The Battle of the Pelennor Fields:
One of the major battles in the War of the Ring, it occurred over the
days of March 13th to 15th. It was during the days of this battle that
the following happened:
Theoden, King of Rohan was slain
Merry and Eowyn slew the Lord of the Nazgul
The Gates of Gondor were broken by the rams of the host of Mordor under
the guidance of the Lord of the Nazgul.
The first and second circles of Minas Tirith were set to burn by the
Enemy.
Denethor, Steward of Gondor attempted to burn both himself and his son,
Faramir. Faramir was saved by Gandalf and Beregond, but Denethor killed
himself.
Aragorn brought the fleet from Pelargir and turned the tide of battle
The Rohirrim host arrived.The forces of the West were victorious in this battle, though with losses.
The Battle of Helms
Deep:
One of the major battles in the War of the Ring, the Battle of the Hornburg
occurred on March 3rd 3019. This was a battle between Rohan and the
armies of Saruman, then known as Saruman the White. The forces of Rohan
had the aid of the Huorns from Fagorn Forest and were victorious.
Saruman's armies contained Orcs, Wolf-Riders, Half-orcs and Dundlendings.
They also had a "blasting fire" with which they took the Wall of Helms
Deep. They did not take the Hornburg and were defeated by both Rohirrim
armies and the Huorns, so soundly that few orcs returned to their master.
It was during this battle that Gimli discovered the Glittering Caves
of Aglarond where he later settled with many other dwarves.
Battle of Bywater:
The last battle fought in the Shire, the battle of Bywater was fought
on November 20, 3019.
Battle of the Five
Armies:
The Battle of the Five Armies occurred in 2941 of the Third Age. This
battle began between the Dwarves on one side and the Wood-Elves and
the Men of Lake-Town on the other. The Men of Lake-Town and the King
of the Wood-Elves demanded a portion of the spoils of the Lonely Mountain
after the death of Smaug and Thorin refused them. At that time there
were only the thirteen dwarves from the quest of Erebor. Thorin sent
a message by raven to his cousin Dain in the Iron Hills. Several days
later they arrived and seeing the siege, attacked the Men and Elves.
Gandalf appeared in the middle of things and forced a truce, during
which he informed them of the approaching army of Orcs and wargs. The
Men, Dwarves and Elves allied against the Orcs, but even so they were
greatly outnumbered. Then the Eagles arrived, as did Beorn. These brought
victory against the Orcs. However, Thorin, Filli and Killi died in the
battle.
The full record of this battle is given by Bilbo in the Hobbit, the
diary of his journey with the Dwarves.
Battle of Azanulbizar:
The final battle in the war of the Dwarves and the Orcs, in which the
Dwarves, in return for an insult done to the body of Thror, pursued
an extermination policy against the orcs. In this final battle the Dwarves
had the victory, though with great loss. Thanks to this battle, the
Orc population was diminished for many years, allowing safer travel.
However, the orc population had grown back to normal by the time of
the War of the Ring.
Battle
of the Gladden Fields:
The battle of the Gladden Fields was fought between orcs, guarding the
area from retreating Dunedain after the War of the Last Alliance and
Isildur, with a small guard. Isildur was heading north towards the passes
of the Misty Mountains and Rivendel. He was ambushed with a small guard.
They managed to survive the day, but that evening, Isildur, wearing
the Ring, attempted to swim the Anduin. The Ring slipped off his finger
and he was seen by the orcs. He was shot by their arrows and killed.
However, as was later found, the area where they were was not very deep,
about shoulder deep on a tall man, and fairly slow-running.
There are at least two different traditions recorded about the Battle
of the Gladden Fields, with the other stating that they were surrounded
by a great host of orcs and overthrown. I believe the first tradition,
as it was borne out by fact, as they found some artifacts of Isildur's
death in Orthanc after. Only three men made it to Rivendell, including
Ohtar, with the shards of the Narsil.
Battle of the Fords
of Isen:
There were two battles at the Fords of Isen during the War of the Ring,
the first on February 25 3019, and the second on March 2 3019.
In the first, Theoden's son, Theodred was slain by orcs and his army
defeated, and in the second, Erkenbrand and his soldiers were victorious
against the orcs.
The Chaining of
Melkor
The imprisonment of Melkor after the Battle of the Powers. Melkor was
sentenced to 3 ages in the halls of Mandos. This was the time period
just after the awakening of the Eldar at Cuivienen, and was also the
Noontide of the Valar.
The Change of the
World
The removal of the Undying Lands from Arda, and the changing of the
world into the globe we know now.
