Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Talk:Lonely Mountain

2025-02-26T10:44:15Z

TolkienNerdLordOfMiddleearth: /* About a Template */

I think this article should be moved to the Lonely Mountain article, since it tells everything there is to know about the mountain. Dwarf Lord

== About a Template ==

Which should we use the Location temp. or the Realm temp? I'm for the realm temp. --[[User:Dwarf Lord|Dwarf Lord]] 21:51, 7 April 2008 (EDT)

== Image addition==

So what do I do when I wanna add some more images into a compilation of images of one thing?

== Name ==

Further to the comment above from Dwarf Lord, I'd like to consider moving this. 136 links go to "Erebor", and only 74 go to "Lonely Mountain", however, I think - at least in my experience - that "Lonely Mountain" is the more commonly-used name. Importantly, I think I am correct in saying that the name "Erebor" doesn't appear within ''[[The Hobbit]]'' as it is exclusively referred to as "Lonely Mountain"; it'll be interesting to see whether the films follow the same usage. What does everyone else think? --{{User:Mith/sig}} 12:38, 15 January 2011 (UTC)

::Just a quickie: I wouldn't mind a move. --[[User:Morgan|Morgan]] 16:54, 15 January 2011 (UTC)

:::I think most people use Erebor, so (in my opinion) that would be the best name for the article. With name used Tolkien actually? Or didn't he use both (in the letters)? --[[User:Amroth|Amroth]]

==Khuzdul name==

What is the name of Erebor in Khuzdul? --[[User:Smeagol|Smeagol]] 00:42, 25 December 2015 (UTC)

:Short answer - The name for Erebor was never written in Khuzdul.

: Long answer - If you see it, it's neo-Khuzdul, which has various interpretations of what it might be based on limited source material, and they differ wildly (I've seen: Urdêkul and ''Ghunum Bulnd'' used for The Lonely Mountain). And heaven help me, I have no idea how those names were developed. Even when the Dwarves speak of their homelands, RK: App A - "Durin's Folk", using words in their own tongue, the Lonely Mountain is only called that or simply referred to with the Sindarin: ''Erebor''. --[[User:Elf-esteem|Elf-esteem]] 20:18, 26 December 2015 (UTC)

==Merge==

This page should be merged with the [[Kingdom Under the Mountain]]. They're the same thing. Someone give me the a-ok--[[User:Kulid123|Kulid123]] 17:03, 10 April 2020 (UTC)
:Think it twice. A mountain is not a kingdom. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 17:26, 10 April 2020 (UTC)
:They should remain separate, and also we must be careful not to repeat the same information, otherwise the existence of 2 articles would be pointless and cumbersome. For example the geographical/geophysical information should be concentrated to [[Erebor]], and historical/cultural information to [[Kingdom Under the Mountain]]. [[User:Sage|Sage]] 05:58, 11 April 2020 (UTC)

Mordor

2023-01-28T15:43:17Z

TolkienNerdLordOfMiddleearth:

{{disambig-more|Mordor|[[Mordor (disambiguation)]]}}
{{kingdom
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Across Gorgoroth.jpg|250px]]
| name=Mordor
| pronun=
| othernames=Dark Land, ''Nargûn'' ([[Khuzdul|K]])
| location=Within [[Ered Lithui]] and [[Ephel Dúath]]
| capital=[[Barad-dûr]]
| towns=[[Minas Morgul]], [[Carchost]], [[Narchost]], [[Tower of Cirith Ungol|Cirith Ungol]], [[Durthang]]
| regions=[[Nurn]], [[Plateau of Gorgoroth|Gorgoroth]], [[Lithlad]], [[Udûn (valley)|Udûn]]
| population=[[Orcs]], [[Trolls]], [[Nazgûl]], [[Men]], other creatures of Evil
| language=[[Westron]], [[Black Speech]], [[Orkish]]
| govern1=[[Gondor]] (until the Great Plague) [[Sauron]] later ruled by his freed slaves
| govern2=
| govern3=
| currency=
| holiday=
| precededby=
| event1=Established
| event1date=c. {{SA|1000}}
| event2=Defeated
| event2date={{SA|3441}}
| event3=Nazgûl return
| event3date={{TA|1980}}
| event4=Sauron returns
| event4date={{TA|2941}}
| event5=Defeated
| event5date={{TA|3019}}
| followedby=
}}
{{quote|In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie.|[[Ring Verse]]}}
'''Mordor''' was a land in the south-east of the [[Westlands]] east of [[Gondor]]. During most of the [[Second Age|Second]] and [[Third Age]]s it was ruled by [[Sauron]] and it was his dwelling and base from which he attempted to conquer [[Middle-earth]].

Mordor was surrounded by three enormous mountain ridges from the North, from the West and from the South, protecting it from an unexpected invasion by any of the [[Free Peoples]].

