An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor

Between the two havens was a cape where the tower of Barad Nimras stood. North of Brithombar was Cape Andras, and south of Eglarest was a headland called Ras Mewrim or Bar-in-Myl, the Home of the Gulls. A road led north along the coast from Brithombar to Vinyamar in Nevrast.

Brithombar and Eglarest were established by the Elves of the Falas sometime around 1149 of the Years of the Trees. The Elves of the Falas were Teleri who had been persuaded to forsake the journey to the Undying Lands by Osse - a Maia whose domain was the seas and coasts of Middle-earth. They became mariners and Cirdan the Shipwright was their lord.

In 1497, Morgoth sent Orcs to invade Beleriand. In the First Battle, Cirdan's forces were cut off from the army of King Thingol of Doriath and were driven back to the coast. The Elves of the Falas were besieged in their Havens until later that year when the Noldor arrived in Middle-earth to retrieve the Silmarils from Morgoth. The siege army withdrew from the Havens and the Noldor defeated them in the Battle-under-Stars.

In 52 of the First Age, Finrod Felagund established the realm of Nargothrond which extended west as far as the River Nenning bordering the Falas. Finrod became a friend and ally of Cirdan and the Elves of the Falas.

In 65, the Noldor of Nargothrond used their skills to build new walls around Brithombar and Eglarest as well as towns within the walls and harbors with stone piers and quays. Barad Nimras was built at this time to keep watch for enemy ships, but Morgoth never waged war from the Sea.

In 456 after the Battle of Sudden Flame, Fingon, the High King of the Noldor, sent his young son Gil-galad to live with Cirdan at the Havens of the Falas. In 462, Cirdan sailed a fleet from the Havens to the Firth of Drengist to help Fingon drive back an army that had invaded Hithlum.

Cirdan and the Elves of the Falas fought in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears in 472, which resulted in a victory for Morgoth. Afterwards, refugees from other parts of Beleriand came to the Havens of the Falas. Cirdan sent ships along the coasts to harrass the enemy.

In 473, Morgoth sent an army to attack Brithombar and Eglarest. They ravaged the Falas as they came down the Brithon and the Nenning to the walled Havens. Smiths and miners used engines and fire to tear down the walls, and despite the valiant defense of the Elves of the Falas the Havens were overrun. Brithombar and Eglarest and Barad Nimras were all destroyed.

Many of the Elves of the Falas were killed or enslaved, but some escaped. Cirdan and Gil-galad led a group of survivors to settle on the Isle of Balar south of the Falas. According to one story (UT, p. 247), three ships from Brithombar and Eglarest may have sailed even farther south to the Bay of Belfalas to establish the haven of Edhellond.

In an early account of the War of Wrath (HoME V, p. 144), the Host of the Valar from the Undying Lands came ashore at Eglarest and drove back the Orcs from the coast. Morgoth's forces were defeated in the war, but most of Beleriand was destroyed including Brithombar and Eglarest.

Names & Etymology:
The name Brithombar means "dwelling on the Brithon" in Sindarin. The river name Brithon means "pebbly" from brith meaning "gravel." The ending mbar means "dwelling."

The name Eglarest means "ravine of the Eglain" in Sindarin. The name Eglain means "the Forsaken" and was used by the Elves who remained in Middle-earth while other Elves went to the Undying Lands. The word rest means "ravine."

Also called together the Havens of the Falas - where Falas means "coast, shore" - and the Havens of the Shipwrights.

Sources:
The Silmarillion: "Of Eldamar," p. 58; "Of the Sindar," p. 96-97; "Of the Return of the Noldor," p. 107-8, 113; "Of Beleriand and Its Realms," p. 120-22; "Of the Ruin of Beleriand," p. 154, 160; "Of the Fifth Battle," p. 190, 196; "Of the Voyage of Earendil," p. 246
Unfinished Tales: "Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin," p. 33-34; 51 note 1, 53 note 13, 54 note 22; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 247
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Later Annals of Beleriand," p. 144, 153; "The Etymologies," entries for BIRIT, MBAR, PHAL, and RIS
The History of Middle-earth, vol. X, Morgoth's Ring: "The Annals of Aman," p. 85
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," p. 5, 8, 15-18, 34, 39-40, 56, 77, 80, 89, 117; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," p. 184 (map), 189 notes 56 and 57, 190 note 63, 197; "Quendi and Eldar," p. 365, 379-80, 418 note 8

Ephel Brandir

In the late 400s of the First Age, the diminished population of the People of Haleth lived in Ephel Brandir in secrecy according to the policy of their leader Brandir, who hoped to avoid conflict with Morgoth's forces.

In 496, Turin came to live in Ephel Brandir with the Men of Brethil. Later that year, Turin found a distraught woman in the forest and brought her back to Ephel Brandir to be healed. The woman had amnesia and Turin did not realize that she was his sister Nienor. He called her Niniel and they were married in 498.

In 499, Glaurung came to the edge of the Forest of Brethil. To prevent the Dragon from attacking Ephel Brandir, Turin went forth to confront him at the River Teiglin. He advised the others to remain in the stockade but to scatter if Glaurung approached. Turin slew Glaurung, but before he died the Dragon told Niniel that she was Turin's sister and she killed herself. Brandir reported what Glaurung had said to Turin and Turin killed Brandir thinking he was lying. When Turin learned the truth he committed suicide as well.

According to a later story called "The Wanderings of Hurin" (HoME XI, 251-310), the settlement on Amon Obel was named Obel Halad. The main feature of Obel Halad was the Hall of the Chieftains which was in a garth enclosed by an earthwall with a single gate. At the back of Amon Obel was a meeting place called the Moot-ring which was carved into the side of the hill with seven tiers of seats enclosed by a stockade. It is not clear whether Tolkien intended to simply rename Ephel Brandir as Obel Halad or whether his entire concept of the settlement changed.

In this story, Hurin - the father of Turin and Nienor - came to the Forest of Brethil around 501. He was brought to Obel Halad and was imprisoned after a dispute with Brandir's successor Hardang. This caused dissension amongst the Men of Brethil. During the fighting, Hardang was killed and the Hall of the Chieftains was burned down and most of Obel Halad was ruined.

Names & Etymology:
The name Ephel Brandir means "encircling fence of Brandir" in Sindarin. Also called the Ephel. The alternate name Obel Halad may mean "town of the chieftain" in the language of the People of Haleth. The word halad means "chief." The word obel may mean "town, enclosed dwelling-place."

Sources:
The Silmarillion: "Of Turin Turambar," p. 216, 219-21; Index, entry for Ephel Brandir
Unfinished Tales: "Narn I Hin Hurin," p. 110-11, 122-23, 126-28, 131-32, 136, 141
The Children of Hurin: "The Coming of Turin into Brethil," p. 193, 195; "Nienor in Brethil," p. 216, 220; "The Coming of Glaurung," p. 222, 225-26, 232-33; "The Death of Glaurung," p. 239
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," p. 89, 92, 96-97, 148; "The Wanderings of Hurin," p. 258, 263-67, 271, 276, 292, 296-97, 301 note 17, 306 note 53, 308 note 54
Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings: "Writing and Spelling," p. 392 (definition of ephel)

Gondolin

Menegroth

Nargothrond

Archet

Names & Etymology:
Archet is an English place-name of Celtic origin. The word chet means wood, and the name seems intentionally related to Chetwood.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony," p. 161; "A Knife in the Dark," p. 193-94
The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," p. 271
The Journeys of Frodo by Barbara Strachey: Map #10 "Bree"
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Archet

Bree was an ancient settlement. The Men of Bree claimed to be the descendants of the first Men to inhabit western Middle-earth. It is not known exactly when Bree was founded, but their legends said that "when the Kings returned again over the Great Sea they had found the Bree-men still there." (FotR, p. 161) This may refer to the first voyages of the Numenoreans to Middle-earth and their meeting with the Men of Eriador around the year 600 of the Second Age.

Numenor was destroyed in 3319 of the Second Age and the survivors led by Elendil came to Middle-earth and founded the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor in 3320. At that time, Bree became part of the North-kingdom of Arnor.

The village of Bree became a thriving community as travelers passed through on the main roads. The first Hobbits came to Bree around 1300 of the Third Age. It was from Bree in the year 1601 that Marcho and Blanco led a group of Hobbits west to found the Shire.

Bree was located in Bree-land, a small area that also included the villages of Archet, Combe, and Staddle. Bree was on the western side of Bree-hill near the southwestern corner of the Chetwood. There were about 100 stone houses by the hillside where Men lived; Hobbits tended to live farther up the slopes.

A deep dike and a hedge formed a semi-circular fence enclosing the village against the hill. There were gates on the western and southern sides of the hedge. The gates were closed and guarded at night, though the traffic on the roads had lessened over the years.

The gathering place for Bree-landers and travelers alike was the Prancing Pony, an inn run by Barliman Butterbur. The inn was known as a place where one could hear news from the outside world. "Strange as News from Bree" was an old saying in the Shire.

One important chance meeting in Bree took place on March 15, 2941. There Thorin Oakenshield, who wanted to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug the Dragon, met Gandalf, who was worried that Sauron might use Smaug to regain the northern realm of Angmar. The two travelers concocted a plan to set out for the Lonely Mountain with thirteen Dwarves and one Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins.

Seventy-seven years later, on September 29, 3018, Frodo Baggins arrived in Bree and there encountered the Ranger known as Strider, whose true name was Aragorn. Aragorn became the Hobbits' guide and protector. After the Prancing Pony was attacked in the night, he led the Hobbits away from Bree and into the Wild, hoping to evade the Nazgul who pursued the Ring-bearer.

By the autumn of 3018, Men from the South had started arriving in Bree looking for a new place to live. They were mainly ruffians and thieves, and soon the regular Bree-folk were afraid to leave their homes. Early in the New Year of 3019 there was a fight in which five Bree-folk were killed - three Men and two Hobbits. After that the ruffians were expelled from Bree, but they still roamed the woods and the roads. There were also wolves and other nameless things abroad. The Rangers who had long protected Bree and the Shire had gone south to join Aragorn.

On October 28, 3019, Gandalf and the four Hobbits stopped in Bree and told Barliman Butterbur that the Rangers had returned and that there was a King again and that soon Bree and Bree-land would be safe once more.

Names & Etymology:
Bree is from the Celtic word for "hill."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony," p. 161-64 and passim
The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," passim
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Durin's Folk," p. 358-59
The Journeys of Frodo by Barbara Strachey: Map #10 "Bree"
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Archet

Combe

Names & Etymology:
Combe is from the word coomb which means "deep valley."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony," p. 161; "A Knife in the Dark," p. 192, 193
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Coomb

Staddle

Names & Etymology:
Staddle is from the Old Englishstaðol meaning "foundation" of buildings, etc.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "At the Sign of the Prancing Pony," p. 161; "A Knife in the Dark," p. 192-93
The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," p. 271
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Staddle

Annuminas was the seat of Elendil, the High King of Gondor and Arnor, who dwelled in the north while his sons Isildur and Anarion jointly ruled Gondor in the south. The chief token of royalty of the North-kingdom of Arnor was the Sceptre of Annuminas. The palantir called the Stone of Annuminas was kept in the city and was used by the King.