Dagor Aglareb:
The Glorious Battle. One of the major battles fought between the Noldor
and Morgoth. In this battle the Noldor were victorious and completely
destroyed the armies sent against them.
Dagor Bragollach:
The Battle of Flame. In this battle, Morgoth sent out rivers of fire.
At the same time, Glaurung attacked along with Balrogs and Orcs. It
was after the first defeat in this battle that Fingolfin challenged
Morgoth to single combat. In this battle, Fingolfin wounded Morgoth
seven times, and ever after, Morgoth walked with a limp due to one of
the the wounds. Fingolfin was slain and the plain of Ard-galen remained
barren after.
Therefore
Morgoth came, climbing slowly from his subterranean throne, and the
rumor of his feet was like thunder underground. And he issued forth
clad in black armour; and he stood before the King like a tower, iron-crowned,
and his vast shield, sable unblazoned, cast a shadow over him like a
stormcloud. But Fingolfin gleamed beneath it as a star; for his mail
was overlaid with silver, and his blue shield was set with crystals;
and he drew his sword Ringil, that glittered like ice.
Then Morgoth hurled aloft Grond, the Hammer of the Underworld, and swung
it down like a bolt of thunder. But Fingolfin sprang aside, and Grond
rent a mighty pit in the earth whence smoke and fire darted. Many times
Morgoth essayed to smite him, and each time Fingolfin leaped away, as
a lighting shoots from under a dark cloud; and he wounded Morgoth with
seven wounds, and seven times Morgoth gave a cry of anguish, whereat
the hosts of Angband fell upon their faces in dismay, and the cries
echoed in the Northlands.
But at last the King grew weary, and Morgoth bore down his shield upon
him. Thrice he was crushed to his knees, and thrice arose again and
bore up his broken shield and stricken helm. But the earth was all rent
and pitted about him, and he stumbled and fell backward before the feet
of Morgoth; and Morgoth set his left foot upon his neck, and the weight
of it was like a fallen hill. Yet with his last and desperate stroke
Fingolfin hewed the foot with Ringil, and the blood gushed forth black
and smoking and filled the pits of Grond.
Thus died Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor, most proud and valiant
of the Elven-Kings of old. The Orcs made no boast of that duel at the
gate; neither do the Elves sing of it, for their sorrow is too deep.
The Silmarillion, pages 184-185.
In this battle, the Noldor lost the plain of Ard-galen and the forests
of Dorthonion, which became known as the Forests of Night afterwards.
Dagor-Nuin-Giliath:
The Battle Beneath the Stars, this was the second major battle in the
wars in Beleriand. The Noldor slaughtered two orc hosts, but in the
end, Feanor was fatally wounded and Maedhros was captured.
Farewell Party:
Bilbo's 111th birthday party, in which he disappeared, leaving Bag-End
and all his belongings, including the Ring, to Frodo, who had reached
his 33rd birthday on the same day. The date was September 22 3001 of
the Third Age.
Fell Winter:
The long and unusually cold winter of Third Age 2911. In the records
of the hobbits, it bears the name the Fell winter. During this winter,
the Brandywine River froze over and the Shire was invaded by wolves.
First War:
The first war between Melkor and the Valar. This took place during the
completion of the building of Arda. Melkor fled the latecomer, Tulkas
and the Valar were able to complete their creation.
Great Battle:
The battle that ended the First Age of the Sun. It ended with the defeat
of Morgoth and the unfortunate destruction of most of Beleriand. It
was also the last time that the Valar will have left Aman for battle
until the end of time yet to come in the Final Battle. Most of the Eldar
in Aman at that time joined the Valar for this battle.
The Great Journey:
The journey of the Elves from the eastern regions of Middle-Earth to
Aman. This journey lasted many years and was led by the Vala Orome.
The hosts of the Elves were in three sections, the Vanyar, who came
first, the Noldor, who were the second, and the Teleri, who were the
greatest numbers, and many left the journey and remained in Middle-Earth,
especially among the Teleri.
Great Plague:
A plague that swept through Middle-Earth from the south-east. It occurred
in the Third Age during the years 1636 and 1637. Many parts of the lands
were deserted afterwards, and the watch on Mordor was abandoned. The
casualties included the King of Gondor and all of his children. At the
same time the White Tree died.
Hunt for the Ring:
A seventeen year search for the One Ring. Sauron involved the Ringwraiths,
orcs, and many spies in this search. Sometime between the years 2980
and 3009 of the Third Age, Gollum was captured on the borders of Mordor
and tortured by Sauron. Though Gollum did not give out much information,
he did give Bilbo's name.