Only a few times in history did the Free Peoples have anything to do with Mordor; the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] broke into the land to fight Sauron, and millennia later [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] infiltrated that land to destroy [[the One Ring]].

== Geography ==
Mordor was protected from three sides by mountain ranges, arranged roughly rectangularly: [[Ered Lithui]] in the north, and [[Ephel Dúath]] in the west until turned to the east, forming a southern range. A narrow pass led through Ephel Dúath and the city of [[Minas Morgul]] (earlier [[Minas Ithil]]) was guarding that; an even more difficult pass was guarded by the giant spider [[Shelob]] and the fortress of [[Cirith Ungol]]. Another known fortress was [[Durthang]] in northern Ephel Dúath.

In the north-west corner of Mordor the deep valley of [[Udûn (valley)|Udûn]] was the only entrance for large armies, and that is where Sauron built the Black Gate of Mordor. In front of the [[Morannon]] lay the [[Dagorlad]]. Sauron's main fortress [[Barad-dûr]] was at the foothills of [[Ered Lithui]]. To south-west of Barad-dûr lay the arid [[Plateau of Gorgoroth]] and the volcanic [[Mount Doom]] (also called [[Orodruin]]); to the east lay the plain of [[Lithlad]]. The land in the western parts of Mordor were largely infertile, producing only sparse [[Brambles of Mordor|brambles]].

The southern part of Mordor, [[Nurn]], was slighly more fertile, and moist enough to carry the inland [[sea of Núrnen]]. Nurn was made somewhat fertile because the ash blown from Mount Doom left its soil nutrient rich, thus allowing dry-land farming. Unfortunately, the inland sea of Núrn was salty, not freshwater.

To the west of Mordor was the narrow land of [[Ithilien]] with the great river [[Anduin]], to the east [[Rhûn]], and to the south-east, [[Khand]].

== History ==
=== Early history ===
[[Melkor]] created Mount Doom in the [[First Age]], and the name "Mordor" may have been given to the land before Sauron settled there because of its eruptions.<ref>{{PM|Last}}, p. 390 (note 14).</ref> Also in the First Age, the [[Drúedain]] migrated westward, and historians in Gondor believed that they came through lands south of Mordor and, after turning northward into [[Ithilien]], became the first Men to cross the [[Anduin]].<ref>{{UT|12b}}, pp. 339-340.</ref>

The first being known to occupy the mountains of Mordor was [[Shelob]], fleeing from the [[War of Wrath]] in [[Beleriand]] at the end of the First Age. She fed herself on [[Elves]] and [[Men]] living or passing nearby until these became scarce.<ref>{{TT|Lair}}</ref>

Sauron settled in Mordor around {{SA|1000}}. In the north-western corner of this land stood Mount Doom, where he had forged [[the One Ring]]. Near Orodruin he built his stronghold [[Barad-dûr]]. After this time, Sauron was known as the [[Dark Lord|Dark Lord of Mordor]].

For two and a half thousand years, Sauron ruled Mordor uninterruptedly. It was from Mordor that he [[War of the Elves and Sauron|made war against]] the [[Elves of Eregion]] and came to dominate most of Eriador in a period known as the [[Dark Years]]. That was until he was repelled by the [[High Men]] of [[Númenor]]. Retreating to Mordor, Sauron then directed his power over the far south and east of Mordor conquering and dominating the savage tribes of the [[Easterlings]] and the [[Haradrim]].<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}</ref><ref>{{UT|Amroth}}</ref> Almost a thousand years later, Sauron was captured by the Númenóreans and brought to their island kingdom, eventually causing its [[Númenor#Destruction|destruction]]. Sauron returned to Mordor as a spirit and resumed his rule.

=== The Last Alliance and Third Age===
Sauron's rule was interrupted yet again when his efforts to overthrow the surviving Men and Elves failed, and they fought their way back to their foe's domain. After several months of siege in the [[Battle of Dagorlad]], forces of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] came into Mordor. Sauron was defeated in a final battle and the Dark Tower was leveled to the ground, but Mordor was not settled by Men because of the dreadful memory of Sauron, and Orodruin.<ref name=rings>{{s|V}}</ref>

The [[Kings of Gondor]] built watchtowers and fortresses around Mordor, such as the mountain fortress of [[Durthang]], the [[Towers of the Teeth]] at the [[Morannon]], and the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]], in order to prevent Sauron's servants from returning to Mordor.<ref name=Tower>{{RK|VI1}}</ref>

However, Gondor had failed in the long run; during the [[Great Plague]], the population was so diminished that troops were recalled and the fortresses abandoned.<ref>{{App|South}}</ref><ref>{{App|TA}}, {{TA|1640}}</ref> Deprived of guard, Mordor began to fill with evil things again, and it is said the first shadow was the [[Lord of the Nazgûl]] ({{TA|1980}}) who summoned the other [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]], first appearing since the [[War of the Last Alliance]], to prepare the return of Sauron.<ref name=rings/><ref name=ta/> [[Minas Ithil]] was conquered by the Ringwraiths in {{TA|2002}}; other fortifications that were supposed to defend Gondor from the menace inside Mordor were captured and turned into a means of shielding Mordor. Sauron resided in [[Dol Guldur]], until the [[White Council]] [[Attack on Dol Guldur|attacked]] it in {{TA|2941}}, forcing Sauron to flee.

