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{{War
{{War
| previous=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
| previous=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
Line 7: Line 7:
| begin={{TA|1409}}
| begin={{TA|1409}}
| end={{TA|1974}} (fighting finally ended in {{TA|1977}})
| end={{TA|1974}} (fighting finally ended in {{TA|1977}})
| place=[[Arnor]], [[Angmar]], [[The Shire]], [[Rivendell]], Northwest  [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]]
| place=Throughout [[Eriador]] (last conflict occured in the upper [[Vales of Anduin]])
| result=Victory for the [[Free Peoples]]
| result=destruction of the kingdoms of Arnor and Angmar, decline of the [[Dúnedain of the North]], the Eótheód take the upper Vales of the Anduin as their own from the remnants of Angmar.
*Destruction of [[Angmar]]
| battles=[[Arnorian Civil War]], [[First Invasion of Angmar]], [[Fall of Cardolan]], [[Fall of Amon Sûl]], [[Weather Hills skirmishes]], [[Second Siege of Imladris]], [[Fall of Fornost]], [[Battle of Fornost]], [[Eótheód Incursion]].
*Remaining [[Northern Dúnedain]] become [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]]
|side1=Arnor, Lindon, Rivendell, Gondor, Shire, Khazad-dûm, the Eótheód.
*The [[Eótheód]] settle the upper [[Vales of Anduin]]
|side2=Angmar, Gundabad, Misty Mountains, Rhudaur, Ettenmoors.
| battles= First Invasion of Angmar, [[Fall of Cardolan]], [[Fall of Amon Sûl]], Weather Hills skirmishes, [[Second Siege of Imladris]], [[Fall of Fornost]], [[Battle of Fornost]], Eótheód Incursion
|side1=[[Men of Arnor]]<br>[[Gondorians]]<br>[[Men of the Vales of Anduin]]<br>[[Eotheod|Eótheód]]<br>Forces of [[Rivendell]]<br>[[Galadhrim]]<br>[[Elves of Lindon]]<br>[[Shire-hobbits]]
|side2=Forces of [[Angmar]]
|commanders1=
|commanders1=
* King Argeleb I
* [[Argeleb I]]†
* King Arvedui  
* [[Arveleg I]]†
* Eárnur
* [[Araval]]
* [[Elrond]], [[Círdan]], Princes of Cardolan.
* [[Araphor]]
|commanders2=The [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]], Hill-men lords, Orc chieftains.
* [[Arvedui]]
* [[Eärnur]]
* [[Frumgar]]
* [[Círdan]]
* [[Elrond]]
* [[Glorfindel]]
|commanders2=
* [[Witch-king of Angmar]]  
|}}
|}}


The '''Angmar War''' was a centuries-long struggle between the Northern [[Dúnedain]] kingdom and the forces of [[Angmar]], led by the [[Witch-king]].   
The '''Angmar War''' was a centuries-long struggle between the [[Men of Arnor]] and the forces of [[Angmar]], led by the [[Witch-king]].   
==Prelude==
[[Image:Grant Gould - The Witch King.jpg|left|thumb|Eliot Gould - ''The Witch King'']] Arnor's greatest enemy in the north by the middle of the Third Age was Angmar, ruled by the [[Witch-king|Witch King of Angmar]].  During the reign of [[Malvegil]] (c. {{TA|1300}}), this new power arose beyond the [[Ettenmoors]].  This land became populated with the [[Orcs]] and [[Men of Darkness]], and began attacking [[Rhudaur]] and [[Cardolan]].  Eventually this Witch-king was identified as in fact the chief of [[Ringwraiths]].  Years later, [[Argeleb I]] of [[Arthedain]], reasserted control over [[Cardolan]], and fortified a line along the [[Weather Hills]].  Despite this action, Argeleb fell in battle with Angmar and its ally, [[Rhudaur]].  His son [[Arveleg I]], however, counterattacked in conjunction with Cardolan and drove the enemy back.  He held this frontier in force for quite some years successfully.


