[Legendarium, The Silmarillion] – Background Information Lord of the Rings – The three houses of the Edain House Beor, House Hador, House Harleth, Maeglin and Gondolin
Years of the Sun – First Age
Humans first step into Beleriand, House Beor
Balan who would later change his name into Beor and become the founder of House Beor leads his men and becomes the first humans to take foot at Beleriand after crossing the Blue Mountains.
Balan and his people migrated from the east away from the humans that Melkor and Sauron had already corrupted in search of the lands where there was no pain and disease that refers to Valinor.
Finrod the king of Nargothrond was hunting at Ossiriand which was located at the far east of Beleriand and populated by the Green Elves. Finrod then meets the humans by chance and becomes the first elf to encounter humans as he meets Balan and his people.
The green elves didn’t welcome the humans as much as Finrod and Finrod would bring the humans to Estolad which was located right next to Doriath.
Balan would change his name into Beor which means servant and decides to serve Finrod as Finrod returned to Nargothrond. Balan’s eldest son Baran would lead the humans to Estolad and Balan(Beor)and Baran’s people were now referred to House of Beor.
Barahir, the first owner of the ring if Barahir that appears as a symbol of the Gondor king’s bloodline in Lord of the Rings and Beren were important figures of House Beor
Second group of Humans arrive at Beleriand – House of Haleth
The second group of humans led by Haldad arrive at Beleriand and they scattered upon the lands of Thargelion which was led by Noldor elf lord Carnistir, one of Feanor’s son. Later on, these people would become the house of Haleth, another house of the three Edain houses.
Third group of Humans arrive at Beleriand – House of Hador
The last third group of humans led by a man named Marach would arrive at Ossiriand, however the green elves didn’t allow passage.
The people of Marach would take place southeast of Estolad where the humans of House Beor resided. Marach’s son Malach would take some of the people and head north into Hithlum and serve the Noldor king Fingolfin.
Later the descendants of Marach and Malach would be named House Hador, after Hador, a descendant of Marach would receive the Dragon-helm of Dor-lomin from Fingolfin.
Many humans from House Hador contributes to the history of the Legendarium such as Hurin and Turin that were the main characters for The Children of Hurin(The Children of Húrin), Huor and the main character of the Fall of Gondolin and the father of Earendil, Tuor.
Aredhel and Eol, the birth of Maeglin
Aredhel was the only daughter of the Noldor king Fingolfin and the youngest sister of Turgon and Fingon. After Turgon secretly build the kingdom of Gondolin, Aredhel felt sick of being locked up in Gondolin and journeys to meet Fingon while Turgon tried to convince her to stay as Turgon had terrible visions of the journey of Aredhel.
Thingol of Doriath didn’t allow the passage of Aredhel as she was a Noldor elf that was responsible for the 1st Kinslaying of the Falmari elves that were relatives of Thingol.
During her journey, an Avari elf Eol discovered Aredhel and he cast magic so Aredhel couldn’t escape the forest that she had entered. Aredhel had to stay at the house of Eol and Eol was able to marry Aredhel. Eol and Aredhel would have a son named Maeglin who would also cause a shocking event of the Legendarium.
Eol was an Avari elf who has never saw the light of the trees of Valinor and even avoided the sun. Eol also despised the Noldor elves and didn’t want his son to be influenced by the Noldor elf culture. Never did anyone know that this would cause such a tragedy.
Morgoth's discovery of the Edian in Beleriand & Battle of the Gelion-Ascar Stockad and House Haleth
Morgoth has seduced and brainwashed most of the humans in the east of Middle earth. Morgoth was satisfied that the second children of iluvatar have all been corrupted and fallen into his hands as servants and slaves.
However, Morgoth have later discovered that some groups of men that would be referred as the Edain as the only humans that helped the elves fight against Morgoth took foot into Beleriand.
Angband was still under siege by the elves, however Morgoth would send orcs to bypass from the east and far south to attack the second human group that arrived at Beleriand led by Haldad(House of Haleth).
This clash between the orcs and the humans was called the Battle of the Belion-Ascar Stockad. Haldad and his son Haldar were both killed in action by the orcs during the Battle of the Belion-Ascar Stockad.
However Haldar’s twin sister, daughter of Haldad, Haleth(Haleth is female yes) took command and her people were able to resist the orc invasion for a week.
Caranthir, the Noldor lord of Thargelion and his forces arrived as reinforcements after hearing that Morgoth’s forces tried to detour the siege of Angband. The orcs were defeated and Caranthir was impressed by the courage of Haleth and her people and called her people the House of Haleth.
Caranthir offered land to Haleth, however Haleth refuses and heads west closer to Doriath.
Aredhel and Maeglin's return to Gondolin, Death of Eol and Aredhel
Maeglin was always interested in his maternal bloodline the Noldor elves which his father Eol has despised. Also, Maeglin was aware that the lord of Gondolin Turgon didn’t have a son and only had a daughter named Idril. Maeglin was aware that an heir for Gondolin didn’t exist and he started to even covet the title as lord of Gondolin.
Eol was a craftsman who frequently met with the dwarves and he was hostile to Maeglin’s yen on the Noldor elves. Maeglin and Eol clashed often because of Maeglin’s ambitions as a Noldor elf. One day when Eol was meeting with the dwarves, Maeglin convinces his mother Aredhel to find Gondolin.
Maeglin and Aredhel would arrive at Gondolin which Turgon, the brother of Aredhel greeted as Turgon though his sister was long missing. However, Eol arrived early at home and noticed that his wife Aredhel and son Maeglin headed to Gondolin.
Eol manages to find Gondolin and confronts Aredhel and Maeglin. Turgon politely asked Eol to live in Gondolin as he couldn’t risk the exposure of the location of Gondolin, however Eol went mad and insists on leaving Gondolin with Aredhel and Maeglin.
During this argument, Eol threw a spear with poison to Maeglin but Aredhel took the shot and Aredhel was killed.
Turgon lost his sister Aredhel and the next day sentenced Eol to death. Eol cursed Turgon that Turgon shall also face a devastating fate while he was pushed off the cliffs as a death sentence.
Maeglin would stay under Turgon’s care, however the tragedy of Gondolin already begun as Maeglin fell in love with Turgon’s daughter Idril who was also a cousin of Maeglin.
Men and the Noldor Elves and Thingol of Doriath
Many of the Noldor elves especially those from House of Feanor have received the assistance of elves in warding off the sporadic attacks by the forces of Morgoth.
Many of the Noldor elves would offer land and accept the service of humans. Hador who was a descendant of Marach the one who led the third group of people to Beleriand was born and he pledged his service to Fingolfin.
Fingolfin would call Hador and his people the Edain of House Hador after Hador’s name. Thingol, the king of Doriath was unsatisfied with the Noldor elves acting as the owner of the lands of Middle Earth due to the grudge he still had with the 1st Kinslaying of the elves.
Thingol especially held disgust against the descendants of House of Fenaor. However, the humans of House of Haleth have also offered service to Thingol and Thingol would allow the House of Haleth and their people to reside at the Forest of Brethil on condition that the House of Haleth would protect the forest of Brethil.
