Volume 14 Number 1 Article 7 Fall 10-15-1987 The Kindreds, Houses & Population of the Elves during the First Age Tom Loback Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore Part of the Children's and Young Adult Literature Commons Recommended Citation Loback, Tom (1987) "The Kindreds, Houses & Population of the Elves during the First Age," Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: Vol. 14 : No. 1 , Article 7. Available at: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol14/iss1/7 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mythopoeic Society at SWOSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature by an authorized editor of SWOSU Digital Commons. An ADA compliant document is available upon request. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To join the Mythopoeic Society go to: http://www.mythsoc.org/join.htm Mythcon 51: A VIRTUAL “HALFLING” MYTHCON July 31 - August 1, 2021 (Saturday and Sunday) http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-51.htm Mythcon 52: The Mythic, the Fantastic, and the Alien Albuquerque, New Mexico; July 29 - August 1, 2022 http://www.mythsoc.org/mythcon/mythcon-52.htm Abstract A study of the Elves of the First Age, reviewing their social structure (the Great House or Kindred), population, and demographics. Includes detailed charts and estimates of population numbers. (Middle- earth studies.) Additional Keywords Tolkien, J.R.R.—Characters—Elves—Demographics, First Age; Tolkien, J.R.R.—Characters—Elves—Kinship system, First Age; Tolkien, J.R.R.—Characters—Elves—Population, First Age This article is available in Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol14/iss1/7 Page 34 MYTHLORE 51: Autumn 1987 The Kindreds, Houses & of the does during the Tirst Age Tom Loback For the Elves, the First Age of Middle-earth was agreement among them s b to go on or not. Those who their Golden Age. The publication by Christopher Tol­ choose not to go on form a House under the leader­ kien of much of his father’s work on this subject, as ship of Lenwe who is not in the immediate family of well as his own commentary, has provided the student Elwe and Olwe. of Middle-earth history a quarry of information about this people. However rough hewn these foundation At about this time an embryonic familial Houbo is stones are, they may be cut and dressed to provide a forming under another brother of Elwe — Elmo. clear look at the social structure of the First Age. Therefore, it is seen that the formation of a new This article gives a comprehensive view of the growth House of Kindred can occur through the leading family of the Elven people from their awakening early in the structure or by the choice of the Elves as in the case First Age (F.A.) until peak of their power and glory of Lenwe. It would appear that any Elf has the free­ in Beleriand around 450 F.A. dom to choose to remain or leave a House to join a new one. The first part of this article will give a general review of the key element of Elven social structure It can probably be said that when a young male —the Great House or Kindred. It will be shown how of the leading family began a new House he was and why the Great Houses were formed. The second Joined mostly by Elves near his own age. In the form­ part of the article wiU, by taking what is known of ing of a charismatic House a broader spectrum of gen­ the Great Houses and the few clues and statements as erations was likely to join. It can also be said that to the actual number of ElveB, give a theory showing the Noldor and Vanyar are likely to be following this the size of population of the Elves during the period same pattern. of the F.A.. The third part of this article is a chart in which the first two parts are graphically synthesized By the time the Teleri reach Beleriand, new for easy reference while charting the growth of all Houses are forming along both these lines. Olwe’s fol­ Elven Kindreds up to 450 F.A. lowing has again divided along charismatic lines with Cirdan arising as the head of the new house along the When broken down and then reorganized in this familial line. form, little contradiction and a great deal less confu­ sion is found concerning the Elves and it is hoped By the next generation, Celeborn son of Galadhon this clarification will aid in the Btudy and enjoyment son of Elmo has begun a House, as has Denethor son of the rich Elven history in the works of Tolkien. of Lenwe and probably Olwe (son unknown — there’s a problem if he is the father of Celeborn, as Tolkien Kindreds and Great Houses of the Elven Race later Btated, since Galadriel would then be marrying her first cousin1.) Elwe, who had not as yet started Soon after their awakening the Elves divided into his own family, probably has had a couple of charis­ three Major Kindreds: the Vanyar, the Noldor and the matic formations under Mablung, Beleg or Daeron, as Teleri. This is the first and overaU division of aU has Cirdan some of whose following went to Nevrast Elves. The next two divisions occur about the same (possibly under Galdor). time historically and seem to cloud the issue, but in fact they delineate much of the Elven social organiza­ The charismatic divisions under Elwe show that tion. One occurs within a Kindred and is called a this division need not result in a Bundering of the "familial division” and the other is caUed a "charis­ Kindred. Beyond a certain size a House was now matic division" as it is not confined within a Kindred. expected to divide and form under Elves, who were not of the leading family, nor disagreed with its These two divisions occur right around the start direction or purpose but showed some special qualities of the Great Migration to Valinor. The familial division or talents. occurs when the Teleri population under their lord Elwe grows past a certain size and part of this excess In the KindredB of the Vanyar and the Noldor, the population forms a new Great House under Elwe’B early divisions are much harder to trace but it is brother Olwe. Olwe as a younger male member of the assumed they occurred in ways similar to those of the leading family has reached his majority (around 30 Teleri. Important Noldor such as Mahtan, the great years old) and a new Great House of the excess popu- smith, and Rumil were likely to have formed Houses -- lation forms under him. This familial division becomes foUowing along charismatic lines because of their institutionalized and customary throughout the Elven talents. Once the sons of Finwe begin coming of age Race. The second division is a charismatic division. they, and eventuaUy their sons, are the basis for the Some of the Elves of aU three Kindreds and all four formation of new Houses afong familial lines. Great Houses refuse the summons of the Valar to migrate to Valinor and form a new group called the The formation of a House apparently occurs only Avari. It is basically the disagreement as to purpose under male Elves. Females, regardless of high birth do or direction that results in the formation of the "cha­ not seem to have had more than a small personal fol­ rismatic" Elf expressing this disagreement. The Elf lowing of retainers. When they married they became need not be of the ruling house. This is demonstrated part of the house of their husband or a new house in the next charismatic division of the Teleri: when was then formed under him if he had none of his own upon reaching the Misty Mountains, there is a dis­ (as in the case of Tuor and Idril). Although females Page 36 MYTHLORE 51: Autumn 1987 were known to leave their husband’s house (as in the their majority, as may the King’s brothers and their case of Feanor’s wife Nerdanel), it is unlikely they sons. formed their own House. 4. Important Elves may have Houses based on the following criteria: a) martial prowess, b) merit, skill or There are also known occasions of a new House talent in a particular area of Elven culture, c) cha­ being formed, yet retaining only one Lord (as in the risma or leadership qualities of a social nature (i.e. case of Penlod of Gondolin*) perhaps indicating a late Lenwe, Cirdan). born son not yet at his majority or high rate of 5. If an Elf is mentioned as "the son of" (i.e. growth within the House (further indicating a limit Saeros son of Ithibor) the father probably was Lord having formed as to the acceptable number of Elves in of a House. any given House). 6. Elves mentioned in magic spells may be impor­ tant enough to have been leaders or Lords of a The chart shows the formation of the Houses of House. the Elves generation by generation. Since it also post­ ulates various growth rates some of these are theor­ The Theory of Population etic. The existence of others is confirmed by state­ ments in Tolkien (i.e.