The Balcoth were a race of fierce Easterling men who lived in Middle-earth during the Third Age of Sun and thus were antagonists of the Men of Gondor. Their aim was to fully exterminate the Men of Gondor, yet they failed.
Origin[]
They most likely come from the ancestors of Men who stayed in the East and remained under Morgoth's power. Their hatred of the men of the West most likely stems from lies Morgoth fed them in his rule.
Rise to power[]
The Balcoth attacked Gondor in the year 2510 of the Third Age of Sun, shortly before the events of the Quest for Erebor as described in "The Hobbit." At this time, Sauron resided in Mirkwood and he directed the Balcoth from that realm of Dol Guldur. Sauron ordered the Balcoth to destroy the Men of Gondor, yet they failed because, even though their numbers were powerful and great, the Steward Cirion attacked them with his own army.
The Balcoth were especially important in the annals of the Third Age of Sun, because their defeat coincided with the forging of Rohan and Gondor's great alliance. This is because the Balcoth were defeated by none other than the Rohirrim knights, who came onto the scene. They were a race of Men who had been unknown to the world. Thus, the Rohirrim helped the Men of Gondor win the battle. Caught between Steward Cirion and the Rohirrim, the Balcoth were routed and so many were slain that they become a dwindling people.