Meanwhile Mordor had been long prepared for him, and declaring himself openly he returned to Mordor in {{TA|2951}}, where he finished reconstructing his Dark Tower.<ref name=ta>{{App|TA}}</ref><ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> By that time Mordor was protected too well to be captured by any military might that was available to the Free Peoples; in the north of Mordor during the War of the Ring were the great garrisons and forges of war, while surrounding the bitter inland [[Sea of Núrnen]] to the south lay the vast fields tended for the provision of the armies by hordes of slaves brought in from lands to the east and south.

=== War of the Ring ===
During the War of the Ring, Sauron gathered all his forces to Mordor. After the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], a Host of the West went to the Black Gate. Sauron sent his army to destroy the Men of Gondor and Rohan, but then [[Frodo Baggins]] destroyed the One Ring and Mordor fell. The Dark Tower, the Black Gate and the Towers of Teeth collapsed to ruin. Mount Doom exploded. Both Sauron and his Ringwraiths were apparently destroyed.

After the ultimate defeat of Sauron, Mordor became mostly empty again as the [[Orcs]] inside it fled or were killed. Crippled by thousands of years of abuse and neglect, but capable of sustaining life, the land of Mordor was given to the defeated foes of Gondor as a consolation, as well as to the freed slaves of Nurn who were formerly forced to farm there to feed the armies of Mordor.

== Etymology ==
'''''Mordor''''' is a [[Sindarin]] name. It means "Black Land". It is a compound of ''[[mor]]'' ("black, dark") and ''[[dôr]]'' ("land").<ref>{{L|144}}, paragraph about the Black Speech</ref><ref>{{S|Elements}}, entries ''mor'', ''dôr''</ref>

Its name in [[Khuzdul]] was '''''Nargûn''''', which contains the element ''narg'' ("black").<ref>{{RS|4XXVN}}, note 39, p. 466</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
The first ever reference to Sauron's land is mentioned without a name, in the story of the Fall, written in the 1930s, as an inner land far from the sea, over the mountains. There [[Thû]] had a fortress, and "[[Amroth]]" assailed him.<ref>{{LR|P1II2}}</ref> The name Mordor, the Black Country, appears first time in the second version of that text, along with Elendil and Gil-galad (both of them mentioned first time).<ref>{{LR|P1II3}}</ref>
==Inspiration==
It is not uncommon for names in Tolkien's fiction to have relevant meanings in several languages, both those invented by Tolkien, and "real" ones, but this of course happens with any two languages.

*A proposed etymology is [[Old English]] ''morðor'', which means "mortal sin" and later "murder".
*''Mordor'' is also a name cited in some Nordic mythologies referring to a land where its citizens practice evil without knowing it, imposed on themselves by the society long created for that purpose.

Tolkien is reported to have identified Mordor with the volcano of [[Wikipedia:Stromboli|Stromboli]] off Sicily.<ref>[[Clyde S. Kilby]], [[Dick Plotz]] ([[1968]]), "Many Meetings with Tolkien: An Edited Transcript of Remarks at the December 1966 [[Mythopoeic Society|TSA Meeting]]", ''Niekas'' (Niekas Publications, New Hampshire, USA) (19): 39–40 Referred to at tolkienguide.com and by another publication of the Niekas editor. Referred to at [http://www.tolkienguide.com/modules/wordpress/?p=3 tolkienguide.com ] and by [http://efanzines.com/ERM/veh36.htm another publication of the Niekas editor].</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1980s: ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'':'''
:In ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] assumed that the lands of Mordor, [[Khand]], and [[Rhûn]] lay where the inland [[Sea of Helcar]] had been, and that the [[Sea of Rhûn]] and [[Sea of Núrnen]] were its remnants. The atlas was however published before ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', where it turned out that the [[Sea of Rhûn]] existed already in the First Age, notwithstanding that Mordor, due to the creation of the volcanic [[Mount Doom]], could have been uplifted from the Sea of Helcar during this time.

'''2001-3: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)]]'':'''
:The proximity of Mount Doom and Barad-dûr is at a distance that is non-canonical.

