[Legendarium, The Silmarillion] – Background Information Lord of the Rings – History of the Legendarium Part 1 – Two Lamps of the Valar, Two Trees of Valinor, Awakening of the Elves
Valian Years
The Valian Years refer to the time where the Valars have conflicted with Melkor since they’ve landed on Almaren after the shaping of Arda by the Music of the Ainur Ainulindale. It also refers to the very early years of Arda before the Sun was created after the destruction of the Two Trees of Valinor. The Valian Years include the Years of the Lamps and the Years of the Trees.
Year of the Lamps
The First War & Almaren
Before the creation of the Two Lamps of the Valar, as the Valars have arrived at Arda and resided at the continent of Almaren. Originally, Almaren, thus the whole continent of Arda was only one continent.
Later, after the destruction of the Lamps of the Valar, the continent Almarne split into several and there was a cataclysm that shifts the whole map of Arda.
After the Valar landed on Almaren, Melkor declares his reign over Arda and starts The First War between the Valars. Melkor and the fallen Maiar including the Balrogs and the Lord of the Balrogs Gothmog fought with the Valars during The First War.
The Valar Tulkas who descended to Arda the latest was able to fight off the dark forces of Melkor and Melkor was defeated. The First War was a war fought by the Ainur, the Valar and the Maiar so it was the fiercest war that ever broke out in the Legendarium.
Creation of the Two Lamps of the Valar. Illuin, Ormal
The Valar, by the demand of Yavanna would create the Two Lamps of the Valar Illuin of the North and Ormal of the South. Aule created the lamps, Manwe has carved the lamps while Varda has lit the lamps. At the far north of Arda, stood the lamp Illuin and at the furthest south of Arda stood the lamp Ormal that lighted the whole Arda.
Melkor, after the creation of the Two Lamps of the Valar, have created the initial foundation of Utumno, the dark nation that Melkor ruled in the Iron Mountains which was located north where the lights of Illuin and Ormal couldn’t reach. Melkor also created Angband beneath Thangorodrim, a fortress that would later become the main headquarters for Melkor.
Destruction of The Two Lamps of the Valar and Ainur's Relocation to Aman, Valinor
During Tulkas’s wedding where all the Valar and the Maiar were celebrating, Melkor infiltrates into Almaren and destroys both Illuin and Ormal.
The destruction of the Two Lamps of the Valar caused a great cataclysm and the once unified continent Almaren would split into several pieces. Even though the Valars were furious, they couldn’t afford to search for Melkor for punishment as the aftershocks of the cataclysm shook the whole Arda.
The Valars had to flee to the west piece of the continent that broke off called Aman. After the Valar and the ainur relocated to Aman, the center of Aman was called Valinor that means “Lands of the Valar”.
Valinor becomes the most important land for the elves and the Ainur and referred as the heaven during the Legendairum.
Year of the Trees
Creation of Telperion and Laurelin The Two Trees of Valinor
After the Two Lamps of the Valar Illuin and Ormal were destroyed, by Yavanna created the Two Trees of Valinor, the Silver (White) Tree Telperion and the Gold Tree Laurelin that would mark the start of the Years of the Trees.
The Valar Orome searches for Melkor at Middle Earth while he also attempted to go hunting. Melkor creates the Misty Mountains to conceal himself from Orome and goes into sleep. Orome was a Valar that would frequently visit Middle-Earth and even become the first Valar the elves would encounter.
Creation of the dwarves and the Ents
Aule creates the dwarves while Yavanna creates the ents so the dwarves wouldn’t harm the forests. Iluvatar would accept the dwarves, however Illuvatar puts the dwarves into sleep only to awake after the elves would wake up first. Melkor rises from his sleep and starts building up his forces.
The Valar has sensed that the awakening of the first children of Iluvatar, the elves was imminent and starts discussion of how to protect the elves from Melkor.
Awakening of the elves
From the far east of Middle Earth, the first elves have awaken form a land called Cuivienen(Cuiviénen) The elves didn’t awake all at once and elves awaken time by time that would distinguish the type of elf later on. The first elf group to awaken were called the Vanyar which was led by the Vanyar elf king Ingwe.
The second group to awake was called the Noldor and led by the Noldor king Finwe. The third group of the elves that has awaken were called the Lindar led by the elf Elwe.
These elves were referred as the Eldar and Eldar became the equivalent term for Elf. Although there were more elves that have awaken, these elves chose not to travel from Cuivienen, thus didn’t take the Great Journey to Valinor. These elves were called the Avari and the Avari didn’t interfere with the history of the Legendarium much.
Melkor harassment on the elves
Before the Valars knew of the awakening of the elves at Cuivienen, Melkor was the first to notice the awakening of the elves. While the elves were awed at the starts of the night created by Varda, Melkor would attack the elves with his servants and even kidnapped some of the elves and tortured them at his fortress. Legends say that the elves kidnapped and twisted by Melkor became the first elves.
However, the concept that the orcs were created by the torture of the elves wasn’t officially recognized nor approved by J.R.R. Tolkien and his son Christopher Tolkien.
Yet the theory that the origins of orcs is the corrupted and tortured elves by Melkor has became one of the most known theories for the origins of orcs. Saruman refers this theory of the origin of rocs during Lord of the Rings The Two Towers to the Uruk-hai chieftain(Lurtz, movie original character)
Discovery of the elves by Orome
Orome unlike the other Valars enjoyed hunting and visited the Middle Earth often. Orome then discovers the elves when he was wandering Middle Earth.
The elves who were harassed by Melkor first feared Orome but starts to entrust Orome after Orome has taught knowledge to the elves. Orome would call the elves the Eldar that means “People of the Star”.
The elves after befriending Orome, they would confess on the attacks by Melkor on the elves and requested help.
Orome after witnessing the awakening of the elves and hearing reports of the attacks by Melkor reported to Valinor to both inform that the first children of Iluvatar has awaken and that Melkor has already started his attack on the elves.
