The Complete Tolkien Companion

by J. E. A. Tyler

  Gamgee – A rustic family of Hobbits of the Shire, who came to prominence as a result of the War of the Ring. They were descended from Hamfast of Gamwich. Gamgee is a translation of the (original) Hobbit-name Galbasi or Galpsi.

  Gamil Zirak – A master smith of the Dwarf-city of Nogrod in the First Age.

  Gamling the Old – A Westfold-man of Rohan during the years of the War of the Ring. Though deemed too old to bear arms when Erkenbrand marched to the Crossings of Isen (March 2nd, 3019 Third Age), he was later obliged to do so after forces of Saruman defeated Erkenbrand and marched on Helm’s Deep, which he commanded until the arrival of the King.

  Gammidge, Gammidgy – Translated (as opposed to original) Hobbit-names corresponding to Galbasi, Galpsi.

  Gamwich – An ancient village of the Shire, home of Hamfast, founder of the GAMGEE family. See also GALABAS.

  Gandalf the Grey – One of the chief Istari or Wizards of Middle-earth, also known as Mithrandir, the ‘Grey Wanderer’, friend of all Free Peoples. The greatest opponent of the Dark Lord in the Third Age, Gandalf passed through fire, earth, water and death – and was afterwards reborn – in fulfilment of the destiny long appointed for him: to be the chief architect of Sauron’s Downfall.

  To many Western folk, including the Hobbits, Gandalf was ‘just a Wizard’ – a vain, fussy old conjuror with a long beard and bushy eyebrows, whose chief asset was his uncommon skill with fireworks – while many great Men of the South regarded him as little better than a pest, a homeless vagabond, a meddler in affairs of state and a herald of ill-news. Yet the five Istari who came to Middle-earth during the early Third Age were, in actuality, messengers sent from Valinor to ‘contest the power of Sauron, and to unite all those who had the will to resist him’.7 They were themselves of Valinorean race, although they came to mortal lands in the shapes of aged Men; for they were MAIAR, in their beginnings Ainur of lesser – though still potent – degree than the Valar, whom they served. Yet while their powers were great, they were forbidden to reveal their true natures or to use their full strength in direct conflict with the Enemy. But the Mortal Lands of Middle-earth have always held great perils for Immortals, whether Elves or Valar or Maiar; they could be slain and they could be tempted and seduced away from their appointed tasks. At least one of the great Istari fell from grace in such a manner (see SARUMAN THE WHITE), in circumstances grievous to Gandalf – who, while less proud, was more wise and perceived the nature of the trap, thus avoiding it himself.

  Of Gandalf’s great labours in Middle-earth, little can be recounted here; for none can have known the full story of the trials the Wizard undertook on behalf of the Free Peoples, from the time of his arrival at the Grey Havens (c. 1000), to the day of his departure at the very ending of the Third Age. It is known that he took many hideous risks. On two occasions he actually entered the dark stronghold of Dol Guldur in Southern Mirkwood: once, in the year 2063, when he first tried to ascertain the true identity of the Necromancer who ruled there, and again in 2850, when he finally discovered that the ‘Necromancer’ was indeed Sauron himself (already gathering the Rings of Power and seeking for the Ruling Ring). At a meeting of the White Council the following year Gandalf pressed urgently for an outright attack upon Dol Guldur but was overruled by his brother-wizard Saruman the White. Yet Gandalf, though frustrated by Saruman, had by chance a further card to play. For, on his last entry into Sauron’s fortress, he had come across the dying Dwarf Thráin II, son of Thrór, who had survived torment for just long enough to give the Wizard the key of the secret door into Erebor and the map which accompanied it. Some years later Gandalf unexpectedly encountered Thráin’s Heir, Thorin Oakenshield; together, they hatched a scheme for the recapture of the Lonely Mountain and the baulking of any plans Sauron might have for the Dragon Smaug. Thorin’s expedition (and Gandalf’s scheme) succeeded, the Dragon which guarded the Mountain was slain, and a great threat to the lands of the East was removed.

  In the year 3001 Third Age, when he appeared at Bilbo Baggins’ Farewell Party, the old Wizard was already worried about the golden ring which Bilbo had picked up on his travels. Suspicion hardened into fear, and Gandalf later searched urgently for Gollum but was unable to find him, even with the help of Aragorn, Ranger of Eriador. Not until seventeen years later did the Wizard at last learn the truth concerning the ring – and by this time the ‘heirloom’ was in the possession of a new owner, Frodo Baggins.