By {{TA|1409}}, the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]] had realised that [[Cardolan]] was [[Arthedain]]'s strongest ally and as long as it stood, so would Arthedain. A direct assault on Cardolan would probably result in disaster as Arthedain would have probably issued from the [[Weather Hills]] and struck Angmar's army in the rear or flank.
==Background==
After the death of King [[Eärendur]], the [[Arnor|Kingdom of Arnor]] was split into three parts: [[Arthedain]], [[Cardolan]] and [[Rhudaur]], due to tension between Eärendur's sons. There was often strife between the three kingdoms, usually over control of the [[Weather Hills]] and the ''[[palantíri|palantír]]'' of [[Amon Sûl]].<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref> 


Therefore, Angmar was compelled to launch an all out assault against the remnants of Arnor, using several forces, one to [[Second Siege of Imladris|besiege]] [[Rivendell]] to prevent it from sending aid to Arnor, and through blocking Rivendell, also blocking reinforcements from [[Lothlórien|Lórien]]. An army to tie up Arthedain along the Weather Hills and Amon Sul, and a final army to destroy Cardolan.  
==History==
===Prelude===
[[Image:Grant Gould - The Witch King.jpg|left|thumb|Eliot Gould - ''The Witch King'']]
During the reign of [[Malvegil]] of Arthedain (c. {{TA|1300}}), the realm of [[Angmar]] was established by the [[Witch-king]], beyond the [[Ettenmoors]], with the intention of weakening the Northern Dunedain. It was not yet known that the Witch-king was indeed the chief of the [[Nazgûl|Ringwraiths]]. He filled his domain (which also extended into the upper [[Vales of Anduin]]) with [[Orcs]], evil Men, and fell creatures.<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


Angmar's attack was highly successful. Rivendell was successfully besieged, and Arthedain was hard pressed along the length of the hills.
===Early Conflicts===
[[Argeleb I]] of Arthedain claimed the kingship of all Arnor, the line of [[Isildur]] having failed in Cardolan and Rhudaur. In Cardolan,  this claim was recognized; however, Rhudaur resisted the claim for an evil lord of the [[Hill-men]], whose allegiance lay with Angmar, seized power since the Dúnedain there were few. Argeleb fortified the [[Weather Hills]], but was killed in battle with Rhudaur and Angmar in {{TA|1356}}.<ref name="AppB2">{{App|B2}}</ref> His son [[Arveleg I]] received help from Cardolan and [[Lindon]], and was able to drive the enemy back from the Weather Hills. After this the forces of Arthedain and Cardolan held, for many years, a frontier along the Weather Hills, the [[East Road]] and the lower [[Hoarwell]]. During this period the Witch-king [[Second Siege of Imladris|besieged]] [[Rivendell]], but failed to take it.<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


==History==
===Fall of Cardolan===
In 1409 the Witch-King led a great host across the river [[Hoarwell]] against land of [[Cardolan]], after being beaten back out of the lands of the [[Dúnedain]] many years before.  
In {{TA|1409}}, the Witch-king launched a massive assault upon Arnor, circling around the Dúnedain defences to invade Cardolan from the south. Causing huge destruction, the host of Angmar marched north to Amon Sûl. The great watchtower was taken and destroyed, although its ''palantír'' was saved and brought to [[Fornost]]. In this war both Arveleg and the last prince of Cardolan perished. The remaining Dúnedain in Rhudaur were slain or driven west, while those of Cardolan held out only in [[Barrow-downs|Tyrn Gorthad]] and the [[Old Forest]]. Fornost meanwhile was beset by the armies of Angmar, but Círdan brought reinforcements out of Lindon, enabling the young king [[Araphor]] to repel his foes from the [[North Downs]].<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


When the forces of Angmar reached [[Weathertop]], the main defensive outpost in the [[Weather Hills]] and northern Cardolan, they besieged it, until they broke through.  The attackers subsequently burned and razed the fortress to the ground.  King [[Arveleg I]] was killed, and some of the Dúnedain retreated and escaped to Fornost with the [[Amon Sûl-stone|Palantír of Amon Sûl]] that was stationed there.
Arnor had been weakened hugely but the Witch-king was unable to press home his advantage because, at this point, the Elves unleashed their remaining strength upon Angmar. [[Elrond]] persuaded King [[Amroth]] to send a force of [[Galadhrim]] over the [[High Pass]] to Rivendell. Together with their kinsfolk of Lindon, they dealt such a blow to Angmar that it was subdued for centuries.<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


