[the guy who be short]

i also thought they were just a type of men, but i have found evidence otherwise: here is a quote, rotk, pg 829:

East rode the knights of Dol Amroth, driving the enemy before them: troll-men and Variags and orcs that hated the sunlight.

note that orcs and trolls are monsters, not humans. he didnt put in the haradrim or the easterlings, whom we know are men. so maybe the variags should be classed among the monsters.