The Fëanorians and the Easterlings
Sometimes I see people get a little confused about whether it was Ulfang or Uldor who betrayed the Union of Maedhros during the Nirneath Arnoediad, so I thought I’d clear it up a little (and also provide a little bit of pretentious analysis of the Easterling’s relationship with the Feanorians.)
Ulfang was the man who led part of the Easterling people into Beleriand a few years after the Dagor Bragollach and swore fealty to the Sons of Feanor (specifically Caranthir). Ulfang also was the one to make the deal with Morgoth to betray the Sons of Feanor (with, I believe, an implication that Ulfang’s group had connections to Morgoth before they entered Beleriand.)
However, Ulfang is never mentioned to have fought in the Nirneath Arnoediad. This is probably because Ulfang died two years before the battle (probably of old age given he was 70ish at the time of his death.) Ulfang’s death is never mentioned explicitly in the published Silmarillion, instead it is relegated to the mysterious and infinite pages of the History of Middle Earth series.
This is where Uldor comes in. Uldor is Ulfang’s eldest son and therefore takes leadership of Ulfang’s group of Easterlings (and leadership over the plot to betray the Sons of Feanor.) Just in time for the Union of Maedhros to form and the Nirneath Arnoediad to kick off.
Something that I find to be both really interesting and frustrating about Ulfang and his sons is their story’s resemblance to Feanor and his sons story. Both Ulfang and Feanor make a commitment that unknowingly condemns their children to suffering (Feanor has his oath, Ulfang his deal with Morgoth.) Both Ulfang and Feanor die before seeing the true outcome of their commitments, leaving their children to pick up their cause. Their respective children then manage to technically succeed but only through the deaths of themselves and many others (Maedhros and Maglor do technically get the Silmarils at the end. And Uldor, Ulfast, and Ulwarth do succeed in preventing the success of the Union of Maedhros, but all said parties die as a result, except for Maglor.)
This is all pretty juicy from a story perspective (in my opinion.) The betrayers of the Union of Maedhros, not being too dissimilar in motive from its chief architect, is quite the tragic idea.
Yet then there’s the frustrating part. Which is the fact that Ulfang and his three sons are completely lacking in any personality, and in their very brief appearances in the narrative the reader is never invited to sympathize with them in any meaningful way.
Which is of course extremely different from the way the narrative treats the Feanorians. Feanor and his seven sons are positively brimming with personality, at least within the context of the Silmarillion in any case. And although I imagine there will always be arguments over exactly how much sympathy the Feanorians deserve, I do think it’s pretty safe to say that the narrative of the Silmarillion does not consider the Feanorians to be entirely evil and are furthermore, at least somewhat capable of doing good and expressing regret in some small capacity.
None of these traits are really afforded to Ulfang and his children. Which is a shame.
I also had some stuff to say on Bor and his group of Easterlings but I guess that'll have to wait for another day.
