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Map Middle-earth

Region · Harad

Khand

The land of the Variags, southeast of Mordor between the Ash Mountains and Harad

Appears in
The Lord of the Rings
Region
Harad
Khand on the map of Middle-earth

On the map Khand occupies the country beyond Mordor's southeastern corner, with the Sea of Núrnen and the mountains to its northwest, Near Harad to the west and the unmapped east beyond. Its position made it a natural recruiting ground for Mordor, close enough to be controlled and far enough to be left alone in peacetime.

The Variags of Khand appear in Gondor's records as mercenaries and allies of its enemies. In TA 1944 they joined the Wainriders and the Haradrim in the coordinated attack in which King Ondoher and both his sons were killed before the Morannon, one of the worst defeats Gondor ever suffered.

They were in the field again at the end. Variags fought in Sauron's army on the Pelennor in TA 3019, and some of the slaves who worked the fields of Nurn had been taken from Khand.

Events at this place

  1. TA 1944 · Appendices

    Khand joins the Wainriders

    Variags attacked Gondor from the south alongside the Haradrim while the Wainriders struck from the northeast, killing King Ondoher.

  2. TA 3019, March 15 · The Lord of the Rings

    Variags at the Pelennor

    Troops from Khand fought in the army that besieged Minas Tirith and were broken with the rest of Mordor's host.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Khand on the Middle-earth map?

Southeast of Mordor, east of Near Harad, beyond the corner where the Ered Lithui and the Ephel Dúath end.

Who were the Variags?

The people of Khand, known to Gondor as fighters allied with Sauron, present both in the Wainrider wars and at the Pelennor Fields.