Lindon (Quenyan for 'Land of the Singers') was founded by Gil-galad at the beginning of the Second Age. It was the longest-standing Eldarin Kingdom in the history of Middle-earth, and the mightiest throughout the Second Age. It was ruled by its founder, Ereinion Gil-galad, High King of the Ñoldor, who was the strongest and most powerful enemy of Sauron in Middle-earth during the Second Age. The realm endured through the Third Age, though diminished, and was the site of the Grey Havens, where the elves, as well as the Ring-bearers sailed to the Undying Lands.
Description
Map of Middle-earth showing the location of Lindon.
Lindon was located in what remained of Ossiriand; the Land of Seven Rivers and all that was left of the peninsula of Beleriand after the War of Wrath. After the ruin of Beleriand, Gil-Galad founded the realm of Lindon, which encompassed all the land west of the Blue Mountains and east of the sea in the North of Middle-earth. The Gulf of Lune broke the realm of Lindon into Forlindon (north) and Harlindon (south). The Grey Havens (Mithlond) lay at the mouth of the River Lune. Through a break in the Blue Mountains, the land of Eriador lay to the east, and farther southeast laid the Shire. Eastward also lay the Kingdom of Eregion, at the feet of the Misty Mountains, which was also ruled by Gil-Galad, who was High King of all Noldor. The mountains, partially sunk in the ruin of Beleriand, formed a portion of the realm's east border. The realm reached as far north over the mountains as the Little Lune. North of that boundary was what remained of the Dwarf kingdom of Belegost. Towards the end of the Second Age, the realm of Arnor was established by Elendil to the northeast of Lindon.
The lands of Lindon were said to be lush and green, with thick forests lining the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The havens of the elves were found along the Gulf of Lune, where the land became rocky yet lush along the coast. Tolkien stated that Lindon was Elven country "where no Man dwells". It was the last realm that was fair and free.
History
Second Age
After the War of Wrath, those Elves who had sought refuge on the coast of the sea at the mouths of the river Sirion removed into the land that was left in the northwest of Middle-earth. They, led by Gil-Galad, established the realm of Lindon in SA 1. In the North at Forlindon Gil-galad ruled a majority of Noldorin Elves. In southern Harlindon, Celeborn ruled a fiefdom of many Sindar and the remaining Green Elves of Beleriand under Gil-Galad. He did not rule under Gil-galad for long, though, eventually removing to the shores of Lake Nenuial with his wife, Galadriel. At the Grey Havens Círdan was the lord of many shipbuilders of the Teleri who survived the ruin of the First Age. The Elves believed now that the threat of Morgoth was removed, and Lindon became a fair kingdom. Gil-galad and the Elves of Lindon had a very strong friendship with Numenor and its kings before the Darkening of Numenor.
Early in the sixth century of the Second Age, the first ships of Númenor returned to Middle-Earth. Vëantur, father-in-law of Tar-Meneldur, led the first expedition. Later he returned with his grandson and heir to the throne, Aldarion, and the Númenoreans were well liked by Gil-galad and his people. Tar-Aldarion continued his voyages to Lindon throughout his reign as the sixth King of Númenor, and Gil-galad and Círdan taught much to the mariners of Númenor. Gil-galad befriended Aldarion and gave him and his father, Tar-Meneldur, many gifts. After the reign of Aldarion, Númenor was less active in the affairs of Lindon for many hundred years, though friendship remained.
A view of Lindon in the Third Age.
In the 12th century, Sauron attempted to infiltrate Lindon disguised as 'Annatar', the Lord of Gifts. His strength now on the mend after Morgoth's defeat, Sauron purposed to corrupt the strongest of all the remaining Elf-kingdoms. Gil-galad denied him, and so did Elrond, who dwelt then with the King in Forlindon. Though they did not know Anatar's true identity at the time, the wise king of Lindon foresaw evil in Anatar. Sauron then turned his attention to Eregion, where he succeeded in befriending the Noldorin smiths who worked there.
After Sauron forged the One Ring at the beginning of the 16th century, he declared war on the Elf-kingdoms to capture the Rings of Power they had hidden from him. Gil-galad sent a small army led by Elrond east to the aid of Eregion. There he joined with Celeborn, but Sauron's forces defeated the combined force. His army ravaged Eregion and the rest of Eriador, and came to the borders of Lindon. There, Gil-galad's forces dug in against the forces of Sauron, and were strengthened by a great fleet sent from Númenor by Tar-Minastir, King of Númenor, under his son and heir Ciryatan. With the aid of the Númenoreans, participating in their first war upon Middle-Earth, Lindon was freed and Sauron's forces overthrown. Sauron returned to Mordor and focused his attention now on ruining Númenor.
In the year SA 3319 of the Second Age, Númenor was destroyed, and Elendil and his remnant of Faithful Númenoreans landed on the coast of Middle-earth. Elendil established the North-Kingdom of Arnor and ruled over both it and the South-Kingdom of Gondor. He became close friends with Gil-galad, and they pledged support to one another against the preparing blow of Sauron, who had risen to power once again after fleeing the ruin of Numenor.
The War of the Last Alliance began in SA 3434, and the Elves of Lindon were the backbone of the Elven armies. Elendil's Númenorean refugees, along with Dúnedain who had removed to Middle-Earth before the destruction of Númenor, marched alongside the host of Gil-galad, and eventually they laid siege to the Dark Tower. Sauron himself then came to battle, and fought Gil-galad and Elendil. The two kings defeated him but died in the process. Then Isildur son of Elendil cut the ring from Sauron's hand, and he was for a time defeated.
Third Age
After the death of Gil-galad, the lordship of Lindon passed to Círdan; and the line of Noldorin kings in Middle-Earth came to an end. The population of Lindon had been reduced by the long and bloody war with Sauron. With the loss of their king, many of the Noldor and Sindar left for Valinor. Following the war, many Elves began to come to the Grey Havens and sail to Valinor, further depleting Lindon's population. Círdan continued his shipbuilding, and had much work constructing the vessels to carry the Elves west. However, the kingdom began to dwindle as the ships continued to sail.
The Witch-king of Angmar attacked the Kingdom of Arnor in the 13th century of the Third Age. Lindon lent what aid it could to the Dúnedain, but after many years, the North-Kingdom was overthrown. The Dúnedain went into exile, and the kingdom of Lindon shrank rapidly. By the time of the War of the Ring, it was a shadow of its former glory, with only Mithlond seeing regular traffic and activity. After Sauron's defeat, the last Elves began to sail for Valinor, and it is said that Círdan is there, awaiting the last ship to sail west himself.
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