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The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Haradrim.jpg
DominionsHarad, including Umbar, Near Harad and Far Harad
Languagespresumably numerous; different from Common Speech
Average heightshorter than Numenoreans
Skin colordark
Hair colordark
DistinctionsAlliance with Sauron; use of giant Oliphaunts in battle
Lifespanshorter than Numenoreans
MembersSerpent Lord

The Haradrim or Southrons were the proud and warlike people of the Harad, in the south of Middle-earth. Ancient enemies of Gondor, they allied with Sauron during the War of the Ring.


[edit] History

The ancestors of the Haradrim were Men who awoke in the First Age, but stayed to the East of Middle-earth, not joining the migration of the Edain to the West. They eventually settled in Harad, where the Sun is fierce and there are no clouds. It is possible that they were relatives of the Swarthy Men who went to Beleriand after the Edain. The Haradrim remained a fierce, cruel people.[1]

In the East, as well as in the South of Middle-earth, wild and barbaric Men multiplied. In the Second Age Sauron escaped the judgment of the Valar and continued his former master's work, turning those Men to evil and dominating them.[2]

[edit] Second Age

During the Second Age the High Men of Númenor built a great city in the firth of Umbar, a vast natural harbour on the southern shores of the Bay of Belfalas, eventually turning the city into a fortified citadel from whose gates the Men of Númenor initially benefited the people in the lands they explored by teaching them many things about agriculture and craftsmanship.[3] After the reign of Tar-Ciryatan, the Númenóreans began to set themselves up as lords in Middle-earth as they demanded tribute of goods and wealth, causing the oppression of the Haradrim. Under Ar-Pharazon, the Númenóreans made war on the Men of Middle-earth, enslaving them and using them for human sacrifices.[4]

In the following centuries they were influenced by Sauron and Black Númenóreans, those evil High Men who stayed in Harad and survived the Downfall of Númenor.[5] The Haradrim became enemies of Gondor, as the Kingdom's southern borders was close to their lands. Shortly before the War of the Last Alliance, two Númenórean lords, Herumor and Fuinur, "rose to great power amongst the Haradrim".[2]

[edit] Third Age

The Haradrim did not trouble the Realms in Exile for many centuries, until in T.A. 1015, they followed the Black Númenóreans against Umbar to recapture it. Their great power was not enough against the sea-power of Gondor. The attempts lasted for 35 years until, in T.A. 1050, Ciryandil defeated the Haradrim force by sending troops by land.[6]

Later however kings of Harad who were in league with the Umbar rebelled against Gondor. King Aldamir fell in battle against them but his son Vinyarion won a great victory in Harad in T.A. 1551.[6]

The Haradrim later were allied with the Wainriders, a confederation of Easterlings, and the Men of Khand. During the simultaneous assaults from the north and the south, the South-kingdom came close to destruction. The campaigns ended with the Wainraiders' definite defeat in the Battle of the Camp in T.A. 1944.[6]

Around that time, some Haradrim were among the Corsairs of Umbar, a constant harassment for Gondor.[7]

The Haradrim were stirred up by emissaries of Sauron to attack Gondor again, and in T.A. 2885, they did so at the Crossings of Poros, but were defeated again as they faced also the Rohirrim. The twin sons of King Folcwine of Rohan, were slain in that battle.[8][9]

At the time of the War of the Ring, the Southrons were in league with Sauron and fought alongside his Orc army. The Haradrim were among the forces led by the Witch-king that attacked Osgiliath on June 20, T.A. 3018,[10] at the beginning of the War. They captured the eastern half of Osgiliath, but Boromir and Faramir cast down the bridge across the Anduin and defended the western half of the city.[11] More Haradrim continued to come up the Harad Road to Mordor. Faramir and the Rangers of Ithilien ambushed some companies of Haradrim, but they could not stop them all.[12]

In the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, they deployed cavalry and gigantic, elephant-like Mûmakil. Regiments of Haradrim joined the host from Minas Morgul marching to the Pelennor Fields. Sauron's forces besieged Minas Tirith, and the Mûmakil of Harad were used to bring forward war-towers and siege-engines to test the City's defenses. One of the leaders of the Haradrim at this time bore the standard of the Serpent Lord and was slain by King Théoden of Rohan at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields[13] on 15 March 3019.[10]


[edit] Traits and culture

Alan Lee - An Oliphaunt

The Haradrim were tall, primitive and dark-skinned with black hair and eyes, and for that they were called Swertings or Swarthy Men.[14] Those of Near Harad were brown-skinned, with black hair and dark eyes, whereas the people of Far Harad had black skin.[15]

Many Haradrim warriors were seen in bright clothing, such as scarlet robes, and were decorated with golden ornaments, such as collars, earrings, corslets of overlapping brazen plates; they braided their hair with gold. Some tribes painted their bodies. Scarlet and red was also the color of their banners, tips of their spears, and body paint. Their shields were yellow and black with spikes.[14] It is also mentioned that at the end of the Second Age some of the Men in the south had weapons of iron.[2]

The Haradrim had tamed the massive Mûmakil beasts and used them in warfare and, like their masters, were decorated with scarlet and gold. They even strapped towers on their backs, used by Haradrim archers and spearmen.[14]

Half-trolls was a name for a race of Men coming from Far Harad, perhaps one of the tribes of the Haradrim.

[edit] Language

To the Gondorians their voices sounded harsh, like shouts of beasts.[16]

The only word which is stated to come from a southron language is "Mûmak", the name of the great war-oliphaunts of Harad.[17]

Gandalf states that his name in "the south" is "Incánus" thought Inkā-nūsh (or possibly Inkā-nūs), meaning "North-spy".[18]

Despite having a meaning in Quenya ("fate"), the name Umbar is said to be adapted from the natives' language and not from Elvish or Adûnaic.

[edit] Etymology

Haradrim is a Sindarin name, consisting of the elements harad ("south") + rim ("host")[19] thus meaning "South-people".[7]

Other names were Southerns, Southrons.[7]

[edit] Other versions of the Legendarium

Early variant names for this people were the Barangils,[20] the Haradwaith (from the name of their land) and Haradrians.[21]

Early Westron names include Harwan and Silharrows, which are derived from the Old English name of the Aethiopians, Sigelhearwan (See also: Sigelwara Land).[22]

[edit] Portrayal in Adaptations



[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. Andreas Moehn, "The History of the Men of Darkness" , Lalaith's Middle-earth Science Pages (accessed 28 December 2014)
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Haradrim"
  17. "[{{{articleurl}}} ]" , {{{website}}} (accessed 28 December 2014)
  22. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "The Story Foreseen from Fangorn", Note 4