Marach

Marach is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, appearing in The Silmarillion and The Peoples of Middle-earth.

He was the leader of the Third House of the Edain in the First Age, called the Folk of Marach after him. He was the father of Malach and Imlach and ancestor of Túrin Turambar.

The Third House of Men finished their westward march across Middle-earth under the guidance of Marach. He led the majority of his people across Eriador and was the first of the Edain to reach the Blue Mountains. But his folk were daunted by the heights and dared not seek passes over them, while the scouts reported that the Mountains grew lower to the south. So Marach chose to go around, and in the Y.S. 313 he led his people into Beleriand from the south.

The Folk of Marach then settled in Estolad, to the southeast of the People of Bëor. Soon afterwards Marach sent his son Malach to Hithlum to take service with Fingolfin High King of the Noldor, where Malach learned the Elven-tongue and their lore. After 14 years, he returned to his people, but soon led a part of them to Hithlum. Malach's son was Magor, who traveled with the majority of his people to the land by the sources of Taeglin; and yet a part of the Folk left Beleriand and returned to Eriador. Marach, however, remained in Estolad until his death at the age of 94 - a year longer than Bëor the Old.