in the
First Age. The Elves awoke at Cuiviénen, on the Sea of
Helcar (right) in
Middle-earth, and many of them (green titles for kindreds) migrated (arrows) westwards to
Valinor in Aman, though some stopped in
Beleriand (top), and others returned to Beleriand later (red arrows). Those who obeyed the summons to Aman were known as the Eldar; the rest, the Avari or refusers. Those who saw the light of the Two Trees of Valinor in the blessed land of Aman were called Calaquendi, Elves of Light; those who did not were called the Moriquendi, Elves of Darkness. Locations are diagrammatic. Those who came to the shores of the Great Sea of
Belegaer but decided to stay there, or who arrived too late to be ferried, were called the
Falathrim (
People of the Shore). They were ruled by Círdan the Shipwright. Those who reached Aman were called
Amanyar Teleri; they were also called the Falmari, the
People of the Waves, expert with ships and the sea.
Nandor Those of the Teleri who refused to cross the
Misty Mountains and stayed in the valley of
Anduin were called the Nandor (
Those [Elves] who turn back). "Laiquendi" was the term in Quenya, while the Sindarin version was "Laegrim". They settled in Ossiriand, an eastern region of Beleriand, and were famous for their singing. Hearing of the peaceful territories of King Thingol, Denethor, son of Lenwë, collected as many of his scattered people as he could and finally ventured westward over the Ered Luin into Ossiriand. Although in some instances the Green-elves of Ossiriand did participate in the battles and strife concerning Morgoth (the
First Battle of Beleriand for example), they were for the most part a simple, peaceful, and reclusive people.
Vanyar The Vanyar were the fairest and most noble of the High Elves; their name means "the Fair", as they have golden hair. Their small clan was founded by Imin, the first Elf to awaken at Cuiviénen, with his wife Iminyë and their twelve companions: they broadly correspond to the Minyar. Ingwë was the Vanya Elf to travel with the Vala Oromë to Valinor, and became their king. The Vanyar spoke a dialect of Quenya called Vanyarin. Since they stayed in Valinor, they played no part in the wars in Beleriand, except for the
War of Wrath that brought an end to the region. The Sundering allowed Tolkien to explain the existence of
Norse mythology's
Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar, Dark and Light Elves. The Dark Elves, who lived underground in
Svartalfheim ("Black Elfhome"), are rehabilitated by Tolkien as his Moriquendi. The Light Elves lived in
Alfheim ("Elfhome") and correspond to his Calaquendi.
Noldorin Exiles Most of the Noldor returned with
Fëanor to Beleriand in Middle-earth before the raising of the Sun. Fëanor, however, sailed in haste in ships stolen from the (Telerin) Falmari. The Falmari resisted, and Fëanor's Noldor fought and killed them in the First Kinslaying, a battle of Elves upon Elves. In addition, Fëanor left behind his half-brother
Fingolfin's Noldor, who also wanted to return. Fingolfin, furious, was obliged to make the perilous journey on foot via the Helcaraxë, the Grinding Ice of the far north. These groups of Noldor became known as the Exiles. In Beleriand they became divided by their place of dwelling, namely
Hithlum,
Gondolin,
Dorthonion,
Nargothrond and the
March of Maedhros.
Merging of Noldor and Sindar After the War of Wrath that ended the First Age, the greater part of the surviving Noldor and Sindar (mostly mingled into a single people) returned into the West to dwell in
Tol Eressëa. The rest remained in Middle-earth throughout the
Second and
Third Ages, entering the realm of
Mirkwood of the Wood Elves or establishing the kingdoms of
Lindon,
Eregion,
Lothlórien and
Rivendell. == Sundering of the Avari ==