Sorry for being out for so long. But I have a question for those with the resources to check:
Who, exactly, fought in the Great Battle, the War of Wrath?
According to my copies of the Silmarillion:
Quote:
But the host of the Valar prepared for battle; and beneath their white banners marched the Vanyar, the people of Ingwe, and also those of the Noldor who never departed from Valinor, whose leader was Finarfin the son of Finwe. Few of the Teleri were willing to go forth to war, for they remembered the slaying at the Swanhaven, and the rape of their ships; but they hearkened to Elwing, who was the daughter of Dior Eluchil and come of their own kindred, and they sent mariners enough to sail the ships that bore the host of Valinor east over the sea. Yet they stayed aboard their vessels, and none of them set foot upon the Hither Lands.
Of the march of the host of the Valar to the north of Middle-earth little is said in any tale; for among them went none of those Elves who had dwelt and suffered in the Hither Lands, and who had made the histories of those days that are still known...But at the last the might of Valinor came up out of the West, and the challenge of the trumpets of Eonwe filled the sky; and Beleriand was ablaze with the glory of their arms, for the host of the Valar were arrayed in forns young and fair and terrible, and the mountains rang beneath their feet.
But the host of the Valar prepared for battle; and beneath their white banners marched the Vanyar, the people of Ingwe, and also those of the Noldor who never departed from Valinor, whose leader was Finarfin the son of Finwe. Few of the Teleri were willing to go forth to war, for they remembered the slaying at the Swanhaven, and the rape of their ships; but they hearkened to Elwing, who was the daughter of Dior Eluchil and come of their own kindred, and they sent mariners enough to sail the ships that bore the host of Valinor east over the sea. Yet they stayed aboard their vessels, and none of them set foot upon the Hither Lands.
Of the march of the host of the Valar to the north of Middle-earth little is said in any tale; for among them went none of those Elves who had dwelt and suffered in the Hither Lands, and who had made the histories of those days that are still known...But at the last the might of Valinor came up out of the West, and the challenge of the trumpets of Eonwe filled the sky; and Beleriand was ablaze with the glory of their arms, for the host of the Valar were arrayed in forns young and fair and terrible, and the mountains rang beneath their feet.
Further, it states in the Unfinished Tales that to the downfall of Melkor, Manwe sent his herald Eonwe; but it doesn't say whether Tulkas and Orome were there to lead the host, as they fought in the precious wars between the Powers. Did Eonwe lead the host? And if Eonwe was there, were there any other Maiar with him? It's implied that there were, since they were "arrayed in forms young and fair and terrible", and the Maiar were able to incarnate themselves in different forms. Or was Morgoth's power so depleted and dispersed that one Maia and various Elves were able to defeat him and all his hosts of orcs and balrogs and trolls and ground-dragons?
I would like to believe that Aule and Ulmo, as well as Osse and Uinen, were involved in the battle as well; their involvement would help to explain the sinking of Beleriand.
As always, I look forward to the responses to this thread. Thanks!
