The ancestry of the Rohirrim - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 08-27-2002, 09:33 AM

Were the Rohirrim distantly related to men who fought for Morgoth? Or were they related to survivors of Numenor? I don't know if there is a definite answer but I'm curious.

littlemanpoet · 08-27-2002, 09:48 AM

It is said (or suggested) in the Appendices to LotR that the people of Eorl were related to those Men who went west into Beleriand in the First Age, who in turn were the ancestors of the Numenoreans, who were in turn the ancestors of the ruling families of Gondor. So yes, there is a very distant relationship.

[ August 27, 2002: Message edited by: littlemanpoet ]

***Sharkû*** · 08-27-2002, 05:50 PM

"These Northmen [i.e. the Éothéod, direct ancestors of the Rohirrim] were descendants of the same race of Men as those who in the First Age passed into the West of Middle-earth and became the allies of the Eldar in their wars with Morgoth. They were therefore from afar off kinsmen of the Dúnedain or Númenóreans, and there was great friendship between them and the people of Gondor. " -- Unfinished Tales, 3 II i

Birdland · 08-27-2002, 11:43 PM

OK, so if the Men of Gondor believed that there was some kind of relationship between Numenorians and the Rohirrim, then what about the Kin-Strife?

For wasn't that whole civil war based on the fact that King Eldacar had Rhovanion blood through his mother, whom the Gondorians regarded as "lesser men"? And the Rhovanion were the ancestors of the Men of Rohan, right?

Unless...Merry mentioned that he believed there had also been some kind of connection between Halflings and the Rhovanion in the past, due to similarities in language. Do you suppose the Numenorians looked down on the Rhovanion because they suspected (Birdie looks right and left and lowers her voice) "there was a hobbit in the woodpile"?

Orofacion of the Vanyar · 08-28-2002, 12:51 AM

Well the ancestors of the Rohirrim had not assisted the Eldar in their war against Morgoth so they never inherited the long life that the Numenoreans did. While those men thrived on their little island, the remnant of the men still in Middle Earth struggled. Their life spans were not extended so in a way, they were lesser in might than their distant relatives.

So by the time of the Kin-Strife, there was a great divide between the Rhovanion and the Numenorean's genetically, enough to cause a bit of chaos when "less noble" blood was mixed. One could say the two kindreds were of a different breed almost, the Numenoreans had a slight amount of elven, and even Maiar, blood coursing through them.

Dimaldaeon · 08-28-2002, 12:06 PM

In either the Silm or UT it mentioned Numenoreans meeting men from Middle Earth who were related to the Edain. Could these be ancestors of the Rohirrim?

08-27-2002, 09:33 AM	#1
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	The ancestry of the Rohirrim Were the Rohirrim distantly related to men who fought for Morgoth? Or were they related to survivors of Numenor? I don't know if there is a definite answer but I'm curious. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

08-28-2002, 12:06 PM	#6
Dimaldaeon Wight Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ireland & damn proud of it. Posts: 125	In either the Silm or UT it mentioned Numenoreans meeting men from Middle Earth who were related to the Edain. Could these be ancestors of the Rohirrim? __________________ Dear Saddam, Do not disunderestimate me.Yours G.W.Bush You're not drunk if you can still hold onto a blade of grass to stop yourself from falling off the face of the Earth

08-27-2002, 09:48 AM	#2
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	It is said (or suggested) in the Appendices to LotR that the people of Eorl were related to those Men who went west into Beleriand in the First Age, who in turn were the ancestors of the Numenoreans, who were in turn the ancestors of the ruling families of Gondor. So yes, there is a very distant relationship. [ August 27, 2002: Message edited by: littlemanpoet ]

08-27-2002, 05:50 PM	#3
*Sharkû* Hungry Ghoul Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,719	"These Northmen [i.e. the Éothéod, direct ancestors of the Rohirrim] were descendants of the same race of Men as those who in the First Age passed into the West of Middle-earth and became the allies of the Eldar in their wars with Morgoth. They were therefore from afar off kinsmen of the Dúnedain or Númenóreans, and there was great friendship between them and the people of Gondor. " -- Unfinished Tales, 3 II i

08-27-2002, 11:43 PM	#4
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	OK, so if the Men of Gondor believed that there was some kind of relationship between Numenorians and the Rohirrim, then what about the Kin-Strife? For wasn't that whole civil war based on the fact that King Eldacar had Rhovanion blood through his mother, whom the Gondorians regarded as "lesser men"? And the Rhovanion were the ancestors of the Men of Rohan, right? Unless...Merry mentioned that he believed there had also been some kind of connection between Halflings and the Rhovanion in the past, due to similarities in language. Do you suppose the Numenorians looked down on the Rhovanion because they suspected (Birdie looks right and left and lowers her voice) "there was a hobbit in the woodpile"?

08-28-2002, 12:51 AM	#5
Orofacion of the Vanyar Wight Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Clayton, NC Posts: 102	Well the ancestors of the Rohirrim had not assisted the Eldar in their war against Morgoth so they never inherited the long life that the Numenoreans did. While those men thrived on their little island, the remnant of the men still in Middle Earth struggled. Their life spans were not extended so in a way, they were lesser in might than their distant relatives. So by the time of the Kin-Strife, there was a great divide between the Rhovanion and the Numenorean's genetically, enough to cause a bit of chaos when "less noble" blood was mixed. One could say the two kindreds were of a different breed almost, the Numenoreans had a slight amount of elven, and even Maiar, blood coursing through them.