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Gilraen

2009-01-11T11:22:15Z

83.226.64.212:

{{men infobox
|image=[[Image:Gilraen's grave.jpg|250px]]
|name=Gilraen
|othernames=''the Fair''
|birth=[[Third Age 2907|T.A. 2907]]
|death=[[Third Age 3007|T.A. 3007]]
|race=Men
|gender=Female
|height=
|hair=
|eyes=
|}}
'''Gilraen''' was the mother of [[Aragorn II]], the last [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]].

==Life==
She was born in the year 2907 of the [[Third Age]]. She was the daughter of [[Dírhael]] and [[Ivorwen]], and a descendent of the first chieftain, [[Aranarth]]. Her father at first did not want her to marry [[Arathorn II]], partly because she was at the time younger than customary for marriage, and he also foresaw that Arathorn would have a short life. However, Ivorwen persuaded him in the end, saying that Arathorn's short life was a further incentive to have a quick marriage, so that an heir could be born to be their people's leader.

Gilraen's son [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] was born in [[Third Age 2931|T.A. 2931]], but her husband died two years later. She then brought her son to live in [[Imladris]]. She opposed Aragorn's love for [[Arwen]], believing that Arwen's lineage was more noble than his and that Elves and mortals should not intermarry. In later years Gilraen returned to her people where she died in T.A. 3007, aged one-hundred years. Her final words to Aragorn were ''Ónen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim'', meaning "I gave [[Estel|Hope]] (an obvious reference to her son's nickname) to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself."

==Etymology==
The name ''Gilraen'' is said to mean "(Lady) netted with Stars", as she wore a ceremonial headgarb with many jewels.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
In the Extended Edition of [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]], Aragorn and [[Elrond]] have a conversation at a memorial to Gilraen in Rivendell. Elrond suggests that she brought Aragorn to Imladris for safety from pursuit by the forces of evil. Elrond also thinks that Gilraen believed Aragorn would not escape his fate. Her memorial features a statue along with her name and an inscription of her final words written in [[Tengwar]].

In [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]], Elrond and Aragorn recite Gilraen's final words when Elrond brings the re-forged sword [[Andúril]] to Aragorn, with the words possibly taking on a different connotation from their meaning in the book.

[[Category:Dúnedain of the North]]
[[de:Gilraen]]
[[fi:Gilraen]]

Battle of the Pelennor Fields

2009-01-10T16:41:02Z

83.226.64.212:

{{battle|
image=[[Image:Perkan Pickman - The Battle of the Pelennor Fields.jpg|300px]]|
name=Battle of Pelennor Fields|
conflict=[[War of the Ring]]|
date=March 15, 3019 T.A.|
place=[[Minas Tirith]] and fields of [[Pelennor]], [[Gondor]]|
result= Victory of Gondor and Rohan|
side1=[[Gondor]], [[Rohan]]|
side2= [[Mordor]], [[Harad]], [[Rhûn]], [[Khand]]|
commanders1=*[[Denethor]]†
*[[Gandalf]]
*[[Forlong]]†
*[[Imrahil]]
*[[Théoden]]†
*[[Aragorn]]
*[[Éomer]]|
commanders2=*The [[Witch-king of Angmar]]†
*[[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)|Gothmog]]
|forces1=In [[Minas Tirith]]: Minas Tirith Garrison and Northern Army of Gondor (strength unknown) supported by small southern contingent (<2800). 6000 Rohirrim cavalry arriving from the north at dawn, later reinforced by an unknown number of Men of Southern Gondor under Aragorn arriving from the south (possibly 2-4,000)|
forces2=Unknown total strength, but vast numerical superiority to Gondor's forces in Minas Tirith.; possibly over 200,000. Forces consisting of [[Orcs]], [[Trolls]], [[Wargs]], [[Oliphaunts]], the [[Nazgûl]], 18000 [[Haradrim]], and thousands of [[Easterlings]] (Men of Rhûn, Variags of Khand, etc.)|
casual1=
2000 [[Rohirrim]], 2-3500 overall number unknown; see article|
casual2=
Complete destruction of attacking force
}}
'''Battle of Pelennor Fields''' was the greatest battle of the [[War of the Ring]], and indeed the largest of the entire [[Third Age]].