With it gone the Witch-King was able to take and ravage Cardolan, as well as consolidate his new conquests in [[Rhudaur]], which his [[Hill Men]] allies and subjects had taken, as well as launch attacks against the whole of [[Arthedain]]. With Arthedain's forces pinned down or routing towards [[Fornost]], Angmar's last army moved into Cardolan, which was a wide and open land, with little to no natural barriers.  
Arnor, however, was unable to recover its former strength. Much of its territory was already deserted, prompting [[Argeleb II]] to grant [[The Shire|the Shire]] to the [[Hobbits]] in {{TA|1601}}.<ref name="AppB2">{{App|B2}}</ref> In the seventeenth century a [[Great Plague]] came from out of the East, devastating [[Rhovanion]] and [[Gondor]]. While Arthedain was relatively unaffected, Cardolan suffered greatly and the remaining Dúnedain in Tyrn Gorthad perished. The Hobbits of the Shire also saw great loss, but their numbers recovered in time. In the wake of the Plague, evil spirits came down out of Angmar and Rhudaur and reanimated the corpses of the Dúnedain of the Barrow-downs.<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


It is probable that the Prince of Cardolan gathered what men he could quickly, rather than mustering his entire army, so Angmar's advance could be stopped and Cardolan's agricultural lands would not be laid waste. The Prince attacked, failed and was killed in the process. However, he did enough damage to Angmar so that it lacked the strength to capture [[Barrow-downs|Tyrn Gorthad]], Cardolan's capital in the [[Barrow Downs]].
The North-Kingdom nonetheless had peace for a time, but in the nineteenth century Angmar renewed its attacks. King [[Araval]] with [[Elves of Lindon]] and [[Rivendell]] won a battle in [[Cardolan]] ({{TA|1851}})<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}, pp. 195, 209-210</ref> but was unable to reoccupy it; in the same year, Gondor was attacked by the [[Wainriders]] for the first time.<ref name="AppB2">{{App|B2}}</ref>


However, despite permanently ending the Cardolan threat, Angmar was unable to ride its momentum, and was driven away from the city of [[Fornost]] and the [[North Downs]] by the forces of the new King [[Araphor]] and Lord [[Círdan]] of [[Lindon]].
===Alliance with Gondor===
Suspecting that these attacks might be being coordinated by a single power, the two kingdoms finally brought to an end their years of estrangement. In {{TA|1940}}, [[Arvedui]] heir to the sceptre of Arnor, wedded [[Fíriel]], the daughter of King [[Ondoher]] of Gondor. Soon Ondoher was slain in battle and hoping to save Arnor from Angmar, Arvedui staked his claim to Gondor, by right of his descent from Elendil and by that of his wife. The lords of Gondor however were not for reunification, and the next King [[Eärnil II|Eärnil]], maintained good relations with Arnor, promising them aid against the continuing attacks of Angmar.<ref name=gondor>{{App|Gondor}}</ref>


Overall, the campaign was a huge success for Angmar. No longer was Arnor an unbreakable wall of defenses. Although the [[Second Siege of Imladris]] was broken and Arthedain routed Angmar with the help of [[Lindon]], Angmar had destroyed Amon Sül, Arthedain's chief defence in the Weather Hills, and Cardolan was on the verge of destruction and highly vulnerable.
Arvedui succeeded his father in {{TA|1964}}, but Arnor's strength was fast dwindling. In {{TA|1973}} he sent a message to Eärnil that they were in great straits, and that Angmar was preparing its final assault. Eärnil accordingly mustered a great army, including many horsemen from [[Vales of Anduin]], under the command of his son Prince [[Eärnur]]. The Gondorian force put to sea, but would not arrive in Lindon before Angmar struck.<ref name=gondor>{{App|Gondor}}</ref><ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>
===The Plague===
Another threat appeared to the northern successor kingdoms, a [[Great Plague|major plague]] from the east, in the vicinity of the [[Sea of Rhûn]], northeast of [[Mordor]]. This plague, which affected [[Rhovanion]] and barely western Gondor, spread northwards to [[Cardolan]]. 


