The New Notion Club Archives
Register
Advertisement
The New Notion Club Archives
Barangils

Lakemen2


Dominions
Languages
Height of average adult
Between 5' and 6'
Average Lifespan
50-100 Years
Renowned individuals

Black Men or Barangils (from S. Baranchil, "Dark descendant"?; or Sindarinized Na. "the many-skilled"?) was a common term in Gondor to describe the dark-skinned peoples of southern Middle-earth, especially those of Far Harad and the Utter South. While some scholars saw these black men as Haradrim and called them "Southern Haradrim", "Black Haradrim", or "Far Haradrim", others considered them a culture of their own, separate from those tribes of (known) Haradwaith.

Orient43

Barangils in Far Harad

Other Westron-speaking peoples - such as the Hobbits - also called them by the pejorative term "Swertings". Elves knew them as "Sun-dwellers" (Q. Urimardor).

History[]

The Black Men were believed to be descendants of the Asrabi. One Asrabi group, the Narnerim, were a number of diverse tribes that had entered the Southlands in the First Age, after escaping the Battle of Palisor. Of those were the Haruzani or northern Haradrim, the Apysani or southern Haradrim, and the Moratani, a number of tribes that entered the savannahs and dark forests of the south. The latter became the ancestors of the Mûmakani, Kirani, and Sharaeki, but especially in the Far Harad, the Apysani and Black Men intermingled and evolved into many mixed peoples and tribes. Among these the Adena, Sederi, and Tantûraki were deeply influenced by Númenórean culture, for their realms emerged from former colonies of the Men of Westernesse.Another such culture, the Kirani, had befriended Avari of the Utter South and developed into a culture of elf-friends. Others came under the Shadow, such as the men of Maûmakanar who were seduced by the Nazgûl Indûr Dawndeath; many other peoples and tribes however hid in the deep forests and mountains and maintained their own ancient ways.

Family Tree of the Moredain[]

Asrabi

Black peoples outside Harad[]

The Ts'dan, K'prur, Zurghîr, and Yôpi were also of Narnerim descent and close relatives of the Moredain of the Southlands, probably descendants of groups who had left the Narnerim during their great migration.

190px-Haradrim

A Mahûd Chieftain

The origin of the Old Ones of Southernesse remains unsolved, though their origin doubtlessly also lies in Hildorien.

Barangils of renown[]

Agoth Jí Amâv Amâv Apyssan Arcil Arig Busaah Calin Wip Cluth Daroc Del Imat Derei Epef Eshapar Es-amu Esfur Ferit Klorin Geel Harngorin Hasabb Hembur Smep Hylee Hyris Jí Indûr Ikûr K'ala Karaag kerrek Latrock Ló-desmic Lomiran Lomkuran Loris L'rana Malezar Min Oturna Muhad Mûmathûmûr Muthanna Nákhi Ne-baraca Ne-eslem Ne-ula Ne-wull Numa Orcir R'chaka Ricenaris Sancalis Slûcrac Trogdor Ulcathur Ulfacs Ulrith Ulugu Umbin Swê Urlaca Uthmag Wimbur Yazan Zathâm

Notes[]

  • The term "Barangil" only appears on early maps for The Lord of the Rings. It is uncertain if it was intended to represent an indigenous name or a Sindarin form (or maybe a "Sindarinized" indigenous term).
  • The Mahûd of the movie trilogy seem to be based on the Black Men who took part in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
  • the Ts'dan, K'prur, and Yôpi-cultures might be loosely inspired by the real-world Dravidian peoples.
  • The Middle-earth Minecraft Project uses a number of Far Haradan cultures including the Morwaith, Pertorogwaith, Taurethrim, Limwaith, and Cerinrim.
Advertisement