The Complete Tolkien Companion

by J. E. A. Tyler

  Children of Eru – A translation of the Eldarin words Erusen and Eruhíni: Elves and Men. Also called the Children of Ilúvatar or Híni Ilúvataro (Q.).

  Children of the Sun – Men.

  Chithing – The fourth month of the Bree-reckoning, corresponding to astron in Shire-usage.

  Chubb – A prosperous family of Hobbits in the Shire.

  Chubb-Baggins – A family of Shire Hobbits. The first Chubb-Baggins was Falco, son of Bingo (Baggins) and Chica (Chubb).

  Círdan the Shipwright – One of the mighty among the Grey-elves of the First, Second and Third Ages of Middle-earth; successively Lord of the Falathrim of Eglarest and Brithombar; Lord of the Isle of Balar; Lord of Lindon and Guardian of the Grey Havens.

  In his origins he was a noble Telerin Elf, a kinsman of Elwë Thingol of the kindred of the Sindar, whose people lingered in Beleriand when the remaining Eldar crossed for the first time into the West; they did so because of the pleas of the Maiarin Sea-lord Ossë. There, while at the same time Elwë Thingol was founding his realm of Doriath deep in the heart of the forests, they dwelt on the coasts; for they were enamoured of the Sea, and Ossë desired that they should live on the borders of his domain. They were afterwards called the Falathrim, the ‘Coast-elves’. The chief of these was Círdan. His chief city was Eglarest, though at that time his people also founded the Haven of Brithombar. (These were the two most ancient harbours of the Elves in Middle-earth.)

  Throughout the War of the Jewels Círdan remained for the most part in the Falas, guarding the coasts (with aid from Finrod of Nargothrond; see BARAD NIMRAIS) against any assault from Angband that might arrive by sea; though on one occasion at least he took the field of battle with a host, and that was seven years after the Battle of Sudden Flame, when he led a seaborne force to the aid of Fingon the High King, beleaguered in Hithlum and in desperate straits, playing a decisive part in that slender victory. But twenty-eight years afterwards there came the Day of Lamentation, the Battle of Numberless Tears, in which the hosts and the kingdoms of the Noldor were thrown down for ever; and in the aftermath of that terrible defeat the armies of Morgoth laid siege to the Havens of Eglarest and Brithombar, and took them, and destroyed them. Círdan and the remnant of his people then went aboard the last ships and fled to the offshore Isle of Balar, where they lay hid for the rest of the war.

  During the Second and Third Ages Círdan the Shipwright – who dwelt after the ruin of Beleriand in Lindon, at the Grey Havens founded in Year One, Second Age – was accounted the wisest of the Eldar; to him Celebrimbor gave one of the Three Rings, Narya the Great, Ring of Fire. At the end of the Second Age Círdan marched with Gil-galad in the Army of the Last Alliance and, together with Elrond, Herald of Gil-galad, he stood at the side of the last King of Lindon during the final combat with Sauron on the slopes of Orodruin, watching in sorrow as Gil-galad fell.

  In about the thousandth year of the Third Age the Wizard Gandalf the Grey arrived at the Grey Havens; Círdan then surrendered the Ring Narya to him; for he knew whither Mithrandir came and when he would depart. In the years that followed, Círdan aided the Dúnedain of the North-kingdoms as often as he might; he led the forces of Lindon which crossed the Lhûn in 1974 Third Age and overthrew the Witch-king of Angmar at the Battle of Fornost, a military feat recalling the battle in Hithlum long before.

  But Círdan was still the Keeper of the Havens, the Elves’ Shipwright, and his heart dwelt by the Sea. It is told that he remained at the Havens until the end, sailing West himself on the last ship to leave Middle-earth.

  Ciril – A river of Lamedon in southern Gondor. It rose in a high vale of the White Mountains, flowed south past the hill-town of Calembel, and joined the Ringló some fifteen leagues below the Ethring Ford. Also spelt Kiril.

  Cirion – From 2489–2567 Third Age, the twelfth Ruling Steward of Gondor. It was during his long Stewardship that Gondor was threatened by the Easterlings known as the Balchoth, who dwelt at that time south and east of Mirkwood. Fearing invasion, Cirion sent north for aid from the Horsemen of Éothéod, northern folk friendly to Gondor. Before his messages could arrive, however, the Balchoth swarmed across the Great River and began to pillage the northern province of Calenardhon. Cirion dispatched the Northern Army of Gondor to hold the invaders, but disaster struck and the Dúnedain were soon in desperate straits. It is told elsewhere (see BATTLE OF THE FIELD OF CELEBRANT) how the Men of Éothéod arrived in the nick of time. In his wisdom, Cirion chose to repay the Riders of Éothéod by granting them the province they had saved (in exchange for an Oath of Alliance).

