The Sundering of the Elves

After the Battle of the Powers, when the Valar came to Middle-earth and made war
upon Morgoth and his lieutenant Sauron and their forces, the Valar summoned the
Elves to leave the shores of Lake Cuivinen and come to live in the Undying Lands,
Aman. Not all of the Elves wanted to go, and thus began the Sundering of the Elves.
Those who remained in the eastern lands were known as the Avari, the Refusers, and
what befell them no tales tell.
The first group to journey to Aman was led by King Ingw; they have lived in the
Blessed Realm ever since, and became known as the Vanyar ("Fair Elves"). The
second group was led by King Finw. They too found their way to Aman, although
many of them later returned to Middle-earth. They became known as
the Noldor ("Wise Elves").
The third group was the Teleri ("Last-Comers"), whose name for themselves was
the Lindar ("Singers"). This was the largest host, led by King Elw. Some of them
were daunted by the Misty Mountains and would not attempt the crossing; they
remained on the eastern side along the Anduin and in the forests there that were later
known as Mirkwood and Lothlrien. They were called the Nandor, and they took
Lenw as their King. Some of the Nandor were later led by Lenw's son Denethor into
Ossiriand, the eastern part of Beleriand, and were called
the Laiquendi or Laegrim "Green-Elves".
In eastern Beleriand Elw went out alone and was drawn by the vision of Melian, a
Maia, and fell under her enchantment. Many of the Teleri remained there searching
long for their King, for they would not leave without him, and they called
themselves Eglathrim("Forsaken Ones"). After Elw returned to them and founded
Doriath, they called themselves Iathrim ("Fence-folk")
Others of the Teleri continued to the western shores of Beleriand and dwelled there a
long time, but eventually they, too were sundered. Those who departed for Aman
became known as the Falmari, the Sea Elves, and made their home at last in
Alqualond; those who remained on the shores of Beleriand became known as
the Falathrim, the Shore Elves. Crdan was their Lord, although they still held Elw
as their King.

QUENDI ~ The Elves

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ELDAR
AVARI
Elves of the Great Journey from Cuivinen
_____________________
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VANYAR
All went
to Aman
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"The Unwilling"
Elves who refused
|
the Journey
NOLDOR TELERI
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All went
_____|____________________
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to Aman
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Those who
Those who
Those who left
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went to Aman
remained in
the march east of
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Beleriand
the Misty Mtns.
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FALMARI
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|___________|__________|
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CALAQUENDI
"Elves of the Light"
(High Elves)
(They came to Aman in
the days of the Two Trees)

SINDAR

NANDOR

(Grey Elves)
|
Of whom some
went to the Shore
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(Silvan/Wood Elves)
|
Of whom some
went to Ossiriand
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FALATHRIM LAIQUENDI
(Shore Folk)
(Green Elves)
|_______________|
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______|

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MANYAR

|
Eldar who were "not of Aman"
|
|______________________|
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MORIQUENDI
"Elves of the Darkness"
(They never saw the Light of the Two Trees)
QUENYA

SINDARIN

Vanyar

ENGLISH

AKA

Beautiful Elves

Noldor

Golodhrim
Gdhellim

Wise Elves;
Deep Elves

Teleri

Telerrim

Last-comers

Falmari

Lindar "Singers"

Sea-Elves

Nandor

Danwaith

Back Ones

Laiquendi

Laegrim

Green-Elves

Sindar

Thindrim;
Edhil "Elves"

Grey-Elves

Eglath;
Egladhrim

Forsaken Ones

Denwaith, Silvan

Falathrim

Shore-People

Iathrim

Fence-Folk
(of Doriath)
The Refusers;
The Unwilling

Avari
Galadhrim

Tree-Folk

Lothlrien Elves

Tawarwaith

Wood-People;
Forest-People

Silvan Elves;
Wood-Elves