Lindon

Lindon was a region of the Westlands. Initially populated by Laiquendi, in the following Ages, it became an important Elvish realm, known for its harbors and Elven Ships that would sail for the West.

## Geography

Lindon was originally a name for Ossiriand, a region west of the Blue Mountains, in Eastern Beleriand. After the deluge of Beleriand at the end of the First Age, Lindon became the westernmost land in Middle Earth, and the seat of an Elvish kingdom that extended to the other side of the mountains and into Eregion, as far as the Lhun river. The Gulf of Lune broke into Lindon and the Blue Mountains and divided the realm into *Forlindon* (North Lindon) and *Harlindon* (South Lindon).

## History

The Elves of Ossiriand in the First Age were the Laiquendi, but following the end of the First Age, they were joined by other Elves of the former Beleriand: Noldorin exiles (especially from Gondolin, but also from the Houses of Finarfin and Fëanor), and Sindar from Doriath and from the Falas. The Elves of Harlindon were mostly Sindar.

At the very beginning of the Second Age, Gil-galad founded the Kingdom of Lindon. As High-King of the Noldor, Gil-galad ruled over all the Noldor and Sindar of Middle Earth. Under Gil-galad were Celeborn, who ruled the Sindar-populated Harlindon, Cirdan who founded the Havens (Mithlond, and also likely Harlond and Forlond) and Elrond, who served as vice-regent.

Early in the Second Age, some of the Sindar, who were from Doriath, were uneasy living among the Noldor under Gil-galad and left for the east to establish kingdoms among the Silvan Elves (including the Woodland Realm under Oropher and Amdir in Lindórinand), and in certain accounts, also the south. Some Noldor also left to found Eregion in SA 750, the second of the two Noldorin realms.

In SA 600, Entulessë, a ship from Númenor arrived in Mithlond where Gil-galad welcomed the Númenóreans, before reestablishing contact with their Mannish kin, the Middle Men.

During the War of the Elves and Sauron, Sauron had overrun Eriador. The Elves called that time Days of Flight as many fled to Lindon where Sauron could not enter, and thence over the Sea to the Uttermost West. Eventually Tar-Minastir sent ships to Lindon, responding to Gil-galad's plea. The combined army of Elves and Númenóreans drove Sauron's forces out of Eriador. The War and the establishment of Imladris diminished the realm of Lindon and didn't extend beyond the Blue Mountains any more.

In the tumult following the Downfall of Númenor, Lindon suffered great loss as "*the sea rode in upon the land*", and therefore had shrunk when the Third Age began.

Gil-galad forged a Last Alliance with the survivors of Numenor, building White Towers upon the hills at the kingdom's southern border for Elendil, the Numenorean King. The Elvish force of the Last Alliance was drafted mostly from Lindon. In the Battle of Dagorlad, Sauron was defeated but not before killing Gil-galad. Rule over the now-diminished Lindon was given to Cirdan. Gil galad's position as High-King, however, would have gone to Elrond in Rivendell, but he never used the title.

### Third Age

During the Third Age, the Elves of Lindon under Cirdan supported Arnor in the Angmar War. They assisted Arveleg and the men of Cardolan drive off the Hill-men from the Weather Hills. Later, with Círdan’s help, Arveleg's young son, Araphor, drove Angmar's armies from Fornost and the North Downs. Combining forces with Rivendell, and the Galadhrim who joined them from beyond the Misty Mountains, they subdued Angmar for some time.

In TA 1975, Elven sailors from Lindon brought a ship to Forochel to rescue the lost king Arvedui. The crew endured a perilous journey, but Arvedui rashly attempted to return that winter, and all aboard perished. The next year the elves joined with the Dúnedain in the victorious Battle of Fornost.

During the days of Kings, most of the High Elves that still lingered in Middle-earth were found in Lindon. Some Dwarves had dwelt in the eastern side of the Ered Luin, such as at Thorin's Halls, especially the part south of the Gulf. Men did not go to Lindon.

Aside from Elves, Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins also went to Valinor from the Grey Havens, and a family tradition held that Samwise Gamgee, having been himself a Ring-bearer, albeit briefly, did likewise, in the year Fo.A. 61.