Dol Guldur

2007-07-03T22:36:13Z

69.125.84.90:

{{location
| image=[[Image:Rob Alexander - Dol Guldur.jpg|250px]]
| name=Dol Guldur
| othernames=
| etymology=[[S.]] ''dol'' "hill" ''guldur'' "sorcery"
| type=Fortress
| location=Southern [[Mirkwood]]
| inhabitants=[[Necromancer]] and his servants; [[Khamûl]]
| realms=[[Dol Guldur]], a subpower of [[Sauron]] in [[Mordor]]
| description=
| events=[[Fall of Dol Guldur]]
| references=
|}}

'''Dol Guldur''' ("Hill of Sorcery" in [[Sindarin]]) was a stronghold of [[Sauron]] located in the south of [[Mirkwood]].

Dol Guldur was established by Sauron after his return to [[Middle-earth]] somewhere after [[Third Age]] 1000, although his identity was hidden and was known as the [[Necromancer]]. Dol Guldur was originally known as '''Amon Lanc''' ("Bald Hill"), and had been the capital of [[Oropher]]'s [[Silvan Elves]], who had departed north to the [[Dark Mountains]] (later known as the [[Mountains of Mirkwood]]). After Sauron took over Amon Lanc, [[Thranduil]] son of Oropher led his people over the [[Forest River]], where they remained.

The [[Council of the Wise]] long feared the Necromancer might indeed be Sauron, and in 2063 [[Gandalf]] went to Dol Guldur, and Sauron, not yet powerful, fled to the [[East]]. In 2460 Sauron returned there, just as the [[One Ring]] was found by [[Sméagol]] the [[Stoors|Stoor]]. However, the Ring disappeared with Sméagol under the [[Misty Mountains]].

In 2845 [[Thráin II]], King of [[Durin's folk]]-in-exile and holder of the last of the [[Ring of Thrór|Seven Rings]] of the [[Dwarves]], was emprisoned in Dol Guldur's dungeons. In 2850 Gandalf again entered Dol Guldur, finding the dying Thráin, and Gandalf was entrusted the [[Thrór’s Map|map]] and key to give to [[Thorin Oakenshield]], although Thráin could not tell him his own or his son's name before he died. Gandalf confirmed Sauron was the master of Dol Guldur at that time.

Gandalf returned to the White Council and urged an attack on Dol Guldur, but was overruled by [[Saruman]], who had begun searching for the One Ring in the area by then. In 2941 Saruman finally agreed to an attack, which occurred at the same time as the [[Quest of Erebor]]. This was carefully planned by Gandalf, so that Sauron and [[Smaug]] could not assist each other, as otherwise they surely would have done. Sauron fled to [[Mordor]], his plans now ready. Dol Guldur remained staffed by a lieutenant of [[Barad-dûr]].

During the [[War of the Ring]], the forces of Dol Guldur made three assaults upon [[Lórien in Middle-earth|Lórien]], causing grievous damage to the outlying woodlands, but were driven back each time by the power of [[Nenya]] which only Sauron himself could have overcome. Dol Guldur was finally destroyed and cleansed by the [[Elves]] of Lórien, led by [[Galadriel]], after Sauron's fall. Named Amon Lanc once again, it became the capital of [[Celeborn, Lord of Lórien|Celeborn]]'s realm of [[East Lórien]] for a while.{{Pronounce|Dol Guldur.mp3|Ardamir}}

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Dol Guldur|Images of Dol Guldur]]

[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Towers]]
[[Category:Rhovanion]]

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Dol Guldur