| Melburg | |
|---|---|
 Melburg topographical map (MERP) | |
 Location of Melburg (lower centre) (MERP) | |
| Statistics | |
| Other names | Mathleisbaurg |
| Type | Town |
| Location | Upper Anduin Vales, Rhovanion |
| Realm | N/A |
| Capital | N/A |
| Founded | ca. Third Age 1020 |
| Ruler | T.A. 1640-1650: Thegn Ansreik; Gundramma, Master of Melburg |
| Summary | A Northron market centre |
| Inhabitants | Northrons (Nenedain); Gondorians |
| Language(s) | Rhovanian; Westron |
| Lifespan | Survived in some form into the Fourth Age |
Melburg in Third Age 1640-1650:
- Type: Fortified Market Town.
- Inhabitants: 90% Northmen (Nenedain), 5% Gondorians, 5% Other
- Population: 1,200
- Leaders: Thegn Ansreik; Gundramma Golden-hands, Master of Melburg; Herion, Kingsman of Gondor
- Origin: Built by Northman settlers in roughly TA 1020
- Purpose: A focal point for Northman political, social and economic activity in the Nan Anduin; a reprovisioning center along the Great East Road; a base for tin mining
Due to its central position at the junction of river Rhimdath (Sirros) with Anduin, Melburg or earlier Mathleisbaurg (Rh. "Market-town" or "Assembly-town") controlled virtually all trade in the upper Anduin valley. In addition to its mercantile role, Melburg also produced much of the tin used in Gondor and Rhovanion, due to several mines in the lower slopes of the Hithaeglir. Few travellers heading west on the Great East Road would fail to reprovision themselves here before crossing the Misty Mountains, and most people moving east stopped to recuperate from the mountain passage.
The town was built upon an artificial hill and was surrounded by a stout wooden palisade for defense. Though a Northman nobleman controlled the town and the lands around it, Gondor maintained a small force in Melburg to keep an eye on the commercial center and considered her gateway to northern Rhovanion. The proximity of Melburg to Angmar and the Orc-holds of Gundabad and the Misty Mountains also resulted in a large population of spies in town, and most folk learned swiftly to guard their speech within the walls. Melburg was one of the few locations where Northmen would converse freely with Dúnedain, Hillmen, Dunmen, Dwarves, and even occasional Elves, but this cosmopolitan atmosphere had been bought at the expense of increased suspicion in most dealings.
Characters[]
TA 1640: Aldern Ansreik Gundramma Golden-hands Helporeik Herion Morwen Taurthalion Wistan
Melburg in other times[]
During the 1830ies Maethelburg briefly was capital of the southeastern angmarian province of "Deldined".
Notes[]
Original form in MERP: Maethelburg → Mathleisbaurg → Melburg
Gothic Mathleisbaurg should represent the town's original name during the days of Vidugavia and some centuries later; Old Frankish Melburg should represent its later name during the days of Frumgar or maybe a few centuries earlier. Possibly Melburg wasn't even exactly the same town as Mathleisbaurg, but another town built much in the same place by those Woodmen who had returned to the north.
References[]
- merp.com wiki
- The Guild Companion: Aldern
- MERP #3100: Riders of Rohan
- MERP #8070: Goblin-gate and Eagle's Eyrie