After the death of Elendil in the War of the Last Alliance in 3441 of the Second Age, the rule of the North-kingdom of Arnor passed to the heirs of Elendil's son Isildur. Valandil, the youngest son of Isildur, became King of Arnor in the year 10 of the Third Age and he moved to Annuminas from Rivendell, where he had lived as a child.

In 861, the North-kingdom was divided into three kingdoms: Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. Amlaith, the first King of Arthedain, made Fornost his capital city, and Annuminas fell into ruin and was deserted for over 2,000 years.

When Aragorn, King Elessar, became King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor in 3019, he rebuilt Annuminas as his northern capital. In the year 15 of the Fourth Age, Aragorn and Queen Arwen went north to dwell in Annuminas for a while. Thain Peregrin Took and Mayor Samwise Gamgee visited the King and Queen in Annuminas many times.

Names & Etymology:
Annúminas means "Tower of the West" from the Sindarin annûn meaning "sunset, west" and minas meaning "tower."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," p. 257
The Two Towers: "The Palantir," p. 203
The Return of the King: "The Steward and the King," p. 251
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The Numenorean Kings," p. 317; "The North-kingdom and the Dunedain," p. 323 and note 1, p. 324
The Silmarillion: "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," p. 290, 292, 296; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for andune and minas; Index entry for Annuminas (definition)
Unfinished Tales: "The Palantiri," p. 410-11, 413
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 193; "The Tale of Years of the Third Age," p. 228

Fornost

Annuminas was the original capital of Arnor until 861 of the Third Age, when the North-kingdom was divided into Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. The line of Kings was maintained in Arthedain, and the first King of Arthedain moved his capital from Annuminas to Fornost. He was known as Amlaith of Fornost. Amlaith brought the palantir called the Stone of Annuminas to his new capital. Fornost remained the seat of the North-kingdom for over 1,000 years.

In 1409, the Witch-king of Angmar attacked the North-kingdom. The Stone of Amon Sul was brought to Fornost for safekeeping after the Witch-king destroyed the Tower of Amon Sul. The Witch-king's forces attacked Fornost, but they were driven back by the young King Araphor with the help of Cirdan the Shipwright.

Fornost was captured by the Witch-king in 1974. King Arvedui of Arthedain and his people were driven out of Fornost and the Witch-king came to live there along with many of his evil folk. In 1975, a host of Elves and Men challenged the Witch-king, and he rode forth from Fornost onto the plain west of the city to meet them. The Witch-king's forces were defeated in the Battle of Fornost and the Witch-king fled from the north.

After the battle, the Dunedain were scattered and though they went to Fornost from time to time, the city was not reclaimed. Fornost stood deserted, but its evil reputation remained and it became known as Deadman's Dike. The city fell into ruin and was overgrown with grass. It was not until the Fourth Age after Aragorn, King Elessar, reunited the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor that people came to dwell in Fornost once more.

Names & Etymology:
Fornost means "northern fortress" in Sindarin from forn meaning "north" and ost meaning "fortress." It was also called Fornost Erain - "northern fortress of the Kings." Erain is the plural of aran meaning "king."

Fornost was called Norbury in the Common Speech, which also means "northern fortress," from the Old English norð burg. It was also called Norbury of the Kings or Kings' Norbury.

While the city was deserted it was known as Deadman's Dike.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue - Concerning Hobbits," p. 13-14, 18; "The Council of Elrond," p. 257
The Return of the King: "Homeward Bound," p. 273
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The North-kingdom and the Dunedain," p. 320-21; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 331
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Tale of Years of the Third Age," p. 228
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for formen and os(t)
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Norbury

The Grey Havens were located at the mouth of the River Lune. The Lune flowed into the Gulf of Lune which opened onto the Sea. The Elvish lands of Lindon lay on either side of the Gulf. The Great East Road ran to the Grey Havens across Eriador from Rivendell.

The Grey Havens were founded by the Elves in the year 1 of the Second Age. Cirdan the Shipwright was the Lord of the Havens and a number other Elves lived there with him including Galdor.

In the year 600 of the Second Age, the first ship of the Men of Numenor came to the Grey Havens captained by Veantur. Veantur brought his grandson Aldarion to the Grey Havens in 725. After that time many ships from Numenor sailed to the Grey Havens and were welcomed by the Elves.

During the War of the Elves and Sauron, Sauron overran Eriador and besieged the Grey Havens. In 1700, Admiral Ciryatur brought a fleet of ships from Numenor to the Gulf of Lune and Sauron's forces were driven back. In 3320 after Numenor was destroyed, Elendil sailed to the Grey Havens and founded the North-kingdom of Arnor in Eriador east of the River Lune.

The Wizards came to Middle-earth from the Undying Lands around the year 1000 of the Third Age. When Gandalf the Grey arrived at the Grey Havens, Cirdan gave him Narya, one of the Three Rings of the Elves, for he perceived that the Wizard had an important and difficult task before him.

In 1975, Cirdan sent a ship from the Grey Havens to rescue King Arvedui, who had been forced to retreat to the Icebay of Forochel by the Witch-king of Angmar. But a great blizzard came from the north and despite the efforts of Cirdan's mariners the ship was driven against the ice and its hull was crushed. All aboard were killed including Arvedui.

Shortly afterwards, a great fleet arrived at the Grey Havens from Gondor led by Earnur. There were so many ships that there was hardly room for them all in the Gulf of Lune. The combined forces of the Elves and the Men of Gondor defeated the Witch-king in the Battle of Fornost and drove him from the North.

As the Third Age came to an end, many Elves left Middle-earth for the Undying Lands, never to return. Some of them passed through the Shire on their way to the Grey Havens to board the ships into the West.

On September 29, 3021, Gandalf returned to the Grey Havens. Cirdan was there to greet him and a ship was moored at the quay ready to set sail to the Undying Lands. Then the Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings arrived at the Havens, including Elrond, the keeper of Vilya, and Galadriel, the keeper of Nenya, and a number of other Elves who were leaving Middle-earth including Gildor Inglorion.

With them were the Hobbits Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins, who had both carried the One Ring. Mortals were not normally allowed to sail to the Undying Lands, but because of the great burden they had borne, Frodo and Bilbo were given special permission. It is thought that Gandalf, as an emissary of the Valar, may have granted this favor at the request of Arwen.

Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took came to the Grey Havens to say goodbye to their friends.

Then Frodo kissed Merry and Pippin, and last of all Sam, and went aboard; and the sails were drawn up, and the wind blew, and slowly the ship slipped away down the long grey firth; and the light of the glass of Galadriel that Frodo bore glimmered and was lost. And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.

But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven; and as he looked at the grey sea he saw only a shadow on the waters that was soon lost in the West. There still he stood far into the night, hearing only the sigh and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle-earth, and the sound of them sank deep into his heart. Beside him stood Merry and Pippin, and they were silent.
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 310-11

Names & Etymology:
The Grey Havens are also called the Havens. A haven is a harbor or port. The Sindarin name is Mithlond which translates as "Grey Havens" from mith meaning "grey" and lond meaning "haven."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Hobbits," p. 16; "Note on the Shire Records," p. 25; "The Shadow of the Past," p. 52-54; "The Council of Elrond," p. 253, 279-80; "The Ring Goes South," p. 297; "Lothlorien," p. 363
The Return of the King: "The Last Debate," p. 150; "Many Partings," p. 252-53; "The Grey Havens," passim
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The Numenorean Kings" p. 314-15; "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur," p. 319-20; "The North-kingdom and the Dunedain," p. 322, 323; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 331; "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," p. 344
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 364, 364-65, 377-78
The Silmarillion: "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," p. 285-86, 289, 298-99, 304; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for londe and mith
Unfinished Tales: "A Description of Numenor," p. 171; "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 174-75, 213 note 3; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 239

Lond Daer was originally named Vinyalonde. It was established between 750 and 800 of the Second Age by Aldarion, a great mariner and future King of Numenor. Aldarion foresaw that a haven on the coast of Middle-earth could be useful in the defense of Eriador and the Elvish realm of Lindon to the north.

Aldarion needed timber to build ships, and he chose the haven's location because there were vast forests on either side of the Gwathlo. Timber was brought downriver to the haven. Ships were built in the shipyards there, and timber was also sent on to Numenor.

The native inhabitants of the forests were awed by the Numenoreans but they became hostile as their homeland was gradually stripped of trees. In 843, Aldarion found that the haven had been damaged by the Sea and had been plundered by the forest-dwellers. He tried to rebuild, but on another visit between 863 and 869 he found the haven completely ruined.

Lond Daer was rebuilt after Aldarion's reign and was enlarged and fortified. The timber trade continued, and the regions of Enedwaith and Minhiriath around the Gwathlo were almost completely deforested by the Men of Numenor by the middle of the Second Age.

During the War of the Elves and Sauron from 1693 to 1701, many of the natives sided with Sauron against the Numenoreans. Admiral Ciryatur of Numenor sent ships to Lond Daer and the Numenoreans defeated Sauron's forces in the Battle of the Gwathlo in 1701.

Lond Daer eventually fell into ruin once more. Numenor was destroyed in 3319 and the survivors founded the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. Ships travelling between the South-kingdom and the North-kingdom passed Lond Daer on their way up the Gwathlo to Tharbad, but the haven at Lond Daer was not restored.

Names & Etymology:
The name Lond Daer means "Great Haven" in Sindarin from lond meaning "haven" and daer meaning "great." It was also called Lond Daer Enedh meaning "Great Middle Haven" because it was located between the Grey Havens and Pelargir (though Pelargir was not established until 2350 S.A.).

The original name was Vinyalondë meaning "New Haven" in Quenya from vinya meaning "new" and londë meaning "haven."

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 176, 180-81, 188, 200, 206; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 239, 253 note 7; "Appendix D - The Port of Lond Daer," p. 261-65; Index entries for Lond Daer and Vinyalonde
The Quenya Corpus Wordlist
Hiswelókë's Sindarin Dictionary

Ost-in-Edhil

Ost-in-Edhil was built starting in 750 of the Second Age. The Elves of Ost-in-Edhil were craftsmen and called themselves Gwaith-i-Mirdain, the People of the Jewel-smiths. The chief smith was Celebrimbor. They worked in the House of the Mirdain and kept many of their treasures there.

In 1200, Sauroncame in disguise to Ost-in-Edhil and deceived the Elven-smiths. He claimed to be an emissary of the Valar and he promised to teach them new skills. The Elven-smiths began forging the Rings of Power under Sauron's instruction around 1500. Around 1600, Sauron returned to Mordor and forged the One Ring to rule the others. The Elven-smiths realized their mistake and hid their Rings from Sauron.

