Fall of the Falas

F.A. 473
Fall of the Falas
Conflict	Wars of Beleriand
Place	Falas
Outcome	Victory for Morgoth Destruction of the Falas Survivors flee to the Isle of Balar
Combatants
Forces of Morgoth Elves of the Falas
Commanders
Morgoth Círdan
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties
Unknown Heavy

The Fall of the Falas was the ruin of Círdan's realm wrought by the forces of Morgoth in F.A. 473. After Morgoth's victory in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, he launched an invasion of the west coast of Beleriand. It is not counted among the major battles of the First Age, and it ended in the destruction of the Falas and the death of many Elves.

History

After the Nírnaeth, the servants of Morgoth roamed the north freely and those that survived the battle fled south. Círdan, the lord of the Falas, received many refugees and sent mariners to harass the enemy whenever they came near the coast. The two havens of the Falas, Brithombar and Eglarest, were strong, and their walls were high.

A year later, in the autumn, Morgoth sent a great force over Hithlum and Nevrast. His armies ravaged the countryside as they went, laying siege to Brithombar and Eglarest. The Elves resisted valiantly, but in the armies of Morgoth were 'skilled smiths, miners and masters of fire' who built mighty siege-engines which broke the walls. Barad Nimras was cast down, and most of the elves were killed and enslaved. But Círdan himself escaped with a remnant, including the Noldorin prince Ereinion Gil-galad, aboard the ships. They sailed to the Isle of Balar and continued to welcome refugees, but the Falas were no more.