In Cardolan, it struck severely, wiping out the last of Dúnedain at the [[Barrow-downs]]. The Witch-king, exploiting the tragedy, sent evil spirits, the [[Barrow-wights]], to infest the area.  The Hobbits of the Shire were damaged by it, but not heavily.  The plague lost its strength, however, at this point, so that most of [[Arthedain]] was unaffected.
===Fall of the North-kingdom===
In {{TA|1974}} the Witch-king amassed his forces and launched a final assault on Arthedain. The Witch-king attacked during the harsh winter weather and [[Fall of Fornost|took]] Fornost. The remnants of the Arnorian forces fled west over the river Lune but Arvedui held out for a short time in the North Downs. He and a few surviving companions were eventually forced to flee to the abandoned mines of the northern [[Ered Luin]]. With their food running out, they sought refuge with the [[Lossoth]] of [[Forochel]]. Receiving word of the King's whereabouts, Cirdan sent a ship to the [[Icebay of Forochel|Icebay]] to rescue him. Against the advice of the Lossoth chieftain, Arvedui boarded the ship, which that night was wrecked by a storm from the North. Arvedui drowned, and with him were lost the ''palantíri'' of Fornost and Amon Sûl.<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


Since Rhudaur had fallen under Angmar's control, this left Arthedain without any allies that could aid them to a great extent. In {{TA|1973}} Arnor sent a message to King [[Eärnil II]] of [[Gondor]] that they were in great straits, and that Angmar was preparing it final assault. The King sent his son Prince [[Eärnur]], with a fleet of ships to [[Lindon]] to aid Arnor but would not arrive in time.  
===Defeat of Angmar===
{{main|Battle of Fornost}}
[[File:Earnur RotWK.png|thumb|Earnur of Gondor]]
The Witch-king now sat the throne in the king's palace, but it was not long before Eärnur arrived in much joy and wonder among Elves and Men. There were so many ships that the fleet filled [[Forlond]], [[Harlond (Lindon)|Harlond]], and the [[Grey Havens]]; amazing the people of the North, even though this was but a small part of Gondor's strength. Once Círdan summoned the [[Elves of Lindon]] and what remained of the [[Men of Arnor]], the allied host marched across the [[Lune]] to challenge the occupiers of Fornost.<ref name=gondor>{{App|Gondor}}</ref>


In {{TA|1974}} Angmar amassed its forces and launched a final assault on Arthedain. The Witch-king attacked during the harsh winter weather and [[Fall of Fornost|took]] Arthedain's capital [[Fornost]]. The remnants of it's forces fled west over the river Lune to the realm of Lindon and Arvedui was lost in the [[Icebay of Forochel]]-- he later died when his ship sank in a storm.
The Witch-king, confident and proud after his recent victories, did not prepare for a siege, but sent his army out to face the [[Host of the West (Arnor)|Host of the West]]. The Host came down from [[Hills of Evendim]] and engaged the forces of Angmar in the plains between [[Nenuial]] and Fornost. The Host of the West had the better of the [[Battle of Fornost|fighting]], and the forces of Angmar began to retreat back to Fornost. Suddenly, out of the north, came the main body of the cavalry, which had passed around the Hills and outflanked the enemy. They fell upon the forces of Angmar and scattered them in a great rout. The Witch-king gathered what troops he could and tried to lead them back to [[Carn Dûm]] but was overtaken by the cavalry of Gondor led by Prince [[Eärnur]]. At the same time a force of Elves led by [[Glorfindel]] came up out from [[Rivendell]] and the remnants of Angmar's army were utterly destroyed. Near the end of the battle, the Witch-king attempted to slay [[Eärnur]], but fled upon the appearance of [[Glorfindel]]. So utterly was the host of Angmar crushed that not a single Man or Orc of that realm remained west of the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref name=gondor>{{App|Gondor}}</ref>