==The Books==
After the fall of [[Osgiliath]] there was no longer a barrier against the forces of [[Mordor]], which moved on the [[Pelennor Fields]] before the city on March 15, 3019 of the [[Third Age]] as the [[Great Darkness]] blotted out the sun.

Mordor's troops consisted of more than 30,000 [[Easterlings]] and [[Haradrim]], numerous [[mûmakil|oliphaunts]], and tens of thousands of [[Orcs]]; The defenders' numbers were considerably less despite the addition of about 2,800 men from southern [[Gondor]] in the days before the battle.

The attackers used catapults not only to attack the city, through bombardment and flames, but also to fire the heads of slain men from Osgiliath and other places Mordor's armies had passed through into it. Later on, the great battering ram [[Grond (battering-ram)|Grond]] (named after [[Morgoth]]'s weapon from the First Age) was put into action.

Before dawn Grond was used to break the city's main gate, and the [[Witch-king of Angmar|Witch-king]] rode into the city unchallenged, save by [[Gandalf]]. Before Gandalf's strength was put to the test, however, the cock crowed and the horns of [[Rohan]] were heard as around 6,000 of their riders joined the battle. Mordor's strategy for keeping Rohan out of the battle had failed twice, both through the defeat at Helm's Deep and the blockade in Anorien. So the Witch-king was forced to ride out and attack them instead of fighting Gandalf and destroying the city.

King Théoden's charge drove the Mordor forces from the northern half of the field, and charging the Haradrim cavalry he slew the Southron chieftain, the [[Black Serpent]], and cut down his standardbearer.

When the Witch-king's fell beast attacked King [[Théoden]] of Rohan, the king's horse [[Snowmane]] lost control, and was hit by an arrow. Snowmane fell with the king atop him, and the horse landed on him, which proved fatal. The warrior [[Dernhelm]], defending the king's body, slew the fell beast and challenged its rider. The Witch-king mocked him, telling him that no living man might slay him, but the [[hobbits|Hobbit]] [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] (Merry) wounded him with a sword that had been forged centuries before during the war between [[Arnor]] and [[Angmar]] and which contained spells against the Witch-king. The spells finally found their target, for the Witch-king was distracted and possibly seriously weakened. He was then slain by Dernhelm, now revealed as Théoden's niece [[Éowyn]] and thus no ''man'' at all. The [[Black Breath]] caused both Merry and Éowyn to become gravely ill, and they were sent to the [[Houses of Healing]] in the city. Command of the Rohirrim then passed to Théoden's nephew and heir, Third Marshall Éomer.

At the same time, [[Faramir son of Denethor II|Faramir]], son of [[Denethor II|Denethor]], Steward of Gondor, was also gravely wounded. Despairing at the visions of defeat that [[Sauron]] had sent him via his ''[[palantíri|palantír]]'', and believing Faramir to be beyond aid, Denethor prepared to burn himself and his son upon a funeral pyre. Only the intervention of [[Peregrin Took]] and Gandalf saved Faramir, but Denethor immolated himself before they could prevent him.[[Image:Anke Eissmann - The Black Serpent founders.jpg|right|thumb|300px|''The Black Serpent founders'' by [[Anke Eissmann]]]]

Meanwhile, the battle turned against the Rohirrim. The Southrons charged with their Mûmakil (Oliphaunts) and wherever they went horses went wild with fear or were trampled underfoot, and the forces of Mordor rallied around them like islands of defense that the Rohirrim cavalry could not overtake. Éomer, grim after the death of Théoden but shocked by the unexpected (seeming) death of his sister Éowyn, the last living member of his family, flew into a [[berserker]] rage and charged his cavalry headlong into the larger enemy forces. So great was the wrath of the outnumbered Rohirrim at the death of their King that they broke through the superior Mordor forces, hammering deep wedges into the Mordor legions' front lines. However, this soon turned against Éomer: his cavalry had pierced the Enemy front lines so quickly that his company was now cut off from the other two, and surrounded between Mordor's front lines and their reserves. Fighting their way to the docks near the Harlond south of the city, Éomer desperately circled up his men on a hill and prepared to fight to the death, when he saw enemy reinforcements sailing up the River [[Anduin]], and let out a defiant cry at his approaching end.

