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Ana Kusicka - Elrond.jpg
"Elrond" by Ana Kusicka
Biographical Information
Other namesElerondo (Q)
Peredhel (S, "Half-elven")
Master Elrond
TitlesLord of Rivendell
PositionRing-bearer of Vilya
Vice-regent of Eriador
Herald to Gil-galad[1]
AffiliationWhite Council
LanguageSindarin, Quenya, Westron
BirthF.A. 532
Havens of Sirion
RuleS.A. 1697 - T.A. 3021 (ruled 4765 years)
Sailed west29 September, T.A. 3021 (aged 6520)
Grey Havens
HeritageHalf-elven father and mother
ParentageEärendil, father
Elwing, mother
Maglor, foster father
SiblingsElros (twin)
Physical Description
Hair colorDark[2]
Eye colorGrey[2]
ClothingGrey mantle[3]
Silver circlet[2]
GalleryImages of Elrond
― Elrond in The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"


Having been born in Beleriand towards the end of the First Age, Elrond ever opposed Sauron and strove against him throughout the Second Age helping to bring about Sauron's defeat in the War of the Last Alliance as Gil-galad's herald. Elrond inherited Gil-galad's Elven ring Vilya, and during the Third Age he fought against the Witch-king of Angmar and, as a member of the White Council, expelled the Necromancer from Dol Guldur (who was Sauron in another guise). Towards the end of the Third Age, he was the foster-father to Aragorn as he had been to Arathorn before him. Aragorn went on to marry Elrond's daughter Arwen. After the destruction of the One Ring, Elrond sailed west with Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo, and Galadriel; their passing marked the end of the Third Age and the beginning of the Fourth.



[edit] History

[edit] First Age

Elrond was born at the Havens of Sirion in F.A. 532.[4] His parents were Eärendil and Elwing and he had a twin brother, Elros, who later became the first king of Númenor.[5]

Maglor raises Elrond. Art by Tuuliky


Following the War of Wrath, because of his Half-elven heritage, the Valar gave Elrond and his brother a choice whether to be counted among the kindred of Elves or of Men. Elrond chose to belong to the Firstborn, while Elros chose to become mortal.[5] It was Elros who voyaged over sea to Númenor following the star of Eärendil;[6] whereas Elrond remained among the Elves and carried on the lineage of King Elwë.[7] Elrond subsequently remained in Lindon with Gil-galad, where he became known as a healer and lore-master.

[edit] Second Age


In S.A. 1695 Gil-galad sent Elrond to aid Eregion. Elrond's forces came too late and proved too small to defend Eregion. While Sauron sent most of his army west to attack Lindon, he left a strong detachment behind to contain Elrond. In two years, Eregion was lade waste and Elrond, along with the Noldor survivors, fled far north. There, he established the stronghold of Imladris.[8][9]

Many more refugees joined Elrond's host as Sauron ravaged Eriador during the course of the war. By S.A. 1700, Imladris, despite being besieged, was the only part of Eriador not under Sauron's control. It was liberated by Gil-galad's and Tar-Minastir's forces. After Sauron's defeat, a Council was held at that time, establishing that Imladris should be maintained as an Elvish stronghold, and appointing Elrond as Gil-galad's vice-regent in Eriador, passing the Ring Vilya to him.[10]

Elrond by NOLANOS



[edit] Third Age





Elrond along with others of the Wise were joined by the Wizard Gandalf who was sent by the Valar from the West. As they decided, Gandalf invaded Dol Guldur. The Necromancer withdrew and the Watchful Peace began. In T.A. 2463, the Wise formed the White Council with the Wizard Saruman as its head.

Dol Guldur by Angus McBride

Elrond was later separated from his wife when she was taken by Orcs. Their sons rescued her, but Elrond was unable to heal her mentally, and she decided to leave for the West in 2510.




In T.A. 2941, Elrond welcomed Thorin and Company into his home, the Last Homely House before the wild. On Midsummer's Eve - the night before the Dwarves, Bilbo, and Gandalf continued on their journey eastward - Elrond examined the swords which they had found in the trolls' cave. He read the runes and revealed that Thorin's sword was called Orcrist, the "Goblin-cleaver", and that Gandalf's sword was named Glamdring, the "Foe-hammer". He told them that they were Elven swords from the ancient city of Gondolin, destroyed long ago. He then looked at Thrór's Map and found that there were moon-letters. From the moon of that midsummer's eve he could read the words: 'five feet high the door and three may walk abreast' and 'stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the keyhole'. This information proved vital for Bilbo and the Dwarves to enter the Lonely Mountain through its secret entrance.[13]


The White Council last met in T.A. 2953, when Gandalf expressed his concerns that the One Ring was Bilbo's ring found in the Goblin-town. Saruman quieted him, insisting that the Ring had been swept out to sea.

