Carn Dûm: Difference between revisions

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| pronun=
| pronun=
| othernames=
| othernames=
| location=Western end of the [[Mountains of Angmar|Mountains]] of [[Angmar]], south of [[Forodwaith (lands)|Forodwaith]], 700 miles south of the [[North Cape]],<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'',  “Prefaction”, p. XVII</ref> north-west of [[Mount Gundabad]]
| location=Western end of the [[Mountains of Angmar|Mountains]] of [[Angmar]],  north-west of [[Mount Gundabad]], south of [[Forodwaith (lands)|Forodwaith]],<ref name=Map>{{UT|Map}}</ref> 700 miles south of the most northerly point of the northern coast of Middle-earth<ref>{{UT|Introduction}}, The Map of Middle-earth, footnote relating to the [[Cape of Forochel]] in the first paragraph</ref>
| type=Fortress
| type=Fortress
| description=
| description=
| regions=
| regions=
| towns=
| towns=
| inhabitants=[[Orcs]], [[Men of Darkness]], Wolves, Trolls, and other creatures
| inhabitants=[[Men of Darkness]]
| created=around {{TA|1300}}<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'',  “The Tale of Years of the Third Age”</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, p. 144</ref>
| created=
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}}
}}


'''Carn Dûm''' was the capital and chief fortress of the [[Angmar]] realm,<ref>{{UT|Index}}, ''Carn Dûm''</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, p. 144</ref>where the [[Witch-king]] resided.<ref>{{RS|Index}}, ''Carn Dûm''</ref><ref>{{TI|Index}}, ''Carn Dûm''</ref> It was located at the western end of the [[Mountains of Angmar]], the north-western extension of the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, “Prefaction”</ref>
'''Carn Dûm''' was the chief fortress of the realm of [[Angmar]]<ref>{{UT|Index}}, ''Carn Dûm''</ref><ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 144 and 146; Index, ''Carn Dûm''</ref> and the seat of its king.<ref>{{FR|Barrow}}, statement of Tom Bombdadil about the blades of the Men of Westernesse</ref> It was located at the western end of the [[Mountains of Angmar]], the north-western extension of the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref name=Map/><ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Prefaction" and p. 145</ref>


==History==
==History==
Around {{TA|1300}} the chief of the [[Nazgûl]] came north to found the realm of [[Angmar]], seeing hope in the disunion of [[Arnor]] while the southern kingdom of [[Gondor]] remained powerful. The Witch-king, as he became known, established Carn Dûm as his capital and populated it with [[Men of Darkness]], [[Orcs]] and other fell creatures.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]'', “The Making of Appendix A, part One”</ref><ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> An evil and corrupted race of men was said to live in Carn Dûm<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Return of the Shadow]]'',  “Fog on the Barrow downs”</ref><ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]'',  “The Story Foreseen from Lórien”</ref> ([[Merry]] likely saw them in dream while he was trapped with [[Frodo]] in the [[Barrows|Barrow]] of the last Prince of [[Cardolan]]).<ref name="North">{{App|Eriador}}</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, “Fog on the Barrow-downs”, pp. 144-5</ref>
In {{TA|1409}} a great host from Angmar invaded and ravaged [[Cardolan]] and killed [[last prince of Cardolan|its last prince]].<ref name=War1409>{{App|Eriador}}, The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, entries about the war with Angmar in 1409</ref> <ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref> Carn Dûm remained capital of Angmar since around {{TA|1300}} to {{TA|1973}}, being briefly replaced by [[Fornost]] the last two years.<ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 145</ref> <ref name=War1409>{{App|Eriador}}, The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, entries about the war with Angmar in 1409</ref>


Allying with the [[Hill-men]] of [[Rhudaur]], the Witch-king in Carn Dûm sent forces that resisted the claim of [[Argeleb I]] of [[Arthedain]] of lordship over all of the former lands of [[Arnor]].<ref name="North">{{App|Eriador}}</ref> Clashes resulted and in {{TA|1356|n}} Argeleb was slain.<ref name="TA"/> [[Arveleg I]], the son of Argeleb, with strength from Cardolan and [[Lindon]], repelled Rhudaur and Angmar from the [[Weather Hills]] and established an uneasy, fortified frontier.
In {{TA|1974|n}},<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 1974</ref> the combined armies of [[Gondor]], [[Lindon]] and [[Arnor]] crossed the river [[Lune]] and defeated the forces of Angmar in a great battle on the plain between [[Nenuial]] and the [[North Downs]]. The [[Witch-king]] and his surviving forces fled northwards toward Angmar, but they were overtaken by the cavalry of Gondor with prince [[Eärnur]] at their head and cut off by a force led by [[Glorfindel]] that came from the south out of [[Rivendell]] before before they were able to reach shelter in Carn Dûm. The Witch-king was able to flee, but the remaining forces of Angmar were utterly defeated and no man or orc of the realm of Angmar remained west of the [[Misty Mountains|Mountains]].<ref>{{App|Gondor}}, paragraphs about king Eärnil II</ref> As a consequence, it is possible that Carn Dûm was destroyed. It is also possible that Carn Dûm was repopulated after {{TA|2480|n}}, when Orcs began making secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains,<ref>{{App|TA}}, entry for the year 2480</ref> but the fate of Carn Dûm is not mentioned in the Annals of the Kings and Rulers or in the Tale of Years.  