One of the visions that Denethor had seen was of a fleet of enemy ships with black sails arriving at the landings to the south of the Pelennor in the Rammas, but what he had not seen was that they were actually manned by [[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] and other [[Rangers of the North]], [[Gimli]], [[Legolas]], [[Elladan]], [[Elrohir]] and many reinforcements from southern fiefdoms of Gondor. As Aragorn's army drove north a great part of Mordor's forces were pinned between Aragorn and Eomer's cavalry, and were "caught between the hammer and the anvil". Aragorn's army then linked with Eomer's, and with their aid the tide of battle was finally turned, and a brief respite was won until the [[Last Battle]] before the [[Morannon|Black Gate]].

== Aftermath ==

There is no clearly stated final death toll for the Battle of Pelennor Fields. There is a definite figure for the cavalry of the Rohirrim that came to Gondor's defence; it consisted of 6,000 riders, and a full 2,000 were killed in the battle, including Théoden. Of the 5 to 6 thousand Gondorian defenders of Minas Tirith, and the large relief force of Gondor's southern provinces led by Aragorn, no definite figure remains. Two days after the battle, Aragorn led an army out to attack the Black Gate that consisted of 7,000 men (When he reached the Black Gate he had less than 6,000); 2,000 Rohirrim and 5,000 Gondorians. The size of Aragorn's relief force may have been over 5,000 or as little as 1,000, it is never stated. However, even a conservative estimate would place total Gondorian losses at 3,000, and more probably 5,000.

As for enemy losses, again, the size of Sauron's great army is not definitely known. There were at the very least 60,000, and this is almost surely an overconservative estimation. In [[Peter Jackson]]'s movie adaptation, the enemy numbered over 200,000, and this may be accurate with the number present in the text. It is known that there were some 18,000 [[Haradrim]]. (The Rohirrim, consisting of 6,000 riders, were "thrice outnumbered by the Haradrim alone".) The Enemy's army was utterly destroyed on the field: all War [[Mûmakil]] were killed, the Lord of the Nazgûl was slain, numerous Trolls, and perhaps all of the Orcs (which composed the majority of the army) were killed, those that retreated drowning in the River Anduin. Many Easterlings and Haradrim proudly fought to the death when the tide turned, even as the Orcs were cowardly running away, with few escaping to send news of the power and wrath of Gondor to lands east and south.

Although a great and almost miraculous victory, at the subsequent Last Debate, Gandalf counseled that militarily, Sauron would still defeat them. The Free Peoples had managed to destroy an army outnumbering them at least 10 to 1, but lost almost a third of their own forces. Sauron had suffered a defeat, but he still had other legions and the force that attacked Minas Tirith, while substantial, was but a fraction of his total strength. Rohan and Gondor had been able to secure their flanks, eliminating the threat of Isengard and the Corsairs on the southern coasts, but Gandalf counseled that even with all of their forces concentrated in the main front near Minas Tirith, it would simply be enduring wave after wave of siege like a sandcastle being worn down by the ocean. Thus, it was agreed that it was impossible to achieve a conventional military victory through strength of arms, and instead to risk all on a last throw of the dice by Aragorn leading a diversionary attack on the Black Gate, to aid Frodo's passage in Mordor.

==The Films==
The battle is the major centrepiece of [[Peter Jackson's The Return of the King]], although some of the events described above are simplified or altered for cinematic purposes. Importance is given to the charge of the Mûmakil, the death of Théoden and the Witch-king's demise at the hands of Eowyn.