  The plan which Gandalf and Frodo made for the disposal of the Ring – and the events which later took place – are all carefully detailed in Frodo’s own narrative and require no restatement here. The Wizard was the leading force behind the success of Frodo’s mission. For although he did not himself enter Mordor, by his unceasing efforts Gandalf rallied the Free Peoples for long enough to give the Ring-bearer his only chance. The heroism was Frodo’s (and Samwise’s), but the strategy was Gandalf’s; and by bringing to bear every last ounce of his will and determination, the Wizard successfully countered every move that the Dark Lord made. In this way Sauron’s plans were defeated and his schemes were brought to nothing. On March 25th, 3019 Third Age, the Ring-bearer completed his quest and Sauron of Mordor was overthrown for ever – and Gandalf’s long labours in Middle-earth came at last to their conclusion. Two years later he returned across the Sea.

  Note: Gandalf (‘Elf-of-the-staff’) is the name by which the Wizard was known to Northern Men. To the Elves (and the Dúnedain) he was Mithrandir, ‘Grey-wanderer’; to the Dwarves, Tharkûn; and, in his youth ‘in the West that is forgotten’, Olórin.

  Gap of Rohan – The open plain (fifty miles wide at its narrowest), which provided the only sizeable break in the massive chain of mountain-ranges stretching from the Northern Waste to Cape Andrast in the south. Of immense strategic importance, the Gap was guarded by the fortress of Isengard, and by the tower of Aglarond (the Hornburg).

  Gardner of the Hill – A prominent Shire-family of Hobbits, descended from Samwise Gamgee (through his son Frodo Gardner).

  Gate of Kings – The pillars of the ARGONATH.

  Gates of Sirion – The great arched caverns in the south side of the Andram, through which the great river Sirion flowed out again into the sunlight, having for the last ten miles or so followed its course underground.

  Gates of Summer – A festival of the High-elves of Gondolin: a celebration of the first day of the season lairë (Sind. laer), ‘summer’.

  Gaurwaith ‘Wolf-men’ (Sind.) – The outlaw band joined by Túrin after his flight from Doriath.

  Gelion – The longest river in East Beleriand; twice as long as the Sirion, though less wide a stream. The Gelion had two sources in the north, rising from the areas of mountainous terrain upon either side of Maglor’s Gap. The joined stream flowed south for a hundred and fifty leagues before bending west for the Sea. No less than seven tributaries fed the Gelion during this journey, the Seven Rivers of the Land of Ossir: Ascar, Thalos, Legolin, Brilthor, Duilwen and Adurant (the most southerly). It was fordable in only one place: Sarn Athrad, where the ancient Dwarf road from the Blue Mountains crossed westward from Thargelion into Beleriand proper.

  Gelmir – A Grey-elven personal name which occurs twice in existing records of the First Age. In both cases it is borne by an Elf of the House of Finarfin: in the first instance by the son of Guilin of Nargothrond, who was cruelly put to death – at Morgoth’s command – outside the walls of Eithel Sirion, as a torment and a challenge to the defenders of the fortress (of whom one was Gelmir’s brother Gwindor); and in the second by an Elf of the people of Angrod, who came to Nargothrond, then ruled by Angrod’s elder brother Orodreth, to convey a message of warning from Círdan of the Havens, with whom this Elf then dwelt. This took place shortly before the sack of Nargothrond.

  Gerontius Took ‘The Old Took’ – The twenty-sixth Shire-thain and the second longest-lived of all Hobbits (his great age of 130 years being exceeded only by Bilbo Baggins).

  Gethron – A man of Dor-lómin; an aged reta
iner sent with the boy Túrin to Doriath by his mother Morwen to keep him safe and act as a guardian. He later returned to Dor-lómin.

  Ghân-buri-Ghân – The old chieftain of the Wild Men of Druadan Forest at the time of the War of the Ring. In gratitude for aid rendered to Gondor during the War, King Elessar gave the Forest to the Wild Men in perpetuity.

  Gift of Men – See DOOM OF MEN.

  Gil, Giliath ‘Spark’ (Sind.) – A Grey-elven term for ‘[the glittering appearance of a] star’. The Quenya equivalent was tinwë. See also ÊL, ÊLIN, ÊLENATH.

  Gildor ‘Star-land’ (Sind.) – One of the twelve companions of BARAHIR of the Edain; he was slain on Dorthonion, by treachery.

  Gildor Inglorion – A High-elf of the House of Finarfin; during the Third Age the leader of a Wandering Company of his Kindred, who dwelled mainly in Rivendell and made occasional pilgrimages to the Tower Hills for the purpose of gazing into the palantír which was kept there. At the end of the Age he passed over Sea with the Keepers of the Three Rings.