'''2022: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'':'''
:'''1 September: ''[[A Shadow of the Past]]'':'''
::Before the rise of [[Sauron]], the land of Mordor was known as the '''Southlands''' and the [[Plateau of Gorgoroth]] was inhabited by [[Men]] who called themselves [[Pre-Númenóreans|Southlanders]]. These Men had built countless settlements. Some of which were villages such as [[Tirharad]], [[Hordern]], and [[Iorbad]], while others were outposts such as the [[Watchtower of Ostirith]].
:'''7 October: ''[[The Eye]]'':'''
::After the eruption of [[Mount Doom|Orodruin]] and the Southlanders flee the land, [[Adar (The Rings of Power)|Adar]] renames the Southlands to ''Mordor''.

==See also==
* [[Sauron]]
* [[Barad-dûr]]
* [[Orodruin]]
* [[Black Gate]]

{{references}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
[[Category:Mordor| ]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]

[[de:Mordor]]
[[fi:Mordor]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/regions/mordor]]

War of the Last Alliance

2023-01-22T05:21:32Z

TolkienNerdLordOfMiddleearth: /* Aftermath */

{{war
| previous=[[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
| next= [[Angmar War]]
| image=[[File:Matt DeMino - Sauron - War of the Last Alliance.png|300px]]
| name= War of the Last Alliance
| place= [[Mordor]] and the lower [[Vales of Anduin]]
| result= Victory for the [[Last Alliance]]
*Fall of [[Sauron]]
*Loss of the [[One Ring]]
*Decline of [[Elvendom]] in [[Middle-earth]] and the [[Men of Arnor]]
| battles= [[First Fall of Minas Ithil]], [[Anárion's defence of Osgiliath]], [[Battle of Dagorlad]], [[Siege of Barad-dûr]]
| begin= {{SA|3429}}
| end= {{SA|3441}}
| side1= [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]
| side2= Forces of [[Sauron]]|
|casual1=|
|casual2=|
| commanders1=
[[Gil-galad]]†
 [[Círdan]]
 [[Elrond]]
 [[Oropher]] †
 [[Thranduil]]
 [[Amdír]] †
 [[Elendil]] †
 [[Isildur]]
 [[Anárion]] †
| commanders2=
[[Sauron]]
}}

The '''War of the Last Alliance''', also simply known as the '''War of the Alliance''', was the war at the close of the [[Second Age]] in which the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] marched against the forces of [[Sauron]]. Against all hope, they were victorious, but when the [[One Ring]] was not destroyed, [[Sauron]] rose again during the long years of the [[Third Age]].

==History==
===Prelude===
Ever since his defeat in the [[Battle of the Gwathló]] Sauron nursed a special hatred against the [[Númenóreans]] and longed to take revenge on them.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref> In {{SA|3261|n}}, Sauron dared to wage war against Númenor and the last [[King of Númenor]] [[Ar-Pharazôn]] had gathered a massive army to counter this threat. Perceiving the might and splendour of the Númenóreans Sauron's servants deserted him, and Sauron was filled with fear and humbled himself. He was brought as a hostage to Númenor and finally succeeded in taking his revenge by playing a vital role in the events that led to the Downfall. Yet of all Númenóreans he hated Elendil most, and his wrath was great that he and his sons had escaped.

After the [[Downfall of Númenor]] in {{SA|3319}}, the remaining [[Faithful]] led by [[Elendil]] and his sons [[Isildur]] and [[Anarion]] established the [[Realms in Exile]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Elendil ruled [[Arnor]] in the north, Isildur and Anarion jointly ruled the southern realm of [[Gondor]]. [[Sauron]] however perished physically, by drowning; being caught in the Fall of Númenor which he had cleverly schemed to bring about. Yet nevertheless, even though he truly was drowned, Sauron's spirit endured; he returned to his fortress [[Barad-dûr]] in [[Mordor]] and was able in time to take shape again. However, it should be noted that hereafter Sauron could no longer take on a deceptively fair and greatly pleasing form, as Sauron had done so long before, in order to deceive the Elves and then again much later, the [[Númenóreans]] too, whilst he was held a willing captive.<ref name=Rings>{{S|Rings}}</ref>

===Opening Stages===
Perceiving that his enemies of old had escaped the downfall, Sauron's wrath was great and in {{SA|3429|n}} he launched an attack upon Isildur's fortress, Minas Ithil. Believing that Sauron had perished in the [[Downfall of Númenor]], they were completely taken by surprise, [[Minas Ithil]] was [[First Fall of Minas Ithil|taken]], and the [[White Tree of Gondor]] that Isildur had planted there was burned. Nevertheless Isildur, his wife and children escaped, saving a seedling of the tree, too, and sailing down [[Anduin]] journeyed to Elendil's realm in Arnor. There Elendil and [[Gil-galad]], [[High King of the Noldor]] forged the [[Last Alliance|Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] in {{SA|3430|n}}, to defeat Sauron ultimately. Meanwhile, Anárion held out in Gondor, defending [[Osgiliath]] and [[Minas Anor]].<ref name=Rings/>

