Suite101 article -- Razing Arnor...

Razing Arnor: How real were the Dunadan conspiracies?

Tolkien never explained how and why Arnor was divided into three kingdoms. Here are some speculations on possible causes leading up to the traumatic event, and an analysis of its consequences.

www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/tolkien

As always, I welcome comments here and will try to respond to them in my lifetime.

I read that last night and I was struck by your statement that Beruthiel was a Black Numenorean. Where does that come from? The only explanation for her that I know of is in UT and, while it certainly hints she had an evil bent, doesn't say enough to convince me she was a Black Numenorean. I always got the impression she was mentally ill. Is there another text somewhere about her that I haven't seen?

Wonderfully written. You demonstrate a breadth of knowledge about Tolkien's creation and a depth of applied understanding of the natural courses of human events. You have explained much that I was curious about from this part of Middle-earth "history" and I eagerly anticipate your next essay.

There are three sources of information on Beruthiel. One is THE LETTERS OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN. One is UNFINISHED TALES. The third is a rarely published interview with Tolkien from the 1960s. The last source I had for it was an article written by Chris Seeman in OTHER HANDS a few years ago. I'm afraid back issues are no longer available.

OK, thanks! I guess I'm never in the right place at the right time to hear about these things!

[Alcuin]

Link to this article now at https://middle-earth.xenite.org/razi...-conspiracies/

[Valandil]

It's a good one. This, and... Seeking the Wayward Children of Numenor - I think that's the other title. Those two articles went a long way toward forming my ideas about the Northern Dunedain.