  Gil-estel ‘Star of Hope’ (Sind.) – A Grey-elven name for the Evening Star.

  Gil-galad ‘Spark-of-bright-light’ (Sind.) – The last of all the High-elven kings in Middle-earth; son of Fingon, son of Fingolfin, son of Finwë of the Noldor. He was born before the Dagor Bragollach, in Mithrim, but after that disastrous campaign his father, perceiving that Mithrim had now become a frontier of war, sent his young son Ereinion (‘Scion-of-Kings’, as he was named at birth) to dwell with Círdan the Shipwright at the Havens of the Falas. Twenty years later the young prince was among the few Elves who escaped the sack of the Havens, and together with Círdan and a few others came to the Isle of Balar, where he dwelt until the end of the Age.

  He was already Heir to the new High King (Fingon’s younger brother Turgon of Gondolin), for his father Fingon had been slain in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad – of which the sacking of the Havens of the Falas had been but an aftermath. Thirty-eight years later, Gondolin fell, and Turgon was slain, and Ereinion was then proclaimed High King of the Noldor. It was now that he began to be called Gil-galad, in reference to his stellar appearance when arrayed for war with his spear Aiglos and his silver shield studded with stars. But he remained in Balar, for the Noldor were now few, and for the most part in hiding. Only on the coasts, in hidden refuges, were there any Elves, Noldor or Sindar, for him to rule.

  At the beginning of the Second Age Gil-galad gathered most of the Noldor under his rule in Forlindon (‘North-Lindon’), west of the Blue Mountains; while Harlindon (the southern cape and its adjoining lands) was ruled by Celeborn of the Grey-elves. But after a while Celeborn departed for distant lands and the remaining Grey-elves of Harlindon joined Gil-galad north of the Gulf of Lune. The first few hundred years of his reign were peaceful, for the Dark Power of the North had been overthrown; but by the sixth century, Sauron, servant of Morgoth in the First Age, was awake again and plotting the overthrow of the Free Peoples – though he chose at this time to display a mask of friendship. For in those days Sauron was not yet evil to look upon, and his true nature was not universally realised; and when he later began his rapid ascent to power in Middle-earth, only Gil-galad’s people were undeceived by his overtures. Sauron nevertheless succeeded in gaining the confidence of the Elven-smiths of Eregion – and in due course betrayed them, as Gil-galad had feared.

  War followed. In 1695 Second Age the new Dark Lord, having conquered the Southlands, invaded Eriador with a great host of Orcs. Gil-galad, although fighting desperately to stem the tide, nevertheless contrived to send reinforcements to the besieged Elven-smiths of Eregion, and for a while they held out. But in 1697 Eregion fell and the survivors retreated northwards. Two years later, all Eriador had fallen to the Enemy and Gil-galad was hemmed in behind the Lhûn. But before the Elves of Lindon could be swept away in a final assault, aid arrived from an unexpected quarter: Tar-Minastir, eleventh King of Númenor, sent a great naval force to Lindon. Sauron was defeated in battle and driven out of the Westlands. In this way the Men of Númenor renewed their ancient alliance with the Eldar of Middle-earth – but gained the hatred of Sauron the Great, who never forgot his defeat. Before the Age had passed he was to take terrible revenge for this (and later) reverses, and Númenor was drowned beneath the Sea.

  But a remnant of the Númenoreans survived and returned to Middle-earth, where they established the Realms in Exile. Then Sauron made war upon them once more, for their South-kingdom marched with his own borders, and he feared lest they grow too powerful. In their last need the Men of Westernesse made alliance once more with the Eldar of Lindon, and in the year 3431 Second Age, the Hosts of Elendil and Gil-galad were mustered in Eriador.

  So began the War of the Last Alliance, in which after many battles, Sauron’s first realm was pulled down in ruin. But Gil-galad, last High-elven King of mortal lands, also passed away in that War, falling in single combat with Sauron himself. Yet his realm had been soundly established and staunchly defended, and the foundations laid by him proved sure enough to withstand his own passing. Thus Lindon was maintained throughout the turmoils of the Third Age, being in the end the longest to endure of all Eldarin realms of Middle-earth. It was finally deserted some time in the Fourth Age.

  Note: Gil-galad was the original Keeper of the Elven-ring Vilya, most powerful of the Three. Before his death he passed on this Ring to Elrond of Rivendell, who then became chief of the Eldar in Middle-earth.

  See also HIGH KINGS (OF THE NOLDOR).

