Princes of Rhovanion and 🐴Horses from the Vales

[ZehnWaters]

I've gotten into an argument with someone elsewhere that the reference to Gondor's armies, sent to help Arnor, containing "Princes of Rhovanion" who had "horses from the vales of Anduin" refer purely to the Éothéod. But this feels odd to me. Why not just call them riders from the Éothéod? Why bother differentiating where the horses and men were from if they're from the same people and region? To me this sounds like Tolkien is saying they're Northmen who lived east of Mirkwood, who were riding horses they got from their cousins who lived in the vales of Anduin (the Éothéod). What are your thoughts?

 

[Vardarianna]

I can't say exactly where I read it (Encyclopedia of Arda?), but in the 1200s of the Third Age the Northmen of Rhovanion established sort of a self-proclaimed kingdom under Prince Vidugavia around the time of Minalcar's regency in Gondor. They warred with the Easterlings and defeated them.

Some 500 years later however (1856 - 1899 Third Age), Vidugavia's decendant Marhari and King Narmacil II of Gondor fought the onslaught of the Easterling Wainriders and were routed, leading to King Narmacil II and Marhari's death in battle.

Marhari's son Marhwini (link is where I got this information) led a rearguard and after their defeat, led many of the northmen to the vales of the Anduin to live free, and called themselves the Éothéod. Other Northmen who remanied in Rhovanion east of Mirkwood were enslaved by the Easterling Wainriders for many long years.

The assistance Gondor sent to Arnor (Arthedain) wasn't until 1975 of the Third Age (unless I'm missing something before then), and the Éothéod coming to aid Gondor under Eorl the Young, and being gifted with the Gondorian province of Calenardhon by Steward Cirion wasn't until 2510 of the Third Age.

 

[ZehnWaters]

I can't say exactly where I read it (Encyclopedia of Arda?), but in the 1200s of the Third Age the Northmen of Rhovanion established sort of a self-proclaimed kingdom under Prince Vidugavia around the time of Minalcar's regency in Gondor. They warred with the Easterlings and defeated them.

Some 500 years later however (1856 - 1899 Third Age), Vidugavia's decendant Marhari and King Narmacil II of Gondor fought the onslaught of the Easterling Wainriders and were routed, leading to King Narmacil II and Marhari's death in battle.

Marhari's son Marhwini (link is where I got this information) led a rearguard and after their defeat, led many of the northmen to the vales of the Anduin to live free, and called themselves the Éothéod. Other Northmen who remanied in Rhovanion east of Mirkwood were enslaved by the Easterling Wainriders for many long years.

The assistance Gondor sent to Arnor (Arthedain) wasn't until 1975 of the Third Age (unless I'm missing something before then), and the Éothéod coming to aid Gondor under Eorl the Young, and being gifted with the Gondorian province of Calenardhon by Steward Cirion wasn't until 2510 of the Third Age.

Correct. But the assistance Gondor sent to Arthedain involved:
"Most of all, the horses were praised, for many of them came from the Vales of Anduin, and with them were riders tall and fair, and proud princes of Rhovanion."
So the question is, where did these "proud princes" come from? The Éothéod, or from east of Mirkwood? At this point the Wainriders had been driven out after a slave uprising and a surprise attack by Gondor. Most of the enslaved Northmen were slain as the Wainrider women, children, and old men fought back. Nevertheless, when the Balchoth came centuries later it's said they slew or drove off the Northmen who remained in Rhovanion, east of Mirkwood. So there were free Northmen there after the Wainriders, before the Balchoth, during the time Gondor sent aid to Arthedain.

 

[Vardarianna]

"... the question is, where did these "proud princes" come from? The Éothéod, or from east of Mirkwood?"

"Most of all, the horses were praised, for many of them came from the Vales of Anduin, and with them were riders tall and fair, and proud princes of Rhovanion."

By 1974-75, I'd say likely from both places. Don't see the passage saying one being mutually exclusive of the other.

 

[ZehnWaters]

By 1974-75, I'd say likely from both places. Don't see the question as one being mutually exclusive of the other.

That's ultimately what the other guy and I came to the conclusion of as well (which was after I'd posted here). Thank you for your confirmation, though. It solidifies my decision.