Last Alliance of Elves and Men: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(Finally done)
Line 31: Line 31:
'''Elendil'''
'''Elendil'''
*[[Men of Arnor]]
*[[Men of Arnor]]
**[[Isildur]]
**[[Isildur]] (with [[Elendur (son of Isildur)|Elendur]], [[Aratan]], and [[Ciryon]])<ref name=gladdenfield/>
***[[Men of Arnor|Men of eastern Arnor]]
***[[Men of Arnor|Men of eastern Arnor]]
***[[Men of the Vales of Anduin]]
***[[Men of the Vales of Anduin]]
Line 37: Line 37:
***[[Gondorians]]
***[[Gondorians]]


The army of the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm]] and the "beasts and birds"<ref name=rings/> are not said to have belonged to either host.  
The army of the [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm]] and the "beasts and birds"<ref name=rings/> are not said to have belonged to either host.


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 15:11, 12 August 2020

Last Alliance of Elves and Men
Organisation
Jenny Dolfen - The Last Alliance.jpg
"The Last Alliance" by Jenny Dolfen
Date foundedS.A. 3430
FounderGil-galad and Elendil
PurposePrevent conquest by Sauron
Notable membersMen of Arnor, Men of the Vales of Anduin, Gondorians, Elves of Lindon, Forces of Imladris, Elves of Mirkwood, Elves of Lórinand, Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, "beasts and birds"[1]
LocationMustered at Imladris, forces drawn from all parts of northwestern Middle-earth
DisbandedS.A. 3441
Notable forDefeating Sauron
GalleryImages of the Last Alliance
"Now Elendil and Gil-galad... perceived that Sauron would grow too strong..., if they did not unite against him. Therefore they made that League which is called the Last Alliance, and they marched east... gathering a great host of Elves and Men; and they halted for a while at Imladris. It is said that the host that was there assembled was fairer and more splendid in arms than any that has since been seen in Middle-earth, and none greater has been mustered since the host of the Valar went against Thangorodrim."
The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"

The Last Alliance of Elves and Men was the great league formed in response to the threat of conquest by the Dark Lord Sauron.[2] The collective-army that eventually set out to war was sometimes called the Host of the Alliance.[3]

Structure

The great host was generally divided into hosts commanded by Gil-galad and Elendil:

Gil-galad

Elendil

The army of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm and the "beasts and birds"[1] are not said to have belonged to either host.

Background

Sauron had been contending with the Elves for mastery of Middle-earth for over 1200 years. Fearing the establishment of the powerful Realms in Exile by his hated enemies, the Númenóreans, and the ever-growing influence of Gil-galad in the Westlands, Sauron launched a pre-emptive attack on Gondor in S.A. 3429.[1][2]

The first strike of the War was against Isildur's fortress of Minas Ithil, which guarded Mordor's western borders. This Sauron captured, but Isildur and his family were able to escape by ship, sailing down the Anduin to its Mouths, and then by sea northward to seek out his father, the High King Elendil.[1] Meanwhile Sauron continued his assault, attempting to take Osgiliath, but Isildur's brother Anárion was prepared for him. The forces of Mordor were driven back through Ithilien, and held at the line of the Ephel Dúath; but Sauron gathered his strength again, and Anárion knew that unless help should come Gondor would fall.[1]

History

Elendil and Gil-galad, after receiving Isildur, understood that Sauron would grow too powerful if they did not unite against them.[1] In response, Elendil and his sons formed an alliance with Gil-galad in S.A. 3430[2] and the hosts of Gil-galad and Elendil were mustered in Arnor.[3][5] It is said that the hosts of Gil-galad joined Elendil at Amon Sûl (it is told that Elendil stood on the great watch-tower of Amon Sûl watching for the coming of Gil-galad out of Lindon)[6] and marched towards Imladris in S.A. 3431 whilst summoning all folk to their aid.[2][3] The host that was assembled at Imladris was said to be the greatest since the Host of Valinor of the First Age.[1] It is said that Elendil bound the Alliance with an oath and invoked the name of Eru to witness it.[7] Though the main host was composed of Elves and Men, other races also played their part. In particular, there are records of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm joining the alliance.[1]

Last Alliance by Angel Falto

Bringing together this great host took no less than three years, during which other preparations were made. For example, the ancient Forest Road that led down from the Pass of Imladris, crossed Anduin by a bridge which had been enlarged and strengthened for the passage of the armies of the Alliance.[8] Finally in S.A. 3434, the Host of the Alliance crossed the Misty Mountains by many passes and marched south.[1] The main might of Gil-galad with the company of Elrond, together with Isildur and the men of eastern Arnor crossed over the High Pass and the Redhorn Gate.[9][4] In fact that host was so large, that the Orcs of Mordor sent by Sauron to harry them, hid themselves.[9]

As the Host crossed the Anduin and travelled down the Vales of Anduin, their forces were further strengthened by both Elves and Men. Despite the reluctance of Oropher, King of the Silvan Elves east of Anduin, to meddle in the affairs of any other peoples, he assembled a great army of his now numerous people, and joining with the lesser army of Amdír, King of Lórien, he led the host of the Silvan Elves to the Last Alliance.[10] The Silvan Elves were hardy and valiant, but ill-equipped with armour or weapons in comparison with the Noldor; also they were independent, and not disposed to place themselves under the supreme command of Gil-galad.[10] In addition to the Silvan Elves, the Men of the Vales of Anduin joined the great host, allying themselves with Isildur.[4]

When Sauron learned of their advance, he burned the former gardens of the Entwives to hinder them down the Anduin.[11]

Soon, the Host of the Alliance reached Dagorlad where they met and defeated Sauron's host in the great Battle of Dagorlad, breached the Morannon into Mordor, and besieged the Dark Lord's fortress of Barad-dûr.[1] In the seventh year of the Siege, S.A. 3441, Sauron sought to bring it to an end by offering combat against the leaders of the Alliance, but in the combat that followed, Gil-galad and Elendil both fell but Sauron was also defeated, and his evil spirit abandoned his body.[2] With the fall of Sauron came the end of the War, and also the end of the mighty Last Alliance of Elves and Men.[2]

See also

References