luck".

7. What heppened to the other dragons, esp. after the dwarves desert the Grey mtns and men move southward?

A very good question. I've just figured that they were always there, but sort of kept to themselves. Smaug was described as the greatest at his time. And it seemed a significant thing in his time for a dragon to come once more and terrorize the Free Peoples (although maybe this happened earlier - there's an implication that the other Dwarf lines besides the Longbeards suffered from dragon attacks).

[Wayfarer]

Originally Posted by Forkbeard

2. Why haven't either Rohan or Gondor seen the usefulness of "wains" and adapted some of the milt forces to chariots?

Likely for the same reason that horse-drawn chariots became obsolete in real-world warfare in the 14th century. A Chariot requires extra horses and men (two horses, a driver, and a 'gunner' at least). Deploying the same number of cavalry acts as a force multiplier - you still have two men and two horses, but each rider can attack seperately, the horses have greatly improved manuverability, the two aren't tied together, and your horse isn't vulnerable out in front of you..

Real-world chariots were dreadfully effective against infantry (the Gondorim), but lose out to cavalry (the Rohirrim). As soon as domesticated horses had been bred to be large enough to carry a man, Cavalry ruled the day. I can only surmise that the horses of the Rohirrim were superior in breeding compared to the wainriders, who would have been pulling chariots and wagons with several smaller animals.

Originally Posted by Forkbeard

3. The marriages in LoTR all seem to be significant in terms of the overall history. What is significant about Eomer marrying Imrahil's daughter?

4. One of the lines consistent re: the Realms in Exile is that their lines became mixed with lesser men: isn't this exactly what is happening with marriages of Eomer and Eowyn: high Numenoreans with untainted family lines marrying lesser, albeit noble, people?

It may be significant that Eomer, who initially expresses hostility towards Galadriel, marries from a lineage descended from an elf of Lothlorien. It certainly indicates the strengthened bond between Gondor and Rohan, which had previously been quite independant.

The quantification of different groups as 'lesser,' 'greater,' or 'middle' men was a distinction that was earned. The Edain who became Numenoreans were exceptional not in their birth or their genetic makeup, but in their heroism in the face of an implacable, unimaginable enemy. Men are not 'lesser, albiet noble' - it is precisely that sort of nobility which made Beren, Elendil, Aragorn and Faramir great, and it was the lack of that nobility that lessened Ar-Pharazon and Denethor.

Eomer and Eowen, by their actions, earned the right to be called at least the equal of any man on earth, save perhaps Aragorn. Bloodline has nothing to do with it.

Originally Posted by Forkbeard

8. Why is Dain named "Ironfoot"?

Dain was the leader of the dwarves of the Iron Mountains. Specifically, he was the head of those dwarves who fought in the battle of five armies - arriving on scene after making a forced march in heavy armor.

'Ironfoot.'

[Butterbeer]

Originally Posted by Valandil

Alright spammi567 - you can discuss the chapter - don't discuss Forkbeard's use of his time.

Forkbeard - thank you for the introduction!

sheesh kebabs with double chilli sauce!

(good genuine dwarvish kebabs mind!)

which, of course i therefore contend is highly on-topic ...

(wotcha Val ! - have a good birthday?)


hardly anyone posting? ... well, it's a bit off putting when the first poster gets scolded like a naughty schoolboy ... mmm .. mind we ARE talking spammi 567 here ... ..j/k Mr Jams

Actually- being serious - for me at least, with limited time just now and an attention span currently of a forgetful gnat - i personally find all the vast blocks of text very off-putting to read.

As Forkbeard wrote it, then, in all truthfulness, when i have time i'd like to read it- as i am sure it is interesting -

but a little formatting or breaking up of the text would help!

But that's just me here and now.

..........................

*senses Valandil giving me a look*

oh ok - i'll read a tiny bit and be on-topic ...

3. The marriages in LoTR all seem to be significant in terms of the overall history. What is significant about Eomer marrying Imrahil's daughter?

It seems to me to fit in with JRR's renaissance theme, a shakespearian full circle, if you will.

We also have Faramir (for whom the blood of Westernese ran almost true) and Eowyn and of course Aragorn and Arwen.

One cannot wonder but that we cannot possibly understate the significance. But it'd be an interesting discourse as to what we see this as, ultimately portraying.

best all, BB

[Valandil]

I just hated to see Forkbeard's labor disparaged - that's all. And... I've PM'd jammi since to clear things up.

Back to the appendix (feel like you're in surgery? ):

From my observations, LOTS of people seem to like Dwarves.