Sauron declared war on the Elves. In 1697, his forces destroyed Eregion and ransacked the House of the Mirdain in Ost-in-Edhil. Celebrimbor was captured on the steps of the House and was tortured and killed. Sauron retrieved the Nine Rings and six of the Seven Rings but the Three Rings remained hidden.

The Elves were joined by the Men of Numenor and they defeated Sauron in 1701. But Eregion and Ost-in-Edhil were ruined and abandoned and the Elves did not return there.

Names & Etymology:
The name Ost-in-Edhil means "Fortress of the Elves." The word ost means "fortress," in means "of" and Edhil means "Elves."

Sources:
The Silmarillion: "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," p. 286-87; Index entry for Ost-in-Edhil; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for edhel and os(t)
Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 236-38

Tharbad was originally founded by the Men of Numenor under the leadership of the mariner Aldarion. The Numenoreans came up the Greyflood seeking timber from the great forests on either side of the river. Aldarion visited Tharbad sometime after he became King of Numenor in 883 of the Second Age, and there he met Galadriel who lived in the nearby Elven-realm of Eregion.

In 1700, during the War of the Elves and Sauron, Sauron's forces captured the Crossing of Tharbad, which had been lightly guarded. But in 1701, Sauron's forces were defeated in the Battle of the Gwathlo (Greyflood) and he was driven out of Eriador.

Tharbad became an important river port during the height of the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor, which were founded by the survivors of Numenor in 3320 of the Second Age. People traveling from Gondor to Arnor frequently sailed by Sea around the coast to the Greyflood and upriver to Tharbad, and then continued up the North-South Road into Arnor.

The Men of Gondor and Arnor were jointly responsible for maintaining the port of Tharbad. Many soldiers, mariners, and engineers were stationed there. The land where Tharbad stood was marshy, so great drainage works and dikes were required in order to build the city and docks capable of receiving seagoing ships. A fortress was built on raised earthworks. The great Bridge of Tharbad was erected to span the Greyflood. The North-South Road led to the bridge on elevated causeways on either side.

The port of Tharbad thrived until the middle of the Third Age. In 1636 of the Third Age, the Great Plague decimated the populations of Gondor and Arnor and the population of Tharbad declined as well. Gondor and Arnor no longer had the resources to maintain the drainage works at Tharbad, and the marshland began to expand into the city once more. The North-South Road fell into disuse and became known as the Greenway because it was overgrown with grass.

In 2912, the spring thaw following the Fell Winter caused massive flooding that ruined Tharbad, and the city was deserted. The Bridge of Tharbad collapsed and the crossing - though still slow and shallow - became dangerous because of the ruins in the water. When Boromir traveled to Rivendell in 3018, he lost his horse at the Crossing of Tharbad.

It is not known whether Tharbad was rebuilt in the Fourth Age after the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor were reunited. It seems likely at least that the Bridge of Tharbad would have been repaired to facilitate travel up and down the North-South Road between the two kingdoms.

Names & Etymology:
The name Tharbad means "crossway" from thar meaning "across" and bad meaning "beaten track, pathway."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Hobbits," p. 12; "The Ring Goes South," p. 287; "Farewell to Lorien," p. 390
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur," p. 319
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 370
Unfinished Tales: "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 206; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 239, 261-65; "The Hunt for the Ring," p. 340-41, 346-48, 354 note 18; "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," p. 370
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for THAR and BAT
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Prologue," p. 11; "The Appendix on Languages," p. 38; "Of Dwarves and Men," p. 330 note 76

Calembel

Names & Etymology:
The element calen means "green." The element ambal means "shaped stone, flagstone."

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 63
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 374
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for calen
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for MBAL

Dol Amroth

Sea-walls protected Dol Amroth from the waves in the windy bay, and within the city were the tall Sea-ward Tower - Tirith Aear - and the castle of the Princes of Dol Amroth, who ruled Belfalas.

The emblem of Dol Amroth was a silver swan-prowed ship on a blue background, representing the maritime tradition of the city. Dol Amroth was also noted for having the most skilled harpists in the land; they were invited to play at the coronation of Aragorn, King Elessar.

Many of the people of Dol Amroth were of Numenorean descent; they were tall with dark hair and grey eyes and could speak Elvish. There are two different accounts of the origin of Dol Amroth. According to one story, the first Prince of Dol Amroth was one of the Faithful who left Numenor before it was destroyed and settled in Belfalas. It was said that Elendil granted him the title of Prince after Gondor was founded in 3320 of the Second Age.

According to another story, the first Lord of Dol Amroth was Galador, who lived from 2004 to 2129 of the Third Age. He was the son of a Man of Numenorean descent named Imrazor and an Elf-maiden named Mithrellas - one of the companions of Nimrodel of Lothlorien who became lost while travelling to the Elf-haven of Edhellond. Nimrodel's lover Amroth drowned in the Bay of Belfalas trying to return to shore to find her. This version accounts for both the name of the city and the belief that the Princes of Dol Amroth had Elvish blood.

The Princes of Dol Amroth ruled Belfalas independently for the most part, but they maintained allegiance to Gondor. As a coastal city, Dol Amroth was on guard against the threat of the Corsairs. The 15th Prince of Dol Amroth was slain by the Corsairs of Umbar in 2746. His successor also died in battle in unknown circumstances in 2799.

Two women of Dol Amroth made important marriages to leaders of great realms in Middle-earth. Finduilas was the wife of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, and the mother of Boromir and Faramir. Lothiriel married King Eomer of Rohan and from them were descended the Third Line of Kings.

During the War of the Ring, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth led a company of his Knights along with 700 men-at-arms to the defense of Minas Tirith. They rode to the aid of Faramir during the siege and fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019. After the battle, Prince Imrahil was given temporary command of Minas Tirith by Aragorn, and the banner of Dol Amroth flew for a time from the Tower of Ecthelion. At the Battle of the Morannon on March 25, the Knights of Dol Amroth fought on the front line.

When Gondor had a King once more, the Princes of Dol Amroth were among the King's chief commanders and counsellors, and the city of Dol Amroth continued to flourish into the Fourth Age.

Names & Etymology:
The name Dol Amroth means "Hill of Amroth," referring to the high promontory on which the city was built and to the legend of the Elf-lord Amroth who was lost off the coast in the Bay of Belfalas.

Sources:
The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 22, 43-44; "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 62; "The Siege of Gondor," p. 90, 93-94, 98, 102; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 118, 120-24; "The Pyre of Denethor," p. 127, 131; "The Houses of Healing," p. 137-40, 142, 147; "The Last Debate," p. 148-49; 154-58; "The Black Gate Opens," p. 160-61, 164-65, 168; "The Field of Cormallen," p. 231, 233; "The Steward and the King," p. 243-44; "Many Partings," p. 254, 256
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The Stewards," p. 334; "The House of Eorl," p. 352
Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age - Of Men," p. 407
Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn - Amroth and Nimrodel," p. 240-48, p. 255 note 18; "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields," p. 286; "Cirion and Eorl," p. 293-94, 316 note 39
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," 220-24
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" in The Tolkien Reader: Preface, p. 192; "The Man in the Moon Came Down Too Soon," p. 223
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #244

The site where Edhellond was founded was originally inhabited by fisher-folk, but they fled to the White Mountains when the Elves arrived. The Elf haven was established by Sindarin Elves. There are differing accounts of when the Elves arrived. They may have come in three ships from Beleriand after the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest were destroyed by Morgoth's forces in the year 473 of the First Age. Or the Elves may have come at the beginning of the Second Age from the Grey Havens, where they had learned the craft of shipbuilding before seeking a place of their own.

The Sindarin Elves were soon joined by some Silvan Elves, or Wood-elves. These Wood-elves came down the Anduin from the forests on either side of the Great River called Greenwood and Lothlorien. They left their forest homes because they longed for the Sea.

From Edhellond, Elves could sail to the Undying Lands. Some Elves departed from Edhellond after Eregion was destroyed by Sauron in 1697 of the Second Age. According to one story, Galadriel came to live for a time on the coast of the Bay of Belfalas because she was filled with Sea-longing, but she remained in Middle-earth.

Over time, the population of Edhellond diminished as many of the Elves who lived there departed across the Sea. But some remained, building ships and offering passage to those who had become weary of Middle-earth.

In 1981 of the Third Age, King Amroth of Lothlorien came to Edhellond. He had promised to take his lover Nimrodel to the Undying Lands, but he had become separated from her on the journey south. When Amroth arrived, the few remaining Elves of Edhellond - less than a shipload - were preparing their last ship to depart from Middle-earth. Though they were reluctant to delay, the Elves of Edhellond agreed to wait a few weeks for Nimrodel, but she did not come.

In the autumn, a great storm came out of the north and swept the ship out into the Bay of Belfalas. Amroth leaped overboard in an attempt to return to land, and he was drowned. But the ship survived and continued its voyage across the Sea, and with it went the last of the Elves of Edhellond.

Names & Etymology:
Edhellond means "elf haven" from edhel meaning "elf" and lond meaning "haven."

Sources:
Map of Middle-earth by Pauline Baynes
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Lothlorien," p. 355
The Return of the King: "The Last Debate," p. 148
Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 240-43, 246-48, 255 note 18, 261 footnote
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for edhel and londe
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The First Map," p. 312, 322 note 10 (Cobas Haven)
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 220-24; "Of Dwarves and Men," p. 313, 329 note 67
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" in A Tolkien Reader: "Preface," p. 193; "The Last Ship," p. 248-51

Ethring

Names & Etymology:
The name Ethring seems to refer to the town's position at the crossings of the Ringlo. The word ath means "across." The word athrad means "ford, crossing"; the plural is ethraid. The word ring means "cold" as in Ringlo, meaning "cold flood."

Sources:
The Return of the King: Map of Gondor by Christopher Tolkien
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for AT(AT) and RINGI

Linhir

During the War of the Ring at the end of the Third Age, Corsairs of Umbar and Men of Harad came up the Gilrain to Linhir and fought to gain control of the fords against Men from Lamedon led by Angbor. On March 11, 3019, Aragorn arrived at Linhir leading the Dead. The Corsairs and Haradrim fled in fear, as did all of the Men of Lamedon except Angbor. Aragorn told Angbor to gather his forces and follow him to Pelargir, where the Corsairs had assembled a great fleet.

Names & Etymology:
The element lin means both "pool" and "song." It's not clear which meaning is intended in the name Linhir. The element hir is the lenited form of sir meaning "river."

Sources:
Map of Gondor and Mordor by Christopher Tolkien
The Return of the King: "The Last Debate," p. 151
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Last Debate," p. 587

Minas Anor / Minas Tirith

Osgiliath was a large and beautiful city. One of its main buildings was the Dome of Stars, where the chief palantir was kept. The Kings of Gondor ruled from the Great Hall of Osgiliath and they dwelled in the King's House.

Between the two parts of the city was a great stone bridge with towers and houses upon it, and there were a number of lesser bridges as well. On the river banks were landings for the ships that carried people and trade goods up and down the Anduin from Wilderland in the north to the Bay of Belfalas in the south.