[edit] War of the Ring

When Frodo first left the Shire with the One Ring, it was always his intention to go to Rivendell to seek the advice of Elrond. Indeed, in his letter left at Bree, Gandalf counselled him to do so. After Elrond healed Frodo of his wound sustained at Weathertop, he then hosted the feast that was held when Frodo recovered.

Glorfindel returns to Rivendell by Jenny Dolfen



After the passing of Sauron, Aragorn was crowned as King of the new Reunited Kingdom on 1 May, and according to his own promise Elrond escorted Arwen to Lothlórien. They arrived on 20 May and Arwen went to Minas Tirith to wed Aragorn.[15] He parted from her in great sorrow.

Departure at the Grey Havens by Ted Nasmith


[edit] Appearance and traits

The Hobbit, "A Short Rest"


Elrond is described as dark-haired, while his eyes were grey shining like starlight. He could be seen wearing a circlet of silver.[2][16]


[edit] Etymology

The Sindarin name Elrond has been translated as "Star-dome",[17] and "Vault of Heaven"[18] recalling the glory of Menegroth though at an earlier stage, it was supposed to mean "Elf of the Cave". His Quenya name was most likely Elerondo[19], isolated from the patronymic Elerondiel ("Daughter of Elrond").[20]

[edit] Genealogy

b. Y.T. 1230
b. Y.T.
b. F.A.
b. Y.T. 1362
b. F.A.
b. F.A.
d. F.A. 506
F.A. 470 - 506
b. F.A. 472
b. Y.T.
b. F.A. 503
b. F.A. 503
b. S.A. 300
b. F.A. 532
F.A. 532 - S.A. 442
b. T.A. 130
b. T.A. 130
T.A. 241 - Fo.A. 121
Aragorn II
T.A. 2931 - Fo.A. 120
b. Fo.A. 1
unknown daughters

[edit] Other versions of the legendarium



However his name also appears in a draft for The Fall of Númenor, written about the same time as The Hobbit (before 1937). There he is mentioned to be the son of Eärendel, heir of the House of Hador, who because of his mortal blood chose to remain in the Great Lands and became the leader of the Elves in the remnant of Beleriand. There he allied with the Faithful Amroth (a precursor of Elendil) against Sûr (Sauron).[21] In a rewrite of the same text, Elrond becomes the first King of Númenor instead, the builder of the city of Numenos, and is a mortal (which means that the text was written before The Hobbit, as he appears alive, presumably immortal, there). It is Gil-galad who fights Sauron. With the conception of Elros, Tolkien added a later note considering to make Elrond to stay with Gil-galad or return to Middle-earth.[22]

[edit] Portrayal in adaptations

Elrond in Adaptations
Elrond as portrayed in The Hobbit (1977 film)  

[edit] Films

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):


1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):


1980: The Return of the King (1980 film):

Elrond appears roughly the same as in the first of Rankin/Bass' films. The premise of the film, a minstrel of Gondor who tells the tale of "Frodo of the Nine Fingers, and the Ring of Doom" at Bilbo Baggins' 129th birthday party in Rivendell, allows Elrond to be a member of the audience, and then sails west, with Gandalf and the two allowed Bilbo and Frodo Baggins (his nephew) come because of their service in Middle-Earth and being friends. Because Cyril Ritchard had passed away not long after completing his work on The Hobbit, Rankin/Bass regular Paul Frees took over as his voice.



2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:




2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):


[edit] Television

1993: Hobitit:

In this adaptation, Elrond is portrayed by Leif Wager.

[edit] Radio series


The part of Elrond is voiced by Garard Green.[24]

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):


1980: Der Hobbit (1980 German radio series):

Elrond is played by Friedrich W. Bauschulle.



2001: Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series):

The voice of Elrond is provided by Matej Landl.

[edit] Games

1982: The Hobbit (1982 text adventure game)




2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):


2006: EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II:


2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:


2009: The Lord of the Rings: Conquest:

Hugo Weaving once again reprises the role, serving as the narrator for both Good and Evil campaign.


Early in the game Elrond sends his sons, Elladan and Elrohir, to scout Fornost.[25] He later interacts with main characters in Rivendell, guiding them on their path of defeating Argandaur.

[edit] See also


  11. 11.0 11.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  19. Petri Tikka, "Quenya words in Parma Eldalambaron 17"
  24. Radio Times, Volume 129, No. 1674, December 9, 1955
Attendees of the Council of Elrond
The Hobbit film series
Source material: The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
Video games Lego The Hobbit · Kingdoms of Middle-earth