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'''Carn Dûm''' was the capital of [[Angmar]].
{{location
| image=[[File:Matěj Čadil - Carn dum.jpg|250px]]
| name=Carn Dûm
| type=Fortress
| location=Located at the western end of the [[Mountains of Angmar]], south of [[Forodwaith (lands)|Forodwaith]], northwest of [[Mount Gundabad]]
| inhabitants=[[Orcs]], [[Men of Darkness]], Wolves, Trolls, and other evil creatures.
| realms=[[Angmar]]
| description=
| othernames=
| etymology=
| events=Assaults against [[Arnor]].
| references=
}}
{{Pronounce|Carn Dum.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Carn Dûm''' was the capital and chief fortress of the [[Witch-king]]'s realm of [[Angmar]].<ref>{{UT|Index}}, ''Carn Dûm''</ref>  It was located at the western end of the [[Mountains of Angmar]], the northwestern extension of the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref>
==History==
Around {{TA|1300}} the chief of the [[Nazgûl]] came north to found the realm of [[Angmar]],<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> seeing hope in the disunion of [[Arnor]] while the southern kingdom of [[Gondor]] remained powerful.  The Witch-king, as he became known, established Carn Dûm as his capital and populated it with [[Men of Darkness]], [[Orcs]], and other fell creatures.
Allying with the [[Hill-men]] of [[Rhudaur]], the Witch-king in Carn Dûm sent forces that resisted the claim of [[Argeleb I]] of [[Arthedain]] of lordship over all of the former lands of [[Arnor]].<ref name="North">{{App|Eriador}}</ref>  Clashes resulted and in {{TA|1356|n}} Argeleb was slain.<ref name="TA"/> [[Arveleg I]], the son of Argeleb, with strength from [[Cardolan]] and [[Lindon]], repelled Rhudaur and Angmar from the [[Weather Hills]] and established an uneasy, fortified frontier.
In {{TA|1409|n}} a stronger host commanded from Carn Dûm invaded [[Cardolan]], surrounded [[Weathertop]], and killed Arveleg.  Again a coalition of Arthedain (now ruled by [[Araphor]], son of Arveleg I) and Lindon contained the menace.
The kingdom of [[Arthedain]] perished in the [[Fall of Fornost]] in {{TA|1974|n}}.<ref name="North"/>  However, in {{TA|1975|n}}<ref name="TA"/> the Witch-king's forces were driven northeast after the [[Battle of Fornost]] by the cavalry of Gondor and destroyed.  [[Glorfindel of Rivendell|Glorfindel]] drove off the Witch-king himself.
The host of Gondor left no Man or Orc alive west of the Mountains.<ref name="North"/>  On the eastern side in {{TA|1977|n}} [[Frumgar]] led the [[Éothéod]] into the North<ref name="TA"/> and they drove the last remnants of [[Angmar]] away.<ref>{{App|Eorl}}</ref>  At this time then Carn Dûm was wholly abandoned. While it is possible that Carn Dûm was repopulated after {{TA|2480|n}}, when Orcs began making secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains,<ref name="TA"/> its name was never mentioned again in any histories.


Established near the [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] holy site [[Mount Gundabad]], it was inhabited by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] and his many servants: fallen [[Men]], [[Orcs]], and other creatures. From here he based his attacks on the three petty realms of [[Arnor]], quickly managing to destroy [[Rhudaur]] and later also [[Cardolan]].
==Etymology==
The etymology of ''Carn Dûm'' is uncertain and it could be any it could be any [[Elvish]] or [[Mannish]] language.


[[Arthedain]] fell in the [[Battle of Fornost]] in [[Third Age|T.A.]] 1974, but the Witch-king was routed by [[Glorfindel]] and in T.A. 1975 Angmar itself fell under an assault by the [[Dúnedain]] of [[Gondor]], the survivors of [[Arnor]], and [[Elves]] of [[Lindon]]. Carn Dûm was utterly destroyed, although some Orcs survived there until at least the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]] and possibly after as well, until they were wiped out by [[Aragorn]], King Elessar of the Reunited Kingdom.
Concerning Mannish and the real world languages, it could be [[wikipedia:Gaelic|Gaelic]], in which it roughly translates as "mountain fortress";<ref>[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/c/carndum.html Carn Dûm] at the [[Encyclopedia of Arda]]</ref> although Tolkien uses [[Celtic]] elements for some translated [[Mannish]] names, this would have been the only instance where he uses Gaelic. It is unknown whether this is just coincidence or not.


[[Category:Cities]]
''[[Dûm]]'' is a [[Khuzdul]] word meaning "halls, mansions". The name Carn Dûm therefore could be [[Khuzdul]] (suggested by its proximity to nearby [[Gundabad]]) but [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] used ''K'' for this language instead of ''C''.<ref>{{App|E1}}</ref>
 
In ''[[The Return of the Shadow]]'', "Carndoom" appears as an early name of [[Dimrill Dale]] which, according to Tolkien, means "Red Valley". This corresponds with [[Sindarin]] ''carn'' "red" and ''tûm'' "valley".<ref>{{RS|4XXIVN}} (note 13, p. 433)</ref>
 
[[David Salo]] favors the Sindarin interpretation of "red valley", and provides the name as an example of the few Sindarin phrases where the adjective ''precedes'' the noun (others being [[Sarn Athrad]] and [[Sarn Gebir]]).<ref>{{HM|GS}}, p. 102</ref> Otherwise, neither words ''carn'' and ''dûm'' have been attested (''carn'' could be a short form of ''[[caran]]'' possibly also seen in ''[[carcharoth|'''Car'''charoth]]'', "red maw")
 
==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Carn Dûm|Images of Carn Dûm]]
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king]]'':'''
:Carn Dum is the capital of [[Angmar]]. The campaign begins with its construction, and it is besieged once by [[Glorfindel]]. Carn dum is also playable in the skirmish section of the game.
 
