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Leithian or Leithien, also known as Luthany or Albion, was a peninsula in the north-west of the Great Lands, in front of the Isle of Íverin, in earlier versions of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium.[1]
History[]
Against the will of the Valar, the Elves of Tol Eressëa set out on the "First Faring Forth", an expedition to help their kin in the Great Lands in the war against Melko and his army of Goblins, Nauglath, and wicked Men.[2] However, the Elves were defeated in the Battle of Rôs, and those that yet remained in the Great Lands started to move to Leithian in large numbers, because Ing, king of the region, was an Elf-friend, and so they slowly departed for Tol Eressëa. There they built towns and cities such as Kortirion the Old and Tavrobel the Old.[1]
After some time, Eärendel came to Leithian seeking Ing's aid. In order to reciprocate the help given him, Eärendel gifted to Ing the limpë, a drink that gave immortality, and blessed his progeny. Hearing the tales of Eärendel about Tol Eressëa, Ing and many of his people sailed to the island. However, in his wrath, the Vala Ossë sent a storm that blew them eastward, and only Ing survived the resulting shipwreck.[1]
After Ing departed, Leithian became an island[1] and suffered seven invasions by Men of the Great Lands, during which the inhabitants of the island suffered several defeats, such as that of the Heath of the Sky-roof. The fifth invasion was that of the Brithonin and Guiðlin, while the sixth invasion was by Men of Rûm, which caused the flee of most Elves of Leithian. After three hundred years, the Ingwaiwar, descendants of Ing, in turn invaded the island and during this time, the few Elves remained in Leithian learned Old English, Ingwaiwar's tongue. Despite the better situation, the Elves didn't cease to migrate to Tol Eressëa. In this period they sailed from the harbour of Belerion, in the southern region of Evadrien.[1]
Another famous king of Leithian was Watol, who commissioned to build a road through his lands to Íring, the son of Ír, the king of the Isle of Íverin. Íring completed his task in seven years, causing the wrath of the Wætlingas, Watol's sons. Thus, they swore that they could have built an even better road in only three years. However, Ír helped is son to stop the Wætlingas to reach their goal sending him "all kinds of secret evils". After the three years, Íring killed Wætlingas, "despairing of his wager".[3]
Later, Ælfwine, a descendant of Ing born in Leithian, would famously travel to Tol Eressëa.[1]
According to an Elvish prophecy, in the Second Faring Forth Ing will lead the Elves from Tol Eressëa back to Leithian.[1]
Other version[]
J.R.R. Tolkien wrote two versions about the transformation of Leithian in an island. In The Book of Lost Tales, the Elves remained in Leithian, fearing the invasion by Men of Great Lands, cut a channel that separated it from the rest of the continent. In the Quenta Noldorinwa, the island formed because of the sinking of Beleriand after the War of Wrath.
In a third version, the origin of the island is found in the "First Faring Forth". In fact, according this version the Elves traveled to the Great Lands on Tol Eressëa, which was dragged by Uin, the whale servant of the Vala Ulmo. Thus, a magic bridge was cast between the island and the promontory of Rôs, in front of which it was anchored. However, the Vala Ossë was angered by the uprooting of the island he had placed in front of Valinor long before, and he tried to drag it back. This broke off the western portion of Tol Eressëa, forming as second smaller island.[1] Thus, the larger island was renamed Leithian, while the smaller one became the Isle of Íverin. However, the Elves were utterly defeated and condemned to fade, and groups of evil Men invaded Leithian. Afterwards, the sons of Ælfwine led their people to the reconquest of Leithian and established themselves in the land of Tavrobel.[1] Some of the ancient town of the Elves would become villages and cities of contemporary Great Britain: Celbaros would become Cheltenham, Estirin would become the city of Exeter, Kortirion would become Warwick, Taruithorn would become the city of Oxford and Tavrobel would become the town of Great Haywood.[1][4][5][6]
Etymologies[]
The word Luthany (of which Leithian/Leithien is a variant) means "friendship" in Gnomish. The toponym Evadrien (or Erol), instead, means "Coast of Iron" in Early Quenya.[1]
Background[]
The tale of Leithian was originally conceived as a myth about the origins of Great Britain, and Ing was created as the ancestor of the Anglo-Saxons. In fact, Tolkien started the creation of the legendarium with the intent to build a proper British mythology. Thus, for the earlier versions of his myths, he drew largely from actual British history and from ancient legends (For example, the chronicle of Florence of Worcester[3] or the kingdom of Lyonesse that was the inspiration behind the region of Evadrien).[7]
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, chapter VI: "The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, chapter V: "The Tale of Eärendel"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sí Qente Feanor and Other Elvish Writings", Parma Eldalamberon, n. XV
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, chapter I: "The Cottage of Lost Play"
- ↑ "Qenyaqetsa: The Qenya Phonology and Lexicon" in Parma Eldalamberon, n. XII
- ↑ "The Alphabet of Rúmil & Early Noldorin Fragments", in Parma Eldalamberon, n. XIII
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, Index