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{{disambig-more|Battle of Dagorlad|[[Battle of Dagorlad (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Battle of Dagorlad|[[Battle of Dagorlad (disambiguation)]]}}
{{battle
{{battle
|image=
|image=[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Last Alliance.jpg|300px]]
|name=Battle of Dagorlad
|name=Battle of Dagorlad
|conflict=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
|conflict=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
|date={{SA|3434}}
|date={{SA|3434}}
|place=The plains or Dagorlad outside Mordor
|place=The plains of [[Dagorlad]] outside Mordor
|result=Decisive victory for the Allies
|result=Decisive victory for the Allies
|side1=Men, Elves, and Dwarves
|side1=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]
|side2=Orcs, Easterlings, Southrons, Trolls, and other creatures and servants of Sauron
|side2=Hosts of [[Mordor]]
|commanders1=
|commanders1=
{{Gil-galad blazon}}
*[[Gil-galad]]
*[[Elendil]]
*[[Elendil]]  
*[[Elrond]]
*[[Elrond]]
*[[Oropher]] †
*[[Oropher]] †
*[[Amdír]] †
*[[Amdír]] †
|commanders2= {{Sauron blazon}}
|commanders2=[[Sauron]]
|forces1=Hundreds of thousands of Men, Elves, and Dwarves
|forces1=Great host of [[Dúnedain]]; [[Elves of Lindon]], [[Rivendell]], [[Elves of Mirkwood|Mirkwood]], and [[Galadhrim|Lothlórien]]; [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm]]; beasts and birds
|forces2=Hundreds of thousands of Orcs, Fallen Men, and other evil creatures
|forces2=Great host of [[Orcs]], [[Men of Darkness|Evil Men]], some [[Dwarves]] of other Houses, and other evil creatures
|casual1=Many thousands
|casual1=Heavy: half of the [[Galadhrim]] army lost<ref name="Sindarin Princes">{{UT|Galadriel}}, "Appendix B: The Sindarin Princes of the Silvan Elves"</ref>
|casual2=Vast numbers, more than the allies|
|casual2=Vast numbers, more than the allies
}}
|}}
{{quote|It was a great battle. Tall Men with long swords, and terrible Elves, and Orcses shrieking. They fought on the plain for days and months at the Black Gates.|[[Gollum]] in ''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[The Passage of the Marshes]]"}}
The '''Battle of Dagorlad''' occurred in the year {{SA|3434|n}} of the [[Second Age]]. It was fought between the army of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] under [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] and an army of [[Orcs]] and other creatures loyal to [[Sauron]]. The battle took place on the great, treeless, open plain of [[Dagorlad]], between the [[Dead Marshes]] and [[Cirith Gorgor]].


The '''Battle of Dagorlad''' occurred in the year {{SA|3434|n}} of the [[Second Age]]. It was fought between the army of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] under [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] and an army of [[Orcs]] and other creatures loyal to [[Sauron]]. The battle took place on the great, treeless, open plain between the [[Dead Marshes]] and [[Cirith Gorgor]].
==History==
 
===Prelude===
==Prelude==
{{main|War of the Last Alliance}}
{{main|War of the Last Alliance}}
The united host of Elves and Men crossed the [[Misty Mountains]] and marched south through the vale of [[Anduin]], where they were joined by the [[Silvan Elves]] led by [[Amdír]]<ref group=note>In the text in the [[Unfinished Tales]] Amdír is named [[Malgalad]] for an unknown reason.</ref> and [[Oropher]]<ref name="Silvan Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref>. and also a host from [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref>.
The united host of Elves and Men crossed the [[Misty Mountains]] and marched south through the vale of [[Anduin]], where they were joined by the [[Silvan Elves]] led by [[Amdír]]<ref group=note>In the text in the [[Unfinished Tales]] Amdír is named [[Malgalad]].</ref> and [[Oropher]],<ref name="Silvan Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref> with a host from [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref>


The Alliance entered the vast plain near the [[Black Gate]], where they were joined by Anárion's forces from the south, and confronted at last the black legions of Mordor.
The Alliance entered the vast plain near the [[Black Gate]], where they were joined by Anárion's forces from the south, and confronted at last the black legions of Mordor.


The Silvan Elves had little sympathy for the [[Sindar]] and [[Noldor]] that were led by Gil-galad. As a result they were indisposed to place themselves under the supreme command of the [[High King of the Noldor]].
The Silvan Elves had little sympathy for the [[Sindar]] and [[Noldor]] that were led by Gil-galad. As a result, they were indisposed to place themselves under the supreme command of the [[High King of the Noldor]].  
==The Battle==
During preliminary skirmishing, the Silvan Elves defying Gil-galad's command, rashly charged against the numerous host of Mordor, before the King had given the order. The Silvans were valiant and doughty, but ill-equipped compared to their nobler kin. [[Oropher]] perished in the first onslaught while [[Amdír]] and his troops were cut off an driven into the marshes where half of his host perished.<ref name="Silvan Princes"/> This area became known afterwards as the [[Dead Marshes]], because of the thousands of bodies buried there.


