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by Daereth
Mablung
An Elf of Doriath, Captain under Elu Thingol. The name itself
means “of the heavy hand’, which reflected Mablung’s prowess in
battle. Friend of Turin Turambar for most of the latter’s life,
Mablung was slain by the Dwarves in Menegroth.
Maedhros
Eldest son of Feanor, called the Tall. After his father’s death
the leading role in the House of Feanor rests of him. Maedhros
and his followers settled in Beleriand in the country surrounding
the mountain Himring (on the mountain itself, we may suppose,
stood his castle). At some point Maedhros was captured by Morgoth
and chained to Thangorodrim by his wrist. His torture was ended
when Fingon rescued him, borne by the Eagles of Manwe, but he
could not undo the clasp that held Maedhros fast to the rock.
He had to hew the hand off to set Maedhros free. However, Maedhros
was in due time healed, and he could soon wield his sword with
his left hand in more deadly fashion than with his right. Then
he chose to relinquish his claim on leadership among all Elves
of Beleriand, and the title of King went to the House of Fingolfin.
Maedhros was moved to further feats after the Quest of the Silmarils,
when the Union of Maedhros was formed. Unfortunately, it suffered
an ill fate, for in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad the Easterlings who
had sworn allegiance to Maedhros (or most of them), deserted him.
Then Maedhros dwelt in Ossiriand, but his virtuous nature eventually
was subdued by the Oath of Feanor, so he, too, took part in the
sacking of Menegroth, and later he convinced his younger brother
Maglor to salvage two more Silmarils (those that remained in Morgoth’s
crown). This they did, but since the Silmarils no longer rioghtfully
belonged to the Feanorions, the Jewel scorched Maedhros’s hand,
and in this torment he cast himself and the Stone into a chasm.
Throughout the Silmarillion we get glimpses of the personality
of Meadhros, who does, among his brothers, appear to be the most
noble of heart, if not the most prudent. Remember, when the ships
of Alqualonde were being burned, ‘Maedhros alone stood aside”.
Maeglin
Maeglin was an Elf, son of Eol and Aredhel. Like his father,
he was skilled with metal and, like his mother, he was wearied
by the secluded life they had to live with Eol in his forest.
So while Eol was away, he persuaded Aredhel to flee to Gondolin,
where their relatives, Turgon and Idril his daughter. Eol pursued
them, and was caught in Gondolin. He accidentally kills Aredhel
with a poisoned javelin, and beseeches Maeglin for protection
against the wrath of the King. When Maeglin does not stand up
for his father, Eol foretells that the same fate as his (being
cast down into a sheer precipice) will be destiny for Maeglin.
And so it does happen. Maeglin was in love with Idril, and he
hated Tuor, the mortal that Idril chose for her husband. When
captured by the Enemy’s servants, he deplorably traded his freedom
for revealing the location of Gondolin (which had always been
hidden). In the sack of Gondolin Maeglin attempted to kidnap Idril
and her son Earendil, but Tuor was able to intervene on time by
casting Maeglin down into the precipice, thus fulfilling Eol’s
prophecy.
Maglor
Maglor was the second son of Feanor after Maedhros, famous as
a singer and minstrel. For a long time he held the lands around
a location called Maglor’s gap. Since the sack of Gondolin, his
fate follows that of Maedhros. Maglor gets hold of the last remaining
Silmaril and he casts himself into the Sea with it.
Magor
Son of Malach Aradan, leader of the men of the following of
Marach who entered Beleriand.
Mahal
A name given by the Dwarves to Vala Aule, their creator.
Mahtan
A great smith of the Noldor, father of Nerdanel wife of Feanor.
Maiar
The Maiar are akin to the Valar,
even though they are considered to be spirits of lesser power.
Just as the Valar, they often appear in the shape of Elves or
Men, and both the Valar and the Maiar are counted among the Ainur.
Before the Song of the Ainur was sung, Iluvatar’s mind had given
rise to a great number of spirits who greatly differed among themselves
in power and magical abilities, only 15 of them subsequently being
named ‘Valar’, while many of the lesser spirits never even descended
into Arda, and remained unknown to Man or Elf. Others, however,
have exerted a certain influence upon the history of the world.
Malach
Son of Marach, given the Elvish name Aradan.