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Carn Dum is a region in the game. It is ruled by Angmar's shadow that has returned to this city in the form of the False King, [[Mordirith]], Steward of Angmar.
 
'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'' '''
:Carn Dum is the final level in the game. It is ruled by [[Agandaûr]], a descendant of the [[Black Númenóreans]] and a servant of [[Sauron]].
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
[[Category:Evil realms]]
[[de:Carn Dûm]]
[[fi:Carn Dûm]]
[[fr:encyclo:geographie:villes_tours_et_forteresses:eriador:carn_dum]]

Revision as of 21:04, 23 April 2016

Carn Dûm
Fortress
Matěj Čadil - Carn dum.jpg
General Information
LocationLocated at the western end of the Mountains of Angmar, south of Forodwaith, northwest of Mount Gundabad
TypeFortress
RegionsAngmar
People and History
InhabitantsOrcs, Men of Darkness, Wolves, Trolls, and other evil creatures.
EventsAssaults against Arnor.
GalleryImages of Carn Dûm

Carn Dûm was the capital and chief fortress of the Witch-king's realm of Angmar.[1] It was located at the western end of the Mountains of Angmar, the northwestern extension of the Misty Mountains.[2]

History

Around T.A. 1300 the chief of the Nazgûl came north to found the realm of Angmar,[3] seeing hope in the disunion of Arnor while the southern kingdom of Gondor remained powerful. The Witch-king, as he became known, established Carn Dûm as his capital and populated it with Men of Darkness, Orcs, and other fell creatures.

Allying with the Hill-men of Rhudaur, the Witch-king in Carn Dûm sent forces that resisted the claim of Argeleb I of Arthedain of lordship over all of the former lands of Arnor.[4] Clashes resulted and in 1356 Argeleb was slain.[3] Arveleg I, the son of Argeleb, with strength from Cardolan and Lindon, repelled Rhudaur and Angmar from the Weather Hills and established an uneasy, fortified frontier.

In 1409 a stronger host commanded from Carn Dûm invaded Cardolan, surrounded Weathertop, and killed Arveleg. Again a coalition of Arthedain (now ruled by Araphor, son of Arveleg I) and Lindon contained the menace.

The kingdom of Arthedain perished in the Fall of Fornost in 1974.[4] However, in 1975[3] the Witch-king's forces were driven northeast after the Battle of Fornost by the cavalry of Gondor and destroyed. Glorfindel drove off the Witch-king himself.

The host of Gondor left no Man or Orc alive west of the Mountains.[4] On the eastern side in 1977 Frumgar led the Éothéod into the North[3] and they drove the last remnants of Angmar away.[5] At this time then Carn Dûm was wholly abandoned. While it is possible that Carn Dûm was repopulated after 2480, when Orcs began making secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains,[3] its name was never mentioned again in any histories.

Etymology

The etymology of Carn Dûm is uncertain and it could be any it could be any Elvish or Mannish language.

Concerning Mannish and the real world languages, it could be Gaelic, in which it roughly translates as "mountain fortress";[6] although Tolkien uses Celtic elements for some translated Mannish names, this would have been the only instance where he uses Gaelic. It is unknown whether this is just coincidence or not.

Dûm is a Khuzdul word meaning "halls, mansions". The name Carn Dûm therefore could be Khuzdul (suggested by its proximity to nearby Gundabad) but Tolkien used K for this language instead of C.[7]

In The Return of the Shadow, "Carndoom" appears as an early name of Dimrill Dale which, according to Tolkien, means "Red Valley". This corresponds with Sindarin carn "red" and tûm "valley".[8]

David Salo favors the Sindarin interpretation of "red valley", and provides the name as an example of the few Sindarin phrases where the adjective precedes the noun (others being Sarn Athrad and Sarn Gebir).[9] Otherwise, neither words carn and dûm have been attested (carn could be a short form of caran possibly also seen in Carcharoth, "red maw")

See also

Portrayal in adaptations

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king:

Carn Dum is the capital of Angmar. The campaign begins with its construction, and it is besieged once by Glorfindel. Carn dum is also playable in the skirmish section of the game.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Carn Dum is a region in the game. It is ruled by Angmar's shadow that has returned to this city in the form of the False King, Mordirith, Steward of Angmar.

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

Carn Dum is the final level in the game. It is ruled by Agandaûr, a descendant of the Black Númenóreans and a servant of Sauron.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, Carn Dûm
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl"
  6. Carn Dûm at the Encyclopedia of Arda
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Pronunciation of Words and Names"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The Story Continued: XXIV. The Ring Goes South, Notes" (note 13, p. 433)
  9. David Salo (2004), A Gateway to Sindarin, p. 102