Do the rest of you think this is true? If so, why do think so many like them?

[Landroval]

They are said to be the third children of Eru, and they are said to resemble us more than the elves; their skill in metal craft is unsurpassed even by the elves. It was they who discovered mithril, and in that craft it is said Celembrimbor at most equalled them. They were the first friends of Men, meeting them before the elves and guiding them towards the west. They are said, as a race, to be taught directly by Aule, which is rather unique. They are valiant in battle, the elven power rings can't make them into shadows. They can use magic, as quoted in The Hobbit, LotR or Late Writings HoME XII. They even drove off Glaurung, a feat which proved of great importance in Nirnaeth.

[Valandil]

To address my own question, I think the Dwarves (the Rohirrim too) have a sort of "down-to-earth" heroism. Their heroics are more "swashbuckling" maybe. While the Numenoreans can be great warriors - they don't glory in it, but prefer to build. Meanwhile the Rohirrim take glory in warfare itself. While the Elves can be great warriors they prefer peace - but the Dwarves can really get "down & dirty".

Vastly oversimplified perhaps - but we form our initial impressions of the characters and races when we first start into the stories - knowing very little about them.

Thoughts??

[Landroval]

I agree; they seem very war-like, perhaps more than any other Children:

Originally Posted by Of the Sindar, Silmarillion

A warlike race of old were all the Naugrim, and they would fight fiercely against whomsoever aggrieved them: servants of Melkor, or Eldar, or Avari, or wild beasts, or not seldom their own kin, Dwarves of other mansions and lordships.

[Earniel]

I like how you added those Old English translations, Forkbeard. They add a nice extra layer to Tolkien's writings.

Originally Posted by Forkbeard

1. The Eorlingas seem to be on the cusp of this history all the way through. Why, and why aren't they more central sooner?

I take it that since mostly Elves and Gondoreans seem to be writing the history records that are passed down, the Eorlingas escaped mention until their interaction with Gondor and move to Calenardhon.

Why haven't either Rohan or Gondor seen the usefulness of "wains" and adapted some of the milt forces to chariots?

I suppose the Rohirrim may have thought it demeaning for their horses to pull clunky chariots, they may have preferred to ride the horse themselves instead of being pulled.

The marriages in LoTR all seem to be significant in terms of the overall history. What is significant about Eomer marrying Imrahil's daughter?

It seems part of a trend to infuse some Elven blood into each human kingdom at the end of the Third age.

Why did the Dunlendings seem to hate the Rohirrim more than they did Gondor?

The Dunlendings didn't have much problems with Gondor, the capital was far away, and the Dunlendings could easily manage the remnant of Dunedain in Calenardhon. But then the Rohirrim came, drove them from the fields the Dunlendings obviously preferred to Dunland, and took Calendardhon for their own. Gondor was only a far away thing to the Dunlendings, the Rohirrim were closer and in direct possession of the land they wanted.

There is an odd pattern among the dwarves: the heir of Durin in exile goes one direction, the majority of the people go another: why?

I hadn't noticed, but it's interesting. Maybe the heir of Durin refused to lead his people when he went in exile, and the rest was left to their own devices?

What heppened to the other dragons, esp. after the dwarves desert the Grey mtns and men move southward?

They don't seem to be considered much of a threat after Smaug. I wonder whether dragons too were subject to some diminishing. Maybe the dragons of later times were not so strong anymore that they dared venture south of their lairs in quest for plunder.

. Why is Dain named "Ironfoot"?

I was wondering about that myself. But Wayfarer's explanation sounds good.

After the War of the Ring, why did no dwarves return to the now empty (save perhaps for a few remaining orcs) Moria, and why was not the fair land of Hollin repopulated?

I think the dwarves no longer had the required numbers to recapture and hold such a vast underground city as Moria. It could also be that the long reign of the Balrog and the orcs left much of Moria undesirable as realm. Many dwarves fell in Moria and in the Nanduhirion, the dwarves may have found those memories too oppressive.

As for Hollin, I assume it too eventually became populated again, but most likely by Men.

How many important Middle Earth events were conceived and planned over Butterbur's beer?

Quite a few, it seems.

Didn't Gimli take an awful chance going West, possibly being left alone on the sea when Legolas gets West but he isn't allowed in?

I doubt he would have left if there wasn't some indication that he could get in. I also doubt Legolas would have abandonned Gimli at sea if his companion would be denied entrance. Most likely the boat would then have been unable to get on the Straight Road and would have returned to the Grey Haven.