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{{battle
{{battle
| name= Dagor Aglareb
| name= Dagor Aglareb
| image=[[Image:angband_aglareb.jpg|300px]]
| image=[[File:John Howe - The Siege of Angband.jpg|300px]]
| conflict= [[Wars of Beleriand]]
| conflict= [[Wars of Beleriand]]
| date= FA 75
| date= {{FA|60}}
| place= [[Beleriand]]
| place= Across the lands north of [[Beleriand]], and especially on the plain of [[Ard-galen]]
| result= Decisive victory for the Noldor
| result= Decisive victory for the [[Noldor]]
| side1= Noldorin forces from [[Hithlum]], [[Himring]], [[Nargothrond]], and elsewhere in Beleriand
* Beginning of the [[Siege of Angband]] and the [[Long Peace]]
| side2= Morgoth forces of Angband
| side1= [[Noldor]]
| commanders1=[[Image:fingolfin_device.gif|45px]][[Fingolfin]]  
| side2= Forces of [[Morgoth]]
| commanders1=[[Fingolfin]]
<br>[[Maedhros]]
| commanders2=[[Morgoth]]
| forces1=Unknown
| forces2=Unknown
| casual1=Unknown
| casual2=Completed destroyed, not one survivor<ref>{{S|13}}, p. 131 '...pursuing them across ard-galen destroyed them utterly, to the least and last...'</ref>
}}
The '''Dagor Aglareb''', the "'''Glorious Battle'''", was the third battle of the [[Wars of Beleriand]], fought between the [[Noldor]] and the forces of [[Morgoth]].


[[Image:Feanor_device.gif|45px]][[Maedhros]]
==Background==
{{Seealso|Dagor-nuin-Giliath}}
Before the [[Sun]] and [[Moon]] Morgoth had returned to [[Middle-earth]] after serving his imprisonment in [[Aman]]. From [[Angband]] he launched his [[First Battle|invasion]] on the [[Sindar]] living in [[Beleriand]]. The Sindar suffered heavy losses and were forced back deeper into their lands and for a time the [[Orcs]] roamed unmolested in Beleriand.<ref>{{S|10}}</ref>


[[Image:Finrod_device.gif|45px]][[Finrod]]
The [[return of the Noldor]] to Middle-earth changed this, [[Fëanor]] and his followers fought against the Orcs of Morgoth in the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]]<ref name="return">{{S|Return}}</ref> and were victorious however the battle resulted in the death of their leader Fëanor. Afterwards [[Fingolfin]]'s host arrived in Middle-earth with the first rising of the Moon and later the Sun, the Orcs cowered as they feared this new light and retreated back to the caves of Angband. In this time [[Fingon]] rescued his cousin [[Maedhros]] from [[Thangorodrim]].<ref name="return"/>
* [[Turgon]]
* [[Angrod]]
* [[Aegnor]]
| commanders2=[[Image:Morgoth1.gif|35px]][[Morgoth]]
| forces1= Noldorin armies, probably in the tens of thousands
| forces2= As many as 100,000 [[Orcs]] and other creatures as well
| casual1= Light
| casual2= Virtually total
|}}


==History==
===Prelude===
During the sixty years following Dagor-nuin-Giliath, the [[Noldor]] established their foothold in Middle-earth as well as making contact with the Sindar living in Beleriand. Morgoth was informed from his spies that the Noldor were more busy with domestic affairs rather than martial vigilance and were not prepared for war. Morgoth chose this time to strike, the [[Ered Engrin]] spewed forth fire and Orcs poured from [[Angband]] across [[Ard-galen]]. The main host of the Orcs assaulted the highlands of [[Dorthonion]] while parts of the host passed through the [[Pass of Sirion]] in the west and [[Maglor's Gap]] in the east.<ref name="return"/>


== The Battle ==
===Battle===
The '''Dagor Aglareb''' was the third battle of the Wars of [[Beleriand]], known as the '''Glorious Battle'''.
The reports of the spies were wrong and the Noldor were more vigilant than first thought. Soon armies under [[Fingolfin]] and [[Maedhros]] counter-attacked from both east and west on the host at Dorthonion and the Orc host was caught between the hammer and anvil of the two Elven forces, with most of the Orcs being destroyed, and the remnant retreating towards [[Angband]]. The Noldor pursued them, and utterly destroyed what remained of their enemies within sight of the peaks of [[Thangorodrim]]. The bands of [[Orcs]] that broke off from the larger host and strayed into [[West Beleriand|West]] and [[East Beleriand]] were destroyed by other Elven forces.<ref name="return"/>