==Aftermath==
Two years after the [[Battle of Fornost]], [[Frumgar]] led the [[Éothéod]] into the northern [[Vales of Anduin]], and drove away what remained of the people of Angmar on the east side of the Mountains, thus being the final act of the centuries-long conflict.<ref>{{App|Eorl}}</ref>
[[File:Earnur RotWK.png|thumb|Earnur of Gondor]]
The [[Witch-king]] took the throne in the king's palace, until a year later in {{TA|1975}} when Eärnur arrived in much joy and wonder among Elves and Men. There were so many ships that the fleet filled [[Forlond]], [[Harlond (Lindon)|Harlond]], and the [[Grey Havens]]; and from them came a large host of Gondor and [[Rhovanion (realm)|Rhovanion]]. Círdan summoned Elves and the remnants of the Dúnedain of the North and marched north across the [[Lune]], to challenge the Witch-king in Fornost.


The Allies passed of over the southern Hills of [[Evendim]] when they were met by the forces of Angmar in the plains between [[Nenuial]] and Fornost. A [[Battle of Fornost|great battle]] began, and when Angmar forces began to retreat back to Fornost when out of the north came the main body of the Allies' horsemen (which had passed around the hills) and scattered in a rout. The Witch-king fled north to the lands of Angmar but was overtaken by the cavalry of Gondor led by Prince Eärnur and a force from Rivendell led by [[Glorfindel]]. No Man or Orc of that realm remained west of the [[Misty Mountains]]. Angmar was obliterated but the Witch-King fled east over the [[Misty Mountains]].
===Aftermath===
The destruction brought about by the war left Eriador heavily depopulated and the North-kingdom in shambles. Arvedui's son [[Aranarth]] would not take any kingship but took the title of [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain of the Dúnedain]] for his people, the [[Dúnedain of Arnor]], were too few and took to a [[Ranger of the North|secretive, nomadic lifestyle]].<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


Arnor was destroyed as a kingdom, though the [[Dúnedain of Arnor]] continued on through the [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftains]].
The [[Shire-folk]] survived, though war swept over them and most of them fled into hiding. Afterwards in the peace that followed the Shire-folk ruled themselves and prospered. They chose a [[Thain]] to take the place of the King, and were content; though for a long time many still looked for the return of the [[King of Arnor|King]].<ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


Fornost was not resettled after the war.  It became a deserted place, feared by the men of [[Bree]], who called it Deadmen's Dike. Not until a thousand years later after the [[War of the Ring]] under King [[Aragorn|Elessar]] was it re-established.
Fornost was not resettled after the war and stayed a lonely ruin, feared by the [[Men of Bree]], who called it [[Deadmen's Dike]]. Not until a thousand years later after the [[War of the Ring]] was [[Arnor]] and its great cities, [[Annúminas]] and [[Fornost Erain]], restored under King [[Aragorn II Elessar]].<ref>{{RK|VI7}}</ref><ref name=eriador>{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


== Portrayal in adaptations ==
Later in the Third Age, Gandalf believed that Sauron wished to re-establish control over Angmar and the northern passes, but was unable to do so because of the [[Dwarves of the Iron Hills]] and the [[Men of Dale]]. Without them (according to Gandalf), there would have been war in Eriador again.<ref>{{UT|9}}</ref>
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
:During the [[White Council]], [[Galadriel]] mentioned this war and its aftermath.


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[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Wars]]
[[Category:Wars]]

Revision as of 13:42, 23 February 2021

This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
 This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
 This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
Previous war: War of the Last Alliance
Next war: War of the Ring
Angmar War
Beginning: T.A. 1409End: T.A. 1974 (fighting finally ended in T.A. 1977)
Place: Throughout Eriador (last conflict occured in the upper Vales of Anduin)
Outcome: Victory for the Free Peoples
Major battles: First Invasion of Angmar, Fall of Cardolan, Fall of Amon Sûl, Weather Hills skirmishes, Second Siege of Imladris, Fall of Fornost, Battle of Fornost, Eótheód Incursion
Combatants

Men of Arnor
Gondorians
Men of the Vales of Anduin
Eótheód
Forces of Rivendell
Galadhrim
Elves of Lindon
Shire-hobbits

Forces of Angmar

Commanders

The Angmar War was a centuries-long struggle between the Men of Arnor and the forces of Angmar, led by the Witch-king.

