Manwë

( Manwe )

Sùlimo.

Manwë and Melkor were the first and greatest of the Ainur and they were brothers in Eru`s mind. However, Manwë was dearest to Eru. Manwë is also called Sùlimo " Lord of Ardas breathing". Manwë is the Lord of the Gods and Prince of the Airs and Winds and because he understand most clearly the purpose of Ilùvatar, he was appointed to be the first of all Kings, Lord of the Realm of Arda. Aule with the help of Tulkas and Yavanna built the Halls of Manwë upon Taniquetil. The mighty Eagles are his messengers and at his command they fly to and from Oiolosse / Ellerina taking and bringing news. The earthly raiment of Manwë is blue, and blue is the fire of his eyes and his sceptre is of sapphires. He is the King in the World of Gods, Elves and Men and the chief defender against Melkor. By Manwës side is Varda and when she stands by his side at the top of Taniquetils he see further than anybody else through mist and dark and across the endless sea. At the top of Taniquetils is the abode of Manwë and Varda. It is built in blue and white marble and the roof is spangled with stars which Varda sat therein.

Valian Years ( V.Y.) 0 - 3450.

V.Y 0 - 1500. Uncounted years filled with labouring had gone by in the timeless ages before the Gods descended into the world in the year 0. But Melkor contested the overlordship of Manwë and strife was in the world. Manwë summoned help and among those who heard was Tulkas who came to the aid. Before his angry face Melkor fled out into Eä.

1500 - 1900. Now the Gods planned and schemed and ordered. And for all the seeds Yavanna had planted, Aulë made two great lamps, Ormal and Illuin to light the earth and these were set in 1900 upon Helkar and Ringil.

V.Y. 1900 - 3450. Now began the Spring of Arda. The Gods settled at Almaren and the world came to life, threes and beasts swelled the earth. But Melkor, however, saw it from the outside of the Wall of Things and grew hot with envy, when he heard it from his spies ( Sauron the chiefest of them ) who were already among the Gods. Manwë had called for a great feast and while the Gods were afterwards resting, Melkor crept over the Wall and entered Arda in the North. He assailed the Lamps and overthrew them and the blossom of the earth was checked.

Related Links.: Battles: War of the shaping Arda. Misc.: Making of the Lamps.

V.Y.3450 - V.Y.3500. The Gods departed to Aman, where Aulë deemed the plains of Valinor a good place to build their new home. A great labour now began for the Gods.

Now began the Valian Years of the Trees. ( V.Y.t ) and a new reckoning of time.

In the V.Y.t 0. The two trees Silpion and Laurelin came into being and in the delicious light upon Valinor Aulë began many new tasks.

V.Y.t 0 - 1000. This was the Noontide of Valinor though Middle-earth was still in darkness and only Oromë and Yavanna came there at times. The stewardship of Middle-earth was partly neglected and Melkor ruled there with violence, save for the times when Oromë hunted there. At the prayer of Yavanna, Varda began the second setting of stars for the awakening of the Elves,

V.Y.t.1090 - 1092. Manwë took council in his heart and with Iluvathar and summoned the Gods. He declared to them his thoughts and the Gods decided to capture Melkor.

V.Y.t. 1092 - 1100. The Gods set a guard around Cuivinien and went to war. They made Melkor captive and brought him to Valinor where he was doomed before the feet of Manwë to serve 3 ages in the fastness of Mandos.

Related Links.: War of the Gods.

V.Y.t 1133. Arrival of the Vanyar and Noldor-Elves in Aman.

V.Y.t 1219 Manwë unhappily granted the prayer of Mìriel. She then went to Lòrien and laid herself down to sleep upon a bed of flowers, where her body remains unwhithered in the care of the maidens of Estë.

