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**lindil** · 10-02-2002, 04:55 PM

I have seen a couple of threads on various boards where this was gone into in detail. We know the location of where the Dunedain lived in Eriador, it was found on a slip of papere amidst JRRT's writings at Marquette. It gave no name other than calling it a 'Hidden Fastness' and stated that it Tolkien felt bound by his statement that there were no other settlements of Men within 100 leauges [ 300 miles] of the shire. JRRT then deduced that the dwelling of the remaining Dunedain was at the confluence of the Hoarwell and Loudwater[bruinen]Rivers. This would put them southwest of Imladris by approximately 150 miles.

As for population the only #'s we have to even deduct from are the number of Rangers that went south with Halbarad to join Aragorn in Rohan.

There were 30 mentioned I believe, whom halbarad mentioned 'were all that could be gathered in haste'.

So let us postulate another 20-40 rangers making a total of 50-90.

These would probably be nearly every male of 'military age' if you will, and I imagine the older [100 or more by Arnorian standards?]men, and younger lads would have stayed back to do smith work and farming and such. So let us say that would be possibly equal to the number of rangers; another 50-90. So now we are talking 100-180 males and add to that an equal # of women [100 - 180] although due to the Rangers hazardous line of work the women would almost certainly outnumber them. but any way as a semi-educated guess we can say the Dunedain of the North numbered something like 200 - 400 people.

One can come up with other figures but I do not really see how they could have numbered more than a thousand.

Also keep in mind that the departure of the 30 rangers allowed the Shire and Bree to be essntially taken over by the servants and refugees of Isaengard, who in the shire were said to have numbered 200 [I think?] or so.

So we are truly talking a very small population in a hard almost empty land. The Elves [Mithlond,Imladris] and The Shire, Bree were the only populations centers [ along with the Dwarves in the Mountains and scattered fisher folk in Minhirriath.

10-02-2002, 04:55 PM	#6
lindil Seeker of the Straight Path Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: a hidden fastness in Big Valley nor cal Posts: 1,680	I have seen a couple of threads on various boards where this was gone into in detail. We know the location of where the Dunedain lived in Eriador, it was found on a slip of papere amidst JRRT's writings at Marquette. It gave no name other than calling it a 'Hidden Fastness' and stated that it Tolkien felt bound by his statement that there were no other settlements of Men within 100 leauges [ 300 miles] of the shire. JRRT then deduced that the dwelling of the remaining Dunedain was at the confluence of the Hoarwell and Loudwater[bruinen]Rivers. This would put them southwest of Imladris by approximately 150 miles. As for population the only #'s we have to even deduct from are the number of Rangers that went south with Halbarad to join Aragorn in Rohan. There were 30 mentioned I believe, whom halbarad mentioned 'were all that could be gathered in haste'. So let us postulate another 20-40 rangers making a total of 50-90. These would probably be nearly every male of 'military age' if you will, and I imagine the older [100 or more by Arnorian standards?]men, and younger lads would have stayed back to do smith work and farming and such. So let us say that would be possibly equal to the number of rangers; another 50-90. So now we are talking 100-180 males and add to that an equal # of women [100 - 180] although due to the Rangers hazardous line of work the women would almost certainly outnumber them. but any way as a semi-educated guess we can say the Dunedain of the North numbered something like 200 - 400 people. One can come up with other figures but I do not really see how they could have numbered more than a thousand. Also keep in mind that the departure of the 30 rangers allowed the Shire and Bree to be essntially taken over by the servants and refugees of Isaengard, who in the shire were said to have numbered 200 [I think?] or so. So we are truly talking a very small population in a hard almost empty land. The Elves [Mithlond,Imladris] and The Shire, Bree were the only populations centers [ along with the Dwarves in the Mountains and scattered fisher folk in Minhirriath. __________________ The dwindling Men of the West would often sit up late into the night exchanging lore & wisdom such as they still possessed that they should not fall back into the mean estate of those who never knew or indeed rebelled against the Light.