A road led through Osgiliath between Minas Ithil (later Minas Morgul) on the east side of the river and Minas Anor (later Minas Tirith) on the west side. The road then continued westward through the Gap of Rohan and turned north to Fornost in the North-kingdom of Arnor. In the early days of Gondor, this was called the Royal Road, later known as the Great West Road and the North-South Road.

Osgiliath was founded by Isildur and Anarion, the sons of Elendil, when the realm of Gondor was established in 3320 of the Second Age. Elendil, the High King, dwelled in the North-kingdom of Arnor while his sons jointly ruled Gondor in the south. Their thrones were side by side in the Great Hall of Osgiliath.

Anarion defended Osgiliath when Sauron attacked Gondor in 3429 and drove him back to Mordor. Sauron was defeated in the War of the Last Alliance in 3441. In the Third Age, Anarion's descendants became the Kings of Gondor and for a time they continued to rule from Osgiliath.

During the civil war of the Kin-strife, King Eldacar was besieged in Osgiliath by rebels. Osgiliath was captured in 1437 and the rebels burned and pillaged the city and slaughtered many of its inhabitants including Eldacar's son Ornendil. The Dome of Stars was destroyed and the palantir was lost in the waters of the Anduin. The rebel leader Castamirusurped the throne of Gondor and moved his capital to Pelargir. He ruled for 10 years before Eldacar defeated him in 1447 and took up the kingship again in Osgiliath.

The Great Plague came out of the East in 1636 and devastated Gondor. Osgiliath was hit the hardest. Many of the city's inhabitants died including King Telemnar and all his children. Telemnar's nephew Tarondor became king and in 1640 he moved the capital of Gondor from Osgiliath to Minas Anor - later known as Minas Tirith.

Some people remained in Osgiliath, but the city was largely abandoned and it began to fall into ruin. In 2475, black Uruks from Mordor invaded Ithilien and captured Osgiliath. The Uruks were driven back by Boromir, son of the Denethor I (not to be confused with Boromir of the Fellowship), but the city of Osgiliath was ruined and the great bridge across the Anduin was broken. The remaining inhabitants fled and the city stood empty.

By the 2900s, Ithilien was infested with Orcs and evil things lurked in Osgiliath. Control of the city had passed back and forth between Gondor and Mordor several times. After Denethor II became Steward in 2984, he reclaimed Osgiliath and posted a garrison there. The bridge was rebuilt to allow soldiers and supplies to cross the river.

On June 20, 3018, the War of the Ring began when the Lord of the Nazgul led an attack on Osgiliath. None could withstand his evil presence, and the eastern part of the city was swiftly captured. Denethor's sons Boromir and Faramir led the defense of Osgiliath, and they cast down the bridge and held the western side of the city against the Enemy's forces. But Sauron's purpose in ordering the attack had been to test Gondor's defenses and to provide cover for the Nazgul to cross the bridge begin the hunt for the One Ring. Once that was accomplished, Sauron halted the assault.

The garrison in West Osgiliath continued to guard the river crossing. At midnight on February 29, 3019, Faramir was keeping watch on the riverbank when he saw the funeral boat of his brother Boromir float down the Anduin through Osgiliath. On March 10, Faramir sent the majority of his company of Rangers to strengthen the garrison of Osgiliath. The next day, Denethor sent Faramir to take command of the garrison, where he believed the main attack would come.

Sauron's forces in East Osgiliath had secretly been building many barges and floating bridges and siege-towers in preparation for the assault. On March 12, a host of Orcs arrived from Minas Morgul led by the Lord of the Nazgul, joined by regiments of Haradrim from the South. They crossed the river in force, and Faramir and his Men retreated from Osgiliath with great loss.

Sauron's forces overran the Rammas Echor and besieged Minas Tirith. During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, fresh Enemy troops were stationed in Osgiliath including Easterlings, Southrons, Variags, and Men of Far Harad. They were sent onto the battlefield by Gothmog, and the battle began to turn in favor of the Enemy forces, but they were ultimately defeated.

All available workers and craftsmen were sent from Minas Tirith to Osgiliath to strengthen the defenses and rebuild the boats and bridges that Sauron's forces had left behind. On March 18, the Host of the West passed through Osgiliath and over the river on their way to the Black Gate.

After the downfall of Sauron, the Host of the West returned to Osgiliath on April 29. They spent the day and night in the city before proceeding to Minas Tirith, where Aragorn was crowned King Elessar on May 1. Minas Tirith remained the capital of Gondor during the reign of King Elessar, but it seems likely that the city of Osgiliath was rebuilt.

Names & Etymology:
Osgiliath means "Citadel of the Stars" from the Sindarin words ost meaning "fortress, citadel" and giliath meaning "stars."

In later days, Osgiliath was called Old Gondor because it had once been the capital of Gondor. The two halves of the city were called East Osgiliath and West Osgiliath.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," p. 257-59; "Farewell to Lorien," p. 383; "The Great River," p. 406; "The Breaking of the Fellowship," p. 417
The Two Towers: "The Departure of Boromir," p. 19; "The Palantir," p. 203; "The Black Gate Is Closed," p. 249; "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit," p. 256; "The Window on the West," p. 274, 286; "Journey to the Cross-roads," p. 311; "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol," p. 316
The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 22, 36-37; "The Siege of Gondor," p. 85, 87-91, 93, 96, 98; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 121; "The Last Debate," p. 158; "The Black Gate Opens," p. 160; "The Field of Cormallen," p. 235; "The Steward and the King," p. 241-42
The Silmarillion: "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," p. 291-93, 297; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for gil and os(t)
Unfinished Tales: "The Battles of the Fords of Isen," p. 369-70; "The Istari," p. 401 note 7
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 203-4

Pelargir was built in 2350 of the Second Age. It was the haven of the Faithful of Numenor, who did not fall under the influence of Sauron and remained friendly with the Elves. Adunaic - the language of Numenor - was spoken in Pelargir and it became mingled with the languages of other Men and developed into the Common Speech, which spread throughout Middle-earth.

In the Third Age, Tarannon Falastur - the first of the Ship-kings of Gondor - built a house in Pelargir that stood on arched columns out in the waters of the Anduin. Tarannon's nephew and heir, Earnil I, made repairs to Pelargir and built a great navy there.

When the civil war of the Kin-strife began in 1432, many of the people of Pelargir supported Castamir, the Captain of Ships who claimed kingship of Gondor. Castamir usurped the throne from King Eldacar in 1437 and made Pelargir his capital. In 1447, Eldacar killed Castamir in battle and reclaimed the throne. Castamir's sons were besieged in Pelargir, where they gathered many of their followers before relocating to Umbar.

In 1634, Castamir's grandsons Angamaite and Sangahyando led a fleet of Corsairs from Umbar to attack Pelargir. King Minardil of Gondor was slain in the battle.

In 2980, during the reign of Ecthelion II, a fleet from Gondor was assembled at Pelargir to launch an attack on the Corsairs of Umbar. The leader was a man called Thorongil, who was actually Aragorn serving the Steward under an assumed identity. The attack was successful and the threat from the Corsairs was removed for the time being.

But during the War of the Ring, the threat was renewed and under Sauron's direction the Corsairs captured Pelargir and assembled a fleet of 50 great ships and numerous smaller ships to attack Minas Tirith. Aragorn learned of this threat when he looked into the palantir, and he entered the Paths of the Dead to summon the Dead to stop the Corsairs. On March 13, Aragorn reached Pelargir, and the Dead swept over the Corsairs' ships and captured the fleet. Aragorn used these ships to come to the aid of Minas Tirith at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15.

Names & Etymology:
Pelargir means "Garth of Royal Ships." A garth is an enclosure or guarded place. The word pel means "go round, encircle." The element ar means "royal." The element gir is a form of kir meaning "cut, cleave" - used to mean ship as in cutter.

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 63; "The Last Debate," p. 149-54, 157; "The Steward and the King," p. 249
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 325, 327-28; "The Stewards," p. 335-36
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 364, 367, 374
Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age - Of Men," p. 406-407
The Silmarillion: "Akallabeth," p. 267; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for kir and pel; Index entry for Pelargir
Unfinished Tales: "The Istari," p. 401-402 note 7

City of the Corsairs

The city was home to a group of seafaring raiders known as the Corsairs. They were descended from the sons of Castamir and his followers who had rebelled against King Eldacar of Gondor during the Kin-strife. The rebels came to Umbar in 1448 of the Third Age. They mingled with the native inhabitants, who in turn were descendants of the Haradrim and the Black Numenoreans (Men of Numenor corrupted by Sauron).

The Corsairs were enemies of the Men of Gondor and they frequently raided Gondor's coasts. In 1810, King Telumehtar of Gondor retaliated by capturing Umbar and destroying the Corsairs' stronghold. In the years that followed, Gondor was distracted by other concerns and the Corsairs were able to reclaim Umbar and rebuild their stronghold.

In 2980, Aragorn launched a surprise attack on Umbar and fought the Captain of the Haven on the quays. The Captain was slain and many of the Corsairs' ships were burned. But the Corsairs were not subdued until the War of the Ring when Aragorn captured their fleet at Pelargir with the help of the Dead.

Names & Etymology:
Corsair is another word for "pirate."

Sources:
Map of Middle-earth by Pauline Baynes
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: 327-29; "The Stewards," p. 335
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 200

Caras Galadhon was located in the part of the forest called the Angle, between the Silverlode and the Anduin. The city was on a hill surrounded by a deep moat and a high green wall. A road paved with white stone ran along the outer edge of the moat to a bridge on the southwestern side that led to the city gates.

Within the city on the slopes of the hill stood many tall mallorn-trees with numerous flets in their branches. Caras Galadhon was the only place in Lothlorien where so many flets were used as dwellings. A number of Elves lived in Caras Galadhon, but the majority of the Elves of Lothlorien lived in the forest outside the city.

Paths and stairs led among the trees and up the hill. High on the hill was a wide lawn. On the southern side of the lawn stood the largest of the mallorn-trees where Galadriel and Celeborn dwelled. There were a number of flets in this tree connected by a long white ladder. On one of the highest flets was a great hall with an oval-shaped chamber around the trunk of the tree. The walls were green and silver and the roof was golden. Higher up in the tree was the topmost flet which was the highest point in Lothlorien.

There was a fountain on the lawn from which a stream flowed southward down the hill to a deep hollow. A long flight of steps led down into an enclosed garden where the Mirror of Galadriel stood. Galadriel filled the Mirror with water from the stream.

The Fellowship came to Caras Galadhon on January 17, 3019 of the Third Age. Frodo Baggins first saw Caras Galadhon from the summit of Cerin Amroth, and it seemed to him that the power and light of Lothlorien emanated from the city where Galadriel dwelled.

The Fellowship met with Galadriel and Celeborn in their great hall. A pavilion was set up on the lawn and the Fellowship stayed there for a month. At the end of their stay, Frodo and Sam visited Galadriel's garden and looked into the Mirror. The Fellowship left Caras Galadhon and they departed from Lothlorien on February 16.

