Battles of Beleriand

Previous war: Battle of the Powers
Next war: War of the Elves and Sauron
Wars of Beleriand
Beginning: Y.T. 1497	End: F.A. 587
Place: Throughout Beleriand and the lands northward
Outcome: Victory for the Elves and allies Expulsion of Morgoth from Arda Destruction of most of Beleriand Elves migrate West or settle Lindon Edain migrate to Númenor soon thereafter
Major battles: First Battle, Dagor-nuin-Giliath, Dagor Aglareb, Dagor Bragollach, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, War of Wrath
Combatants
Host of the West Noldor Sindar Nandor Edain Easterlings Dwarves	Forces of Morgoth Easterlings
Commanders
Eönwë Eärendil Ingwion Thingol Círdan Denethor † Fëanor † Maedhros Fingolfin † Fingon † Turgon † Finrod † Azaghâl †	Morgoth Sauron Ancalagon † Gothmog † Glaurung † Ulfang †

"The Jewels were coveted by Morgoth the Enemy, who stole them and, after destroying the Trees, took them to Middle-earth, and guarded them in his great fortress of Thangorodrim. Against the will of the Valar Fëanor forsook the Blessed Realm and went in exile to Middle-earth, leading with him a great part of his people; for in his pride he purposed to recover the Jewels from Morgoth by force. Thereafter followed the hopeless war of the Eldar and the Edain against Thangorodrim, in which they were at last utterly defeated."

― The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Númenor"

The Wars of Beleriand, also known as the War of the Jewels or the War of the Great Jewels (as the Silmarilli led to most of them) and referred to by Elrond in The Hobbit as the Goblin-wars, were a series of great conflicts throughout the Elder Days pertaining of the vain attempts of the Noldor to reclaim the Silmarils from the Dark Lord Morgoth.

From his mighty fortress of Angband, Morgoth used this base from which to launch his attacks on the peoples of Beleriand. While the Noldor had some victories, the Doom of Mandos always hung over their efforts.

Major Battles

The following are the major battles listed chronologically:

1. The First Battle was fought before the Noldor arrived, and was fought by the Sindar, Laiquendi, and Dwarves of the Blue Mountains.
2. The Dagor-nuin-Giliath, or Battle-under-Stars, fought by the Noldor following Fëanor and his Seven Sons.
   • Following this battle the Battle of the Lammoth was fought by the host of Fingolfin.
3. The Dagor Aglareb, or Glorious Battle, which led to the Siege of Angband.
   • Various minor battles were fought during the Siege which are not counted among the majors, such as the first Assault on Hithlum and the Battle of the Gelion-Ascar Stockade.
4. The Dagor Bragollach, or Battle of Sudden Flame, in which Ard-galen burned and many Noldor, including King Fingolfin, were slain.
   • Battle of the Pass of Aglon, where the Sons of Fëanor had to retreat towards Himring.
   • Massacre at Tarn Aeluin, in which the House of Bëor was destroyed.
5. The Nirnaeth Arnoediad or Battle of Unnumbered Tears, in which the Union of Maedhros was utterly broken by Morgoth.
   • Fall of the Falas, in which the havens of Brithombar and Eglarest were sacked and fell, took place after the Nirnaeth.
   • Sack of Bar-en-Danwedh, in which the Gaurwaith were destroyed and Dor-Cúarthol lost.
   • Battle of Tumhalad, followed by the Sack of Nargothrond, where the city was destroyed by Glaurung and his Orcs.
   • Fall of Gondolin, in which Morgoth's hosts besieged and destroyed the Noldor and their citadel of Gondolin, killing King Turgon.
6. The War of Wrath, which defeated Morgoth, ended the First Age of Arda, and destroyed most of Beleriand.

See also

There were other parallel conflicts where Morgoth was not involved, but were directly or indirectly connected to the main War, and the Silmarilli:

• The Kinslayings, three conflicts caused by the House of Fëanor against other Elves to claim the Silmarilli:
  • The Kinslaying at Alqualondë
  • The Second Kinslaying
  • The Third Kinslaying
• A brief conflict involving the Dwarves coveting the Nauglamir:
  • The Battle of the Thousand Caves
  • The Battle of Sarn Athrad

Portrayal in adaptations

2022: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power:

1 September: A Shadow of the Past:

During Galadriel's summarization of the First Age, Finrod is seen fighting in the Wars of Beleriand against Orcs and other servants of Morgoth. During the war, Finrod shouted two Quenya phrases to his fellow Elves: "Valaron kalanen" ("By the light of the Valar!") and "Firuvantë" ("They will die!"). Galadriel mentions that he vowed to destroy "Morgoth's most devoted servant: a cruel and cunning sorcerer".

30 September: Udûn:

After the collapse of the Watchtower of Ostirith and before the defense of Tirharad, Arondir references the end of the Wars of Beleriand in his attempt to boast the morale of the Southlanders.