Battle of the Gwathló: Difference between revisions

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{{battle
{{battle
|name=Battle of the Gwathló
|name=Battle of the Gwathló
Line 5: Line 4:
|conflict=[[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
|conflict=[[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
|date={{SA|1701}}<ref>{{App|SA}}</ref>
|date={{SA|1701}}<ref>{{App|SA}}</ref>
|place=Near [[Tharbad]] in [[Eriador]]
|place=Near [[Tharbad]], [[Eriador]]
|result=Decisive victory for Elven-Númenórean alliance
|result=Decisive victory for the Elves and Númenóreans
|side1=Elves and Númenóreans
|side1=[[Elves of Lindon]]<br />
|side2=Sauron's forces
[[Númenor]]
|commanders1=
|side2=Forces of [[Sauron]]
{{Gil-galad blazon}}
|commanders1=[[Gil-galad]]<br />
* [[Gil-galad]]
[[Tar-Minastir|Minastir]]<br />
* [[Ciryatur]]
[[Ciryatur]]
|commanders2={{Sauron blazon}}
|commanders2=[[Sauron]]
|forces1=Noldor Elves and Númenóreans
|forces1=Unknown
|forces2=Orcs, Evil Men, and other creatures of Sauron
|forces2=Unknown
|casual1=Light
|casual1=Unknown
|casual2=Critical
|casual2=Heavy<ref name="Galad">{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>
}}
}}
The '''Battle of the Gwathló''' was the final battle of the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]], fought between the forces of Sauron and the combined forces of [[Gil-galad]] and [[Tar-Minastir|Minastir]]. It ended in a serious defeat for the Dark Lord forcing him to retreat to [[Mordor]].


The '''Battle of the Gwathló''' was one of the battles fought during the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]]. It ended in a serious defeat for the Dark Lord.
==Background==
In {{SA|1695}} [[Gil-galad]], the [[High King of the Noldor|High King]] in [[Lindon]], requested aid from [[Númenor]] when [[Sauron]] invaded [[Eriador]]. [[Tar-Minastir|Minastir]], the [[King's Heir|heir]]<ref>{{UT|Kings}}, entry X ''Tar-Telperien''</ref><ref name=Delay>{{NM|P3xviii}}</ref><ref group=note>His aunt Queen [[Tar-Telperiën]] only surrendered the sceptre in [[Second Age 1731]]. In addition the chapter XVIII Note on the Delay of Gil-galad and the Númenóreans in The Nature of Middle-earth mentions "the great host of Minastir" instead of "the great host of Tar-Minastir".</ref> of Queen [[Tar-Telperiën]], sent a fleet commanded by the admiral [[Ciryatur]], but it was delayed until {{SA|1700}}, by which time the beleaguered [[Elves]] and Númenóreans (that were already in Lindon before the invasion) were barely holding the line of the River [[Lhûn]]. The arrival of the Númenórean fleet immediately changed the balance of forces such that Sauron's host was driven back with heavy casualties.<ref name="Galad"/>


==Prologue==
==History==
In {{SA|1695}} [[Gil-galad]], the Elven King of [[Lindon]], requested aid from [[Númenor]] when [[Sauron]] invaded [[Eriador]].  The [[Númenóreans]] sent a fleet commanded by the admiral [[Ciryatur]], but it was delayed until {{SA|1700|n}}, by which time the beleaguered [[Elves]] were barely holding the the line of the River [[Lhûn]].  The arrival of the Númenóreans immediately changed the balance of forces such that Sauron's host was driven back with heavy casualties.  Sauron suffered further defeat at [[Sarn Ford]] (on the [[Baranduin]]) and retreated to [[Tharbad]] where more of his forces joined him after coming up from the south-east.<ref name="Galad">{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>
===Prelude===
After being defeated at Lhûn, Sauron retreated with his host to [[Sarn Ford]], the crossing on the [[Baranduin]], and suffered another defeat. He further retreated southwards to [[Tharbad]] where more of his forces joined him after coming up from the south-east. Unbeknownst to Sauron, Ciryatur also had more forces at his disposal and sent part of his fleet at the [[Lond Daer|small Númenórean harbour]] at the mouth of the [[Gwathló]].<ref name="Galad"/>