The battle begins with Sauron's forces marching on city and firing a volley of severed heads over the walls (as in the book). Initially, both Sauron's army and the defenders of Minas Tirith exchange fire by way of catapults and trebuchets. The flying Ringwraiths then descend from the skies, spreading fear throughout the city and destroying many catapults. Seeing Mordor's overwhelming army, Denethor despairs and Gandalf assumes command of the defenders. He helps them hold out until Théoden and over six thousand Rohirrim arrive, decimating the invading orcs. However, Sauron's reserves soon arrive with several Oliphaunts, commanded by the Haradrim, who turn the tide against the Rohirrim. Fortunately, Aragorn arrives with the Army of the Dead (see [[Paths of the Dead]]), who crush Sauron's forces. This is an alteration from the book, in which the Dead depart after they defeat the Corsairs and liberate Pelargir, after which Gondor's Southern Army is now free to rally to Aragorn. Peter Jackson likely wanted to make the Army of the Dead more of a focus in the story, giving them greater impact in the overall scheme of events and, thus, giving greater significance to Aragorn's decision to take the Paths of the Dead, as well as his trials therein. In the theatrical cut of the film, the scenes at Pelargir are cut entirely. The filmmakers felt that tension would be better maintained by not letting the audience know whether or not Aragorn was successful in recruiting the Dead Army. The Pelargir were restored for the extended cut of the movie.

{{wotr}}

[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[de:Schlacht auf dem Pelennor]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:3a:guerres:bataille_des_champs_du_pelennor]]
[[fi:Pelennorin kenttien taistelu]]

Legolas/Disputes

2009-01-10T15:24:59Z

83.226.64.212: /* Hair color */

'''[[Legolas of Mirkwood|Legolas]]''', despite being one of the most minor characters of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], is nevertheless easily the most disputed on various issues.

==Age==
While Legolas' age is never given in Tolkien's writings, some [[Tolkienist|Tolkien scholars]] have estimated he is at the most 800 – 900 years old by the time of the War of the Ring, and at least 500, though probably more; however, many others disagree on the maximum figure. Without any direct mention to the contrary, he could also have been born as early as the First Age. At the very least, we know he is over 139 years old, because he is older than Gimli (see below).

The figure of 500 years minimum was derived from the following — at one point in ''The Two Towers'', he says that the leaves have fallen in Mirkwood 500 times since [[Meduseld]] was built, and he appears to be describing it as if he actually experienced this:
{{quote|Seven mounds upon the left, and nine upon the right," said Aragorn. "Many long lives of men it is since the [[Meduseld|golden hall]] was built."<p>"Five hundred times have the red leaves fallen in Mirkwood in my home since then," said Legolas, "and but a little while does that seem to us."</p>"But to the Riders of the Mark it seems so long ago," said Aragorn, "that the raising of this house is but a memory of song, and the years before are lost in the mist of time.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The White Rider]]"}}

To see their reasoning for an age of 800 – 900 years, see the articles referred to [[#external links|below]].

In ''Laws and Customs Among the Eldar'', Tolkien states that the mental development of Elf-children is much quicker than those of human children. By their first year, Elf-children can already walk, speak, and even dance.
{{quote|The Eldar grew in bodily form slower than Men, but in mind more swiftly. They learned to speak before they were one year old; and in the same time they learned to walk and to dance, for their wills came soon to the mastery of their bodies. Nonetheless there was less difference between the two Kindreds, Elves and Men, in early youth; and a man who watched elf-children at play might well have believed that they were the children of Men, of some fair and happy people.|''[[Morgoth's Ring]]'', "[[Laws and Customs Among the Eldar]]"}}

If we are to infer that Elves can have concrete memories at a younger age than humans do, Legolas could conceivably have remembered the last 500 autumns that have passed, starting when he was very young.