  Cirith Dúath ‘Shadow-cleft’ (Sind.) – The name originally given in Gondor to the pass later called Cirith Ungol.

  Cirith Forn en Andrath – The High Pass in the Misty Mountains where Thorin Oakenshield’s company was ambushed by Orcs in 2941 Third Age. In later years this pass was kept open only by the valour of the Beornings. Andrath means ‘long-climb’.

  Cirith Gorgor ‘Haunted Pass’ (Sind.) – A defile or gorge at the juncture of the Mountains of Shadow and the Ered Lithui which served the Dark Lord as the main entrance to Mordor. Across the mouth of this defile lay the Morannon, the Black Gate, blocking all entrance to the pass and to the deep vale of Udûn which lay beyond.

  Cirith Ninniach ‘Rainbow Pass’ (Sind.) – The steep gorge in the Shadowy Mountains (Ered Wethrin) through which ran the (unnamed) stream which fed the Firth of Drengist.

  Cirith Thoronath ‘Eagle Pass’ (Sind.) – The highest pass in the Encircling Mountains; it lay to the north of Tumladen and Gondolin. This was the route taken by those few of the Noldor and the Edain who escaped the sack of Gondolin.

  Cirith Ungol ‘Spider Glen’ (Sind.) – This high route across the Mountains of Shadow from Minas Ithil (Minas Morgul) to Gorgoroth consisted, in fact, of two passes: one clearly marked and one secret. The main route, the Morgul Pass, ran past the gates of the evil city; the secret, more tortuous path climbed up endless broken steps, past yawning chasms, until it reached a cleft between two jagged peaks at the very summit of the Ephel Dúath. There the Spider had her lair.

  Cirth ‘Runes’ (Sind.) – See ALPHABET OF DAERON; CERTAR.

  Ciryaher – From 1015–1149 Third Age, the fifteenth King of Gondor. He was remembered as the most powerful of all the rulers of that realm. In the year 1050, after conquering the Harad, he changed his name to Hyarmendacil (‘South-Victor’).

  Ciryandil ‘Ship-lover’ (Q.) – From 936–1015 Third Age the fourteenth King of Gondor. Ciryandil was the third of the line of ‘Ship-kings’ of Gondor. Sea-minded like his father Eärnil I, he continued Eärnil’s policy of extensive fleet construction. He later fell in battle against the Haradrim, and his son took mighty revenge.

  Ciryatan (Tar-Ciryatan) ‘Ship-builder’ (Q.) – From 1869–2029 Second Age the twelfth King of Númenor, and the first to commence active exploitation of the coastal lands of Middle-earth. There he built great havens and forts, levying tribute from the lesser Men who dwelt in that part of the world. These unwise policies were not rescinded in the reign of his son Tar-Atanamir.

  Ciryon – The third of the four sons of ISILDUR. During the War of the Last Alliance, he and his brother Aratan were entrusted with guarding the western approach to Mordor (Cirith Dúath, later Cirith Ungol) in case Sauron should sortie from that place. Together with his father and two of his brothers, he was slain at the Gladden Fields (Year 2, Third Age).

  Citadel of the Stars – Translation of the Sindarin word Osgiliath; the name of the great city (and original capital) of Gondor astride the river Anduin, and the oldest seat of the Kings of that realm. The city was burned during the Kin-strife (in 1437 Third Age) and, though resettlement was later attempted, Osgiliath never recovered its former eminence. It was finally deserted a thousand years later and afterwards became desolate.

  City of the Corsairs – The city of Umbar.

  City of the Trees – A translation of the Sindarin name CARAS GALADHON.

  ‘Closed Door�
�� – A translation of Fen Hollen (Sind.).

  Cloudyhead – The name given in the Common Speech (Westron) to the mountain known as Fanuidhol (or Bundushathûr in the Dwarvish speech); one of the three Mountains of Moria. The other two were the Redhorn (Caradhras) and the Silvertine (Celebdil).

  Coirë – The season of the year known, in the Elves’ calendar system, as ‘stirring’. It was judged the last of the six seasons observed by the Elves, falling between winter (hrivë) and spring (tuilë).

  See also CALENDAR OF IMLADRIS.

