Dol Amroth: Difference between revisions

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| etymology=[[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[dol]]'' "hill" + ''[[Amroth]]'' "Upclimber"
| etymology=[[Sindarin|S.]] ''[[dol]]'' "hill" + ''[[Amroth]]'' "Upclimber"
| type=City/Princedom
| type=Promontory, castle, and city
| location=[[Belfalas]]
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| inhabitants=[[Men]]
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'''Dol Amroth''' was a [[prince]]dom which formed part of the Kingdom of [[Gondor]].
'''Dol Amroth''' was a promontory situated on a peninsula in [[Gondor]] facing the [[Bay of Belfalas]].  Its northern shore defined part of [[Cobas Haven]], the small bay into which the [[Morthond]] River flowed.<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref>  Upon the headland the [[Princes of Dol Amroth]] established a castle and thus Dol Amroth referred to this stronghold and to the neighboring port-city, the chief city of the fief of [[Belfalas]].<ref name="Minas Tirith">{{RK|V1}}</ref>  Within the walls of the city was the Sea-ward Tower or [[Tirith Aear]], <ref>{{ATB|Preface}}</ref> which had a bell that was rung for the benefit of mariners.<ref>{{ATB|6}}</ref>
 
The people of Dol Amroth were tall, grey-eyed, and dark-haired.<ref name="Minas Tirith"/>  They were famous as the most skillful harp players in all of Gondor, who played at the coronation of [[Aragorn]].<ref>{{RK|VI5}}</ref>  The inhabitants of Dol Amroth and in the lands nearby were some of the few people of Gondor who spoke [[Sindarin]] on a daily basis.<ref>{{App|Men}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The first Lord of Dol Amroth was [[Galador]], son of [[Imrazôr]] the [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]]. Imrazôr was the son of [[Adrahil I]], who was already known as the Prince, and lived in [[Belfalas]]. At some point Imrazôr moved to the area where once was the elven haven of [[Edhellond]]. According to tradition, there he married [[Mithrellas]], a [[Silvan Elves|Silvan Elf]] of Lórien who had accompanied [[Nimrodel]], the beloved of [[Lothlórien|Lórien's]] king [[Amroth]], on her journey towards [[Edhellond]], but had become lost along with her mistress. Therefore Galador and his descendants had claim to [[Elves|Elven]] blood.
Before Dol Amroth was inhabited by [[Men]] there was a settlement of [[Elves]] about 50 miles north of the promontory, at [[Edhellond]],<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}, note 18, p. 255</ref> that had been established by refugees from [[Beleriand]].<ref>{{UT|Amroth}}, p. 247</ref>  According to one story, [[Galadriel]] and [[Celeborn]] dwelt at Dol Amroth during the time when Elves lived in the land.<ref>{{UT|Concerning}}, p. 240</ref> The last of these Elves would depart in {{TA|1981}} when the Elvish king [[Amroth]] was lost at sea.<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref>  It was from the name of this king that Dol Amroth (the "Hill of Amroth") took its name.
 
After Imrazôr's death (Mithrellas' fate is nowhere described, only that she eventually left Imrazôr and Galador), Galador went on to found the city and later the princedom of Dol Amroth. He is counted as its first Lord. The specific date of its foundation is nowhere recounted.


The city of Dol Amroth was built south of Edhellond at the inlet of Cobas Haven in the [[Bay of Belfalas]]. In the north of the city was built the Sea-ward Tower of [[Tirith Aear]].
The fief of Belfalas was ruled by a family of the [[Faithful]].  They were given title to the land by [[Elendil]], with whom they were kin. They built their stronghold upon the promontory, but it was not known as Dol Amroth until the drowning of the Elven king.  The first Prince of Dol Amroth was [[Galador]], the son of [[Imrazôr]], who according to legend married the Elven-lady [[Mithrellas]].<ref>{{UT|Cirion}}, Note 39, p. 316</ref>


