The Laegeldrim (Sindarin; singular Laegel), also known as the Laiquendi (Quenya; [laɪˈkʷendi]; singular Laiquendë, [laɪˈkʷende]), Green Elves,[2] or Green-elves, were a clan of Nandorin Elves under Denethor, son of Lenwë.[1] Their people passed westward into Beleriand over the Blue Mountains and came to reside in Ossiriand,[1] where they were quite secretive.[3]
History[]
The Laegeldrim can be traced to the Telerin Elves of the host of Olwë, who set out with the Great Journey of the Elves into the West during the early years of the First Age. Though the bulk of the Laegeldrim were Teleri, their leaders were "probably in origin of Noldorin kinship".[4] When they saw the seemingly impassable peaks of the Misty Mountains, they forsook the westward journey and became a separated people. These Elves followed Lenwë down the Vales of Anduin and once again became separated. The fate of many of these Elves is uncertain; what is certain though is that, after many years, some wandered into Eriador making contact with the Dwarves, probably learning from them about the great Sindar King Thingol ruling peaceful territories in the rich lands of Beleriand. This prompted them to cross the Blue Mountains. Following their King Denethor, they made permanent settlements in Ossiriand, they quickly became allied with Thingol, who recognized them as long lost kin.[1][5][6]
Denethor and his followers did not have peace for long, for Morgoth, returning to Middle-earth with the Silmarils before his pursuers, quickly occupied Angband and resumed his plans for conquest. He invaded Beleriand, cutting Thingol off from the Falathrim in the west. Seeking aid, Thingol called on the Laegeldrim and Denethor answered. As Thingol attacked the Orcs from the west, Denethor lead an ill-equipped army against them from the east, but were driven off and surrounded at Amon Ereb before they could be rescued by Thingol's army. Their simplistic weapons were little to no match for the servants and beasts of Morgoth, thus they suffered heavy losses and Denethor was slain. Afterwards they became a secretive people, camouflaging in green, and never again named a lord or a king. From that time, they were known as the Green-elves. When the Noldor returned from over the Sea, they gave the Laegeldrim the name Laiquendi in Quenya.[3] Some left Ossiriand for Arthórien in Doriath and became known as the Guest-elves.[7][8]
When Men had begun migrating west looking for new lands, the Laegeldrim feared them greatly and hid, threatening to attack them if Finrod did not lead them away from Ossiriand.[citation needed] The hidden people of the Green-elves played no further part in the War of the Great Jewels again.[9] After the death and return of Beren and Lúthien, the couple took up in their lands on Tol Galen in their lands of Ossiriand, and made it one of the most beautiful places in Beleriand.[9] There the Laegeldrim accepted Beren as their lord.[10] After the loss of their ancient ally Thingol at the hands of the Dwarves, they went with Beren to ambush the Dwarves.[9] Much later, after the deaths of Beren and Lúthien, one of their lords took up the Silmaril that Lúthien had borne, and brought it to Menegroth where Dior now dwelt.[9] After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Sons of Fëanor wandered in the lands of the Laegeldrim, bereft of lands, often mixing with them.[11]
After the end of the First Age, their fate is untold. Much of their land survived the destruction of Beleriand as Lindon, which came under the rule of Gil-galad.[12] In the early Second Age, some at least seem to have removed to Eriador, and dwelt on the shores of Lake Nenuial.[12] Others went east to live among the Silvan Elves of Lothlórien and Mirkwood.[13]
Culture[]
The Laegeldrim had vast knowledge of nature, and preferred living in forests besides waterfalls and streams. They made no weapons of steel and wielded only spears and bows, with great proficiency. They dressed in forest-like green attire in the spring and summer months, therefore becoming known as the Green-elves. They were also fond of singing during the daylight hours. Their culture remained unique and distinct for many centuries as they were for the most part a simple, peaceful, and reclusive people.[3][1]
Etymology[]
Laegeldrim is a Sindarin name that meant "Green-elves". The Ñoldor translated this form to Quenya as Laiquendi, which was not used as much.[3][14]
In other versions[]
Originally, the Green-elves were Ñoldor in the Silmarillion writings of the 1930s.[15] They remained so in the final Quenta Silmarillion of that period.[16] By the time of the major revisions of the early 1950s they had become Teleri.[17]
In other writings[]
In the Letters from Father Christmas, green elves lived in the North Pole and in 1936 moved into the Cliff House with Father Christmas where they were trained on how to pack gifts. The North Polar Bear taught them the numbering system he had invented to save Father Christmas time writing addresses.[18] It is possible that Ilbereth, Father Christmas's Elven secretary, was a green elf since the character only started appearing in letters from 1936 onwards.
Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Amharic | ላኢቁአንዲ |
| Arabic | ليكويندي |
| Armenian | Լաիքուենդի |
| Assamese | লাইকৱেণ্ডি |
| Belarusian Cyrillic | Лаіqуенді |
| Bengali | লাইকুইনডি |
| Bulgarian Cyrillic | Лаияуенди |
| Chinese (Hong Kong) | 綠精靈 |
| Dutch | Groene elven |
| Georgian | ლაიყუენდი |
| Gujarati | લૈક્યુએનડી |
| Hebrew | לאיקוונדי |
| Hindi | लैकेनदी |
| Japanese | ライクウェンディ |
| Kannada | ಲೈಕ್ಯೂನಂದಿ |
| Kazakh | Лаіқұенді (Cyrillic) Laiquendi (Latin) |
| Korean | 라이퀜디 |
| Kyrgyz Cyrillic | Лаиqуэнди |
| Macedonian Cyrillic | Лаиqуенди |
| Marathi | ळैक़ुएन्दि |
| Mongolian Cyrillic | Лаиqуенди |
| Nepalese | ळ्ऐक़ुएन्दि |
| Persian | لایکوئندی (Laiquendi)
الفهای سبز (Green elves) |
| Punjabi | ਲੈਕ਼ਉਏਨ੍ਦਿ |
| Russian | Лаиквенди |
| Serbian | Лаиквенди (Cyrillic) Laikvendi (Latin) |
| Sinhalese | ළ්ඓඇඋඑඳි |
| Tajik Cyrillic | Лаиқуенди |
| Tamil | லையூண்டு |
| Telugu | లేక్యూన్ది |
| Thai | ลายเควนดิ |
| Ukrainian Cyrillic | Лайквенді |
| Urdu | لایقاندا |
| Uzbek | Лаиқуенди (Cyrillic) Laiquendi (Latin) |
| Yiddish | לאַיקווענדי |
| Elves | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Kindreds | Vanyar (Fair-elves · Minyar) • Ñoldor (Deep-elves · Tatyar) • Teleri (Lindar · Nelyar) | ||
| Calaquendi (Amanyar) |
Vanyar • Ñoldor • Falmari | ||
| Moriquendi | Úmanyar | Sindar (Iathrim · Grey-elves of Mithrim · Falathrim) • Nandor (Laegeldrim · Tawarwaith · Galadhrim) | |
| Avamanyar | Avari (Wild-elves) | ||
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The Silmarillion, ch. 10: "Of the Sindar"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII: Christopher Tolkien, Part Two: Late Writings, XI: "The Shibboleth of Fëanor", "The names of Finwë's descendants", pg. 349
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI: The War of the Jewels, Part Four: Quendi and Eldar, C: "The Clan-names, with notes on other names for divisions of the Eldar", pg. 385
- ↑ The Nature of Middle-earth, Part Three: The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants, XVII: "Silvan Elves and Silvan Elvish", pg. 357
- ↑ The Atlas of Middle-earth, The First Age, The Elder Days, "Beleriand and the Lands to the North"
- ↑ The Atlas of Middle-earth, The First Age, The Elder Days, "Realms-Before the Great Defeat"
- ↑ Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, Part One: The First Age, II: "Narn i Hîn Húrin", Túrin in Doriath
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI: The War of the Jewels, Part One: The Grey Annals, pgs. 112-3
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 The Silmarillion, ch. 22: "Of the Ruin of Doriath"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. V: The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, V: "The Lhammas"
- ↑ The Silmarillion, ch. 20: "Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, Part Two: The Second Age, IV: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn and of Amroth King of Lórien", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"
- ↑ The Silmarillion, ch. 20: "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Middle-earth: The Definitive Guide to the World of J.R.R. Tolkien
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. IV: The Shaping of Middle-earth: The Quenta, The Ambarkanta, and The Annals, VI: "The Earliest Annals of Valinor", Notes, pg. 270
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. V: The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Two: Valinor and Middle-earth before The Lord of the Rings, VI: "Quenta Silmarillion", pg. 215
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI: The War of the Jewels, Part One: The Grey Annals, §30, pg. 13
- ↑ Letters from Father Christmas, "Dec. 23rd 1936"