Mandos
Mandos, who is one of the Feanturi, masters of spirits, is the
brother of Lorien and the Doomsman of the Valar. His realm is
the Halls of Mandos, where the souls of all Elves and Men (perhaps
Dwarves as well) journey after they leave their bodies. Mandos
forgets nothing, and he knows of all things that were and that
will come to pass.
The spouse of Mandos is Vaire the Weaver.
Manwe
Manwe is the spouse of Varda, and Lord of all the Valar. In
Iluvatar’s thought Manwe had been the brother of Melkor, and although
not as formidable were his powers, he was dearest to Iluvatar.
Manwe is Lord of the winds, wise is his judgment and untarnished
his mind – therefore he cannot even comprehend the evil of Melkor
and could not predict his brother’s downfall.
Manwe and Varda took up their abode in the topmost of towers of
Taniquetil in Valinor, and from there they can see and hear everything
that goes on in Arda and beyond the fringes of the world.
The messenger and herald of Manwe is Eonwe.
Marach
Leader of the third host of Men to enter Beleriand, ancestor
of Hador Lorindol.
Mardil
Called the Faithful, the first ruling Steward of Gondor.
Mearas
The Mearas were a noble breed of horses from Valinor. Their master
was Orome the hunter. These horses were immortal and famous for
their endurance and speed, as well as for their great stature.
The horses of the Rohirrim were said to stem from the mearas of
Orome.
Melian
Melian the Maia, spouse of Thingol and mother of Luthien Tinuviel,
was more closely attached to the lands beyond Valinor than any
other Maiar. Together with her husband she dwelt for many years
in Doriath, which she surrounded by the Girdle of Melian, a protective
wall of magic that was meant to turn out any intruder intending
to enter the secluded realm.
Melian was known for her wisdom and her beauty, and she was skilled
in herb-lore and various kinds of spells. Her heart was one with
nature, an, being Yavanna’s disciple, she took delight in it,
and cherished every living creature of her woods. Her companions
were always the nightingales, who she is said to have taught to
sing.
When Thingol was slain, Melian was allowed to return to Valinor,
where she can be one day cured of her grief, and after her departure
the Girdle of Melian failed, and the sheltered realm of Doriath
was no more.
Men
Men are one of the two races that belong among the Children
of Iluvatar. Unlike the Elves, who are the Firstborn, Men are
the Followers, or the Aftercomers, and while the Elves awoke to
the light of the first stars, Men awoke to the shine of the Sun.
The major difference between Men and Elves was that the former
were mortal, and the Elves were not. For the Elves this was an
advantage that many Men, notably the Numenoreans, came to envy.
The Elves had another view on this, since Men were not tied to
the Circles of Arda and once their souls left the Earth, they
were free. The life span of Men was also shorter, and they were
prone to sickness. Only those of the royal races of Numenor, Gondor
and Arnor could live to the venerable age of 200 years. Nevertheless,
as ages went past, it was Men who inherited Middle-earth, despite
their weaknesses.
There have been various attempts at classifying different tribes
of Men, but the one that comes closest to the mark is this: firstly,
Men of Light (Numenoreans, Gondoreans and Arnoreans), then Men
of Twilight (the Rohirrim) and, finally, Men of Darkness (Easterlings
and Haradrim).
Meneldil
Son of Anarion King of Gondor and brother to Isildur (2nd Age).
Mim
The Petty-dwarf, in whose house on Amon Rudh Turin dwelt with
his outlaw band, and by whom their lair was betrayed to the Orcs;
slain by Hurin in Nargothrond.
Miriel
1. first wife of Finwe who died after the birth of their only
son Feanor. Also called Serinde, or the Broideress. Afterwards
Finwe took Indis for his second wife.
2. A Lady of Numenor, daughter of Tar-Palantir who Ar-Pharazon,
the last Numenorean King, took as his wife against her will in
order to get himself crowned. Miriel’s royal title was Ar-Zimrophel,
and she was known to be more conscientious than her husband.
Moriquendi
The name is the Quenyan for Dark Elves. Technically, these were
the Elves who had not seen the Light of Valinor, but in actual
fact the term was usually applied to the Avari, or Those that
refused.
Morwen
Daughter of Baragund, wife of Hurin and mother of Turin, Nienor
and Lalaith, called Eledhwen (Elvish for Elf-sheen) and the Lady
of Dor-Lomin.
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