Everything about Moriquendi totally explained
In
J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the
Moriquendi (the
Elves of Darkness, singular
Moriquende) are, in essence, the Elves that either didn't join or forsook the
Great Journey over the sea and therefore never beheld the light of the
Two Trees in
Valinor (this includes the
Avari,
Sindar and
Nandor). They lingered on the shores of Middle-earth or, indeed, never passed the Blue Mountains on the east of
Beleriand or the
Misty Mountains further to the east. Those Moriquendi who originally started on the journey but for some reason didn't finish it are known as the
Úmanyar, "Those not of
Aman".
It is a term for
Avari,
Sindar, and
Nandor, but in practice is only applied to the Avari. An exception to the hierarchy of Elvish peoples is
Thingol, who, though he didn't complete the journey, had earlier been to Valinor and was therefore reckoned under the Calaquendi and not under the Moriquendi. Therefore, it's an insult when the
sons of Fëanor refer to Thingol as Moriquendi.
» "Those Elves the
Calaquendi call the Úmanyar, since they came never to the land of Aman and the Blessed Realm; but the Úmanyar and the Avari alike they call the Moriquendi, Elves of the Darkness, for they never beheld the Light that was before the Sun and Moon." -
The Silmarillion, Chapter 3, "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"
The term "
Dark Elf" in Tolkien's writing seems to hold an additional special (not explained) meaning, as it's given as a special title of
Eöl of
Nan Elmoth.
Further Information
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