After the War of the Ring in the year 3021, Galadriel left Middle-earth. Celeborn remained in Lothlorien for a time but eventually he moved to Rivendell. In the Fourth Age, few Elves remained in Lothlorien and there was no longer light and music in Caras Galadhon.

Names & Etymology:
Also called the City of the Trees.

Caras was an old word meaning "moated fortress," probably from the Silvan dialect. In Sindarin, caras means "city." The word galadh means "tree."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Lothlorien," p. 361, 366; "The Mirror of Galadriel," p. 368-69, 372, 376 and passim; "Farewell to Lorien," p. 386-87
Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 246, 257, 261, 267
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 375
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for GALAD and KAR, KYAR

The Blue Mountains formed the border between Beleriand to the west and Eriador to the east. Belegost and Nogrod were on the eastern side of the mountains. There were passes over the Blue Mountains near Belegost and Nogrod, and the Dwarf-road came down from the passes into Beleriand. The Dwarf-road ran through Thargelion alongside the Ascaron the northern border of Ossiriand. The road crossed the Gelion at Sarn Athrad.

According to legend, two of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves awoke beneath the Blue Mountains. These were the fathers of the Firebeards and the Broadbeams. It is not known when the Dwarves awoke, but it was after the awakening of the Elves in 1050 of the Years of the Trees. The Dwarves established the cities of Belegost and Nogrod and delved great mansions and halls under the mountains.

Around 1250 of the Years of the Trees, the Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod came into Beleriand and encountered the Sindarin Elves who lived there. The Dwarves learned the language of the Elves but did not share their own tongue.

The Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod were skilled craftsmen. They did metalwork in iron and copper, and they were unrivalled in the art of tempering steel. The Dwarves of Nogrod were the most skilled at making arms, while the Dwarves of Belegost invented the process of making chain mail. The Dwarves traded with the Elves and taught them some of their skills.

Around 1300 of the Years of the Trees, the Dwarves of Belegost helped build the Thousand Caves of Menegroth for the Elvenking Thingol of Doriath. They carved numerous halls, chambers, and passages underground. In exchange, the Dwarves of Belegost were taught wisdom by Thingol's wife Melian who was a Maia from the Undying Lands. From Thingol they received pearls from the Isle of Balar including a large, beautiful pearl called Nimphelos that was highly prized by the chieftain of Belegost.

During this period, Morgoth was being held captive by the Valar. But the Dwarves warned Thingol that evil things were roaming east of the Blue Mountains. Around 1330, some of these creatures including Orcs began to enter Beleriand. Thingol asked the Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost to make weapons for his people and the Elves temporarily drove the creatures back.

Morgoth returned to Middle-earth and invaded Beleriand. In the First Battle in 1497, Thingol drove the Orcs from East Beleriand and the Dwarves waylaid those who tried to flee north to Angband. Soon afterwards, the Noldor led by Feanor came to Middle-earth to retrieve the Silmarils Morgoth had stolen. The Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod stopped their traffic into Beleriand at this time.

The Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod encountered Feanor's son Caranthir and his people who settled near the Blue Mountains. The Noldorin Elves were skilled craftsmen like the Dwarves. The Dwarves did not particularly like Caranthir but they exchanged knowledge with the Noldor and resumed trade into Beleriand. The Dwarves prized the jewels of the Noldor above all other treasures.

Around the year 52 of the First Age, the Dwarves helped Finrod build the underground stronghold of Nargothrond in exchange for treasures that Finrod had brought from the Undying Lands. Craftsmen of Belegost and Nogrod also made the Nauglamir - the Necklace of the Dwarves - for Finrod. The Nauglamir was made of gold and set with many jewels and it was the most famous work of the Dwarves at that time.

The most renowned smith of Nogrod was Telchar who learned his craft from Gamil Zirak. Telchar made Narsil which eventually belonged to Elendil many milliennia later and then became Anduril, the sword of Aragorn. Telchar also made the Dragon-helm for Azaghal, the Lord of Belegost, shortly after the Dragon Glaurung appeared in the year 260.

At some point, Azaghal was waylaid by Orcs while travelling along the Dwarf-road in East Beleriand. His life was saved by Maedhros, son of Feanor, and Azaghal gave the Dragon-helm to Maedhros. The Dragon-helm later came into the possession of Turin.

Although the Dwarves frequently travelled into Beleriand, few Elves ever went to Belegost and Nogrod except for Eol the Dark Elf. Eol was a smith and he improved his skill at metalwork during the time he spent in the cities of the Dwarves. He invented a hard but malleable black metal named galvorn.

Eol had a son Maeglin, born around 320, who visited Belegost and Nogrod with his father. Around 400, Eol was invited to the customary midsummer feast at Nogrod. While he was away, Maeglin and his mother Aredhel fled to Gondolin where Aredhel's brother Turgon ruled. Eol pursued them and was slain, and Maeglin was later instrumental in the downfall of Gondolin.

Around 468, Maedhros formed an alliance against Morgoth. The Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod joined the Union of Maedhros and they provided many weapons. Azaghal, Lord of Belegost, led an army to the Battle of Unnumbered Tears in 472.

The Dwarves of Belegost were the last to stand firm during an assault by Orcs, wolves, Balrogs, traitorous Men, and Dragons led by Glaurung. The masks worn by the Dwarves protected them from the Dragons' fire. Azaghal was mortally wounded by Glaurung but managed to stab the Dragon before he died, forcing Glaurung to withdraw from the battle. The Dwarves of Belegost ceased fighting and they carried Azaghal's body away.

The Battle of Unnumbered Tears was a crushing defeat to the enemies of Morgoth. After the battle, the Dwarves continued to travel into Beleriand though they brought large armed companies with them for protection. They often visited Menegroth to do work for Thingol in smithies set aside for their use.

Around 502, Thingol asked a group of Dwarf-smiths from Nogrod to set one of the Silmarils in the Nauglamir. The Dwarves coveted the Silmaril and the necklace that had been made by their ancestors, and when the work was completed they killed Thingol and took the Nauglamir. They fled from Menegroth but the Elves of Doriath pursued them and slew the Dwarves and took back the Nauglamir.

Two of the Dwarves escaped and returned to Nogrod. They falsely claimed that Thingol had ordered the slaying of their companions in order to avoid paying them for their work. The Dwarves of Nogrod were incensed and they planned to seek revenge on the Elves of Doriath. The Dwarves of Belegost refused to help and tried to dissuade the Dwarves of Nogrod but to no avail.

Around 503, the Dwarves of Nogrod invaded Doriath with a great force. Many Dwarves were killed but they defeated the Elves and took the Nauglamir set with the Silmaril along with many other treasures. On the way back to Nogrod, the Dwarves were ambushed at Sarn Athrad by the Elves of Ossiriand led by Beren - the husband of Thingol's daughter Luthien - and his son Dior.

Beren killed the Lord of Nogrod and reclaimed the Nauglamir. The Lord of Nogrod cursed the treasure with his dying words. The rest of the treasures of Doriath were sunk to the bottom of the River Ascar, but Beren kept the Nauglamir with the Silmaril to give to Luthien.

Most of the other Dwarves were also slain in the battle. The few that escaped were waylaid by the Ents on the slopes of Mount Dolmed and none of them ever returned to Nogrod.

During the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age, Beleriand was destroyed and the Blue Mountains were broken. Belegost and Nogrod were ruined. Some Dwarves stayed in what remained of the Blue Mountains, but many others migrated eastward to the Misty Mountains. Around the year 40 of the Second Age they joined the Dwarves of Khazad-dum and they enriched that great realm with their knowledge and skills.

Names & Etymology:
The name Belegost means "great fortress" in Sindarin from beleg meaning "mighty" and ost meaning "fortress." The Dwarvish name was Gabilgathol from gabil meaning "great" and gathol meaning "fortress." Another name was Mickleburg where mickle is from the Old English micel meaning "great, many" and burg means "fortress, walled town." This is apparently Common Speech though that language did not exist at the time.

The earlier version of the name Nogrod was Novrod meaning "hollow dwelling" from the Common Eldarin words naba meaning "hollow" and (g)rota meaning "excavation, underground dwelling." The name evolved into Nogrod with Nog derived from the Sindarin Naug meaning "Dwarf." The Dwarvish name was Tumunzahar and the Common Speech rendering was Hollowbold. The word bold means "dwelling" in Old English.

Sources:
The Silmarillion: "Of the Sindar," p. 91-96; "Of the Return of the Noldor," p. 112-14; "Of Maeglin," p. 133-34; "Of Beren and Luthien," p. 177; "Of the Fifth Battle," p. 189-90, 193; "Of Turin Turambar," p. 204; "Of the Ruin of Doriath," 230-37; Index, entries for Belegost and Hollowbold (Nogrod); "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for beleg and os(t)
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Grey Annals," p. 9-13, 45-46, 70-71, 75; "The Later Quenta Silmarillion," p. 211-12; "The Tale of Years," p. 347, 350; "Quendi and Eldar," p. 388-89, 408, 414 (Novrod)
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "Of Dwarves and Men," p. 301, 322 note 24
Unfinished Tales: "Narn I Hin Hurin," p. 75-76, 128, 146 note 4; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 235, 252 notes 3 and 4
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Durin's Folk," p. 352
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 364
Khuzdul - The Secret Tongue of the Dwarves
Old English

Goblin-town

Goblin-town was dark and the air was stuffy. There was a great cavern lit with a red fire where the Great Goblin sat on a stone slab. Most of the tunnels of Goblin-town had been carved by the Orcs though they incorporated some pre-existing caves and passages. The tunnels branched in many directions and extended deep under the mountains.

One tunnel ran down to the subterranean lake where Gollum lived, but the Orcs seldom went there unless the Great Goblin sent them to catch fish. There was also a low passageway that sloped up and down until it reached a stone door called the back-door or Goblin-gate on the east side of the Misty Mountains.

In 2941, Thorin & Company were captured by Orcs in the Front Porch and were brought to Goblin-town. Gandalf killed the Great Goblin and the Dwarves escaped but Bilbo Baggins became lost in the tunnels. Bilbo found the One Ring and encountered Gollum before he was able to escape through the back-door.

Names & Etymology:
The word Goblin is synonymous with Orc in Tolkien's writings.

Sources:
The Hobbit:"Over Hill and Under Hill," passim; "Riddles in the Dark," p. 79-83, 95-100; "Out of the Frying-pan into the Fire," p. 102-105

Khazad-dûm

Almaida

Names & Etymology:
The meaning of Almaida is unknown. The name was written unclearly on a map of Numenor made by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: Introduction, p. 7

Near Andunie was the hill of Oromet where Tar-Minastir built a tower to look westward toward the Undying Lands. Just west of Andunie there was another haven on the Bay of Andunie called Almaida. South of the Bay of Andunie was the large Bay of Eldanna where the haven of Eldalonde was located. The main road in Numenor connected Andunie with Armenelos and Romenna on the east side of the island.