However, he could be merely commenting on the contrasting viewpoints of Men and Elves on time ("and but a little while does that seem to us"); more importantly, 500 years is here clearly "the time elapsed since Meduseld was built". At face value, his statement says ''nothing'' about his age — to go further would only be speculation.

It is certainly possible that he was older than what many fans imagine him to be, at least (probably due to the influence of Bloom and his portrayal). In ''The Two Towers'', he calls Aragorn (born Third Age 2931, 87 years old in 3018, 88 at the end of the War some months later) and Gimli (born 2879, 139 years old in 3018) "children" while in [[Fangorn Forest]], and says that he does not ''feel'' young:
{{quote|It [the forest] is old, very old," said the Elf. "So old that almost I feel young '''again''', as I have not felt since I journeyed with you children. It is old and full of memory. I could have been happy here, if I had come in days of peace.|''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The White Rider]]"}}

Also, he speaks of watching oaks grow from acorns to "ruinous age", suggesting that he is in fact old, though possibly young for Elves (some kinds of oak can live for a very long time):
{{quote|These are the strangest trees that I ever saw," [Legolas] said; "and I have seen many an oak grow from acorn to ruinous age. I wish that there were leisure now to walk among them: they have voices, and in time I might come to understand their thought.|ibid}}

However, even the minimum figure of 500 can still apply here, since Tolkien could have had the English oak in mind, and it can live up to about 500 years.

Also, some readers point out that his birthdate is not recorded in the Appendices. For them, this might be a sign that he was born in the [[First Age]], since the Appendices only record dates from the [[Second Age]] onwards.

== Hair color ==
[[Image:Jenny Dolfen - Legolas.jpg|thumb|200px|''Legolas'' by [[Jenny Dolfen]], modelled after [[Orlando Bloom]].]]
His father [[Thranduil]] was blonde, so many assume that Legolas must have been blonde also (Indeed, both [[Ralph Bakshi]] and [[Peter Jackson]] make him blonde). However, Tolkien describes his head as "dark" when he shoots down a [[Ringwraiths|Ringwraith]]'s [[Fell beasts|Fell beast]] in ''The Fellowship of the Ring'' in the following quote, suggesting the contrary to some:
{{quote|Frodo looked up at the Elf standing tall above him, as he gazed into the night, seeking a mark to shoot at. His head was dark, crowned with sharp white stars that glittered in the black pools of the sky behind.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Great River]]"}}

According to this camp, his hair must be either dark brown or black, as was the norm for the Sindar. (Blond hair was mostly exclusive to the [[Vanyar]].) However, the "blond" camp points out that the above quote takes place ''at night'', and opines that his head may have appeared "dark" due to shadows, rather than his actual hair color.

== Birth order ==
Some assume that he is an only child; however, he could be only one of Thranduil's children. Thranduil did let him leave Mirkwood to find a new elf-community in Ithilien, suggesting to some that he was not his heir; but then others opine that given the longevity of Elves and the relative safety of Middle-earth after Sauron's downfall, Thranduil could go on ruling the Woodland Realm as long as he liked or until he felt the sea-longing. No definitive evidence is given, either way.

===Legolas of Gondolin===
The name ''Legolas Greenleaf'' first appeared in ''[[The Fall of Gondolin]]'', one of the ''[[The Book of Lost Tales|Lost Tales]]'', circa 1917. The character is mentioned only once and is unrelated to the character discussed above. As the Lost Tales were the first embodiment of Tolkien's mythology, and by the time ''The Lord of the Rings'' was written much had changed, this in all likelihood is not the same Elf, and he was not included in the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.
{{quote|But the others, led by one '''Legolas Greenleaf''' of the [[House of the Tree|house of the Tree]], who knew all that plain by day or by dark, and was night-sighted, made much speed over the vale for all their weariness, and halted only after a great march.|''[[The Book of Lost Tales Part 2]]'', "[[The Fall of Gondolin]]"}}