  Cold-drake – A species of Dragon found in the Grey Mountains and the wastes beyond, and not of the usual fire-breathing sort. In the year 2589 Third Age, Dáin I, of the Dwarves of the Ered Mithrin (Grey Mountains), was slain, together with his son Frór, by a beast of this kind; this caused his folk to abandon the mountains and return to Erebor.

  Coldfells – The Ettenmoors north of Rivendell; a notorious haunt of Trolls.

  Combe – A village in a deep valley of the Bree-land.

  Common Speech – The Westron; the language spoken most widely among the peoples of the westlands of Middle-earth throughout the Third Age. (It is represented by English in the various translations from the Red Book that have been published.) The Common Speech was an ancient Mannish tongue, much modified by Elvish words and inflexions, and further altered in later years by assorted influences from other tongues of those Men whom the Dúnedain of Númenor found on their return to Middle-earth.

  In the Third Age, the Westron became a lingua franca of the Westlands, being spoken (at least as a second tongue) by most folk who dwelt there, including the Elves. It is true that the Rohirrim always preferred their ancestral tongue, which was itself related to an early forebear of the Westron, Adûnaic (the speech of the Edain before the Second Age); and it is also true that the language spoken by Men of the upper Anduin and the towns of Dale and Esgaroth was derived from similar origins. But these peoples also knew the Common Speech, and used it fluently at need, and the Men of Bree and of Eriador – and the Halflings of the Shire – spoke the Westron as their native language; indeed, few of these peoples knew any other. But in Gondor many preferred an Elvish tongue, though not all of them used the Grey-elven (Sindarin) language as a daily speech. Only the Dúnedain themselves spoke Sindarin freely (for matters of learning their loremasters also used the High-elven Quenya). Yet all folk of Gondor could speak the Westron – unlike the men of Dunland and the Wild Men of Druadan Forest, who spoke only ancient tongues which owed little or nothing to the Common Speech. Another unrelated language was Khuzdul, the ancient Dwarf-tongue which no other race succeeded in learning. But unlike the more primitive Dunlendings and Wild Men, the Dwarves of Erebor and the Ered Luin also spoke the Westron freely and fluently (preserving Khuzdul primarily for their own secret purposes).

  Company of the Ring – The FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING.

  Coranar ‘Sun-round’ (Q.) – The solar year, as recorded by the Elves. This period was more usually called a loa. The long Elvish ‘year’, the yén (pl. yéni) was equivalent to 144 loa.

  Cormallen ‘Ring-of-Gold’ (Sind.) – See FIELD OF CORMALLEN.

  Cormarë ‘Ring-day’ (Q.) – Equivalent to September 22nd in the old style; declared a feast day in the New Reckoning of the Fourth Age. It was, of course, Frodo’s (and Bilbo’s) Birthday.

  Corollairë ‘Evergreen-Mound [of the Two Trees]’ (Q.) – Also called Coron Oiolairë. See EZELLOHAR.

  Corsairs of Umbar – Chief among the foes of Gondor during the later Third Age were the assorted brigands, pirates and seaborne raiders known to the Dúnedain as the Corsairs of Umbar. The fierce hostility of the Corsairs to the South-kingdom was deep-rooted, being partly inherited and partly based on the determination of successive Kings of Gondor – especially the four ‘Ship-kings’ – to brook no enemy or independent lordship within striking distance of their might.

  Lying to the south, along the coasts of the Harad, the ancient fortress and harbour of Umbar was one of the earliest Númenorean settlements in Middle-earth – the Haven having been established sometime after the year 600 Second Age. The original inhabitants of this great cape and port were of that race later known as BLACK NÚMENOREANS, utterly opposed to the Faithful, and themselves followers of the latter Kings of Númenor.

  When that land sank beneath the Sea at the end of the Second Age, these ‘King’s Men’, corrupted by Sauron during the Black Years, became hostile to Gondor – until 933 Third Age, when Eärnil I, the second ‘Ship-king’, captured the Havens of Umbar and drove out the renegades. (It may well have been the growing sea-power of Umbar which prompted Tarannon Falastur, first ‘Ship-king’, to strengthen Gondor’s fleets in the first place, some years before.) The Black Númenoreans attempted to retake Umbar for many years – in alliance with the Men of Harad, they besieged it – but they were decisively defeated and scattered by Ciryaher (Hyarmendacil I) in the year 1050 Third Age. Some four hundred years later, in 1447, Umbar fell from Gondor’s control when the sons of Castamir the Usurper sailed from Pelargir with the remaining rebel fleets of Gondor and seized the ancient haven as a refuge. The Corsairs, as they were afterwards known, raided Gondor’s coasts ceaselessly until 1810 when King Telumehtar (Umbardacil) retook the port and slew the last of Castamir’s Line.