This battle raged for days and nights until the Alliance gained the upper hand and drove away the Orcs and [[Men of Darkness]] Sauron had mustered. Thus Elves and Númenóreans finally pushed the enemy hordes back towards the [[Black Gate]] and broke through [[Cirith Gorgor]].<ref name="Rings"/><ref group=note>No account is given how the Alliance managed to break through the Black Gate</ref>.
===The Battle===
During preliminary skirmishing, the Silvan Elves defying Gil-galad's command, rashly charged against the numerous host of Mordor, before the King had given the order. The Silvans were valiant and doughty, but ill-equipped compared to their nobler kin. [[Oropher]] perished in the first onslaught while [[Amdír]] and his troops were cut off and driven into the marshes where half of his host perished.<ref name="Silvan Princes"/> This area became known afterwards as the [[Dead Marshes]], because of the thousands of bodies buried there. This battle raged for months.<ref name=Passage>{{TT|IV2}}</ref>  


==Aftermath==
Elendil and Gil-galad eventually gained the upper hand. Thus Elves and Númenóreans finally pushed the enemy hordes back towards the [[Black Gate]] and broke through [[Cirith Gorgor]].<ref name="Rings"/>
A great part of Sauron's soldiers was slain in this battle. The Alliance was able to enter Mordor, establish a camp upon [[Gorgoroth]] and lay the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] itself. Nevertheless Sauron still had enough supplies to defend the fortress for seven more years, until the siege was so pressing that he himself came forth, which led to the battle on the slopes of Orodruin in which Sauron was defeated and [[the One Ring]] taken from him.<ref name="Rings"/>
 
===Aftermath===
A great part of Sauron's soldiers were slain in this battle. The Alliance was able to enter Mordor, establish a camp upon the [[Plateau of Gorgoroth]] and lay the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] itself. Nevertheless Sauron still had enough supplies to defend the fortress for seven more years, until the siege was so pressing that he himself came forth, which led to the battle on the slopes of Orodruin in which Sauron was defeated and [[the One Ring]] taken from him.<ref name="Rings"/>


Oropher's son [[Thranduil]] survived the war and established his reign over the Silvan Elves in the [[Woodland Realm]].
Oropher's son [[Thranduil]] survived the war and established his reign over the Silvan Elves in the [[Woodland Realm]].


In the [[Third Age]], the Dagorlad was the site of several battles between [[Gondor]] and various [[Easterlings|Easterling]] armies, and the climatic [[Battle of the Morannon]].  
The slain were buried and their graves eventually were engulfed by the [[Dead Marshes]].<ref name=Passage/>
 
In the [[Third Age]], the Dagorlad was the site of several battles between [[Gondor]] and various [[Easterlings|Easterling]] armies, and the climactic [[Battle of the Morannon]].  


{{references|notes}}
{{references|notes}}

Revision as of 17:02, 22 January 2021

The name Battle of Dagorlad refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Battle of Dagorlad (disambiguation).
Battle of Dagorlad
The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Last Alliance.jpg
Conflict: War of the Last Alliance
Date: S.A. 3434
Place: The plains of Dagorlad outside Mordor
Outcome: Decisive victory for the Allies
Combatants

Last Alliance of Elves and Men

Hosts of Mordor

Commanders

Sauron

Strength

Great host of Dúnedain; Elves of Lindon, Rivendell, Mirkwood, and Lothlórien; Dwarves of Khazad-dûm; beasts and birds

Great host of Orcs, Evil Men, some Dwarves of other Houses, and other evil creatures

Casualties

Heavy: half of the Galadhrim army lost[1]

Vast numbers, more than the allies

"It was a great battle. Tall Men with long swords, and terrible Elves, and Orcses shrieking. They fought on the plain for days and months at the Black Gates."
Gollum in The Two Towers, "The Passage of the Marshes"

The Battle of Dagorlad occurred in the year 3434 of the Second Age. It was fought between the army of the Last Alliance under Gil-galad and Elendil and an army of Orcs and other creatures loyal to Sauron. The battle took place on the great, treeless, open plain of Dagorlad, between the Dead Marshes and Cirith Gorgor.

History

Prelude

Main article: War of the Last Alliance

The united host of Elves and Men crossed the Misty Mountains and marched south through the vale of Anduin, where they were joined by the Silvan Elves led by Amdír[note 1] and Oropher,[2] with a host from Khazad-dûm.[3]

The Alliance entered the vast plain near the Black Gate, where they were joined by Anárion's forces from the south, and confronted at last the black legions of Mordor.

The Silvan Elves had little sympathy for the Sindar and Noldor that were led by Gil-galad. As a result, they were indisposed to place themselves under the supreme command of the High King of the Noldor.

The Battle

During preliminary skirmishing, the Silvan Elves defying Gil-galad's command, rashly charged against the numerous host of Mordor, before the King had given the order. The Silvans were valiant and doughty, but ill-equipped compared to their nobler kin. Oropher perished in the first onslaught while Amdír and his troops were cut off and driven into the marshes where half of his host perished.[2] This area became known afterwards as the Dead Marshes, because of the thousands of bodies buried there. This battle raged for months.[4]

Elendil and Gil-galad eventually gained the upper hand. Thus Elves and Númenóreans finally pushed the enemy hordes back towards the Black Gate and broke through Cirith Gorgor.[3]

Aftermath

A great part of Sauron's soldiers were slain in this battle. The Alliance was able to enter Mordor, establish a camp upon the Plateau of Gorgoroth and lay the Siege of Barad-dûr itself. Nevertheless Sauron still had enough supplies to defend the fortress for seven more years, until the siege was so pressing that he himself came forth, which led to the battle on the slopes of Orodruin in which Sauron was defeated and the One Ring taken from him.[3]

Oropher's son Thranduil survived the war and established his reign over the Silvan Elves in the Woodland Realm.

The slain were buried and their graves eventually were engulfed by the Dead Marshes.[4]

In the Third Age, the Dagorlad was the site of several battles between Gondor and various Easterling armies, and the climactic Battle of the Morannon.

Notes

  1. In the text in the Unfinished Tales Amdír is named Malgalad.

References