In {{TA|1409|n}} a stronger host commanded from Carn Dûm invaded Cardolan and slew its last Prince, then surrounded [[Weathertop]] and killed Arveleg. Again a coalition of Arthedain (now ruled by [[Araphor]], son of Arveleg I) and Lindon contained the menace.
On [[September 28]] of {{TA|3018|n}}<ref>{{App|Great}}, entry for September 28 3018 of the Third Age</ref> While [[Merry]] was trapped with [[Frodo]] in a [[Barrows|Barrow]], he had a dream that he and others were attacked and defeated by the men of Carn Dûm at night and that his heart had been pierced with a spear.<ref>{{FR|Barrow}}, statements of Merry after waking up from his sleep in the barrow</ref> Some say that this barrow was the grave of the [[last prince of Cardolan]].<ref name=War1409/> It is possible that he dreamt of what happened to the last prince of Cardolan and his men.<ref name="Eriador"/><ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, 'Cardolan, [[Last prince of Cardolan|last prince of]]' </ref>
 
The kingdom of [[Arthedain]] perished in the [[Fall of Fornost]] in {{TA|1974|n}},<ref name="North"/> and the Witch King moved its capital from Carn Dûm to [[Fornost]].<ref name="North">{{App|Eriador}}</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, Analysis of the Appendix A</ref> However, in {{TA|1975|n}}<ref name="TA"/> the Witch-king's forces were driven north-east after the [[Battle of Fornost]] by the cavalry of Gondor and destroyed. [[Glorfindel of Rivendell|Glorfindel]] drove off the Witch-king himself, preventing him from returning to his refuge of Carn Dûm.<ref name="North">{{App|Eriador}}</ref>
 
The host of Gondor left no Man or Orc alive west of the Mountains.<ref name="North"/> On the eastern side in {{TA|1977|n}} [[Frumgar]] led the [[Éothéod]] into the North<ref name="TA"/> and they drove the last remnants of Angmar away.<ref>{{App|Eorl}}</ref> At this time then Carn Dûm was wholly abandoned, although its fate is never specified. While it is possible that Carn Dûm was repopulated after {{TA|2480|n}}, when Orcs began making secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains,<ref name="TA"/> its name was never mentioned again in any histories. It is said that [[Gandalf]] travelled as far as Carn Dûm during one of his journeys.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'',  “The Istari”, p. 526</ref>


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Carn Dum.mp3|Ardamir}}
{{Pronounce|Carn Dum.mp3|Ardamir}}
The etymology of ''Carn Dûm'' is uncertain and it could be any from the [[Elvish]] or [[Mannish]] languages.
The etymology of ''Carn Dûm'' is uncertain, but it is often interpreted as a [[Sindarin]] name.
 
''[[Dûm]]'' is a [[Khuzdul]] word meaning "halls, mansions". The name Carn Dûm therefore could be [[Khuzdul]] (suggested by its proximity to nearby [[Gundabad]]) but [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] used ''K'' for this language instead of ''C''.<ref>{{App|E1}}</ref>
 
In ''[[The Return of the Shadow]]'', ''Carndoom'' or “Carn Doom” appears as an early name of [[Dimrill Dale]] which, according to Tolkien, means "Red Valley". This corresponds with [[Sindarin]] ''carn'' ("red") and ''tûm'' ("valley").<ref>{{RS|4XXIVN}}, p. 433, note 13</ref>


[[David Salo]] favours the Sindarin interpretation of "red valley", and provides the name as an example of the few Sindarin phrases where the adjective ''precedes'' the noun (others being [[Sarn Athrad]] and [[Sarn Gebir]]).<ref>{{HM|GS}}, p. 102</ref> Otherwise, neither words ''carn'' and ''dûm'' have been attested (''carn'' could be a short form of ''[[caran]]'' possibly also seen in ''[[carcharoth|'''Car'''charoth]]'', "red maw")
In early manuscripts of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''Carndoom'' and later ''Caron-dûn'' (both meaning "Red Valley") appear as early names of [[Dimrill Dale]].<ref>{{RS|4XXIVN}}, note 13, p. 433</ref> Paul Strack favours these early terms as [[Noldorin]] precursors of Sindarin ''Carn Dûm''.<ref>{{webcite|author=Paul Strack|articleurl=http://eldamo.org/content/words/word-999459029.html|articlename=S. ''Carn Dûm'' loc.|website=Eldamo|accessed=30 March 2021}}</ref> [[David Salo]] also favours the Sindarin interpretation, giving it as "Red Valley", a compound of ''[[caran|carn]]'' + ''[[tum|tûm]]''.<ref>{{HM|GS}}, pp. 102, 371</ref>


