Nirnaeth Arnoediad

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Nírnaeth Arnoediad
Conflict: War of the Jewels (fifth battle of the Wars of Beleriand)
Date: F.A. 472
Place: Anfauglith
Outcome: Decisive victory for Angband due to the betrayal of the Easterlings. Also caused a great depopulation of the warriors of the Noldor and House of Hador in Hithlum; led to the occupation of Hithlum and parts of Beleriand by Morgoth's forces
Combatants

The Union of Maedhros, consisting of an alliance of the Noldor, Edain, Easterlings, and Dwarves

Orc armies, Glaurung, Gothmog

Commanders

File:Feanor device.gifMaedhros, other Sons of Fëanor

File:Fingolfin device.gifFingon

File:Morgoth1.gifMorgoth

Strength

Many of the Noldor and Edain: most of the warriors of Dor-lómin, ten thousand Elves of Gondolin under Turgon, a company of Elves from Nargothrond, a group of the people of Haleth from Brethil; and many Dwarves of Belegost and the Easterling House of Bór

Multiple hosts consisting of Balrogs, Orcs, and trolls; supplemented by the traitor Easterlings

Casualties

Huge, a crippling blow to those opposing Morgoth. All Men of Dor-lómin except Húrin slain; many leaders and their men were either slain or barely escaped. Large numbers taken captive

Sizable, particularly in early points of the battle, but ultimately a small percentage of the total hosts committed

The Nírnaeth Arnoediad or Battle of Unnumbered Tears was the disastrous Fifth Battle in the Wars of Beleriand. Its name was taken from the first words of the Doom of Mandos: "Tears unnumbered ye shall shed...".


Events Prior to the Battle

In the year 473 of the Years of the Sun in the First Age, Maedhros decided that taking the offense against Angband might help the Noldor regain their former lands. In the almost two decades since their defeat in the Dagor Bragollach, the Noldor had lost control over the entire north of Beleriand, and were for the most part reduced to refugees dwelling in Hithlum and Nargothrond. Gondolin was shut and unknown.


Opposing Forces and Plans

Under the Union of Maedhros all the Elves of Beleriand, as well as the Edain, Dwarves, and the newly arrived Easterlings were invited to combine in arms and fight Morgoth. The Union first cleared Beleriand and Dorthonion from the Orcs, and then gathered to assault Thangorodrim.

The plan was for Maedhros's host to attack and draw out the army of Angband, after which Fingon's host would attack from the Ered Wethrin, taking the offensive in the west.

Under Maedhros in the east were gathered the remainder of the sons of Fëanor, the Elves and Men of Himring under Maedhros and Bór, and the men of Amon Ereb under Caranthir and Ulfang.

Under Fingon in the west were gathered the Elves and Men of Hithlum, the Elves of the Falas, the Haladin of Brethil and the companies sent from Nargothrond and the two elves of Doriath, Beleg and Mablung.

Because of the evil deeds of Celegorm and Curufin, two of Maedhros's brothers, Nargothrond would send only a small company of elves under Gwindor. From Doriath, where Thingol had sworn never to support any son of Fëanor, came only Mablung and Beleg, who did not wish to remain behind. However, Turgon unexpectedly came forth with over ten thousand elves from Gondolin, doubling the force of the west.


The Battle

But Morgoth through his spies had learned of the battle plan, and his spy Ulfang, who proved to be a traitor, delayed Maedhros. Meanwhile a small force of Orcs went forth from Angband, provoking the western host. Within sight of the Ered Wethrin, Gwindor's brother Gelmir, captured during the Dagor Bragollach, was brought forth, and brutally slain. Enraged, Gwindor broke ranks, and with him most of Fingon's troops as well as a part of Turgon's host. Their rage was so great that they nearly destroyed the western Orc host and foiled Morgoth's plans.

It is said that Morgoth trembled as Gwindor's company pounded at his gates. They burst through, and slew the guards on the steps of Angband. But then, they were surrounded by hidden forces, and all were slain or taken. From hidden gates around Angband thousands of Orcs erupted, driving back the host of Fingon from the walls. The elven army was driven back with great slaughter. Many Haladin fell in the rearguard.

Turgon, who had withheld his host from the reckless charge, now came upon the orc host. The phalanx of Turgon broke through the Angband lines, and met with the guard of Fingon. The meeting of the two brothers was glad.

Finally Maedhros arrived, but before he could meet with Fingon and Turgon Glaurung the dragon and Gothmog lord of Balrogs met him. Still they may have won, but Uldor, son of Ulfang and a traitor, turned ranks and attacked Maedhros in the rear, while more of his kin came down from the mountains and attacked. The eastern host was scattered, and only the valour of the Dwarves of Belegost helped them escape, as their lord Azaghâl and his forces held off Glaurung, allowing the sons of Fëanor to escape into Ossiriand.

Azaghâl and his army fought with fierce iron masks on, and they were able to resist the fire far better than any Elf or Man. Then Glaurung trampled Azaghâl beneath his feet, but Azaghâl ran a dagger through Glaurung's stomach, and the dragon fled in pain, screaming. With him fled many of the host of Morgoth. In a solemn ceremony the Dwarves picked up their fallen leader, forgetting about the battle, and they marched him home, in a great procession. Their wrath was so great that none troubled them.

All this had not helped the western host, who were attacked by many Orcs under Gothmog. Fingon fell under his might, and Húrin begged Turgon to retreat to Gondolin. Huor and Húrin and the remaining Men of Dor-lómin formed a living wall across the Fen of Serech, buying time for Turgon to escape with most of the surviving Elves of the north. The Men of Dor-lómin were all slain, until Huor fell when his eye was pierced by a poisoned arrow, and his brother Húrin was captured alive when he was pinned under a mountain of slain Orcs and Trolls.


Aftermath and Repercussions

Morgoth's victory was near complete, as he had destroyed all the people of Hithlum and had scattered the sons of Fëanor away from Himring. Morgoth's Orcs razed all of Beleriand except for Doriath, which was still protected by the Girdle of Melian, and sacked the havens of the Falas.

Morgoth betrayed his servants the Easterlings, trapping them in Hithlum under penalty of death, and denied them the fertile lands of Beleriand. Still Morgoth knew fear, for Turgon, now High King of the Ñoldor after the death of Fingon in the battle, had survived, and his city Gondolin was still unknown to Morgoth.

See also


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