The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Part of Rohan, a land founded in III 2510
Location
On the western side of the Mering Stream that marked Rohan's eastern border with Anórien
Race
Division
Culture
Family
Ruled by the House of Eorl
Outflow
The Mering Stream ran along the borders of Fenmarch into the Entwash
Pronunciation
fe'nmarch
Meaning
'Marsh-borderland'1

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About this entry:

  • Updated 13 April 2019
  • This entry is complete

Fenmarch

The wetlands along the Mering Stream

Map of Fenmarch

A region of eastern Rohan that stretched from the Firien Wood along the Mering Stream, and therefore marked part of Rohan's eastern border with Gondor. The fen element of the name means 'marsh' and is a reference to the wetlands along the Stream. March is an old word for 'borderland' - a reference to the border with Gondor - and has the same derivation as Mark, a name for the whole country of Rohan. In fact, Tolkien writes in his translation notes to The Lord of the Rings that on reflection he would have preferred the form Fenmark, to the extent that he recommended this alternative version for translated versions of the book.


Notes

1

The element 'march' for a borderland is widely used, for example in the Westmarch of the Shire or the March of Maedhros during the First Age. It shares its linguistic roots with 'mark' in the 'Riddermark' (or simply the 'Mark'), which was the name used by the Rohirrim for their own land of Rohan.

See also...

East Dales, Mering Stream

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 13 April 2019
  • This entry is complete

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