The Ringwraiths discovered the Shire in 3018, but did not find Frodo
until they ambushed him on Weathertop on October 6. Even then he escaped
them and continued to do so, making it to Rivendell. After this point,
there was very little said about the hunt for the Ring.
The Hiding of Valinor
The raising of the Pelori and the establishment of the Shadowy Seas
and the Enchanted Isles as a barrier to both Morgoth and those of the
Noldor who had left Aman against the will of the Valar.
The Kinslaying
at Alqualonde:
The first evil of the Oath of Feanor, and a major cause of the eventual
Doom of the Noldor.
When the Teleri wouldn't join Feanor or give him their ships, Feanor
led the host of the Noldor to attack the Teleri and steal the ships.
Many of the Teleri were slain and as a result wouldn't join the Vanyar
in the Great battle, though they were persuaded to sail the ships to
Middle-Earth, not one of the Teleri set foot on land.
The Kin-Strife:
The civil war in Gondor between the years 1432 and 1448 of the Third
Age, it was fought over favours shown to the Northmen and the fear that
it was weakening the Dunedain blood and shortening their lifespan. The
King had to flee Gondor, but ten years later returned with an army and
retook his country. The surviving rebels fled to Umbar, where they caused
trouble until the time of the War of the Ring.
Last Alliance:
The Last Alliance of Men and Elves. This army was the greatest in Middle-Earth
after the host of the Valar in the Great Battle. In 3434 of the Second
Age, Gil-galad, the last High King of the Noldor and Elendil, the High
King of Arnor and Gondor, declared war on Sauron. They successfully
besieged Barad-dur after winning the battle on the Dagorlad. The siege
lasted until 3441, when Sauron was overthrown on the slopes of Orodruin.
However, both Elendil and Gil-galad died also. Isildur claimed the Ring,
and set the stage for the War of the Ring which ended the Third Age.
The Last Battle:
The final battle after which Arda will be free of evil. The Halls of
Mandos will be emptied, though it is not clear what part Men and Dwarves
will have.
Long Winter:
The winter of 2758-7759 of the Third Age of the Sun. Famine was widespread,
especially in Rohan. In the Shire, disaster was averted with the aid
of Gandalf.
Long Peace:
Nearly 200 years of peace in the Elves war against Morgoth. It was at
this time that the Edain first came to Beleriand.
Nirnaeth Arnoediad:
The Battle of Unnumbered Tears. The most disastrous of the battles in
Beleriand. It was this battle that ended most of the resistance to Morgoth
in northern Beleriand. This was also the first battle in which treachery
played a part as the Men of Ulfang turned on the host of Maedhros, delaying
them and preventing and effective use of the armies. From all of the
armies of the Edain, of whom most fell screening the retreat of the
armies of Turgon there was only one survivor, Hurin. He was captured
by Morgoth (The Silmarillion pages 234-235):
Last of all Hurin stood alone. Then he cast aside his
shield and wielded and axe two-handed; and it is sung that the axe smoked
in the black blood of the troll-guard of Gothmog until it withered,
and each time that he slew Hurin cried: 'Aure entuluva! Day shall come
again!' Seventy times he uttered that cry; but they took him at last
alive, by the command of Morgoth, for the Orcs grappled him with their
hands, which clung to him still though he hewed off their arms; and
ever their numbers were renewed, until at last he fell buried beneath
them. Then Gothmog bound him and dragged him to Angband with mockery.
The Quest of Erebor:
The
journey of Bilbo, detailed in is memoirs, now called the Hobbit. This
tale tells about the journey to the Lonely Mountain with Thorin, Oin,
Ori, Bifur, Bofur, Bombour, Filli, Killi, Dori, Balin, Dwalin, Gloin
and Nori. This took place in the year 2941 of the Third Age. A small
event in this quest, though it was to play a major part of the end of
the Third Age was the finding of the magic ring in Gollums cave.
The Quest of Mount
Doom:
Frodo's quest to destroy the One Ring. This happened during the War
of the Ring in the years 3018 to 3019 of the Third Age. This quest was
successful, though with great cost for Frodo as he was seriously injured
several times, including by the Morgul Knife belonging to the Witch-King,
the sting of Shelob and by Gollum biting off his finger, in order to
get the One Ring. The full tale is told in the book The Lord of the
Rings, written by B9ilbo Baggins, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgeee.
The Quest of the
Silmaril:
This came about because of Thingol's request that in order to marry
Luthien, Beren had to gain one of the three Silmarils from Morgoth's
crown. The quest was successful though both Beren and Luthien died in
the end.