Andunie was an important port city. Numenorean ships harbored at Andunie and ships of the Elves came there from the Undying Lands in the West. The people of Andunie and the Westlands commonly spoke Sindarin as their native tongue, while in the rest of Numenor the native language was Adunaic (though many also knew Sindarin).

The first Lord of Andunie was Valandil whose mother Silmarien was the daughter of Tar-Elendil, the fourth King of Numenor. The Lords of Andunie were the highest ranking nobles in Numenor after the members of the royal house. They served on the Council of the Sceptre and advised the Kings and Queens of Numenor.

Andunie was home to many of the Faithful who remained friendly with the Elves and loyal to the Valar while most other Numenoreans became estranged from them. The Lords of Andunie were secretly leaders of the Faithful though they continued to counsel and serve the rulers.

During the reign of Ar-Gimilzor from 3102 to 3175 of the Second Age, the Faithful were forced to relocate from Andunie and the Westlands to Romenna in the east where the King's Men could keep an eye on them. The Elves were not welcome in Numenor and their ships no longer came to Andunie.

In 3310, Ar-Pharazon began to build the Great Armament in order to assail the Undying Lands in a misguided attempt to gain immortality. Andunie became the chief harbor for the King's fleet. Ar-Pharazon launched his attack in 3319 and Numenor was destroyed by Eru. Elendil - the son of Amandil, last Lord of Andunie - escaped with the Faithful to Middle-earth and founded the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor.

Names & Etymology:
The name Andúnië means "sunset" in Quenya. The city was so named because it faced the west.

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: "Introduction," p. 7; "A Description of the Island of Numenor," p. 167, 169; "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 173, 182, 185, 189, 193, 214 note 8, 215 notes 15 and 19, 216-17 note 23; "The Line of Elros: Kings of Numenor," p. 219-20, 223
The Silmarillion: "Akallabeth," p. 261, 268-69, 271, 277; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for andune
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The History of the Akallabeth," p. 162
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The Numenorean Kings," p. 316

Armenelos

The city of Armenelos was built on a hill. The citadel and tower of the King's Court were located there. At the top of the tower was the eyrie of two Eagles sacred to the Vala Manwe. In the King's Court grew Nimloth, the White Tree given to the Men of Numenor by the Elves.

Armenelos was founded by Elros in the year 32 of the Second Age when the Edain arrived in Numenor. It became a glorious and thriving city. But signs of the growing estrangement of the Men of Numenor from the Valar and the Elves became evident in Armenelos. The Eagles that dwelled in the tower of the King's Court left their eyrie during reign of Tar-Ancalimon (2251-2386).

In the time of Ar-Pharazon (3255-3319), Nimloth was cut down at the urging of Sauron, who had come to Numenor as a prisoner but had insinuated himself into the King's inner circle. Sauron built a great temple in the center of Armenelos. The temple was circular with walls that were 50 feet thick. It was 500 feet across and 500 feet high topped with a silver dome. Nimloth was burned in the temple and afterwards the altar was used for human sacrifices.

Armenelos was lost when the island of Numenor sank beneath the Sea in 3319.

Names & Etymology:
The name Armenelos contains the Quenya words ar meaning "royal" and menel meaning "heaven" and possibly os from osto meaning "fortress, city." Also called the City of the Kings and Armenelos the Golden.

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: "A Description of the Island of Numenor," p. 165, 169; "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 173, 175-77, 181, 183-86, 189-90, 192-93, 195-99,
201, 203-5, 208; "The Line of Elros: Kings of Numenor," p. 218
The Silmarillion: "Akallabeth," p. 261, 263, 270-73; "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," p. 291
The Quenya Corpus Wordlist

Eldalondë

Names & Etymology:
The name Eldalondë means "Haven of the Eldar" in Quenya. The word Eldar (singular, Elda) means "People of the Stars" signifying the Elves, particularly those who made the Great Journey. The world londë means "haven." Also called Eldalondë the Green.

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: "A Description of the Island of Numenor," p. 167-68; Index entry for Eldalonde
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for el, elen and londe

Nindamos

Names & Etymology:
The name Nindamos appears to contain the word nîn meaning "wet" probably because of the village's location on the marshy shore.

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: Map of Numenor; "A Description of the Island of Numenor," p. 168

Romenna was the greatest port in Numenor. There were large shipyards in Romenna and the most highly skilled shipwrights worked there. The mariner Veantur had a house with its own quay in Romenna and Aldarion frequently came there and kept his ships in the harbor.

Tar-Meneldur closed the shipyards in Romenna during a dispute with his son Aldarion in 829 of the Second Age. The shipyards were reopened in 843 and Aldarion repaired and expanded the harbor works and built sea-walls. Aldarion's wife Erendis died in the water at Romenna in 985.

During the reign of Ar-Gimilzor (3102-3175), many of the Faithful of Numenor were forced to relocate from Andunie to Romenna so the King's Men could keep watch on them. More were drawn there by Amandil, the leader of the Faithful during the reign of Ar-Pharazon. When Numenor was destroyed in 3319, the Faithful led by Elendil boarded ships at Romenna and escaped to Middle-earth.

Names & Etymology:
The name Romenna means "eastwards" in Quenya from rómen meaning "east" and the suffix -(n)na indicating movement towards.

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: Map of Numenor; "A Description of the Island of Numenor," p. 165, 169; "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 174-75, 179-82, 186, 191-92, 195, 201, 212; Index entries for Eldanna (-nna suffix) and Romenna
The Silmarillion: "Akallabeth," p. 268, 272-73, 275, 279; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for romen

There were many wooden houses on the slopes of the hill. At the summit on a green terrace was Meduseld, the great hall of the Kings of Rohan. There was a spring at the bottom of the terrace that issued from a stone horse's head. From it a stream flowed downhill and alongside a paved road and stone steps descended to the town gate.

Edoras was surrounded by a great wall and thorny fence and a dike. The town was defended by the Muster of Edoras, comprised of Riders from the town itself and the surrounding King's Lands including Harrowdale, as well as nearby parts of the East-mark and West-mark. The Muster of Rohan was the ward of the First Marshal of the Mark. During Theoden's reign, the King himself acted in this capacity, and Elfhelm was the officer in command of the garrison of Edoras.

Before the gate north of the town was the Barrowfield where the Kings of Rohan were buried. There were two rows of barrows covered with grass and white flowers called simbelmyne. The graves of the nine kings of the First Line starting with Eorl were on the western side. On the east the kings of the Second Line were buried. An eighth mound was added to this line in 3019 after the death of King Theoden in the War of the Ring. A third row was begun after the death of King Eomer in 63 of the Fourth Age.

A path ran north from the town gate between the barrows to a ford across the River Snowbourn. The Snowbourn issued from the valley of Harrowdale, flowing past Edoras on the west and then curving around the northern side of the town. The Great West Road came to Edoras from Minas Tirith. This road joined the North-South Road that continued through the Gap of Rohan and north to Eriador.

South of Edoras in the valley of Harrowdale was the refuge of Dunharrow and the entrance to the Paths of the Dead. There were also two small villages in the valley called Underharrow and Upbourn.

The hill that was the site of Edoras was chosen by Eorl after he became the first King of Rohan in 2510 of the Third Age. The hall of Meduseld was completed in the reign of Eorl's son Brego in 2569.

Rohan was invaded by Dunlendings in 2758 and their leader Wulf captured Edoras and set himself up on the throne. In the spring of 2759, Frealaf reclaimed Edoras for the Rohirrim and became King.

On September 19, 3018, Gandalf came to Edoras after escaping imprisonment by Saruman. Gandalf was refused admittance to Edoras by King Theoden, who was under the influence of Saruman's lackey Grima. The next day, Gandalf was allowed to enter Edoras but the King would not listen to his warnings of Saruman's treachery and Gandalf departed.

Gandalf returned to Edoras with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli on March 2, 3019. The Wizard freed the King from Saruman's spell, and Theoden decided lead his Riders to war. He was slain at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15 and his body was brought back to Edoras and buried on August 10. Among the illustrious guests who resided at Edoras during the King's funeral were Faramir,Prince Imrahil, Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond and his sons, Queen Arwen, and Aragorn, King Elessar.

Eomer became King and moved from his stronghold of Aldburg to Edoras. In the year 63 of the Fourth Age, he sent word to Merry Brandybuck who was a Knight of the Riddermark. Merry and his friend Pippin Took came to Edoras and visited with King Eomer before he died.

Names & Etymology:
Edoras means "the Courts." In Old English, eoderas is the plural of eodor meaning "enclosure, precinct."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Council of Elrond," p. 275
The Two Towers: "The King of the Golden Hall," passim
The Return of the King: "The Muster of Rohan," p. 64, 66, 75-78; "Many Partings," p. 254-56
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The House of Eorl," passim
Unfinished Tales: "The Battles of the Fords of Isen - Appendix," p. 367
Old English Glossary at Beowulf on Steorarume
Old English

Underharrow and Upbourn

After the Muster of Rohan in Harrowdale on March 10, 3019 of the Third Age, the host of the Mark passed through Underharrow and Upbourn. In both villages, women looked out the doors of their homes as the Riders passed on the way to war.

Names & Etymology:
Upbourn was so named because it was located up the river - or bourn - from Edoras. Underharrow was named for its location below Dunharrow. The word harrow is from the Old English hearg meaning "sanctuary."

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Muster of Rohan," p. 76
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Upbourn
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Muster of Rohan," p. 540

Breredon

Names & Etymology:
Breredon means "Briar Hill" from the Old English brere meaning "briar" and don meaning "down, hill."

Sources:
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" in A Tolkien Reader: Preface, note 3; "Bombadil Goes Boating," p. 206
Bombadil in the Shire by Lalaith

Bucklebury

The Bucklebury Ferry was one of the two main ways of crossing the river, along with the Brandywine Bridge. There was a landing stage in Bucklebury and one on the opposite bank in the Marish. The ferry-boats were large and flat and long poles were used to push them across the river. The boats were kept on the Bucklebury side.

Merry Brandybuck met Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, and Pippin Took at the landing stage in the Marish on the evening of September 25, 3018 of the Third Age. The Hobbits crossed the river to Bucklebury. Looking back, they saw a Black Rider on the western shore, but there were no boats on that side and the Rider was unable to follow them across the river. The Hobbits passed through Bucklebury and continued to the small village of Crickhollow northeast of Bucklebury where Frodo had bought a house.

Names & Etymology:
Buck is from the name Buckland and Brandybuck and bury means "village" in Old English.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"; "A Conspiracy Unmasked," p. 108-10

Budgeford

Budgeford was the main residence of the Bolger family. Fatty Bolger and his sister Estella were from Budgeford.

Names & Etymology:
The element budge is derived from bulge or bolge, as in the name Bolger. A ford is a shallow place where a river can be crossed.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"; "A Conspiracy Unmasked," p. 118
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Budgeford

Bywater

The Green Dragon in Bywater was a popular inn for residents of Bywater and Hobbiton as well as for travelers along the Great East Road. Thorin Oakenshield and his company of Dwarves assembled at the Green Dragon in 2941 of the Third Age while awaiting the arrival of their burglar Bilbo Baggins. There was also a post-office in Bywater. In the bank on the north side of Bywater Pool there was a row of Hobbit-holes, and along the road there was an avenue of trees. The most prominent Hobbit in Bywater was Tom Cotton, who had a farm down South Lane.