Background

After the death of King Eärendur, the Kingdom of Arnor was split into three parts: Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur, due to tension between Eärendur's sons. There was often strife between the three kingdoms, usually over control of the Weather Hills and the palantír of Amon Sûl.[1]

History

Prelude

Eliot Gould - The Witch King

During the reign of Malvegil of Arthedain (c. T.A. 1300), the realm of Angmar was established by the Witch-king, beyond the Ettenmoors, with the intention of weakening the Northern Dunedain. It was not yet known that the Witch-king was indeed the chief of the Ringwraiths. He filled his domain (which also extended into the upper Vales of Anduin) with Orcs, evil Men, and fell creatures.[1]

Early Conflicts

Argeleb I of Arthedain claimed the kingship of all Arnor, the line of Isildur having failed in Cardolan and Rhudaur. In Cardolan, this claim was recognized; however, Rhudaur resisted the claim for an evil lord of the Hill-men, whose allegiance lay with Angmar, seized power since the Dúnedain there were few. Argeleb fortified the Weather Hills, but was killed in battle with Rhudaur and Angmar in T.A. 1356.[2] His son Arveleg I received help from Cardolan and Lindon, and was able to drive the enemy back from the Weather Hills. After this the forces of Arthedain and Cardolan held, for many years, a frontier along the Weather Hills, the East Road and the lower Hoarwell. During this period the Witch-king besieged Rivendell, but failed to take it.[1]

Fall of Cardolan

In T.A. 1409, the Witch-king launched a massive assault upon Arnor, circling around the Dúnedain defences to invade Cardolan from the south. Causing huge destruction, the host of Angmar marched north to Amon Sûl. The great watchtower was taken and destroyed, although its palantír was saved and brought to Fornost. In this war both Arveleg and the last prince of Cardolan perished. The remaining Dúnedain in Rhudaur were slain or driven west, while those of Cardolan held out only in Tyrn Gorthad and the Old Forest. Fornost meanwhile was beset by the armies of Angmar, but Círdan brought reinforcements out of Lindon, enabling the young king Araphor to repel his foes from the North Downs.[1]

Arnor had been weakened hugely but the Witch-king was unable to press home his advantage because, at this point, the Elves unleashed their remaining strength upon Angmar. Elrond persuaded King Amroth to send a force of Galadhrim over the High Pass to Rivendell. Together with their kinsfolk of Lindon, they dealt such a blow to Angmar that it was subdued for centuries.[1]

Arnor, however, was unable to recover its former strength. Much of its territory was already deserted, prompting Argeleb II to grant the Shire to the Hobbits in T.A. 1601.[2] In the seventeenth century a Great Plague came from out of the East, devastating Rhovanion and Gondor. While Arthedain was relatively unaffected, Cardolan suffered greatly and the remaining Dúnedain in Tyrn Gorthad perished. The Hobbits of the Shire also saw great loss, but their numbers recovered in time. In the wake of the Plague, evil spirits came down out of Angmar and Rhudaur and reanimated the corpses of the Dúnedain of the Barrow-downs.[1]

The North-Kingdom nonetheless had peace for a time, but in the nineteenth century Angmar renewed its attacks. King Araval with Elves of Lindon and Rivendell won a battle in Cardolan (T.A. 1851)[3] but was unable to reoccupy it; in the same year, Gondor was attacked by the Wainriders for the first time.[2]

Alliance with Gondor

Suspecting that these attacks might be being coordinated by a single power, the two kingdoms finally brought to an end their years of estrangement. In T.A. 1940, Arvedui heir to the sceptre of Arnor, wedded Fíriel, the daughter of King Ondoher of Gondor. Soon Ondoher was slain in battle and hoping to save Arnor from Angmar, Arvedui staked his claim to Gondor, by right of his descent from Elendil and by that of his wife. The lords of Gondor however were not for reunification, and the next King Eärnil, maintained good relations with Arnor, promising them aid against the continuing attacks of Angmar.[4]

