Ithilien, Moon Over Gondor
© Michael Martinez
I've always wondered what Ithilien must have looked like when it was full of people. The changing political landscape would have an economic impact on Ithilien, and that in turn would lead to population changes.
The first people to inhabit the region would have been Nandor. It's entirely possible that they all left in the First Age, joining Denethor's migration to Beleriand. But it may also be that some clans remained behind. There could have been one, two, or more small Elven realms or tribes in the region as late as the War of the Elves and Sauron. At that time matters would have changed.
Most likely the Elves would not have migrated south of Emyn Arnen. We don't know much about the geography of South Ithilien but the region doesn't seem to invite habitation by Elves. Cair Andros would be the easiest place for the Elves to cross the river and visit such of their relatives as remained in Anorien, Calenardhon, and other areas close by. In fact, given the geography of the land to the north of Ithilien, it may be that any early Elves would have arrived there by passing through Calenardhon and Anorien and crossing the river at Cair Andros.
When Sauron launched his war against the Elves he sent armies north to Greenwood the Great and the adjoining lands, and across Anduin to Calenardhon. He may have secured Cair Andros, at least, as a precaution against any possible attacks from Anorien and the lands beyond the Ered Nimrais. It does appear, based on his line of retreat several years later, that Sauron used the Undeeps as a crossing point. The lands between Cair Andros and Emyn Arnen would have been ideal for an Elven realm founded by the Sindar, so it seems unlikely Sauron would have ignored the region. He may have sent an army rampaging through the area as part of his overall strategy.
Any surviving Elves would have fled west across the river. They could have reached Edhellond and used its ships to sail over Sea to Valinor. Although the Silvan realms of the north could field armies, the real military power of the Elves lay with Gil-galad's kingdom and Eregion. The Eldar were the warriors and scholars of Elvendom, and in many ways the war might have been perceived as an Eldarin problem.
After the war, the southern Vales of Anduin seem to have been ignored by Sauron. Men settled in the region and there must have been many fishing villages along the river banks. The Gwathuirim, who had crossed Anduin more than a thousand years before, might have expanded eastward from the mountains. But it's entirely possible an unrelated people settled there, perhaps stirred up by Sauron's wars in the east.
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