  Gilmith – The sister of Galador, first Lord of Dol Amroth.

  Gilraen the Fair – The daughter of Dirhael of the Dúnedain, wife of Arathorn II, fifteenth Chieftain, and the mother of Aragorn II.

  Gilrain (also spelled Gilraen) – A river in Lebennin (a southern province of Gondor), which flowed south from the White Mountains to find the Bay of Belfalas north of the Ethir Anduin. The Serni flowed into it some miles above the river-mouth.

  Gimilkhâd – The younger of the two sons of the twenty-second King of Númenor, AR-GIMILZÔR. He was his father’s favourite, and after Gimilzôr’s death led that faction of the rebel Númenoreans called ‘King’s Men’ – these were bitterly opposed to the repentance of Gimilkhâd’s elder brother, the king Tar-Palantír, formerly known as Inziladûn. (Gimilkhâd’s own son was Pharazôn, destined to usurp the Sceptre on the death of Palantír and afterwards to lead the Númenoreans into the abyss.) Gimilkhâd lived only 198 years, remarkably few for one of the royal Dúnedain.

  Gimilzagar – The second son of Tar-Calmacil, born 2630 Second Age.

  Gimilzôr (Ar-Gimilzôr) – From 3102–77 Second Age, the twenty-third King of Númenor and the fourth to take a royal title in the Númenorean (Adûnaic) tongue. His rightful Quenya title was Tar-Telemnar. He was a relentless persecutor of the Faithful and those who still adhered to the Eldar – whom he prohibited from Númenor. His sons were: Inziladûn, who repented of his father’s policies and reverted, when King, to the High-elven name Tar-Palantír (‘the Farsighted’) in token of this; and GIMILKHD, who followed his father.

  Gimli Elf-friend – The son of Glóin of Erebor, descended from Borin, son of Náin II, of Durin’s Line. His father was the brother of Óin; and both Óin and Glóin were part of Thorin Oakenshield’s expedition to Erebor in 2941 Third Age, together with eleven other Dwarves, a Wizard and a Hobbit. After the fall of the Dragon Smaug, the re-established Kingdom under the Mountain prospered greatly and Glóin became a Dwarf of great importance. In the year 3018 Third Age, he was therefore sent as an emissary to Elrond. To accompany him on the journey, Glóin took his son Gimli; and as a result, the younger Dwarf became enrolled in the Fellowship of the Ring, to represent his kinfolk in the enterprise.

  Gimli’s notable deeds during the War of the Ring are, of course, well documented elsewhere and need no repetition here. However the unusual regard in which he was held by Elves is worthy of special remark, for Elves were not as a rule over-friendly towards Dwarves. While travelling with the Company of the Ring, Gim
li became a firm comrade of Legolas, the son of King Thranduil of the Wood-elves of Mirkwood; and while in Lothlórien, the Dwarf also conceived a great love for the Lady Galadriel, afterwards taking on the mantle of her champion. It seems certain that Galadriel was herself deeply moved by the Dwarf’s devotion.

  Gimli was named ‘Lockbearer’ and ‘Elf-friend’, and survived the War to become Lord of the Glittering Caves of Aglarond. In the last year of his life he sailed across the Sea with Legolas, the only Dwarf ever to do so.

  Ginglith – One of the lesser rivers of West Beleriand; it was a tributary of the Narog, rising some leagues south of the mountain-wall of Nevrast, and flowing south and then east for perhaps twenty-five leagues before joining the greater stream.

  Girdle of Melian – The name given in Grey-elven lore to the defensive circle of enchantment set about the borders of Doriath by the spouse of the Lord of Doriath, Melian of the Maiar. It was removed when she herself withdrew from Middle-earth after the murder of her husband.

  Girdley Island – An island in the Baranduin, north of the Bridge of Stonebows, on the eastern border of the Shire.

  Girion – The last King of Dale before the Dragon Smaug came flaming out of the north in 2770 Third Age, dispossessing the Dwarves of Erebor and destroying the lands round about. Girion was slain but his heirs escaped to continue his line. Bard the Bowman of Esgaroth was of that descent.

  Girithron (Sind.) – The twelfth month of the year as recorded by the Dúnedain. The Quenya name was Ringarë.

  Giver of Freedom – A reverential name for Melkor, used by degenerate Númenoreans (at the instigation of Sauron).

  Gladden – A translation of Sîr Ninglor (Sind.) One of the main rivers of northern Wilderland. It flowed into the Anduin from a high pass in the Misty Mountains, one hundred miles north of the Dimrill Dale.