Troll-man
Encyclopedia
The troll-men of Far Harad
are a fictional race (or a subset of a race) from J. R. R. Tolkien
's epic fantasy book, The Lord of the Rings
.
In the third volume, The Return of the King
, Tolkien makes a passing reference to "black men like half-trolls" fighting in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields
:
"...Easterlings
with axes, and Variags of Khand, Southrons in scarlet, and out of Far Harad black men like half-trolls with white eyes and red tongues."
He later mentions "troll-men" as being amongst those driven off by the knights of Dol Amroth
.
"...East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them: troll-men and Variags and orcs
that hated the sunlight."
It is commonly assumed by readers that these two references apply to the same group, though there are of course exceptions. There is disagreement on whether they were just large Men
who are being compared to Trolls
, and thus another group of Southrons (Haradrim), or some sort of crossbreed between the two races. Supporters of the latter interpretation point to the similar terms "half-orcs" and "goblin-men", appearing in the same book (chiefly in the second volume, The Two Towers
), and "Orc-men" and "Man-orcs", appearing in later writings (published in Morgoth's Ring
) — all applied to the products of Sauron and Saruman
's Orc-Man breeding programs. (The interpretation of these terms as referring to specific "breeds", especially with the Uruk-hai
, who had Mannish blood, is another source of disagreement.)
, the Half-Trolls are "Mahûd men" of Far Harad who were altered to the size and strength of the Olog-hai of Sauron
. During the end of the Third Age
, when Sauron was destroyed, their powers diminished and they too fell into darkness. This information is not canonical.
In The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
, the Goblin faction has the option to build Half Troll Marauders. In a later expansion pack Half Troll Swordsmen were also made available. This information is also not canonical.
In the Middle-earth Role Playing
Game, the Half-Trolls are crossbreeds of Trolls and Southrons or Variags while the darker more southern Haradrim are a separate mannish sub-group. This information is as well not canonical.
have the tallest avarage height among humans. This could have been the influence behind troll-men, althouh Tolkien never acknowledged that.
Harad
In J. R. R. Tolkien's epic fantasy legendarium, Harad was the name for the immense lands south of Gondor and Mordor. Called Haradwaith from the people who lived there, it literally means "South-folk", from the Sindarin harad, "South" and gwaith, "people"...
are a fictional race (or a subset of a race) from J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's epic fantasy book, The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
.
In the third volume, The Return of the King
The Return of the King
The Return of the King is the third and final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, following The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers.-Title:...
, Tolkien makes a passing reference to "black men like half-trolls" fighting in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields
Battle of the Pelennor Fields
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy fiction, the Battle of Pelennor Fields is the battle for the city of Minas Tirith between the forces of Gondor and its allies, and the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron...
:
"...Easterlings
Easterlings
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, "Easterling" and "Easterlings" were generic terms for Men who lived in the east of Middle-earth, who mostly fought under Morgoth and Sauron, not directly but rather on behalf of their own High Lord....
with axes, and Variags of Khand, Southrons in scarlet, and out of Far Harad black men like half-trolls with white eyes and red tongues."
He later mentions "troll-men" as being amongst those driven off by the knights of Dol Amroth
Dol Amroth
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Dol Amroth was a hill along the coast of Gondor, on a peninsula on the Bay of Belfalas; and also the city that grew up there, mainly in the Third Age as the seat of the principality of the same name. The Prince of Dol Amroth was one of the principal subjects of...
.
"...East rode the knights of Dol Amroth driving the enemy before them: troll-men and Variags and orcs
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
that hated the sunlight."
It is commonly assumed by readers that these two references apply to the same group, though there are of course exceptions. There is disagreement on whether they were just large Men
Man (Middle-earth)
The race of Men in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth books, such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, refers to humanity and does not denote gender...
who are being compared to Trolls
Troll (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Trolls are large humanoids of great strength and poor intellect.While in Norse mythology, the Troll was a magical creature with special skills, in Tolkien's writings they are portrayed as evil, stupid, with crude habits, although still intelligent enough to...
, and thus another group of Southrons (Haradrim), or some sort of crossbreed between the two races. Supporters of the latter interpretation point to the similar terms "half-orcs" and "goblin-men", appearing in the same book (chiefly in the second volume, The Two Towers
The Two Towers
The Two Towers is the second volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. It is preceded by The Fellowship of the Ring and followed by The Return of the King.-Title:...
), and "Orc-men" and "Man-orcs", appearing in later writings (published in Morgoth's Ring
Morgoth's Ring
Morgoth's Ring is the tenth volume of Christopher Tolkien's 12-volume series The History of Middle-earth in which he analyses the unpublished manuscripts of his father J. R. R. Tolkien. This volume, along with the subsequent The War of the Jewels, provides detailed writings and editorial commentary...
) — all applied to the products of Sauron and Saruman
Saruman
Saruman the White is a fictional character and a major antagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. He is leader of the Istari, wizards sent to Middle-earth in human form by the godlike Valar to challenge Sauron, the main antagonist of the tale, but later on aims at gaining...
's Orc-Man breeding programs. (The interpretation of these terms as referring to specific "breeds", especially with the Uruk-hai
Uruk-hai
The Uruk-hai are fictional characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth. They are introduced in The Lord of the Rings as an advanced breed or breeds of Orcs that serve Sauron and Saruman...
, who had Mannish blood, is another source of disagreement.)
In other media
In The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle GameThe Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game
The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game , and often referred to by players as Lord of the Rings, is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop . It is based on The Lord of the Rings film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson, and the book that inspired it, written by J. R. R...
, the Half-Trolls are "Mahûd men" of Far Harad who were altered to the size and strength of the Olog-hai of Sauron
Sauron
Sauron is the primary antagonist and titular character of the epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien.In the same work, he is revealed to be the same character as "the Necromancer" from Tolkien's earlier novel The Hobbit...
. During the end of the Third Age
Third Age
The Third Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. The history of Middle-earth is to be taken fictionally as a history of the real Earth....
, when Sauron was destroyed, their powers diminished and they too fell into darkness. This information is not canonical.
In The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II, abbreviated BFMEII, is a real-time strategy video game developed and published by Electronic Arts. It is based on the fantasy novels The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien and its live-action film trilogy adaptation...
, the Goblin faction has the option to build Half Troll Marauders. In a later expansion pack Half Troll Swordsmen were also made available. This information is also not canonical.
In the Middle-earth Role Playing
Middle-earth Role Playing
Middle-earth Role Playing is a 1984 role-playing game based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien under license from Tolkien Enterprises. Iron Crown Enterprises published the game until they lost the license on 22 Sep 1999.-Setting:The setting for MERP is an expanded version of J. R. R...
Game, the Half-Trolls are crossbreeds of Trolls and Southrons or Variags while the darker more southern Haradrim are a separate mannish sub-group. This information is as well not canonical.
Real life influence
Some argue that troll-men are an analogue for african people, having black skin and hailing from the south. Some of the ethnic groups in Africa such as the MassaisMassais
Massais is a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France.-References:*...
have the tallest avarage height among humans. This could have been the influence behind troll-men, althouh Tolkien never acknowledged that.