After the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]] the [[Noldor]] of [[Beleriand]] had wasted their chance to destroy [[Morgoth]]'s forces quickly, and instead had been building their numerous realms and establishing contacts with the [[Sindar]].
===Aftermath===
[[File:Jenny Dolfen - Then Fingon rose against him.jpg|thumb|''Then Fingon rose against him'' by [[Jenny Dolfen]]]]
The [[Noldor]], having been reminded of their ever-present danger, tightened their leaguer but they were unable to completely encircle Angband in the north as the Iron Mountains proved impassable because of the snow and ice. This was the beginning of the [[Siege of Angband]], which lasted almost four hundred years. Only scattered incidents broke this time of peace.<ref name="return"/>


As the [[Ered Engrin]] spewed forth fire, Morgoth sent forth numerous small bands of [[Orcs]], which passed through the [[Pass of Sirion]] in the west and [[Maglor's Gap]] in the east. Fighting small battles along the way, they penetrated deep in West and [[East Beleriand]], where they were destroyed by southern forces of the Noldor and [[Elves]] under [[Círdan]] of the Falas.  In the east, [[Maedhros]], Maglor and their brothers hunted down other roving bands of Orcs as they penetrated [[Maglor's Gap]] and operated in Ossiriand.
After ninety-five years,<ref>{{GA|115}}</ref> Morgoth sent an army of Orcs to the north, turning west then south to [[Lammoth]] and they passed through the [[Firth of Drengist]] hoping to catch [[Fingolfin]] unawares by approaching his realm from the west. However the Noldor were aware of this army and was quickly defeated by a force led by [[Fingon]]. Morgoth then perceived that the Orcs unaided could not defeat the Noldor, save in numbers, and so devised new [[dragons|evils]].<ref name="return"/>


[[Thingol]] refused to march besides the sons of [[Feanor]], and thus no help came from [[Doriath]]. The [[Laiquendi]] of [[Ossiriand]] fought no more battles after their leader had been killed in the [[First Battle of Beleriand]], and they also played no part in the current struggle.
A century later, [[Glaurung]], then only a half-grown [[dragon]], drove the Elves to the protection of the highlands, but he was forced to retreat from Ard-galen by the archers of [[Fingon]].  


Meanwhile, the main force of the Orcs spewed forth from [[Angband]] across the plains to [the highlands of [Dorthonion]], where the twins [[Angrod]] and [[Aegnor]] held them off. Soon armies under [[Fingolfin]] and [[Maedhros]] counter-attacked on the plains of [[Lothlann]] and [[Ard-galen]], from both east and west. The Orc armies were caught between the hammer and anvil of the two elven forces, with most of the Orcs being destroyed, and the remnant retreating towards Angband. The Noldor pursued them, and utterly destroyed what remained of their enemies within sight of the peaks of [[Thangorodrim]].
Morgoth ceased open assaults and during the [[Long Peace]] he employed his powers instead through stealth, treachery, and enchantment of prisoners.<ref name="return"/>


== Aftermath ==
==Etymology==
''Dagor Aglareb'' is [[Sindarin]] for "Glorious Battle",<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref> it contains the elements ''[[dagor]]'' ("battle") + ''[[aglar]]'' ("glory") + [[A-affection|-eb]] (suffix).<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entry ''aglar''</ref>


This was the first complete victory over Morgoth, and after it the Noldor maintained a close guard on Angband, beginning the period of watchful peace known as the [[Siege of Angband]]. This siege lasted some 400 years, but it could never be a complete investment because of the impassable [[Iron Mountains]] on the northern flank of Morgoth's fortress.
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the earlier versions Dagor Aglareb was originally the second battle in the [[Wars of Beleriand]].<ref>{{GA|77|note}}</ref>


== References ==
==See also==
 
* [[:Category:Images of Dagor Aglareb|Images of the Dagor Aglareb]]
* ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "''Of The Return Of The Noldor''"


