Belfalas

Belfalas is a region in southern Gondor, consisting of a large mountainous peninsula in the Bay of Belfalas.

Summary

Prior to the arrival of Númenóreans in Middle-earth, Sindar and Nandor refugees from Beleriand had established “a haven and small settlement” named Edhellond, “at the confluence of Morthond and Ringló”. There was already a primitive harbour there of fisherfolk (presumably Pre-Númenóreans), but in fear of the Eldar fled into the mountains. Edhellond would be inhabited by the Elves for well over five millennia.

During the colonial period, Belfalas was ruled by a family of the Faithful who had sailed from Númenor before the Downfall and had settled there. They also built a stronghold upon the high promontory of Dol Amroth (later named so after the last King of Lórien). This promontory was not far from Edhellond, and so there would undoubtedly have been interaction and friendship with the Elves of that region. After the Downfall, Elendil granted the lord of this family the title “Prince of Belfalas”. They ruled from Linhir, and the land between the Ciril and the hills became known as Dor-En-Ernil (the land of the Prince).

When King Ondoher led his army to face the Wainriders who threatened Gondor, Adrahil, the Prince of Belfalas, commanded the army's left wing. His kinsman (possibly son or nephew) Imrazôr wedded an Elf-maid named Mithrellas, a wandering companion of Nimrodel. She bore two children – Galador and Gimlith – and after the second, she ran away at night and was never seen again. Galador was a half-elf who decided to move the seat of the Princes of Belfalas to the old stronghold on the western coast in 2076. Given his heritage, it can be speculated that he had a desire to look upon the Great Sea and the sunset in the West. The seat was named Dol Amroth, after the king who had drowned in the bay a hundred years before. It's also worth noting that the last king of Gondor died 26 years before this happened, so there was a big political shift going on in Gondor at this time. Within the walls of Dol Amroth was the Sea-ward Tower or Tirith Aear, which had a bell that was rung for the benefit of mariners. Presumably this was built during this time, although it may have been older (or even built by the Elves).

Owing to both Edhellond and this Elvish strain in the Lords of Dol Amroth, we would expect to see some Sindar influence in some of the grander buildings. After T.A. 1980, we are told that Edhellond was finally abandoned. It may have become a place of reverence for the local people, and the ruins would not have been touched. Being a coastal city, Dol Amroth was subject to occasional attacks by the Corsairs of Umbar. The fifteenth prince was slain in battle against these sea raiders in T.A. 2746. Strong coastal defences and perhaps a system of watchtowers along the coast would be required.

Belfalas contains the following settlements:

• Linhir (1000)
• Dol Amroth (900)
• Town 1 (200)
• Town 2 (200)
• Town 3 (175)
• 3 villages (100 each)
• 10 hamlets (50-75 each)
• 37 homesteads (10-25 each)

Climate and ecology

Belfalas resembles the Greek and Italian countryside. It contains the following vegetation zones:

• B52 - Apeninne alpine grasslands (Sesleria tenuifolia, Carex kitaibeliana, Festuca macrathera) on carbonate rocks
• F45 - Padanian hornbeam-pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur, Carpinus betulus), partly with Quercus cerris, with Dianthus barbatus, partly alternating with hygrophilous ash forests (Fraxinus excelsior) with Salvia glutinosa
• F146 - North and middle Apennine beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), partly with Abies alba, with Geranium nodosum, partly Trochiscanthes nodiflora
• G52 - Middle Apennine mixed hop-hornbeam-downy oak forests (Quercus pubescens, Ostrya carpinifolia, Fraxinus ornus) with Acer obtusatum, Scutellaria columnae, Melittis melissophyllum
• J17 - Ligurian-Tyrrhenian meso-Mediterranean holm oak forests (Quercus ilex) with Fraxinus ornus, Ostrya carpinifolia, Viburnum tinus
• J48 - Middle Mediterranean wild olive-locust tree forests (Ceratonia siliqua, Olea europaea subsp. oleaster, Pistacia lentiscus), partly with Chamaerops humilis
• U18 - Apennine-Balkanic hardwood alluvial forests (Fraxinus angustifolia s. l., Quercus robur, Quercus pedunculiflora, Ulmus minor, Carpinus betulus) with Leucojum aestivum, Carex pendula, Periploca graeca in combination with alluvial forests (Salix alba, Populus alba, Populus nigra) and oak-hornbeam forests (Carpinus betulus, Quercus robur)