First Battle of Beleriand

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First Battle
Conflict: War of the Jewels
Date: YOTT 1497
Place: Beleriand
Outcome: Victory for the combined forces of Sindar and Green Elves
Combatants

The Sindar of Beleriand (particularly Eglador) and the Laiquendi of Ossiriand

The forces Angband

Commanders

Elu Thingol, Denethor†, Círdan

Unknown

Strength

The Sindar of Eglador and the lightly armed Laiquendi, also some Dwarves in the later stages

Orcs though likely other creatures as well

Casualties

Unspecified though heavy on the part of the Green Elves

Unspecified

The First Battle of Beleriand was the first battle of the Wars of Beleriand, fought by the Sindar against Morgoth.

While the Noldor still toiled through Araman, Morgoth had already arrived in Middle-earth, and had occupied his old fortress of Angband where his servants Sauron and Gothmog had long been breeding Orcs.

Unexpected by the Sindar, Morgoth decided to try and secure the area quickly, and he sent out his armies. This was the only battle against the Dark Lord that the Sindar took an active role. Morgoth's forces broke into two hosts, passing west through the vale of Sirion and east between Aros and Gelion, some of them even scaling the passes of Anarch and Aglon.

In the east, King Elu Thingol of Doriath took the offense, meeting the Orcs at Amon Ereb. There King Denethor of the Laiquendi met him, and the Orcs were forced back-to-back. The lightly armed company of Denethor fell on Amon Ereb before Thingol could rescue him and King Denethor himself was slain, but the Orcs were eventually defeated. Those few survivors were slain by the Dwarves of Mount Dolmed.

In the west, the Elves of the Falas under their Lord Círdan attacked the western host, but they lost that fight, and retreated in their cities of Eglarest and Brithombar. These cities were besieged afterwards, and Doriath was unable to gather a strong enough force to send aid. The Havens were only freed when the Orcs withdrew to fight the Noldor under Fëanor.

After the First Battle Doriath was protected by the magical Girdle of Melian.

The death of King Denethor in this battle led the Laiquendi to pledge to never again name a king or participate in the wars between the other Elves and Morgoth.


War of the Great Jewels
First Battle · Dagor-nuin-Giliath · Dagor Aglareb · Dagor Bragollach · Nirnaeth Arnoediad · War of Wrath