During the War of the Ring, the trees along the road were cut down by Ted Sandyman and a line of ugly houses were built in their place. The Hobbit-holes in the north bank were deserted and many of the houses had been burned down. The Green Dragon was occupied by ruffians and several of its windows had been broken.

When Frodo Baggins and his companions returned to the Shire and were arrested at Frogmorton on November 1, 3019, the Chief ordered that they be brought to Bywater and handed over to his Men. They set out for Bywater on the morning of November 2, but the four Hobbit adventurers soon outpaced their escort of Shirriffs and went on ahead, saying they'd meet the Shirriffs at the Green Dragon. At the Green Dragon, Merry Brandybuck, Pippin Took, and Sam Gamgee drove off the six ruffians at the inn, but the Men ran toward Hobbiton for reinforcements.

Sam went to Tom Cotton's farm to find the farmer and his sons, while Merry blew the Horn of the Mark and rallied the Hobbits of the Bywater area. Over 200 Hobbits gathered in the center of the village. The Shirriffs who had arrested Frodo and his friends arrived, and many of them joined the ranks of the defenders. Barricades were placed on the road through Bywater. The ruffians from the inn return in a group of 20 Men, but Hobbit archers killed their leader and the rest surrendered and were taken prisoner.

Pippin rode off to Tookland and returned with 100 Hobbits on the morning of November 3. Merry went out scouting in the night and returned to report that 100 Men were heading toward Bywater. Merry orgainzed the Hobbitry and set up a trap on the Bywater Road that the Men walked right into. The Battle of Bywater ensued. In the end, nearly 70 Men were killed and 12 were taken prisoner, while 19 Hobbits died and about 30 were wounded. The dead Men were buried in a nearby sand-pit that came to be called the Battle Pit. The Hobbits were buried separately, and a stone was placed on their grave with a garden around it.

Sources:
The Hobbit: "Roast Mutton," p. 38
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"; "A Long-Expected Party," p. 34; "The Mirror of Galadriel," p. 378
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 280-95

Crickhollow

In the summer of 3018 of the Third Age, Frodo Baggins bought a small house in Crickhollow as an excuse for leaving Bag End and the Shire. The house had been built by the Brandybucks for the use of those who wanted peace and quiet. It was set back from the lane behind a hedge with a gate and stood on a wide lawn inside a circle of trees. The house was much like a Hobbit-hole, with only one storey, a turf roof, and round windows and door.

Merry Brandybuck and Fatty Bolger had gone ahead to prepare the house at Crickhollow for Frodo's arrival on September 25, 3018. At Crickhollow, Merry and Pippin Took told Frodo that they intended to accompany him and Sam Gamgee on the quest. The four Hobbits left Crickhollow early the next morning.

Fatty Bolger remained behind to make it appear as though Frodo were still living there. In the early hours of September 30, the house at Crickhollow was attacked by three Nazgul including Khamul. When Fatty saw the shadowy figures approaching he fled out the back door and ran to the nearest house to raise the alarm. The Horn-call of Buckland sounded and the Nazgul fled.

After the War of the Ring, Merry and Pippin lived together at Crickhollow for a time before they assumed their family titles and responsibilities.

Names & Etymology:
Cryc is a Celtic word meaning "hill" and a hollow is a small depression in the ground.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Three Is Company," p. 75-76; "A Conspiracy Unmasked," p. 110 and passim; "A Knife in the Dark," p. 188-89
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 305
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Crickhollow
Elfling list archives
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "A Knife in the Dark," p. 164-7

Deephallow

Names & Etymology:
The name Deephallow apparently contains the Old English word hall or healh meaning "corner, nook" in reference to its location at the juncture of the two rivers.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Maps of The Lord of the Rings," p. lvii

Dwaling

Names & Etymology:
The name Dwaling appears related to the word dwelling. However, a note written by Tolkien suggests that Dwaling was the settlement of someone with the nickname Dwale meaning "dull" in Old English.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Maps of The Lord of the Rings," p. lviii

Frogmorton

Frodo Baggins and his companions were arrested at Frogmorton on November 1, 3019 of the Third Age, by the Shirriffs of the First Eastfarthing Troop. The four Hobbits spent the night in the Shirriff-house at Frogmorton, an ugly, one-storey brick building. They left the next morning accompanied by a dozen Shirriffs but soon left their escort behind.

Names & Etymology:
Frogmorton is composed of the elements frog + moor ("marshy land") + town.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 280-82
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Frogmorton

Gamwich

Names & Etymology:
Gamwich was called Galabas in the language of the Hobbits. The name Galabas means "game village" from the Hobbitish galab meaning "game" and bas, the equivalent of the Old English wick or wich meaning "village."

Sources:
Appendix C of The Lord of the Rings: Gamgee genealogy, p. 383
Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 416
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #144

Greenholm

Names & Etymology:
The word holm means "small island" or "raised land, often surrounded by marshland." The name Greenholm may be a reference to the village's position on a hill, like a green island among the downs.

Source:
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 378
On dalr and holmr in the place-names of Britain by Dr. Gillian Fellows-Jensen

Hardbottle

Note:
Tolkien states in his "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" that Hardbottle was a village in the Northfarthing, however in his unfinished Index he describes it as being in the Southfarthing.

Names & Etymology:
The ending -bottle is from the Old English botl from which the modern word build is derived. It means "dwelling." Hardbottle was so named because of the hard, rocky land where it was built.

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 301
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Hardbottle
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Grey Havens," p. 665

Haysend

Names & Etymology:
Haysend was so named because it was at the end of the Hay.

Sources:
Map of "A Part of the Shire" by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Fellowship of the Ring: "A Conspiracy Unmasked," p. 109; "The Old Forest," p. 124
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" in A Tolkien Reader: Preface, note 3; "Bombadil Goes Boating," p. 204, 206

The village of Hobbiton spanned both sides of the Water. Some of the dwellings in Hobbiton were smials, or Hobbit-holes, but there were also buildings of wood, brick or stone. One of the main buildings in Hobbiton was Sandyman's Mill, which stood on the north side of the Water by the bridge. The Old Grange was on the west side of the lane that ran from the bridge to the Hill, where Bag End was located. On the southern slope of the Hill were three smaller Hobbit-holes along Bagshot Row. There were a number of other dwellings on the south side of the Water. Hobbiton also had its own post office.

Hobbiton was hit hard during the War of the Ring. Bag End had become the home of Lotho Sackville-Baggins, who had named himself Chief. Rough-looking Men came to Hobbiton at his invitation; at times up to fifty Men were living in sheds in Hobbiton. They tore up trees and hedges, Hobbit-holes and buildings to make way for industry. When Frodo and his companions returned they were stunned by what they saw.

It was one of the saddest hours in their lives. The great chimney rose up before them; and as they drew near the old village across the Water, through rows of new mean houses along each side of the road, they saw the new mill in all its frowning and dirty ugliness: a great brick building straddling the stream, which it fouled with a steaming and stinking overflow. All along the Bywater Road every tree had been felled.
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 296

After the Scouring of the Shire, Bag End was restored and new holes were dug along Bagshot Row. The new mill was removed. Sam Gamgee spread Galadriel's gift of earth from her orchard around the Shire, paying special attention to Hobbiton and Bywater. He planted the mallorn seed in the Party Field by the Hill where the Party Tree had once stood. Soon Hobbiton was a peaceful and beautiful village once again.

Sources:
The Hobbit: "Roast Mutton," p. 39 and illustration of Hobbiton by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Hobbits," p. 15; "A Long-Expected Party," p. 34; map of "A Part of the Shire" by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 288, 296-97; "The Grey Havens," p. 302-3
The Journeys of Frodo by Barbara Strachey, map #2 "Hobbiton to Bywater"
Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad: "Hobbiton and Bag End," p. 188-19

Little Delving

Names & Etymology:
The word delving means "digging."

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"

Longbottom

Lotho Sackville-Baggins had land in the Southfarthing, and he began selling Longbottom Leaf to Saruman. Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took found barrels of Longbottom Leaf in the store-rooms at Isengard in March of 3019. It was their first indication that all was not well in the Shire. During the War of the Ring, a number of the Chief's Men were stationed at Longbottom.

Names & Etymology:
The element bottom means "valley."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Pipe-weed," p. 17-18
The Two Towers: "Flotsam and Jetsam," p. 167
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 288
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Longbottom

Long Cleeve

Names & Etymology:
The name Long Cleeve may be derived from cleave meaning "cut, split" and may here refer to a long cleft or crevice in the ground.

Sources:
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 377
Appendix C of The Lord of the Rings: Took genealogy, p. 381

Michel Delving

During the War of the Ring, some of the old storage tunnels in Michel Delving were made into a prison called the Lockholes where Hobbits who stood up to the Chief's Men were imprisoned. After the war, the prisoners were released by Frodo Baggins. Stores of food, beer, and goods that had been left by the Men were found in other storage tunnels in Michel Delving, and these were used by the Hobbits to celebrate the Yule holiday.

Names & Etymology:
Michel is from the Old English meaning "great" and delving means "digging."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"; "Prologue: Concerning Hobbits," p. 14; "Prologue: Of the Ordering of the Shire," p. 19
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 288; "The Grey Havens," p. 301-302
Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 413

Needlehole

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"

Newbury

Names & Etymology:
The word bury means "village" in Old English.

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"

Nobottle

Names & Etymology:
No- is derived from "new" and -bottle is from the Old English botl meaning "dwelling." There is a village in Northamptonshire in England named Nobottle. The related name Newbold is also common.

Sources:
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "Notes on Various Topics," p. 424, note 2
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Hardbottle

Oatbarton

Names & Etymology:
The name Oatbarton is a combination of the grain oat and the word barton meaning "grain farm" from the Old English beretun where bere means "barley, corn" and tun means "enclosure." The name probably refers to the crops grown in the area. Barley for brewing beer was grown in the Northfarthing.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 304 (mention of barley in the Northfarthing - Oatbarton not mentioned)
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Maps of The Lord of the Rings," p. lviii

Overhill

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"; "The Shadow of the Past," p. 53
Appendix C of LotR: Gamgee genealogy, p. 383

Pincup

Names & Etymology:
In a letter to a Dutch translator, Tolkien wrote that the first element pin is from pinnuc or pink meaning "finch" or "sparrow" while hop means "recess, retreat."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad: Map of the Shire, p. 70-71
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Maps of The Lord of the Rings," p. lviii-lix

Rushey

Names & Etymology:
Rushey is dervived from Rush-isle, meaning an area of dry land in among the fens of the Marish. The ending-ey or -y is frequently used in English place-names to denote "small island." A rush is a plant commonly found in marshes.

