Caranthir, also known as Caranthir the Dark, was the fourth son of Fëanor and the harshest and the quickest to anger of his seven brothers.
Biography
As with his brothers, Caranthir was bound by an oath to recover his father's Silmarils, which had been stolen by the Dark Lord Morgoth in Aman. This oath took the seven brothers to Middle-earth during the First Age where they established realms in exile, waged war against the armies of Morgoth, fought their own Elvish kind, and eventually brought ruin upon themselves.
Caranthir's realm was in Thargelion in the East Beleriand, and was sometimes called Dor Caranthir (Caranthir's land); his abode was on the shores of Lake Helevorn. Because his realm bordered the great Dwarfish Kingdoms of Nogrod and Belegost in the Blue Mountains (Ered Luin), he became very wealthy probably controlling much of the trade coming through the Dwarf-Road. After the Dagor Bragollach (Battle of Sudden Flame) he was forced to flee south to Amon Ereb with his brother Amrod.
He rescued the Edain lady Haleth and her people, the Haladin, as they were besieged by Orcs. He then saw the bravery and valour of Men, and offered the Haladin settlement in the North, but Haleth, thanking him, refused and left eventually settling in the Brethil.
He perished along with his brothers Celegorm and Curufin during the Second Kinslaying the attack by the Sons of Fëanor on Menegroth to recover the Silmarils from Elven King Dior of Doriath.[1]
Earlier versions of the Legendarium
Caranthir was called Cranthor in The Book of Lost Tales and Cranthir in early versions of the Quenta Silmarillion.[2]
House of Fëanor
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