Ettenmoors
The Ettenmoors were a high barren region that lay on the western side of the Misty Mountains north of Rivendell and south of Angmar. The river Hoarwell flowed from its sources in the Ettenmoors to the southwest.
The Ettenmoors were also called the troll-fells, probably because the region was inhabited by Trolls. The Ettenmoors included the land of the Ettendales, which consisted of valleys reaching up into the foothills of the Misty Mountains.
The realm of Rhudaur lay between the Ettenmoors in the north and the Angle between the rivers Hoarwell and Loudwater in the south. It is speculated that Mount Gram, from where a host of Orcs attacked the Shire, was located in the Ettenmoors.
History
Since the Elder Days, Trolls concentrated especially around the Ettenmoors, and they increased during the rule of Angmar, that was founded in the north.
In Second Age 3320 when the realm of Arnor was founded by the Dúnedain, the Ettenmoors probably became part of Arnor.
When the kingdom of Arnor split into three successor kingdoms after the death of King Eärendur in Third Age 861, the Ettenmoors probably became a part of the kingdom of Rhudaur.
In Third Age 1975 after his defeat in the Battle of Fornost the Witch-king of Angmar fled with the remains of his troops to the north to reach his realm of Angmar and the shelter of Carn Dûm, but was pursued to the Ettenmoors where he was overtaken by the cavalry of Gondor and a force from Rivendell led by Glorfindel. After the fall of Angmar, the Trolls retreated to the east of the Misty Mountains but returned in the 28th century and even expanded westwards as far as the North Downs.
It is possible that Chieftain Arador was slain by trolls in this area in Third Age 2930.
Around November or December Third Age 3018, scouts from Rivendell investigated the Ettenmoors for any activities concerning Ringwraiths or other servants of Sauron, but they came with no warning news.
In October Third Age 3018 Gandalf after his battle with the Ringwraiths at Weathertop Gandalf fled riding on Shadowfax to the north in the hope of drawing off some of the Ringwraiths. He had to send Shadowfax away in the Ettenmoors, because he was not able to ride among the rocks there.
Etymology
Other versions of the legendarium
In the "first phase" of The Fellowship of the Ring, map sketches label the source of Hoarwell as Dimrill Dale(s), but when the name was displaced, the region was renamed Hoardale, changed to "Entish Dales" or "Entish Lands". This was before J.R.R. Tolkien conceived the Ents of The Two Towers and the adjective "entish" directly refers to Old English eōten "giant" (see also Etymology section).
Later Tolkien decided to change it into "Trollfells" (capitalized without a hyphen): he wrote on a map: "Alter Entish Lands to [Trollfells > Bergrisland >] Ettenmoor". This is also the first mention of Ettenmoor(s) in the legendarium.
Inspiration
The name Ettenmoors is similar to the land of Ettinsmoor of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. In The Silver Chair Lewis mentions that it is inhabited by Ettins, giants who often play the game of Cockshies, throwing rocks at a gorge, much like the stone giants in The Hobbit.
Portrayal in adaptations
The Ettenmoors in adaptations
2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:
A card from The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game identifies one of locations in which Arwen evaded the Nazgûl as the Ettenmoors.
2002-5: The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game:
The Ettenmoors are the homeland of the Ettens who resemble Hill-trolls, but they possess "not one but two long heads".
2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:
The Ettenmoors is the region where Player vs Monster Player play takes place, pitting the "Army of Angmar" against the "Coldfells Army" of the Free Peoples. The two factions each have a home base which cannot be entered by the opposing side and a secondary base which can be assailed but not captured. Between them are five major control points: the keeps of "Lugazag", "Tirith Rhaw", and "Tol Ascarnen", the "Isendeep Mine", and "Grimwood Lumber Camp"; as well as several smaller outposts, all of which can be captured by either side.
Other sites of interest include the Hobbit village "Hoarhallow", its Goblin counterpart, "Grothum", as well as dens of bears, eagles, drakes, Wargs, and other beasts that align with one side or are hostile to all.
Referencias
1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 25/05/2026.
