Dark Men of Middle-earth ~ Black Númenóreans ~ Melkorists ~ Men of Harad ~ Men of Khand ~ Men of Rhûn ~ Savage Easterlings ~ Wainriders
Corsairs of Umbar ~ Men of Rhudaur ~ Wildmen of Dunland ~ Southlanders ~ Wormtongue ~ Bill Ferny

 

Dark Men ~ War Lords of Rhún

“They are fierce. They have black eyes, and long black hair,
and gold rings in their ears; yes, lots of beautiful gold. And some have red paint on their cheeks, and red cloaks;
and their flags are red, and the tips of their spears.”

LOTR: TTT B4 C3

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The Men of Rhûn came from the east and were but part of a larger group of inhabitants of this region that were named the Easterlings. These men of the Far East were known as far back as the First Age of Middle-earth. The people of Rhûn had settled along the great inland Sea of Rhûn, where they at times traded with the dwarves and at other times fought with them. The people of Rhûn were part of a coalition of Easterlings, Haradrim of Near Harad and the Variags of Khand that formed an alliance called the Wainriders, who fought for nearly 100 years against the kingdom of Gondor and it’s allies. For many centuries they controlled the lands of Rhovanion.

The dark men of Rhûn seemed to have survived the fall of the Wainriders, when their camps were attacked by Gondor and so remained a strong force along the great inland sea.

During the Watchful Peace, it is said that Sauron fled into the lands of the Far East and most likely brought the men of Rhûn once more under his power. During the War of the Ring, these dark men of the East swelled the ranks of Mordor and fought upon the fields of the Pelennor to the south and also in the Battle of Dale to the north.

Little is known about these people or how they lived. However, during the last millennium of the Third Age, the Men of Rhûn appeared to have formed large kingdoms along the great inland sea. Their armies, who Sauron called to Mordor were well equipped with armor and weapons and were led by an organized military structure. These Easterlings along the Sea of Rhûn fought with spear and shield using them effectively in battle. They were well trained and would often form a shield-wall in battle, that was a potent defense against a mounted force.

The armies of men from the East and the South were ever marching into Mordor, as Sauron prepared for his last war upon Middle-earth.

“As he gazed Frodo became aware that there was a great stir and movement on the plain. It seemed as if whole armies were on the march, though for the most part they were hidden by the reeks and fumes drifting from the fens and wastes beyond. But here and there he caught the gleam of spears and helmets; and over the levels beside the roads horsemen could be seen riding in many companies. He remembered his vision from afar upon Amon Hen, so few days before, though now it seemed many years ago. Then he knew that the hope that had for one wild moment stirred in his heart was vain. The trumpets had not rung in challenge but in greeting. This was no assault upon the Dark Lord by the men of Gondor, risen like avenging ghosts from the graves of valour long passed away. These were Men of other race, out of the wide Eastlands, gathering to the summons of their Overlord; armies that had encamped before his Gate by night and now marched in to swell his mounting power. As if suddenly made fully aware of the peril of their position, alone, in the growing light of day, so near to this vast menace, Frodo quickly drew his frail grey hood close upon his head, and stepped down into the dell. Then he turned to Gollum.”

From The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in the Chapter ‘The Black Gate is Closed’

 

Upon the ancient battle plain of Dagorlad, Frodo, Sam and Gollum heard the coming of armies of men to the Black Gate of Mordor…

“A new fear was upon them. They heard singing and hoarse shouting. At first it seemed a long way off, but it drew nearer: it was coming towards them. It leaped into all their minds that the Black Wings had spied them and had sent armed soldiers to seize them: no speed seemed too great for these terrible servants of Sauron. They crouched, listening. The voices and the clink of weapons and harness were very close. Frodo and Sam loosened their small swords in their sheaths. Flight was impossible.

Gollum rose slowly and crawled insect-like to the lip of the hollow. Very cautiously he raised himself inch by inch, until he could peer over it between two broken points of stone. He remained there without moving for some time, making no sound. Presently the voices began to recede again, and then they slowly faded away. Far off a horn blew on the ramparts of the Morannon. Then quietly Gollum drew back and slipped down into the hollow.

‘More Men going to Mordor,’ he said in a low voice. `Dark faces. We have not seen Men like these before, no, Sméagol has not. They are fierce. They have black eyes, and long black hair, and gold rings in their ears; yes, lots of beautiful gold. And some have red paint on their cheeks, and red cloaks; and their flags are red, and the tips of their spears; and they have round shields, yellow and black with big spikes. Not nice; very cruel wicked Men they look. Almost as bad as Orcs, and much bigger.”

From The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in the Chapter ‘The Black Gate is Closed’

 

“It seemed as if whole armies were on the march, though for the most part they were hidden by the reeks
and fumes drifting from the fens and wastes beyond. But here and there he caught the gleam of spears and helmets;
and over the levels beside the roads horsemen could be seen riding in many companies.”

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