In {{SA|3431}}, the [[Elves of Lindon]] led by Gil-galad and [[Círdan]] marched eastward and were awaited by Elendil at [[Amon Sûl]]. The combined host marched towards [[Rivendell|Imladris]], where they joined with [[Elrond|Lord Elrond]], who was Gil-galad's herald, and acted as his second-in-command in the coming campaign.<ref name=Rings/>

The united host rested for about three years in Imladris, forging weapons and making plans. They crossed the [[Misty Mountains]] over many passes and marched down [[Anduin]] where they were joined by Elves from [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] led by king [[Oropher]] and his son [[Thranduil]] and [[Elves of Lórien]] under King [[Amdír]],<ref name="Silvan Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref> as well as by the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm|kindred]] of [[Durin]] from [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].<ref name=Rings/> At the southern eaves of [[Eryn Galen]], the host turned south-east and marched through desolate areas that had once been the [[Entwives]]' gardens. They, and probably the Entwives themselves, had been destroyed by [[Sauron]] to deprive the Alliance's forces of supplies.<ref>{{TT|Treebeard}}</ref>

The Alliance entered the vast plain outside Mordor where Sauron's host awaited them from the north-west.

Of the Dwarves, few fought upon either side; but the folk of Durin from Khazad-dûm fought against [[Sauron]].<ref name=Rings/>

===Battle of Dagorlad===
{{main|Battle of Dagorlad}}
The [[Silvan Elves]] of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] led by their King [[Oropher]] and of [[Lórien]] led by King [[Amdír]] were not well equippied with armour and weapons in comparison with the [[Eldar]] of the West and did not want to place themselves under the supreme command of Gil-galad. [[Oropher]] and his bravest warriors the [[Silvan Elves]], charged forward before Gil-galad had given the command and suffered heavy casualties, including Oropher himself. Amdír and his forces were cut off from the main battle and driven to the north-west into the marshes, where he also fell along with more than half of his troops.<ref name="Silvan Princes"/> This area became known afterwards as the [[Dead Marshes]], because of the thousands of bodies buried there.

This battle raged for days and nights continuously. But the Elves were still mighty in these times and the Númenóreans were tall and strong and terrible. And none could withstand [[Aeglos (spear)|Aeglos]] and [[Narsil]], Gil-galad's spear and Elendil's sword which filled the orcs and wicked men with fear. Slowly Elves and Númenóreans whittled down the vast numbers of Orcs and pushed them back towards the [[Black Gate]].<ref name=Rings/>
No account is given how the Alliance managed to break through this mighty fortification though.

===Siege of Barad-dûr===
{{main|Siege of Barad-dûr}}
The forces of the Last Alliance had forced their way through the Black Gate into Mordor itself. Victory seemed close, but no power short of the [[Valar]] could breach the [[Dark Tower]] by force. Though a great part of Sauron's forces was destroyed at the Dagorlad his host was still numerous and Sauron ordered many a sortie. The siege went on year after year, from {{SA|3434}} to {{SA|3441|n}}<ref name=Rings/>. Isildur's sons, [[Aratan]] and [[Ciryon]], were detached and sent to Minas Ithil to guard against a breakout to the southwest, but his oldest son, Elendur served by his side till the end<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}</ref>. [[Anárion]] was killed in {{SA|3440|n}} by a projectile thrown from the tower.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>

In the seventh year of the siege, it became so pressing that [[Sauron]] himself came forth. His onslaught was terrible and the siege was almost broken as Sauron and his host advanced to the slopes of [[Mount Doom]]. There he was encountered by the captains of the Alliance, Gil-galad and Elendil and to their side stood Elrond, Círdan and Isildur. Sauron fought with Gil-galad and Elendil, and both were slain. As Elendil fell, his sword was broken beneath him. Yet Sauron was thrown down, too, and Isildur seized the hilt of his father's sword and cut off the finger on which Sauron wore the One Ring. Being bereft of its power, Sauron was no longer able to hold a physical form and perished.<ref name=Rings/>

===Aftermath===
The Alliance pursued the Orcs, who were then in disarray, and killed them all. The Barad-dûr was levelled but its foundations remained behind since they were built with the power of the [[One Ring]] which was not destroyed. The thousands of dead Men and Elves were taken out of Mordor and buried in the Dagorlad Plain.