Rushey is misspelled Rushy on the Map of "A Part of the Shire" in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"; "A Conspiracy Unmasked," p. 108-9
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Rushey
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VI, The Return of the Shadow: "Again from Buckland to the Withywindle," p. 304, note 2
"Bombadil Goes Boating" in A Tolkien Reader, p. 207

Scary

Names & Etymology:
Scar is an English dialectical word meaning "rocky cliff."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 302
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Scary

Standelf

Names & Etymology:
Standelf is from the Old English stan-gedelf meaning "stone quarry." Stonydelph in the English county of Warwickshire is also derived from this word.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VI, The Return of the Shadow: "Again from Buckland to the Withywindle," p. 298-99, p. 304 (note 5)

Stock

Many of the inhabitants of Stock were house-dwellers, like most Hobbits in the Marish. The Puddifoots were one of the prominent families in Stock. The farmers around Stock acknowledged the authority of the Master of Buckland across the Brandywine. The finest beer in the Eastfarthing could be found at the Golden Perchin Stock.

Names & Etymology:
Stock is from the Old English stoc meaning "settlement, hamlet, farm."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"; "A Short Cut to Mushrooms," p. 97, 101' "A Conspiracy Unmasked," p. 108-9

Tighfield

Samwise Gamgee's brother Hamson Gamgee went to work with their uncle Andwise the Roper in Tighfield. Andwise had inherited the rope-walk from his father Hobson, who was called Roper Gamgee. Hobson's father Hob Gammidge was also a roper, and his father Wiseman Gamwich had been the first of the family to move to Tighfield from Gamwich.

Names & Etymology:
The name Tighfield derives from the Old English tígan meaning "tie, bind" and téag meaning "rope, cord."

Sources:
The Two Towers: "The Taming of Smeagol," p. 217
Appendix C of The Lord of the Rings: Gamgee genealogy, p. 383
Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letter #144
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Tighfield (includes explanation of "rope-walk")
Old English

Tookbank

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"

Tuckborough

During occupation of the Shire in 3019, the Tooks were able to defend themselves in their deep holes in and around Tuckborough. The ruffians kept a close watch on Tookland after Tooks killed three of their number. No one was able to go in or out, until Peregrin Took rode to Tuckborough to rally the Tooks for the Battle of Bywater on November 3, 3019 of the Third Age.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Hobbits," p. 16; "Prologue: Of the Ordering of the Shire," p. 18-19
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 289
Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad: Map of the Shire, p. 70-71

Waymeet

During the War of the Ring, a number of the Chief's Men were stationed at Waymeet, where they had sheds. When Frodo Baggins and his companions arrived in Bywater on November 2, 3019 of the Third Age, two of the ruffians ran to Waymeet to fetch reinforcements. About one hundred Men from Waymeet arrived they next day, and others joined them as they came. The Men were defeated by the Hobbits in the Battle of Bywater.

Names & Etymology:
Waymeet refers to the meeting of the three roads in the village. It is a modernized version of Waymoot, which is how it appears on the map in The Fellowship of the Ring.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 288, 289, 294
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Waymeet

Whitfurrows

Names & Etymology:
The element whit is a shortening of "white" and may be a reference to the color of the soil in the area.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," p. 282
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Whitfurrows

Whitwell

Names & Etymology:
Whitwell is a place-name in England. Whit is a shortening of white and it may be a reference to the color of the soil.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"
The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 41
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Whitfurrows
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "Minas Tirith," p. 523

Willowbottom

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"

Woodhall

On September 24, 3018 of the Third Age, Frodo and his companions were heading through the Woody End in the direction of Woodhall when they encountered a Black Rider for the second time on their journey. The singing of Gildor Inglorion and his company of Elves caused the Rider to flee. Gildor invited the Hobbits to camp with the Elves in a clearing from which they could see the lights of Woodhall twinkling.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of "A Part of the Shire"; "Three Is Company," p. 86, 91

Dale

It is not certain when Dale was founded. One source (UT, p. 289) indicates that there was a settlement of Men there as early as 1856 of the Third Age. But according to Thorin Oakenshield, Men built the town of Dale sometime after his grandfather Thror became King under the Mountain in 2590.

As the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain prospered under Thror, the town of Dale also thrived. The Men of Dale traded food supplies in exchange for the work of the Dwarf smiths. Some of the young Men were apprenticed to the Dwarves to learn what skills they would teach. The town of Dale became famous for its wonderful and magical toys. Trade flowed up and down the River Running to and from Lake-town on Long Lake and beyond.

The language of Dale was related to that of the Rohirrim - whose ancestors had once lived in the North and were akin to the Men of Dale. The Hobbits originally spoke a similar language when they lived in the Vales of the Anduin, and some of the Hobbits' months, days, and personal names were reminiscent of those found in Dale and Rohan. The Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain adopted many personal names from the language of Dale because their true Dwarvish names were kept secret. The Men of Dale wrote using their own form of Cirth, or runes. They could understand the language of the thrushes and they used the birds to send messages from Dale to Lake-town and elsewhere.

In 2770, Smaug the Dragon descended upon the Lonely Mountain and the bells of Dale sounded the alarm. The warriors armed themselves, but Smaug came upon them unawares in a fog that arose on the river from the Dragon's fire. Many people were killed and many houses burned. The Lord of Dale at that time was Girion. He was killed by Smaug but he managed to send his wife and child to safety in Lake-town. Some people tried to remain in Dale but Smaug emerged in the night to hunt them for food, particularly maidens. Soon the town of Dale was ruined and deserted.

In 2941, Thorin Oakenshield returned to the Lonely Mountain with twelve Dwarves and one Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. Smaug was angered and flew out of the mountain to Lake-town, where he was slain by Girion's descendant Bard the Bowman. Soon afterwards, the Battle of the Five Armies was fought in the valley among the ruins of Dale.

Bard rebuilt Dale in 2944 using the share of the Dragon hoard that he received in exchange for the Arkenstone given to him by Bilbo. Bard became King of Dale and Men came to live there from around Long Lake and from the south and west. The farmland in the valley became rich and bountiful again. Trade flowed freely from the Lonely Mountain and Dale once more. The toy trade was revived, and toys bearing the mark of Dale were highly prized. Bilbo ordered many toys from Dale to distribute at his Farewell Party in 3001.

Bard was succeeded as King of Dale by his son Bain in 2977, and Bain in turn was followed by his son Brand in 3007. By the time of the War of the Ring, the realm of Dale extended far south and east of the town.

In the year leading up to the War of the Ring, messengers from Mordor came to Dale seeking news of Bilbo Baggins and the Ring that he bore. Brand did not answer their questions but he feared that Dale would be attacked from the East.

In March of 3019, Easterlings crossed the Redwater and attacked Dale. The Men of Dale led by Brand and the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain led by Dain Ironfoot fought side by side for three days in the Battle of Dale. On March 17, Brand and Dain died side by side. The Men and Dwarves took refuge in the Lonely Mountain until news of the victory in the South reached them and they came forth to drive away their attackers.

Brand's son Bard II succeeded him as King of Dale. An ambassador from Dale was sent to the coronation of Aragorn, King Elessar. Dale remained an independent realm under the protection of the King of the Reunited Kingdom.

Names & Etymology:
The word dale means "valley."

Sources:
The Hobbit: "An Unexpected Party," p. 23, 29-33; "A Short Rest," p. 62; "A Warm Welcome," p. 204-205; "On the Doorstep," p. 216-17; "Inside Information," p. 238, 240, 243; "Not at Home," p. 254-55; "Fire and Water," p. 261-64; "The Gathering of the Clouds," p. 270-73, 276; "The Clouds Burst," p. 294, 296; "The Return Journey," p. 300; "The Last Stage," p. 316-17
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Many Meetings," p. 241
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Durin's Folk," p. 353, 359-60
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 369-71, 375-76
Appendix D of The Lord of the Rings: "The Calendars," p. 388
Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings: "Writing and Spelling," p. 397
Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 407-408, 413, 415
Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," p. 289

Framsburg

Names & Etymology:
Framsburg was named after Fram, the leader of the Eotheod who slew Scatha the Worm. Fram was the son of Frumgar who first led the Eotheod to dwell in the north.

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," p. 295
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Maps of The Lord of the Rings," p. lxv
Map of Middle-earth by Pauline Baynes

The buildings of Lake-town were made of wood. The greatest houses were around the market-place, which was a round pool with steps and ladders leading down into the lake. The town-hall where the Master of Lake-town presided appears to have been located there as well. The Master was an elected official usually chosen from among the old and wise.

Originally Lake-town was a large, wealthy, and powerful town but over time the town became smaller and old piles could be seen in the water where buildings had once stood. But even after the arrival of Smaug the Dragon in 2770 of the Third Age, Men remained in Lake-town and they traded with the Elves of Mirkwood using the Forest River to transport goods.

Bilbo Baggins helped Thorin Oakenshield and and the Dwarves escape from the Halls of the Elvenkingby using empty barrels that were being sent down the river to Lake-town. They arrived on the shore near Lake-town on September 22, 2941, and approached the guards at the bridge. They crossed over to the town and in a great hall on the market-place they met the Master of Lake-town and Thorin announced that the King under the Mountain had returned.

The Dwarves' arrival caused much excitement in Lake-town. The people hoped that prosperity would return when the Dwarves took up residence in the Lonely Mountain once more. They gave the Dwarves a large house to stay in and fed and clothed them generously. When the Dwarves set out for the mountain, the Lake-men provided them with boats and ponies and provisions.

Some time afterwards, Smaug emerged from the Lonely Mountain and descended on Lake-town. The dragon was first noticed by Bard, whose ancestors had escaped to Lake-town when Smaug destroyed Dale. Now Smaug was intent on destroying Lake-town, for he thought Bilbo the Burglar - who had called himself Barrel-rider - had come from there.

Bard sounded the alarm and the Lake-men cut the bridges and filled water vessels and armed themselves. Smaug set fire to the wooden buildings and smashed the roof of the Great House with his tail. People escaped by boat or by jumping into the lake. Then a thrush appeared and told Bard of a weak spot on the dragon's underbelly, and Bard slew Smaug with his Black Arrow. Smaug landed directly on Lake-town and it was completely destroyed.

After the Battle of the Five Armies, Bard gave part of his share of the dragon hoard to the Master of Lake-town, but the Master was a greedy man and he ran off with the gold and died in the Waste. The new Master was wiser and more honorable. Lake-town was rebuilt north of the original site where the Dragon's bones lay. The town became prosperous again as goods and wealth flowed from the Lonely Mountain and Dale once more. By the time of the War of the Ring, the realm of Dale ruled by Bard's grandson Brand extended far south and east of Lake-town.

Names & Etymology:
Lake-town was also called Esgaroth.

Esgar means "reed-bed" and Esgaroth is translated as "Reedlake" because there were reed-banks in the western part of the lake.

Sources:
The Hobbit: "Barrels out of Bond," p. 189, 199; "A Warm Welcome," passim; "Inside Information," p. 241; "Fire and Water," passim; "The Return Journey," p. 304; "The Last Stage," p. 317
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Many Meetings," p. 241
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for ESEK

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