Middle-earth seen by the barbarians: The complete collection including a previously unpublished essay Read Online Free PDF Page B

would essentially label the Southern Atani, the Gwathuirim - who returned the favour by referring to the former as ‘ wild Northmen ’. ( FI )
    Historians who assumed a more neutral position recorded that it was at this time that ‘ the Rohirrim earned the hatred of the Dunlendings, which was not appeased until the return of the King, then far off in the future. Whenever the Rohirrim were weak or in trouble the Dunlendings renewed their attacks’ against ‘the ‘wild Northmen’ who had usurped the land ’. ( FI ) Centuries later, a man from Rohan still perceived a need to complain, ‘ Not in half a thousand years have they forgotten the grievance that the lords of Gondor gave the Mark to Eorl the Young and made alliance with him .’ ( TT ) Which should tell how the Rohirrim used to divert historical responsibility for this ethnic conflict from their own heads by blaming the distant throne of Minas Tirith.
    If the South Kingdom would have thrown weight and power into establishing a political compromise in time, then Saruman the White could not have exploited this conflict almost to the ruin of both Rohan and Gondor. But Minas Tirith, alas, neglected the unanswered Dunlendish question, considering it a matter of Rohan’s internal politics: ‘ the enmity of the ‘wild’ Dunlendings seemed of small account to the Stewards .’ ( FI ) This left Rohan alone with the problem, and that vastly aggravated the issue:
    ‘ In the reign of [Rohan’s] King Deor (2699 to 2718) … the line of the Gondorian chieftains of Angrenost [= Isengard] had failed, and the command of the fortress passed into the hands of a family of the [Rohirian] people. These, as has been said, were already long before of mixed blood, and they were now more friendly disposed to the Dunlendings …; with Minas Tirith far away they no longer had any concern. After the death of King Aldor … the Dunlendings unmarked by Rohan but with the connivance of Isengard began to filter into northern Westfold again, making settlements in the mountain glens west and east of Isengard and even in the southern eaves of Fangorn. In the reign of Déor they became openly hostile, raiding the herds and studs of the Rohirrim in Westfold .’ ( FI ) ‘ As was later known, the Dunlendings [were] admitted as friends ’ ( FI ) in Angrenost until they ‘ seized the Ring of Isengard, slaying the few survivors of its ancient guards who were not (as were most) willing to merge with the Dunlendish folk. Déor sent word at once to the Steward in Minas Tirith (at that time, in the year 2710, Egalmoth), but he was unable to send help, and the Dunlendings remained in occupation of Isengard ’. ( FI ) Other sources show that the reason for Egalmoth’s refusal was ‘ renewed war with the Orcs .’ ( HE )

Not in half a thousand years have they forgotten the grievance
    This statement should not be generalised, though. At the same time, there was much traffic with the west-march of Rohan, and Northmen and Dunlendings frequently joined in cross-border marriage. Even the landlord Freca, a member of Rohirian nobility and counsellor of king Helm Hammerhand, ‘ had, men said, much Dunlendish blood, and was dark-haired . [3] ’ ( KR ) For a king like Helm, this was reason enough to address him as ‘Dunlending’, though his name was Rohirian.
    Freca is one of the more illustrious characters in the history of the Gwathuirim. Belonging to the aristocracy of Rohan, he ‘ claimed descent from King Fréawine ’ and was ‘ rich and powerful, having wide lands on either side of the Adorn. Near its source he made himself a stronghold and paid little heed to the king. Helm mistrusted him, but called him to his councils; and he came when it pleased him .’ Yet he developed quite high ambitions. In 2754 TA, he actually made an attempt to overcome the segregation by marrying into the royal family of Rohan. He made a glorious false start, though: ‘ To one of these councils Freca rode with many