  Soon afterwards, the power of the Harad arose again and Umbar changed hands once more, as the Haradrim made the haven – and its naval strength – an adjunct of their own kingdoms. Raiding and piracy continued; and, in 2758 Third Age, the greatest force that had ever sailed from Umbar attacked the coasts of Gondor (in three fleets with black sails), striking as far north as the mouth of the Isen. Beregond son of Beren (nineteenth Steward) repulsed the Corsair invasions but there was great loss and destruction. After some years of quiescence, the Corsairs again sent a fleet against Gondor, in the War of the Ring; but, as is told elsewhere, the black sails ascended the Anduin no further than Pelargir before defeat overtook them. But Umbar remained inviolate and, while the Age lasted, the Corsairs’ ships were an ever-present threat to the fiefs of the South.

  Cotman – The ancestor of the Cotton family of Hobbits of the Shire. Note: his original (as opposed to translated) name was Hlothram, ‘Cottager’.

  Cotton – A family of Shire Hobbits.

  Council of Elrond – A meeting held in Rivendell, the house of Elrond, in the year 3018 Third Age, to debate the lore of the Rings and to decide the ultimate fate of the One Ring borne by Frodo the Hobbit. All of the Free Peoples – Elves, Men, Dwarves and Hobbits – were represented. Much of great import was discussed, and the true extent of the danger in which all Peoples then lay was, for the first time, openly revealed.

  After arduous debate, the decision was taken by those assembled to mount a quest into Mordor, with the object of destroying the Ruling Ring. It was the Hobbit Frodo Baggins who took this Quest upon himself.

  Council of the North-kingdom – Founded early in the Fourth Age by King Elessar (Aragorn II), this was a group of advisers enrolled to give counsel concerning the reconstituted realm of Arnor. Included in this Body were the Mayor and Thain of the Shire and the Master of Buckland.

  Court of the Fountain – A courtyard high in the citadel of Minas Tirith, where the White Tree grew.

  Craban ‘Crow’ (Sind.) – See CREBAIN.

  Cracks of Doom – The huge fissures in the floor of the Sammath Naur, the ‘Chambers of Fire’ tunnelled into the side of the cone of the mountain Orodruin. In these vast natural furnaces burned the only fire in Middle-earth hot enough to destroy the Ruling Ring.

  Cram – A type of waybread, or biscuit, baked by Northern Men for journeys in the Wild. By all accounts it was somewhat uninspiring to eat, but it stowed away easily and was rich in food-content.

  Crebain – A species of black bird, family corvidae, found in the hills and woods of Dunland and Fangorn.

  Crickhollow – A house owned by the Brandybuck family and used by them to shelter guests who found the life of Brandy Hall somew
hat crowded. It lay some distance north of Bucklebury, not far from the High Hay.

  Crissaegrim ‘Cloven-peaks’ (Sind.) – The southern and southward facing faces of the Encircling Mountains: a sheer wall of great height, overlooking the vale of Dimbar in the north of Beleriand. Here the great Eagle, Thorondor, and all his kin, made their lofty eyries, beyond the reach of friend and foe alike.

  Crossings of Erui – A ford across the river Erui in Lebennin, south of the White Mountains in the land of Gondor. In the year 1447 Third Age, the major battle of Gondor’s civil war, the Kin-strife, was fought on this site with much loss of life on both sides.

  Crossings of Isen – The fords across the river Isen north of Helm’s Deep, where the road from Isengard to Anórien ran beside the river for some leagues before crossing the shallowest point and turning south-east.

  Crossings of Poros – The Poros river marked the boundary between South Ithilien, in Gondor, and the debatable lands known as South Gondor, frequently invaded by Men of Harad. Where the Harad road crossed the river – before branching west to Pelargir and north to the hills of Emyn Arnen – there lay a series of shallow fords. This was the traditional invasion route from the southlands, and a traditional first point of defence. In 2885 Third Age, Gondor, aided by Rohan, won a great victory over an invading army of Haradrim at these Crossings.

  Crossings of Teiglin – The most southerly ford across the swift river Teiglin, before this stream became too torrential, and its sides too precipitous, for crossing. These fords lay some three miles west of the most westerly eaves of Brethil, at a point where the old road from Tol Sirion and Mithrim to Nargothrond left the safety of the Forest and wandered out on to the plain of Talath Dirnen.