Assaults on Hithlum
| This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name. |
| Assaults on Hithlum | |
|---|---|
| Conflict: War of the Jewels | |
| Date: F.A. 462 | |
| Place: Hithlum | |
| Outcome: Victory for the Noldor | |
| Combatants | |
|
Orc armies | |
| Commanders | |
| Strength | |
|
Orcs | |
| Casualties | |
|
Galdor, both Elves and Men |
Unknown, suffered "heavy slaughter" |
The Assaults on Hithlum were a series of minor battles in the Wars of Beleriand.
About a hundred years after the Dagor Aglareb, Hithlum seemed to the Enemy an easier target than the realm of Maedhros. A small number of Orcs went south to the Firth of Drengist and turned to the east. But spies saw them in time, and Fingon, using but a small part of his people, fell from the hills on them at the head of the Firth to drive them back into the sea. This victory proved to the Enemy that the Orcs were inadequate against the Noldor.[1]
It occurred seven years after the Dagor Bragollach when Morgoth sent an invasion of Hithlum. It began with a bitter attack through the passes of the Ered Wethrin and a siege of Eithel Sirion. At the fortress Galdor fell, pierced by an arrow. Húrin replaced his father in command, and drove the Orcs from the mountains and across the sands of Anfauglith.
However, an army also came from Angband into Hithlum from the north, leading to battle upon the plains. Initially King Fingon was outnumbered and hard-pressed until Círdan sent a task force up the Firth of Drengist which fell upon the Orcs from the west. This broke the Orc-host, which fled to the Iron Mountains.[2]
