War of the Elves and Sauron

Previous war: War of Wrath
Next war: War of the Last Alliance
War of the Elves and Sauron
Beginning: {{{begin}}}	End: 1701 SA
Place: Eriador
Outcome: Sauron is defeated and is driven from Eriador
Major battles: Sack of Eregion, First Siege of Imladris, and the Battle of Gwathló
Combatants
Noldor and Sindarin Elves, Numenóreans, and Dwarves of Durin's folk	Orcs, Evil Men, and other creatures of Sauron
Commanders
{{{commanders1}}}	Sauron

The War of the Elves and Sauron was a great war fought in the Second Age.

The war began in 1693 S.A., almost a century after Sauron had deceived the Noldor of Eregion and had forged the One Ring. Sauron attacked Eregion, claiming all the Rings of Power from the fortress Ost-in-Edhil, except the Three Rings of the Elves.

Messages of this betrayal were sent north to Lindon where the High King Gil-galad ruled, and he began amassing his forces, preparing for an invasion. He also called for help to Númenor.

In 1695 S.A. Sauron attacked, and Elrond was sent to Eregion by Gil-galad. However, in 1697 S.A. Eregion was laid waste. Celebrimbor, lord of Eregion, was killed, and Khazad-dûm's gates were closed. Elrond fled north with the survivors, founding Imladris (later Rivendell).

By 1699 S.A. all of Eriador fell under Sauron's control, and he set fire to the great forests in Enedwaith and Minhiriath to drive off the Elves and their allies (Edain). Imladris was besieged, and Lindon cut off from Imladris and Khazad-dûm.

The next year a great army of Númenor arrived, sent by Tar-Minastir, which landed in Lindon, at Tharbad on the Gwathló, and south near Pelargir. Sauron's forces were caught in between the armies, and destroyed. The war ended in 1701 S.A. when Sauron retreated to the east, but Eregion was gone, and most of Eriador destroyed.