Over the course of the war, which ended with the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] in {{SA|3441}}, most of the Silvan army had been lost. Thranduil led the remaining third of his army back home to the Greenwood.<ref name="Silvan Princes"/>

While he had captured the [[One Ring]], Isildur refused Elrond and Círdan's entreaties that he destroy it by casting it into the [[Crack of Doom]], claiming it as a weregild for his father's and brother's death<ref name=Rings/>. The result of this was that while [[Sauron]] was defeated and cast down, his spirit was not destroyed. He hid in the dark lands east of Mordor, and slowly rebuilt his power. The Nine ([[Nazgûl]]) also bided their time for the day when he would rise again.

While the Orc armies of Sauron had been well nigh destroyed in the War, scattered groups of them survived. In the Last Alliance, the casualties had been heavy. [[Elendil]] and [[Anárion]] were gone, and [[Gil-galad]], last [[High King of the Noldor]], was no more. [[Arnor]] took grievous losses, and suffered from a decline in population. It never really recovered as a major power and broke into three pieces some centuries later. [[Gondor]] suffered less heavily and became a powerful nation. [[Isildur]], the new [[Kings of Arnor|High King of Arnor]], perished only two years later in the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], along with his three older sons. They were ambushed by an Orc task force operating near the River Anduin. In the course of Isildur's death, the Ring was lost in the depths of [[Anduin]]<ref name="Gladden"/>. Much was lost, but [[Sauron]] was suppressed- for a while.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The [[War of the Last Alliance|entire venture]] of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] was combined into a short silhouette play, in which [[Isildur]] cut the [[The One Ring|Ring]] off [[Sauron]]'s hand in battle - not when Sauron was already conquered.

[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Last Alliance.jpg|thumb|right|240px|The War of the Last Alliance in ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'']]
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:This film also compresses the [[Battle of Dagorlad]], the Siege, and the final duel into one, and places them all at [[Mount Doom]], in a prologue similar to that of the 1978 film. The main perspective of the entire [[Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them All...|Prologue - ''One Ring to Rule Them All...'']] - lies with [[Elrond]]. The death of [[Gil-galad]] is not mentioned, [[Anárion]] is cut completely, and the deaths of [[Elendil]] and Sauron are rewritten: after coming forth, Sauron wreaks havoc among the [[Elves]] and [[Men]], and a blow from his mace throws Elendil against the mountainside, killing him. Isildur tries to take up [[Narsil]], but it breaks as Sauron steps on it. In a desperate strike, Isildur slashes the Ring, and four fingers, from Sauron's hand. Sauron's body sends a shockwave over the land and dissolves into nothingness.

:In a later scene, named ''[[The Fate of the Ring]]'', Elrond tells [[Gandalf]] of the final debate with Isildur, inside Mount Doom. [[Círdan]] is not present, and Isildur refuses by simply saying "No".

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)]]'':''''
:The war serves as the setting for the tutorial. The player controls Isildur making his way through Mordor.

{{References}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[Category:Wars]]

[[fr:encyclo/evenements/2a/guerres/guerre_de_la_derniere_alliance]]

War of the Last Alliance

2023-01-22T05:19:29Z

TolkienNerdLordOfMiddleearth:

{{war
| previous=[[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
| next= [[Angmar War]]
| image=[[File:Matt DeMino - Sauron - War of the Last Alliance.png|300px]]
| name= War of the Last Alliance
| place= [[Mordor]] and the lower [[Vales of Anduin]]
| result= Victory for the [[Last Alliance]]
*Fall of [[Sauron]]
*Loss of the [[One Ring]]
*Decline of [[Elvendom]] in [[Middle-earth]] and the [[Men of Arnor]]
| battles= [[First Fall of Minas Ithil]], [[Anárion's defence of Osgiliath]], [[Battle of Dagorlad]], [[Siege of Barad-dûr]]
| begin= {{SA|3429}}
| end= {{SA|3441}}
| side1= [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]
| side2= Forces of [[Sauron]]|
|casual1=|
|casual2=|
| commanders1=
[[Gil-galad]]†
 [[Círdan]]
 [[Elrond]]
 [[Oropher]] †
 [[Thranduil]]
 [[Amdír]] †
 [[Elendil]] †
 [[Isildur]]
 [[Anárion]] †
| commanders2=
[[Sauron]]
}}

The '''War of the Last Alliance''', also simply known as the '''War of the Alliance''', was the war at the close of the [[Second Age]] in which the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] marched against the forces of [[Sauron]]. Against all hope, they were victorious, but when the [[One Ring]] was not destroyed, [[Sauron]] rose again during the long years of the [[Third Age]].

==History==
===Prelude===
Ever since his defeat in the [[Battle of the Gwathló]] Sauron nursed a special hatred against the [[Númenóreans]] and longed to take revenge on them.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref> In {{SA|3261|n}}, Sauron dared to wage war against Númenor and the last [[King of Númenor]] [[Ar-Pharazôn]] had gathered a massive army to counter this threat. Perceiving the might and splendour of the Númenóreans Sauron's servants deserted him, and Sauron was filled with fear and humbled himself. He was brought as a hostage to Númenor and finally succeeded in taking his revenge by playing a vital role in the events that led to the Downfall. Yet of all Númenóreans he hated Elendil most, and his wrath was great that he and his sons had escaped.