The Siege of Gondor:
Beginning on the 13th of March, 3019 of the Third Age, the siege of
Gondor lasted until the 15th of March, culminating in the destruction
of the Gate to Minas Tirith, the coming of the Rohirrim and of the Grey
Company, and the death of the Witch-King. The siege caused heavy losses
to the forces of Gondor and was very demoralizing as the Nazgul were
constantly overhead and the fumes of Orodruin were causing an evil darkness
over the land. At the end, the Steward Denethor burned himself on a
pyre rather than submit to defeat as he thought would come.
The Siege of Angband:
A four hundred year period of the ongoing war between Morgoth and the
Eldar, this was a time of relative peace for the Eldar and the Atani.
It began after the Dagor Aglareb, and extended until the Dagor Bragollach.
The Siege of Barad-dur:
The final seven years of the War of the Last Alliance. During this time
period, Anarion was slain by a cast stone from the tower. The siege
began in the year 3434 of the Second Age of the Sun and lasted until
3441 of the Second Age.
The War of the
Jewels:
This war lasted almost from the rising of the Sun until the end of the
First Age of the Sun. It was between Morgoth and the Eldar, after the
Dark Lord stole the Silmarils. Unfortunately it eventually ended up
with elf fighting elf, due to the the Oath of Feanor, the Silmarillion,
pages 97-98:
Then Feanor swore a terrible oath. His seven sons leapt straightaway
to his side and took the selfsame vow together, and red as blood shone
their drawn swords in the glare of the torches. They swore an oath which
none shall break, and none should take, by even the name of Iluvatar,
calling the Everlasting Dark upon them if they kept it not; and Manwe
they named in witness, and Varda, and the hallowed mountain of Taniquetil,
vowing to pursue with vengeance and hatred to the ends of the World
Vala, Demon, Elf or Man as yet unborn, or any creature, great or small,
good or evil, that time should bring forth unto the end of days, whoso
should hold or take or keep a Silmaril from their possession. Thus spoke
Maedhros and Maglor and Celegorm, Curufin and Caranthir, Amrod and Amras,
princes of the Noldor; and many quailed to hear the dread words. For
so sworn, good or evil, an oath may not be broken, and it shall pursue
oathkeeper and oathbreaker to the world's end.
The war was never fully successful, probably due to the doom placed
on the Noldor for their deeds in leaving Valinor. The Silmarillion,
pages 103-104:
Tears unnumbered ye shall shed; and the Valar will fence Valinor
against you, and shut you out, so that not even the echo of your lamentation
shall pass over the moutains. On the House of Feanor the wrath of the
Valar lieth from the West unto the uttermost East, and upon all that
will follow them it shall be laid also. Their Oath shall drive them,
and yet betray them, and ever snatch away the very treasures that they
have sworn to pursue. To evil end shall all things turn that they begin
well; and by treason of kin unto kin and the fear of treason, shall
this come to pass. The Disposessed shall they be forever. Ye have spilled
the blood of your kindred unrighteously and have stained the land of
Aman. For blood ye shall render blood, and beyond Aman ye shall dwell
in Death's shadow. For though Eru appointed to you to die not in Ea,
and no sickness may assail you, yet slain ye may be, and slain ye shall
be: by weapon and by torment and grief; and your houseless spirits shall
come then to Mandos. There long shall ye abide and yearn for your bodies,
and find little pity though all whom ye have slain should entreat for
you. And those that endure in Middle-earth and come not to Mandos shall
grow weary of the world as with a great burden, and shall wane, and
become as shadows of regret before the younger race that cometh after.
The Valar have spoken.
By the end of the War of the Jewels, one of the Silmarils was in the
sky with Earendil, as the Evening Star, another had been thrown in the
ocean, and the third into a crevasse in the earth.
War of the Dwarves
and the Orcs:
War between the Orcs of the Misty Mountains and the Dwarves, lasting
between the years 2793 and 2799 of the Third Age. It ended with the
Battle of Azanulbizar, in which the Dwarves were victorious. The Orc
population had been reduced enough to make passage through the mountains
safe for the next century or so.
The War of the
Ring:
The events of the years 3018 and 3019 of the Third Age. For more information,
see the calendar on this site.
The Watchful Peace:
The years between 2063 and 2460 of the Third Age. Sauron remained hidden
in Dol Guldur and the Nazgul were quiet within Minas Morgul.
Books used in this document:
The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarillion
The Hobbit
The Unfinished Tales
The Robert Foster Complete Guide to Middle-Earth
