Character of the Month: Ulfang & Uldor

Character of the Month - Ulfang and Uldor by Himring - banner shows blue mountains in mist receding into the distance

Ulfang and his son Uldor are notorious in the legendarium as two of the family of Mortal Men upon whose betrayal at the Battle of Unnumbered Tears the defeat of the Noldor and their allies seems to hinge. For this month's Character of the Month, Himring explores what we know of these two characters. What led to the betrayal? Who knew about it and when?

As is typical for the legendarium—especially the Silmarillion materials—the stories of Ulfang and Uldor raise questions as well. There is the ever-present matter of race in the legendarium, and Tolkien's casting of the treacherous Ulfang and Uldor as Easterlings. But there is (again in typical Tolkien fashion!) the matter of names too: Namely, why these characters have names suggesting negativity and betrayal.

You can read Himring's biography of Ulfang and Uldor here.

Posted on 2 November 2022 (updated 17 December 2022) by SWG Moderators