Moriquendi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the Moriquendi (the Elves of Darkness, singular Moriquende) are, in essence, the Elves that either did not join or forsook the Great Journey over the sea and therefore never beheld the light of the Two Trees in Valinor (this includes the Avari, Sindar and Nandor). They lingered on the shores of Middle-earth or, indeed, never passed the Blue Mountains on the east of Beleriand or the Misty Mountains further to the east. Those Moriquendi who originally started on the journey but for some reason did not finish it are known as the Úmanyar, "Those not of Aman".

It is a term for Avari, Sindar, and Nandor, but in practice is only applied to the Avari. An exception to the hierarchy of Elvish peoples is Thingol, who, though he did not complete the journey, had earlier been to Valinor and was therefore reckoned under the Calaquendi and not under the Moriquendi. Therefore, it is an insult when the sons of Fëanor refer to Thingol as Moriquendi.

"Those Elves the Calaquendi call the Úmanyar, since they came never to the land of Aman and the Blessed Realm; but the Úmanyar and the Avari alike they call the Moriquendi, Elves of the Darkness, for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon." - The Silmarillion, Chapter 3, "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"

The term "Dark Elf" in Tolkien's writing seems to hold an additional special (not explained) meaning, as it is given as a special title of Eöl of Nan Elmoth.