V.Y.t 1400. this year Melkor sued for pardon. But against the wish of Tulkas, Oromë and Aulë, Melkor was released, but with the command to stay in Valinor

V.Y.t 1400 - 1496. The Shadow began to grow in Valinor because of Melkor`s lies, and in 1490 the truth was discovered at a council, resulting in the dispossession of Fëanor. Melkor hid in Arvelin in 1490, gathering strength and plotting evil. In 1495 Manwë sought to heal the evil that had arisen in Valinor and he declared a great feast. However, during the feast Melkor returned with Ungoliant, killed Finwë and destroyed the two Trees. Then he escaped to Middle-earth. In the year 1496 came the departure from Valinor. Fëanor departed with a great host against the advice of the Gods and the Doom of Mandos was then declared to them.

V.Y.t 1496 - 1500. These years between the killing of the Trees and the rise of the Sun and Moon were the Years of Darkness or the Years of the Darkening of Valinor. Long it has been said the Valar sat in silent thoughts, holding counsel with each other by the power of minds in the Ring of Doom. When the answer of Feanor arrived, Manwë bowed his head and wept for the loss of beauty. When he had spent his sorrow, he raised his head and bade Yavanna and Nienna to put forth all their powers of healing. Through the uttermost of their strength and power, Telperion and Laurelin each bore one a single fruit, which became the Sun and Moon. Furthermore, Manwë sent forth the great race of eagles to watch and bring news to him about Melkor and the Elves, for whom he had pity and held dear.

Related Links.: Misc : Creation of the Sun and Moon. Battles : Kinslaying at Aqualondë.

First Age.

The First age is counted from the rising of the Sun. This happened at the very same time as Fingolfin and his host arrived in Mithrim after the crossing of the Grinding ice.

As the Sun and Moon were set in their course and the new light was upon Middle-earth, Melkor was at first confounded by the new stroke of the Valar, He hated it. He, therefore, decided to assail Tilion, though he dared not come close to Arien. Although the assault upon Tilion was unsuccessful, the Valar remembered the ruin of Almaren in the War of the shaping of Arda. This gave them resolve to never let this befall Valinor. They rose the Pelori to dreadful heights and in the Shadowy Sea were set the Enchanted Isles. Thus the Hiding of Valinor came to be.

( From the earliest tales ) At the Hiding of Valinor, upon which Manwë saw with sorrow, he bid Lórien and Oromë to device a way to take in safety and secrecy to the blessed land the Valar, the Elves and human spirits. Lórien devised Olórë Malle and Oromë Ilwerin.

In F.A.466. Manwë was sought by Mandos, who asked his advise about Luthien. Manwë sought counsel in his innermost thoughts, and the will of Eru Iluvatar was revealed to him.

F.A. 533. This year Earendil arrived in Aman and was brought before the Valar, to whom he delivered his errand on the behalf of the two kindreds. The end of First Age came with the cessation of the War of the Wrath in the year 597. ( This is, according to the Annals of Beleriand, the year when the Herald of Manwë; Eonwe, returned to Aman after the defeat of Melkor. To the Humans who had been faithful was granted a land far to the West later known as Numenore. )

Related Links.: Battles.: War of Wrath.

Second Age.

The End of the Second Age came by with Manwë`s counsel with Eru. When Ar-Pharazon, the last King of Numenore, was finally persuaded by Sauron to assail Aman and the fleet of Numenore reached the shores of Aman and thunderbolts and fire smote the land, the Gods first were silent in sorrow and dismay. But at last Manwë spoke to Iluvatar and took counsel and power from the Lord of All and the fate and fasion of the world was changed.

Related links.: Battles.: Fall of Numenore.

Third Age.

Sometime between the end of the Second Age and the year 1000 in the Third Age of Middle-Earth, Manwë summons the Valar for a council ( maybe by advice of Eru ) to decide how to strengthen the contest against Sauron in Middle-Earth. The Order of the Istari was created and the Maiar chosen. When this happened, it is nowhere told, but the Istari or Wizards appeared in Middle-Earth around the T.A.1000 - 1100. Olòrin was specifically pointed out by Manwë and ordered to go to Middle-Earth.

Related links.: Misc.: The Istari. Encyc.:Of Manwe.