Enedwaith

Enedwaith, meaning 'Middle-folk' in Sindarin, was a region of Eriador that lay between the rivers Greyflood (Gwathló) and Isen. In the Third Age, it was a largely empty and desolate land, a buffer zone between the former North-kingdom of Arnor and the South-kingdom of Gondor. Its history is one of decline, marked by the fading of its ancient population, the ruin of its principal settlement, and its transformation into a perilous wilderness that both separated and connected the realms of the West.

Geography and Strategic Position

Enedwaith occupied a narrow strip of land along the coast of the Great Sea, stretching inland to the feet of the Misty Mountains. Its northern boundary was the Greyflood, which separated it from Minhiriath, and its southern boundary was the Isen, which marked the edge of the realm of Gondor. The region was crossed by the ancient North-South Road, the Greenway, which connected Arnor and Gondor. The most important settlement in Enedwaith was Tharbad, a fortified town and a major crossing point over the Greyflood. The road from the Shire and Bree passed through Tharbad, making it a vital link for travel and trade between the northern and southern kingdoms. The region was also traversed by the river Glanduin, which flowed into the Greyflood above Tharbad, marking the southern border of the old realm of Eregion.

History and Decline

In the early Third Age, Enedwaith was part of the kingdom of Gondor, but its population was never large. The region was inhabited by a people known as the Gwathuirim, who were related to the Dunlendings. After the division of Arnor, the region became a contested and dangerous borderland. The Great Plague of T.A. 1636 devastated the population of Enedwaith, as it did much of Eriador, and many settlements were abandoned. The final blow came with the Fell Winter of T.A. 2911 and the subsequent Great Floods of T.A. 2912, which destroyed Tharbad and left the region largely uninhabited and impassable. The great bridge at Tharbad was broken, and the Greenway fell into disuse, severing the last reliable land route between the North and the South. By the time of the War of the Ring, Enedwaith was a wild and empty land, a haunt for outlaws and evil things, and a significant obstacle to travel.

Narrative Significance

Enedwaith's desolation and its role as a barrier are reflected in the journeys of the characters. The hobbits, on their way to Rivendell, did not pass through Enedwaith, but the region's existence as a dangerous and empty land is noted. The destruction of Tharbad is mentioned as a key reason why the road from Bree to the South was no longer safe or practical. The region's emptiness also served a strategic purpose: it created a buffer between the forces of Saruman in Isengard and the lands of the Shire and Bree, though it also allowed his agents and spies to move with relative secrecy. The land itself, scarred by war and neglect, stands as a testament to the long decline of the Dúnedain kingdoms and the encroaching shadow of Sauron, a silent witness to the passing of an age.