Battle of Dagorlad

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The name Battle of Dagorlad refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Battle of Dagorlad (disambiguation).


Battle of Dagorlad
Conflict: War of the Last Alliance
Date: S.A. 3434
Place: The plains or Dagorlad outside Mordor
Outcome: Decisive victory for the Allies
Combatants

Men, Elves, and Dwarves

Orcs, Easterlings, Southrons, Trolls, and other creatures and servants of Sauron

Commanders

Template:Gil-galad blazon

Template:Sauron blazon

Strength

Hundreds of thousands of Men, Elves, and Dwarves

Hundreds of thousands of Orcs, Fallen Men, and other evil creatures

Casualties

Many thousands

Vast numbers, more than the allies

The Battle of Dagorlad occurred in the year 3434 of the Second Age. It was fought between the army of the Last Alliance under Gil-galad and Elendil and an army of Orcs and other creatures loyal to Sauron. The battle took place on the great, treeless, open plain between the Dead Marshes and Cirith Gorgor.

Prelude

After the Downfall of Númenor in S.A. 3319 the remaining Faithful led by Elendil and his sons Isildur and Anárion etablished the Realms in Exile in Middle-earth. Elendil ruled Arnor in the north, Isildur and Anarion jointly ruled the southern realm of Gondor. Sauron had survived the Fall of Númenor and returned to his fortress Barad-dûr in Mordor.

Perceiving that his enemies of old had escaped the downfall, Sauron's wrath was great and in 3429 he launched an attack upon Gondor. To counter this attack Elendil and Gil-galad, High King of the Noldor forged the Last Alliance of Elves and Men to defeat Sauron finally. Meanwhile Anárion held out in Gondor, defending Osgiliath and Minas Anor[1].

The united host of Elves and Men crossed the Misty Mountains and marched south through the vale of Anduin, where they were joined by the Silvan Elves lead by Amdír and Oropher[2]. and also a host from Khazad-dûm[3]. The Alliance entered the vast plain between the Dead Marshes and Cirith Gorgor, where Sauron's host awaited them, from the north-west and where joined by Anárion's forces.

The Battle

Not many accounts of the battle itself are given. The two captains of the Silvan Elves had little sympathy for the Sindar and Noldor Elves that were led by Gil-galad. As a result they were indisposed to place themselves under the supreme command of Gil-galad and impetuous and stubborn as they were attacked the host of Mordor rashly, before Gil-galad had given the command. The Silvans were valiant and doughty, but comparably ill-equipped and Oropher perished in the first onslaught while Amdír and his troops were cut off an driven into the marshes where half of his host perished[2].

Nevertheless the Alliance gained the upper hand and drove away the Orcs and wicked Men Sauron had mustered. Thus they finally broke through Cirith Gorgor (it is unclear how the Alliance managed to break through the Morannon), and established a camp upon Gorgoroth[3].

Aftermath

A great part of Sauron's soldiers was slain in this battle. The Alliance was able to enter Mordor and lay siege upon Barad-dûr itself. Nevertheless Sauron still had enough supplies to defend the fortress for seven more years, until the siege was so pressing that he himself came forth, which led to the battle on the slopes of Orodruin in which Sauron was defeated and the One Ring taken from him.[3]

Notes

In the Third Age, the Dagorlad was the site of several battles between Gondor and various Easterling armies, and the climatic Battle of the Morannon.

In the text in the Unfinished Tales Amdír is named Malgalad for an unknown reason.[2] Oropher's son Thranduil survived the war and established his reign over the Silvan Elves in Eryn Galen.

References