Another suggestion, is that the name roughly translates as "mountain fortress" in [[wikipedia:Gaelic|Gaelic]];<ref>[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/c/carndum.html Carn Dûm] at the [[Encyclopedia of Arda]]</ref> although Tolkien uses [[Celtic]] elements for some translated [[Mannish]] names, this would have been the only instance where he uses Gaelic. It is unknown whether this is just coincidence or not.
Another suggestion, is that the name roughly translates as "mountain fortress" in [[wikipedia:Gaelic|Gaelic]]; although Tolkien uses [[Celtic]] elements for some translated [[Mannish]] names, this would have been the only instance where he uses Gaelic. It is unknown whether this is just coincidence or not.<ref>[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/c/carndum.html ''Carn Dûm''] at the [[Encyclopedia of Arda]]</ref>


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==

Revision as of 12:10, 10 June 2021

Carn Dûm
Fortress
Matěj Čadil - Carn dum.jpg
"Carn Dûm" by Matěj Čadil
General Information
LocationWestern end of the Mountains of Angmar, north-west of Mount Gundabad, south of Forodwaith,[1] 700 miles south of the most northerly point of the northern coast of Middle-earth[2]
TypeFortress
InhabitantsMen of Darkness
GalleryImages of Carn Dûm

Carn Dûm was the chief fortress of the realm of Angmar[3][4] and the seat of its king.[5] It was located at the western end of the Mountains of Angmar, the north-western extension of the Misty Mountains.[1][6]

History

In T.A. 1409 a great host from Angmar invaded and ravaged Cardolan and killed its last prince.[7] [8] Carn Dûm remained capital of Angmar since around T.A. 1300 to T.A. 1973, being briefly replaced by Fornost the last two years.[4] [7]

In 1974,[9] the combined armies of Gondor, Lindon and Arnor crossed the river Lune and defeated the forces of Angmar in a great battle on the plain between Nenuial and the North Downs. The Witch-king and his surviving forces fled northwards toward Angmar, but they were overtaken by the cavalry of Gondor with prince Eärnur at their head and cut off by a force led by Glorfindel that came from the south out of Rivendell before before they were able to reach shelter in Carn Dûm. The Witch-king was able to flee, but the remaining forces of Angmar were utterly defeated and no man or orc of the realm of Angmar remained west of the Mountains.[10] As a consequence, it is possible that Carn Dûm was destroyed. It is also possible that Carn Dûm was repopulated after 2480, when Orcs began making secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains,[11] but the fate of Carn Dûm is not mentioned in the Annals of the Kings and Rulers or in the Tale of Years.

On September 28 of 3018[12] While Merry was trapped with Frodo in a Barrow, he had a dream that he and others were attacked and defeated by the men of Carn Dûm at night and that his heart had been pierced with a spear.[13] Some say that this barrow was the grave of the last prince of Cardolan.[7] It is possible that he dreamt of what happened to the last prince of Cardolan and his men.[14][15]

Etymology

The etymology of Carn Dûm is uncertain, but it is often interpreted as a Sindarin name.

In early manuscripts of The Lord of the Rings, Carndoom and later Caron-dûn (both meaning "Red Valley") appear as early names of Dimrill Dale.[16] Paul Strack favours these early terms as Noldorin precursors of Sindarin Carn Dûm.[17] David Salo also favours the Sindarin interpretation, giving it as "Red Valley", a compound of carn + tûm.[18]

Another suggestion, is that the name roughly translates as "mountain fortress" in Gaelic; although Tolkien uses Celtic elements for some translated Mannish names, this would have been the only instance where he uses Gaelic. It is unknown whether this is just coincidence or not.[19]

Portrayal in adaptations

Carn Dum in The Lord of the Rings Online

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king:

Carn Dûm is the capital of Angmar. The campaign begins with its construction, and it is besieged once by Glorfindel. Carn Dûm is also playable in the skirmish section of the game.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Carn Dum is located in the game's region of Angmar and was both the main focus of storyline and the final end-game dungeon for the game's original release. It is ruled by Angmar's shadow that has returned to this city in the form of the False King Mordirith, Steward of Angmar.

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North

Carn Dum is the final level in the game. It is ruled by Agandaûr, a descendant of the Black Númenóreans and a servant of Sauron.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Introduction", The Map of Middle-earth, footnote relating to the Cape of Forochel in the first paragraph
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index, Carn Dûm
  4. 4.0 4.1 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", p. 144 and 146; Index, Carn Dûm Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "RC" defined multiple times with different content
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", statement of Tom Bombdadil about the blades of the Men of Westernesse
  6. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Prefaction" and p. 145
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur", The North-kingdom and the Dúnedain, entries about the war with Angmar in 1409
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "VII. The Heirs of Elendil"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 1974
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", paragraphs about king Eärnil II
  11. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2480
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years", entry for September 28 3018 of the Third Age
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", statements of Merry after waking up from his sleep in the barrow
  14. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Eriador
  15. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 144-5; Index, 'Cardolan, last prince of'
  16. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The Story Continued: XXIV. The Ring Goes South, Notes", note 13, p. 433
  17. Paul Strack, "S. Carn Dûm loc.", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon (accessed 30 March 2021)
  18. David Salo (2004), A Gateway to Sindarin, pp. 102, 371
  19. Carn Dûm at the Encyclopedia of Arda