What this is
In brief
Origins
Rivendell was founded in S.A. 1697 by Elrond after the ruin of Eregion, as a refuge in a hidden valley at the western feet of the Misty Mountains. It sheltered the remnants of the Noldor in the North and became a centre of memory and counsel.
Culture
A house of open hospitality, music, healing and ancient lore. Elrond’s household preserves Elvish tradition, welcomes travellers and keeps the histories of Middle-earth, and the valley is kept safe from enemies by Elrond’s power.
Language
Sindarin and Westron, with Quenya and lore in many tongues.
History
Rivendell hosted the dwarves of Thorin’s quest and later the Council of Elrond, where the Fellowship of the Ring was chosen. It was a steadfast ally of the Dúnedain and Gondor, guarding the North and supporting the war against Sauron. After the Ring’s destruction Elrond passed into the West, and the realm waned.
Leaders
Settlements
- rivendell
Alliances
- arnor
- gondor
- lothlorien
- dunedain
- the-fellowship-of-the-ring
Conflicts
- war-of-the-ring
Notable members
CharacterElrond
Lord of Rivendell, keeper of the Elven-ring Vilya, loremaster and healer, and foster-father of Aragorn.
CharacterArwen Undómiel
Daughter of Elrond who chose mortality to wed Aragorn, uniting the lines of Lúthien and Beren.
CharacterGlorfindel
A mighty Elf-lord of Rivendell and, in the First Age, a hero who fell fighting a Balrog.
CharacterGandalf
A Wizard of the Istari, keeper of the Elven-ring Narya, and the chief architect of the resistance to Sauron.
Sources
The Hobbit · 1937
Published in Tolkien’s lifetime. The primary narrative of Bilbo’s journey.
The Lord of the Rings · 1954–55
Three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King.
The Silmarillion · 1977
Posthumously edited. Contains the Ainulindalë, Valaquenta, Quenta Silmarillion, Akallabêth and Of the Rings of Power.
Related entries
PeopleElves
The Firstborn Children of Ilúvatar, deathless and beautiful, whose long history spans the awakening at Cuiviénen, the wars of Beleriand and the slow fading of the Third Age.
PeopleNoldor
The second great kindred of the Eldar, master craftsmen and lore-masters, whose exile and wars against Morgoth shaped the whole history of the First Age.
LocationLothlórien
The golden Elven realm of Galadriel and Celeborn, preserved outside ordinary time by the ring Nenya.
The Fellowship of the Ring
The nine companions chosen at Rivendell to carry the One Ring to Mordor and destroy it: four hobbits, an Elf, a Dwarf, two Men and a Wizard.