Nargothrond
Encyclopedia
In J. R. R. Tolkien
's legendarium
, Nargothrond (Sindarin
portmanteau of Narog-Ost-Rond, "The great underground fortress on the river Narog"), called Nulukkhizdīn by the Dwarves, was the stronghold built by Finrod Felagund
. The Realm of Nargothrond consisted of the underground city delved into the banks of the river Narog in Beleriand
, and the lands to the north, the Talath Dirnen or Guarded Plain.
Inspired by Menegroth in Doriath
, and seeking a hidden place from which to be safe from the forces of Morgoth
, Finrod established Nargothrond in the early years of the First Age
, in the Caverns of Narog beneath the forested hills of Taur-en-Faroth on the western bank of Narog. The original denizens of this huge cave system had been the Noegyth Nibin, the so-called 'Petty-dwarves', had been driven out; whether by Finrod's people, or earlier by the nearby Sindar
, is not known.
Other Dwarves
, stonemasons from the Ered Luin, then helped the Noldor
enlarge and landscape the caves into a formidable and concealed stronghold. Originally, it could only be reached by a narrow path along the banks of the river, but later a bridge was built across Narog.
Finrod ruled Nargothrond until he joined Beren
in his quest for the Silmaril
, and the regency passed to his nephew (or brother) Orodreth
. However, two of their cousins, Celegorm
and Curufin
also lived in Nargothrond at this time and commanded a more powerful faction than Orodreth, until their homicidal dispositions were exposed following Finrod's death, at which point they were exiled.
Túrin Turambar
later came to Nargothrond and became one of its greatest warriors, but he also persuaded the people to fight openly against Morgoth (the bridge was built at this time), which eventually led to its sack by the army of the dragon Glaurung
.
Glaurung then used Nargothrond as his lair until his death not long afterwards at Túrin's hands, after which the caves were claimed by Mîm
, the last of the Petty-dwarves, until he himself was slain by Húrin
, Túrin's father. After Húrin's deed, the caves were probably completely abandoned, as they fall out of recorded history, but they were certainly drowned and lost along with the rest of Beleriand
at the end of the First Age.
Finrod himself had not expected the caves to survive as Elven territory; in the Silmarillion he remarks "Nor shall anything of my realm endure that a son might inherit."
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's legendarium
Legendarium
Legendary may refer to:*A hagiography, or study of the lives of saints and other religious figures**The South English Legendary, a Middle English legendary*A legend-Entertainment:*Legendary, an album by Kaysha*Legendary...
, Nargothrond (Sindarin
Sindarin
Sindarin is a fictional language devised by J. R. R. Tolkien, and used in his secondary world, often called Middle-earth.Sindarin is one of the many languages spoken by the immortal Elves, called the Eledhrim or Edhellim in Sindarin....
portmanteau of Narog-Ost-Rond, "The great underground fortress on the river Narog"), called Nulukkhizdīn by the Dwarves, was the stronghold built by Finrod Felagund
Finrod Felagund
Finrod Felagund is a fictional character in the fantasy-world Middle-earth of the English author J. R. R. Tolkien. He appears in The Silmarillion, the epic poem The Lay of Leithian and the Grey Annals, as well as other material....
. The Realm of Nargothrond consisted of the underground city delved into the banks of the river Narog in Beleriand
Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work The Silmarillion, which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-earth in a style similar to the epic hero tales of Nordic...
, and the lands to the north, the Talath Dirnen or Guarded Plain.
Inspired by Menegroth in Doriath
Doriath
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, Doriath is the realm of the Sindar, the Grey Elves of King Thingol in Beleriand. Along with the other great forests of Tolkien's legendarium such as Mirkwood, Fangorn and Lothlórien it serves as the central stage in the theatre of its time, the First Age...
, and seeking a hidden place from which to be safe from the forces of Morgoth
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
, Finrod established Nargothrond in the early years of the First Age
First Age
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the First Age, or First Age of the Children of Ilúvatar is the heroic period in which most of Tolkien's early legends are set...
, in the Caverns of Narog beneath the forested hills of Taur-en-Faroth on the western bank of Narog. The original denizens of this huge cave system had been the Noegyth Nibin, the so-called 'Petty-dwarves', had been driven out; whether by Finrod's people, or earlier by the nearby Sindar
Sindar
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the fictional Sindar are Elves of Telerin descent. They are also known as the Grey Elves. Their language is Sindarin...
, is not known.
Other Dwarves
Dwarf (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Dwarves are a race inhabiting the world of Arda, a fictional prehistoric Earth which includes the continent Middle-earth....
, stonemasons from the Ered Luin, then helped the Noldor
Noldor
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Noldor are Elves of the Second Clan who migrated to Valinor and lived in Eldamar. The Noldor are called Golodhrim or Gódhellim in Sindarin, and Goldoi by Teleri of Tol Eressëa. The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin...
enlarge and landscape the caves into a formidable and concealed stronghold. Originally, it could only be reached by a narrow path along the banks of the river, but later a bridge was built across Narog.
Finrod ruled Nargothrond until he joined Beren
Beren
Beren is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He appears in The Silmarillion. Huan spoke to him.-Character overview:...
in his quest for the Silmaril
Silmaril
The Silmarils are three brilliant jewels which contained the unmarred light of the Two Trees in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. The Silmarils were made out of the crystalline substance silima by Fëanor, a Noldorin Elf, in Valinor during the Years of the Trees...
, and the regency passed to his nephew (or brother) Orodreth
Orodreth
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Orodreth was an Elf of the First Age, the son of Angrod and nephew of Finrod Felagund, and a ruler of Nargothrond....
. However, two of their cousins, Celegorm
Celegorm
Celegorm is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, appearing in The Silmarillion.He was the third son of Fëanor and Nerdanel, most closely associated with another brother, Curufin. Celegorm is described as "the fair," which could mean either that Celegorm had fairer...
and Curufin
Curufin
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Curufin is a fictional character, a prince of the Noldor of the race of Elves, the fifth of the seven sons of Fëanor and Nerdanel...
also lived in Nargothrond at this time and commanded a more powerful faction than Orodreth, until their homicidal dispositions were exposed following Finrod's death, at which point they were exiled.
Túrin Turambar
Túrin Turambar
Túrin Turambar is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. "Turambar and the Foalókë", begun in 1917, is the first appearance of Túrin in the legendarium. J.R.R...
later came to Nargothrond and became one of its greatest warriors, but he also persuaded the people to fight openly against Morgoth (the bridge was built at this time), which eventually led to its sack by the army of the dragon Glaurung
Glaurung
Glaurung is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as the first of the Dragons. He is also a major antagonist in The Children of Húrin. He was known as The Deceiver, The Golden, The Great Worm and the Worm of...
.
Glaurung then used Nargothrond as his lair until his death not long afterwards at Túrin's hands, after which the caves were claimed by Mîm
Mîm
Mîm is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as the last of the Petty-dwarves....
, the last of the Petty-dwarves, until he himself was slain by Húrin
Húrin
Húrin is a fictional character in the Middle-earth legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as a hero of Men during the First Age, said to be the greatest warrior of both the Edain and all the other Men in Middle-earth...
, Túrin's father. After Húrin's deed, the caves were probably completely abandoned, as they fall out of recorded history, but they were certainly drowned and lost along with the rest of Beleriand
Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work The Silmarillion, which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-earth in a style similar to the epic hero tales of Nordic...
at the end of the First Age.
Finrod himself had not expected the caves to survive as Elven territory; in the Silmarillion he remarks "Nor shall anything of my realm endure that a son might inherit."