The lands of Dol Amroth were also known as '''''Dor-en-Ernil''''', or "Lands of the Prince": initially this name was applied to the area of Belfalas where Adrahil I and Imrazôr lived, but after Galador it was also applied to the area of Dol Amroth itself.
Being a coastal city, Dol Amroth was subject to occasional attacks by the [[Corsairs of Umbar]].  The fifteenth prince was slain in battle against these sea raiders in {{TA|2746}}.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, ''The House of Dol Amroth'', p. 222</ref>


Imrahil was one of the commanders of the army of Gondor during the [[War of the Ring]], and for a while commanded the city of [[Minas Tirith]]. After the War he went back to Dol Amroth, remaining a councellor to King [[Aragorn|Elessar]]. He was succeeded by his son [[Elphir]].
In all there were twenty-one Princes of Dol Amroth before the twenty-second, [[Imrahil]], led a contingent of 700 men from the city to [[Minas Tirith]] during the War of the Ring.<ref name="Minas Tirith"/>


Imrahil's sister [[Finduilas (wife of Denethor)|Finduilas]] married [[Denethor II]], [[Steward of Gondor]] and was the mother of [[Boromir]] and [[Faramir]].
The emblem of the Prince of Dol Amroth was a silver-upon-blue banner, bearing a ship with a swan-prow upon the sea.<ref>{{RK|VI4}}</ref>
[[Lothíriel]], daughter of Imrahil, married [[Éomer]], King of [[Rohan]].


{{references}}
{{references}}
[[Category:Hills]]
[[Category:Cities, Towns and Villages]]
[[Category:Cities, Towns and Villages]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Gondor]]

Revision as of 01:56, 5 February 2012

The name Amroth refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Amroth (disambiguation).
Dol Amroth
Promontory, castle, and city
Jan Pospisil - Dol Amroth.jpg
General Information
LocationBelfalas
TypePromontory, castle, and city
RegionsGondor
Reunited Kingdom
InhabitantsMen
GalleryImages of Dol Amroth

Dol Amroth was a promontory situated on a peninsula in Gondor facing the Bay of Belfalas. Its northern shore defined part of Cobas Haven, the small bay into which the Morthond River flowed.[1] Upon the headland the Princes of Dol Amroth established a castle and thus Dol Amroth referred to this stronghold and to the neighboring port-city, the chief city of the fief of Belfalas.[2] Within the walls of the city was the Sea-ward Tower or Tirith Aear, [3] which had a bell that was rung for the benefit of mariners.[4]

The people of Dol Amroth were tall, grey-eyed, and dark-haired.[2] They were famous as the most skillful harp players in all of Gondor, who played at the coronation of Aragorn.[5] The inhabitants of Dol Amroth and in the lands nearby were some of the few people of Gondor who spoke Sindarin on a daily basis.[6]

History

Before Dol Amroth was inhabited by Men there was a settlement of Elves about 50 miles north of the promontory, at Edhellond,[7] that had been established by refugees from Beleriand.[8] According to one story, Galadriel and Celeborn dwelt at Dol Amroth during the time when Elves lived in the land.[9] The last of these Elves would depart in T.A. 1981 when the Elvish king Amroth was lost at sea.[10] It was from the name of this king that Dol Amroth (the "Hill of Amroth") took its name.

The fief of Belfalas was ruled by a family of the Faithful. They were given title to the land by Elendil, with whom they were kin. They built their stronghold upon the promontory, but it was not known as Dol Amroth until the drowning of the Elven king. The first Prince of Dol Amroth was Galador, the son of Imrazôr, who according to legend married the Elven-lady Mithrellas.[11]

Being a coastal city, Dol Amroth was subject to occasional attacks by the Corsairs of Umbar. The fifteenth prince was slain in battle against these sea raiders in T.A. 2746.[12]

In all there were twenty-one Princes of Dol Amroth before the twenty-second, Imrahil, led a contingent of 700 men from the city to Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring.[2]

The emblem of the Prince of Dol Amroth was a silver-upon-blue banner, bearing a ship with a swan-prow upon the sea.[13]

References