After the [[Downfall of Númenor]] in {{SA|3319}}, the remaining [[Faithful]] led by [[Elendil]] and his sons [[Isildur]] and [[Anarion]] established the [[Realms in Exile]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Elendil ruled [[Arnor]] in the north, Isildur and Anarion jointly ruled the southern realm of [[Gondor]]. [[Sauron]] however perished physically, by drowning; being caught in the Fall of Númenor which he had cleverly schemed to bring about. Yet nevertheless, even though he truly was drowned, Sauron's spirit endured; he returned to his fortress [[Barad-dûr]] in [[Mordor]] and was able in time to take shape again. However, it should be noted that hereafter Sauron could no longer take on a deceptively fair and greatly pleasing form, as Sauron had done so long before, in order to deceive the Elves and then again much later, the [[Númenóreans]] too, whilst he was held a willing captive.<ref name=Rings>{{S|Rings}}</ref>

===Opening Stages===
Perceiving that his enemies of old had escaped the downfall, Sauron's wrath was great and in {{SA|3429|n}} he launched an attack upon Isildur's fortress, Minas Ithil. Believing that Sauron had perished in the [[Downfall of Númenor]], they were completely taken by surprise, [[Minas Ithil]] was [[First Fall of Minas Ithil|taken]], and the [[White Tree of Gondor]] that Isildur had planted there was burned. Nevertheless Isildur, his wife and children escaped, saving a seedling of the tree, too, and sailing down [[Anduin]] journeyed to Elendil's realm in Arnor. There Elendil and [[Gil-galad]], [[High King of the Noldor]] forged the [[Last Alliance|Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] in {{SA|3430|n}}, to defeat Sauron ultimately. Meanwhile, Anárion held out in Gondor, defending [[Osgiliath]] and [[Minas Anor]].<ref name=Rings/>

In {{SA|3431}}, the [[Elves of Lindon]] led by Gil-galad and [[Círdan]] marched eastward and were awaited by Elendil at [[Amon Sûl]]. The combined host marched towards [[Rivendell|Imladris]], where they joined with [[Elrond|Lord Elrond]], who was Gil-galad's herald, and acted as his second-in-command in the coming campaign.<ref name=Rings/>

The united host rested for about three years in Imladris, forging weapons and making plans. They crossed the [[Misty Mountains]] over many passes and marched down [[Anduin]] where they were joined by Elves from [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] led by king [[Oropher]] and his son [[Thranduil]] and [[Elves of Lórien]] under King [[Amdír]],<ref name="Silvan Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref> as well as by the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm|kindred]] of [[Durin]] from [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].<ref name=Rings/> At the southern eaves of [[Eryn Galen]], the host turned south-east and marched through desolate areas that had once been the [[Entwives]]' gardens. They, and probably the Entwives themselves, had been destroyed by [[Sauron]] to deprive the Alliance's forces of supplies.<ref>{{TT|Treebeard}}</ref>

The Alliance entered the vast plain outside Mordor where Sauron's host awaited them from the north-west.

Of the Dwarves, few fought upon either side; but the folk of Durin from Khazad-dûm fought against [[Sauron]].<ref name=Rings/>

===Battle of Dagorlad===
{{main|Battle of Dagorlad}}
The [[Silvan Elves]] of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] led by their King [[Oropher]] and of [[Lórien]] led by King [[Amdír]] were not well equippied with armour and weapons in comparison with the [[Eldar]] of the West and did not want to place themselves under the supreme command of Gil-galad. [[Oropher]] and his bravest warriors the [[Silvan Elves]], charged forward before Gil-galad had given the command and suffered heavy casualties, including Oropher himself. Amdír and his forces were cut off from the main battle and driven to the north-west into the marshes, where he also fell along with more than half of his troops.<ref name="Silvan Princes"/> This area became known afterwards as the [[Dead Marshes]], because of the thousands of bodies buried there.

This battle raged for days and nights continuously. But the Elves were still mighty in these times and the Númenóreans were tall and strong and terrible. And none could withstand [[Aeglos (spear)|Aeglos]] and [[Narsil]], Gil-galad's spear and Elendil's sword which filled the orcs and wicked men with fear. Slowly Elves and Númenóreans whittled down the vast numbers of Orcs and pushed them back towards the [[Black Gate]].<ref name=Rings/>
No account is given how the Alliance managed to break through this mighty fortification though.