Arvedui succeeded his father in T.A. 1964, but Arnor's strength was fast dwindling. In T.A. 1973 he sent a message to Eärnil that they were in great straits, and that Angmar was preparing its final assault. Eärnil accordingly mustered a great army, including many horsemen from Vales of Anduin, under the command of his son Prince Eärnur. The Gondorian force put to sea, but would not arrive in Lindon before Angmar struck.[4][1]

Fall of the North-kingdom

In T.A. 1974 the Witch-king amassed his forces and launched a final assault on Arthedain. The Witch-king attacked during the harsh winter weather and took Fornost. The remnants of the Arnorian forces fled west over the river Lune but Arvedui held out for a short time in the North Downs. He and a few surviving companions were eventually forced to flee to the abandoned mines of the northern Ered Luin. With their food running out, they sought refuge with the Lossoth of Forochel. Receiving word of the King's whereabouts, Cirdan sent a ship to the Icebay to rescue him. Against the advice of the Lossoth chieftain, Arvedui boarded the ship, which that night was wrecked by a storm from the North. Arvedui drowned, and with him were lost the palantíri of Fornost and Amon Sûl.[1]

Defeat of Angmar

Main article: Battle of Fornost
Earnur of Gondor

The Witch-king now sat the throne in the king's palace, but it was not long before Eärnur arrived in much joy and wonder among Elves and Men. There were so many ships that the fleet filled Forlond, Harlond, and the Grey Havens; amazing the people of the North, even though this was but a small part of Gondor's strength. Once Círdan summoned the Elves of Lindon and what remained of the Men of Arnor, the allied host marched across the Lune to challenge the occupiers of Fornost.[4]

The Witch-king, confident and proud after his recent victories, did not prepare for a siege, but sent his army out to face the Host of the West. The Host came down from Hills of Evendim and engaged the forces of Angmar in the plains between Nenuial and Fornost. The Host of the West had the better of the fighting, and the forces of Angmar began to retreat back to Fornost. Suddenly, out of the north, came the main body of the cavalry, which had passed around the Hills and outflanked the enemy. They fell upon the forces of Angmar and scattered them in a great rout. The Witch-king gathered what troops he could and tried to lead them back to Carn Dûm but was overtaken by the cavalry of Gondor led by Prince Eärnur. At the same time a force of Elves led by Glorfindel came up out from Rivendell and the remnants of Angmar's army were utterly destroyed. Near the end of the battle, the Witch-king attempted to slay Eärnur, but fled upon the appearance of Glorfindel. So utterly was the host of Angmar crushed that not a single Man or Orc of that realm remained west of the Misty Mountains.[4]

Two years after the Battle of Fornost, Frumgar led the Éothéod into the northern Vales of Anduin, and drove away what remained of the people of Angmar on the east side of the Mountains, thus being the final act of the centuries-long conflict.[5]

Aftermath

The destruction brought about by the war left Eriador heavily depopulated and the North-kingdom in shambles. Arvedui's son Aranarth would not take any kingship but took the title of Chieftain of the Dúnedain for his people, the Dúnedain of Arnor, were too few and took to a secretive, nomadic lifestyle.[1]

The Shire-folk survived, though war swept over them and most of them fled into hiding. Afterwards in the peace that followed the Shire-folk ruled themselves and prospered. They chose a Thain to take the place of the King, and were content; though for a long time many still looked for the return of the King.[1]

Fornost was not resettled after the war and stayed a lonely ruin, feared by the Men of Bree, who called it Deadmen's Dike. Not until a thousand years later after the War of the Ring was Arnor and its great cities, Annúminas and Fornost Erain, restored under King Aragorn II Elessar.[6][1]

Later in the Third Age, Gandalf believed that Sauron wished to re-establish control over Angmar and the northern passes, but was unable to do so because of the Dwarves of the Iron Hills and the Men of Dale. Without them (according to Gandalf), there would have been war in Eriador again.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil", pp. 195, 209-210
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Homeward Bound"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Quest of Erebor"
Preceded by:
War of the Last Alliance		Major events of Middle-earth
T.A. 1409 - T.A. 1974		Followed by:
Watchful Peace


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