==The Battle==
===Battle===
Unbeknownst to Sauron, Admiral Ciryatur had more forces at his disposal and had landed a strong force at the [[Lond Daer|small Númenórean harbour]] at the mouth of the [[Gwathló]] River.  This new contingent fell upon Sauron's rear from the south-west while Gil-galad's Elves and the other Númenóreans attacked from the north. Sauron's army was completely routed and he barely escaped himself.<ref name="Galad"/>
This new contingent fell upon Sauron's rear from the south-west while Gil-galad's Elves and the other Númenóreans attacked from the north. Sauron's army was completely routed and he barely escaped himself.<ref name="Galad"/>


==Aftermath==
===Aftermath===
Sauron and his small remaining forces fled across the [[Isen]] but were caught in eastern [[Calenardhon]]. Only a small bodyguard was left when Sauron escaped to [[Dagorlad]]. [[Eriador]] had peace for many years but the humiliation inflicted on Sauron determined him to seek vengeance upon Númenor.<ref name="Galad"/>
Sauron and his small remaining forces fled across the [[Isen]] but were caught in eastern [[Calenardhon]]. Only a small bodyguard was left when Sauron escaped to [[Dagorlad]]. Gil-galad moved north to lift the [[First Siege of Imladris|siege of Imladris]] and [[Eriador]] was cleared of the enemy. Eriador had peace for many years but the humiliation inflicted on Sauron made him determined to seek vengeance upon Númenor. [[Rivendell|Imladris]] became the new Elvish stronghold in eastern Eriador as [[Eregion]] was never rebuilt. Elrond became Gil-galad's vice-regent and received the ring [[Vilya]].<ref name="Galad"/>
{{References}}
{{References|n}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[fi:Gwathlón taistelu]]
[[fi:Gwathlón taistelu]]

Latest revision as of 05:30, 24 September 2022

Battle of the Gwathló
Conflict: War of the Elves and Sauron
Date: S.A. 1701[1]
Place: Near Tharbad, Eriador
Outcome: Decisive victory for the Elves and Númenóreans
Combatants

Elves of Lindon
Númenor

Forces of Sauron

Commanders

Gil-galad
Minastir
Ciryatur

Sauron

Strength

Unknown

Unknown

Casualties

Unknown

Heavy[2]

The Battle of the Gwathló was the final battle of the War of the Elves and Sauron, fought between the forces of Sauron and the combined forces of Gil-galad and Minastir. It ended in a serious defeat for the Dark Lord forcing him to retreat to Mordor.

Background[edit | edit source]

In S.A. 1695 Gil-galad, the High King in Lindon, requested aid from Númenor when Sauron invaded Eriador. Minastir, the heir[3][4][note 1] of Queen Tar-Telperiën, sent a fleet commanded by the admiral Ciryatur, but it was delayed until S.A. 1700, by which time the beleaguered Elves and Númenóreans (that were already in Lindon before the invasion) were barely holding the line of the River Lhûn. The arrival of the Númenórean fleet immediately changed the balance of forces such that Sauron's host was driven back with heavy casualties.[2]

History[edit | edit source]

Prelude[edit | edit source]

After being defeated at Lhûn, Sauron retreated with his host to Sarn Ford, the crossing on the Baranduin, and suffered another defeat. He further retreated southwards to Tharbad where more of his forces joined him after coming up from the south-east. Unbeknownst to Sauron, Ciryatur also had more forces at his disposal and sent part of his fleet at the small Númenórean harbour at the mouth of the Gwathló.[2]

Battle[edit | edit source]

This new contingent fell upon Sauron's rear from the south-west while Gil-galad's Elves and the other Númenóreans attacked from the north. Sauron's army was completely routed and he barely escaped himself.[2]

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

Sauron and his small remaining forces fled across the Isen but were caught in eastern Calenardhon. Only a small bodyguard was left when Sauron escaped to Dagorlad. Gil-galad moved north to lift the siege of Imladris and Eriador was cleared of the enemy. Eriador had peace for many years but the humiliation inflicted on Sauron made him determined to seek vengeance upon Númenor. Imladris became the new Elvish stronghold in eastern Eriador as Eregion was never rebuilt. Elrond became Gil-galad's vice-regent and received the ring Vilya.[2]

Notes

  1. His aunt Queen Tar-Telperiën only surrendered the sceptre in Second Age 1731. In addition the chapter XVIII Note on the Delay of Gil-galad and the Númenóreans in The Nature of Middle-earth mentions "the great host of Minastir" instead of "the great host of Tar-Minastir".

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Line of Elros: Kings of Númenor", entry X Tar-Telperien
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Carl F. Hostetter (ed.), The Nature of Middle-earth, "Part Three. The World, its Lands, and its Inhabitants: XVIII. Note on the Delay of Gil-galad and the Númenóreans"