===Siege of Barad-dûr===
{{main|Siege of Barad-dûr}}
The forces of the Last Alliance had forced their way through the Black Gate into Mordor itself. Victory seemed close, but no power short of the [[Valar]] could breach the [[Dark Tower]] by force. Though a great part of Sauron's forces was destroyed at the Dagorlad his host was still numerous and Sauron ordered many a sortie. The siege went on year after year, from {{SA|3434}} to {{SA|3441|n}}<ref name=Rings/>. Isildur's sons, [[Aratan]] and [[Ciryon]], were detached and sent to Minas Ithil to guard against a breakout to the southwest, but his oldest son, Elendur served by his side till the end<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}</ref>. [[Anárion]] was killed in {{SA|3440|n}} by a projectile thrown from the tower.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>

In the seventh year of the siege, it became so pressing that [[Sauron]] himself came forth. His onslaught was terrible and the siege was almost broken as Sauron and his host advanced to the slopes of [[Mount Doom]]. There he was encountered by the captains of the Alliance, Gil-galad and Elendil and to their side stood Elrond, Círdan and Isildur. Sauron fought with Gil-galad and Elendil, and both were slain. As Elendil fell, his sword was broken beneath him. Yet Sauron was thrown down, too, and Isildur seized the hilt of his father's sword and cut off the finger on which Sauron wore the One Ring. Being bereft of its power, Sauron was no longer able to hold a physical form and perished.<ref name=Rings/>

===Aftermath===
The Alliance pursued the Orcs, who were then in disarray, and killed them all. The Barad-dûr was levelled but its foundations remained behind since they were built with the power of [[the One Ring]] which was not destroyed. The thousands of dead Men and Elves were taken out of Mordor and buried in the Dagorlad Plain.

Over the course of the war, which ended with the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] in {{SA|3441}}, most of the Silvan army had been lost. Thranduil led the remaining third of his army back home to the Greenwood.<ref name="Silvan Princes"/>

While he had captured [[the One Ring]], Isildur refused Elrond and Círdan's entreaties that he destroy it by casting it into the [[Crack of Doom]], claiming it as a weregild for his father's and brother's death<ref name=Rings/>. The result of this was that while [[Sauron]] was defeated and cast down, his spirit was not destroyed. He hid in the dark lands east of Mordor, and slowly rebuilt his power. The Nine ([[Nazgûl]]) also bided their time for the day when he would rise again.

While the Orc armies of Sauron had been well nigh destroyed in the War, scattered groups of them survived. In the Last Alliance, the casualties had been heavy. [[Elendil]] and [[Anárion]] were gone, and [[Gil-galad]], last [[High King of the Noldor]], was no more. [[Arnor]] took grievous losses, and suffered from a decline in population. It never really recovered as a major power and broke into three pieces some centuries later. [[Gondor]] suffered less heavily and became a powerful nation. [[Isildur]], the new [[Kings of Arnor|High King of Arnor]], perished only two years later in the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], along with his three older sons. They were ambushed by an Orc task force operating near the River Anduin. In the course of Isildur's death, the Ring was lost in the depths of [[Anduin]]<ref name="Gladden"/>. Much was lost, but [[Sauron]] was suppressed-- for a while.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The [[War of the Last Alliance|entire venture]] of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] was combined into a short silhouette play, in which [[Isildur]] cut the [[The One Ring|Ring]] off [[Sauron]]'s hand in battle - not when Sauron was already conquered.

[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Last Alliance.jpg|thumb|right|240px|The War of the Last Alliance in ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'']]
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:This film also compresses the [[Battle of Dagorlad]], the Siege, and the final duel into one, and places them all at [[Mount Doom]], in a prologue similar to that of the 1978 film. The main perspective of the entire [[Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them All...|Prologue - ''One Ring to Rule Them All...'']] - lies with [[Elrond]]. The death of [[Gil-galad]] is not mentioned, [[Anárion]] is cut completely, and the deaths of [[Elendil]] and Sauron are rewritten: after coming forth, Sauron wreaks havoc among the [[Elves]] and [[Men]], and a blow from his mace throws Elendil against the mountainside, killing him. Isildur tries to take up [[Narsil]], but it breaks as Sauron steps on it. In a desperate strike, Isildur slashes the Ring, and four fingers, from Sauron's hand. Sauron's body sends a shockwave over the land and dissolves into nothingness.

:In a later scene, named ''[[The Fate of the Ring]]'', Elrond tells [[Gandalf]] of the final debate with Isildur, inside Mount Doom. [[Círdan]] is not present, and Isildur refuses by simply saying "No".

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)]]'':''''
:The war serves as the setting for the tutorial. The player controls Isildur making his way through Mordor.

{{References}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[Category:Wars]]

[[fr:encyclo/evenements/2a/guerres/guerre_de_la_derniere_alliance]]