{{references}}
{{warsofbeleriand}}
{{warsofbeleriand}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the First Age]]
[[Category:Conflicts of the First Age]]
[[Category:Wars and Battles]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[de:Dagor Aglareb]]
[[de:Dagor Aglareb]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:1a:guerres:dagor_aglareb]]
[[fi:Dagor Aglareb]]
[[fi:Dagor Aglareb]]

Revision as of 18:05, 3 April 2021

Dagor Aglareb
John Howe - The Siege of Angband.jpg
Conflict: Wars of Beleriand
Date: F.A. 60
Place: Across the lands north of Beleriand, and especially on the plain of Ard-galen
Outcome: Decisive victory for the Noldor
Combatants

Noldor

Forces of Morgoth

Commanders

Fingolfin
Maedhros

Morgoth

Strength

Unknown

Unknown

Casualties

Unknown

Completed destroyed, not one survivor[1]

The Dagor Aglareb, the "Glorious Battle", was the third battle of the Wars of Beleriand, fought between the Noldor and the forces of Morgoth.

Background

See also: Dagor-nuin-Giliath

Before the Sun and Moon Morgoth had returned to Middle-earth after serving his imprisonment in Aman. From Angband he launched his invasion on the Sindar living in Beleriand. The Sindar suffered heavy losses and were forced back deeper into their lands and for a time the Orcs roamed unmolested in Beleriand.[2]

The return of the Noldor to Middle-earth changed this, Fëanor and his followers fought against the Orcs of Morgoth in the Dagor-nuin-Giliath[3] and were victorious however the battle resulted in the death of their leader Fëanor. Afterwards Fingolfin's host arrived in Middle-earth with the first rising of the Moon and later the Sun, the Orcs cowered as they feared this new light and retreated back to the caves of Angband. In this time Fingon rescued his cousin Maedhros from Thangorodrim.[3]

History

Prelude

During the sixty years following Dagor-nuin-Giliath, the Noldor established their foothold in Middle-earth as well as making contact with the Sindar living in Beleriand. Morgoth was informed from his spies that the Noldor were more busy with domestic affairs rather than martial vigilance and were not prepared for war. Morgoth chose this time to strike, the Ered Engrin spewed forth fire and Orcs poured from Angband across Ard-galen. The main host of the Orcs assaulted the highlands of Dorthonion while parts of the host passed through the Pass of Sirion in the west and Maglor's Gap in the east.[3]

Battle

The reports of the spies were wrong and the Noldor were more vigilant than first thought. Soon armies under Fingolfin and Maedhros counter-attacked from both east and west on the host at Dorthonion and the Orc host was caught between the hammer and anvil of the two Elven forces, with most of the Orcs being destroyed, and the remnant retreating towards Angband. The Noldor pursued them, and utterly destroyed what remained of their enemies within sight of the peaks of Thangorodrim. The bands of Orcs that broke off from the larger host and strayed into West and East Beleriand were destroyed by other Elven forces.[3]

Aftermath

Then Fingon rose against him by Jenny Dolfen

The Noldor, having been reminded of their ever-present danger, tightened their leaguer but they were unable to completely encircle Angband in the north as the Iron Mountains proved impassable because of the snow and ice. This was the beginning of the Siege of Angband, which lasted almost four hundred years. Only scattered incidents broke this time of peace.[3]

After ninety-five years,[4] Morgoth sent an army of Orcs to the north, turning west then south to Lammoth and they passed through the Firth of Drengist hoping to catch Fingolfin unawares by approaching his realm from the west. However the Noldor were aware of this army and was quickly defeated by a force led by Fingon. Morgoth then perceived that the Orcs unaided could not defeat the Noldor, save in numbers, and so devised new evils.[3]

A century later, Glaurung, then only a half-grown dragon, drove the Elves to the protection of the highlands, but he was forced to retreat from Ard-galen by the archers of Fingon.

Morgoth ceased open assaults and during the Long Peace he employed his powers instead through stealth, treachery, and enchantment of prisoners.[3]

Etymology

Dagor Aglareb is Sindarin for "Glorious Battle",[5] it contains the elements dagor ("battle") + aglar ("glory") + -eb (suffix).[6]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the earlier versions Dagor Aglareb was originally the second battle in the Wars of Beleriand.[7]

See also

References


War of the Great Jewels
First Battle · Dagor-nuin-Giliath · Dagor Aglareb · Dagor Bragollach · Nirnaeth Arnoediad · War of Wrath