The [[Legolas of Gondolin]], who Tolkien would likely have renamed, has a different etymology. His name (''Laiqalassë'' in its pure form) comes from the primitive [[Quenya]] (''Qenya'') words ''laica'' ("green") and ''lassë'' ("leaf"). The names are very similar, but the characters were different: Legolas of Gondolin was possibly a [[Noldor]] in exile, of the House (kindred) of the Tree. However, the published ''Silmarillion'', in describing [[Turgon of Gondolin|Turgon]]'s founding of Gondolin, states that Turgon took with him up to a third of the people under [[Fingolfin]], but an even larger number of the Sindar. Thus, whether Legolas of Gondolin was of Noldorin or Sindarin descent is debatable.

Gothmog (balrog)

2009-01-08T20:35:56Z

83.226.64.212:

{{disambig-two|the Balrog of the First Age|the Lieutenant of Morgul|[[Gothmog (Lieutenant of Morgul)]]}}
{{evil infobox
| image=[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Fingon and Gothmog.jpg|250px]]
| name=Gothmog
| othernames=Lord of [[Balrogs]]
| created=Before the [[Music of the Ainur]]
| years=
| age=
| destroyed=[[First Age 510|F.A. 510]], [[Fall of Gondolin]]
| realm=[[Angband]]
| gender=Male
| race=[[Balrogs]] ([[Maiar]])
| appearance=Possibly twice man-height, bearing black axe and whip
| accomplishments=Slew two [[High King of the Noldor|High Kings of the Noldor]], victorious in the [[Nírnaeth Arnoediad]]
|}}
'''Gothmog''' was the Lord of [[Balrogs]] and the [[High-captain of Angband]], one of the chief servants of the Dark Lord [[Morgoth]] with a rank equal to that of [[Sauron]]. While he was not as powerful as the Dark Lords, he surpassed them in brute strength and possibly strategy.
==History==

Gothmog was apparently one of the [[Maiar]] that followed [[Melkor]] to exile, and because of either his brilliant mind or because of his ability to assume an immensely powerful physical form, he was made the Lord of Balrogs.

At the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] he mortally wounded [[Fëanor]], but called a retreat upon the approach of the [[Sons of Fëanor]] with a sizable force. He next appears in the texts at the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], where he is also named high-captain of [[Angband]], again inferring his power and status as essentially Morgoth's right-hand Balrog ([[Sauron]], another spirit, playing a more domestic than front-line role for his master). There at the Nirnaeth he slew [[Fingon]], thus allowing him to boast of having slain two of the five [[High Kings of the Noldor]]. He also captured [[Húrin Thalion]] there.

He was again displayed as Morgoth's front-line commander as he played an active role in the [[Fall of Gondolin]]. According to the (albeit uncanonical) text, he piled his iron siege equipment against the [[North Gate of Gondolin|gate]] until it broke from sheer pressure. According to the same text he also took a front-line position against [[Rog]], turning the tide in that part of the battle. More confirmed canonically, he beat down [[Tuor]] in single combat, but the elf-lord [[Ecthelion of the Fountain]], who was badly wounded, rose and stood over him. Ecthelion stood no chance against the Lord of Balrogs, and lost his sword in the brief struggle. But then Ecthelion leaped forward, and stabbed Gothmog in the breast with the spike atop his helm. They both fell into the [[Fountain of the King]], where Gothmog, if not already killed by the spike, drowned with his opponent.{{Pronounce|Gothmog.mp3|Ardamir}}

==Other versions of the Legendarium==

In the earliest version of his mythology (''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''), Tolkien describes Gothmog as a son of Morgoth and the ogress Fluithuin, but the idea of the children of [[Valar]] was abandoned in later writings.

In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, ''[[Lay of the Children of Húrin]]'', "Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned. It is not, however, certain if it was another name for Gothmog, or it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to [[Christopher Tolkien]], the latter is more probable, as the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest Middle-earth writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's mythology.

{{maiar}}

[[Category:Balrogs]]
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[de:Gothmog (Balrog)]]
[[fi:Gothmog (balrog)]]