The Lord of the Rings

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.

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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 Malgalad and Oropher, with a host from Khazad-dûm. 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.

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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. 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. 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.

The Battle of Azanulbizar was the final climatic battle in the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. It was fought beneath the East-gate of Moria in the valley of Azanulbizar, called Nanduhirion in Sindarin. Therefore the event is also known as the Battle of Nanduhirion and sometimes the Battle of the Mines of Moria.

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The War of the Dwarves and Orcs began when Azog the Orc-chieftain of Moria captured and mutilated Thrór, King of Durin's Folk. Azog branded his own name in runes onto Thrór's severed head, then let Thrór's companion Nár escape so that all Dwarves would know that an Orc now ruled Moria. Full of righteous fury, Thrór's son Thráin II summoned a great army of Dwarves, including those not of Durin's Folk (Firebeards and Broadbeams from the Blue Mountains, and others from the far East of Middle-earth). For six years they systematically sacked the Orc strongholds of the Misty Mountains, until only Moria was left. There the Orcs that had survived the destruction had gathered to Azog.

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The Dwarves were victorious, but half of their forces were dead or mortally wounded. The Orcs suffered even worse casualties, with ten thousand dead. After the battle, Thráin wanted to enter and reclaim Moria, the ancestral home of Durin's folk. However, due to their losses, the other Houses not willing to participate, and since Dáin had seen Durin's Bane beyond the East-gate, Thráin refrained from entering. The Dwarves stripped their dead so the Orcs could not plunder them, and cut down all the trees in the valley, which was to remain bare ever after. They made many pyres on which to burn their dead. They could not bury them all in tombs of stone, as was their custom, because it would take too long. From then on those that died in Dimrill Dale were known proudly as Burned Dwarves. The Houses parted ways, returning to their homes to the North, East, and West. Thráin, with what was left of the Longbeard contingent, went back to Dunland and wandered in Eriador, eventually settling in the Southern Blue Mountains. There Durin's folk repopulated slowly, waiting for the day when they could take back the halls of Erebor and Khazad-dum.[

The Battle of Five Armies was an important battle waged in T.A. 2941. The five warring parties were the Goblins and the Wargs against Men, Elves and Dwarves on and near the Lonely Mountain.

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The battle began on a dark winter day, and no sun was said to have shined through the clouds. The Dwarves had marched into the Dimrill Dale where they found the East-Gate and sent up a great noise. They discovered that on the western slopes above thousands of Orcs had gathered, while more still came pouring out of the gate. The Dwarves there stood outnumbered and on the lower end of a sloping hill.

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Elsewhere, the battle swayed back and forth until Náin from the Iron Hills arrived with a contingent of fresh troops. Náin and his Dwarves cut through the Orc lines with their mattocks shouting, "AZOG! AZOG! AZOG!" until they had reached the steps of the gate, at which Naín called Azog to come out and fight. When Azog emerged from the inner gate with his guards, Náin was exhausted and half blind with rage. He tried to swing as hard as he could, but Azog darted aside and Náin missed, splintering his mattocks on the ground. The orc kicked him in the leg when he dodged the Dwarf's blow, making him stumble, at which point Azog attempted to thrust and behead him, succeeding only in breaking Náin's neck because of the strong mail he was wearing. Náin died instantly. Even as Azog gloated over his duel, he looked out over the valley which the east gate overlooks, and came to the realization that his entire force was routed. Those that could were fleeing southwards, and all his guard was dead. With that he fled back to the gate. Náin's son, Dáin, leaped up the steps after him with his red axe, and there before the gate he decapitated the Orc chieftain, thus ending the battle. The slaying of Azog was considered an amazing feat, as Dáin was only 32 years of age (very young for a Dwarf). Dáin would later become King under the Mountain as Dáin II Ironfoot. Azog's head was then impaled on a pike, and bag of coins he had thrown at Nàr years before was stuffed in his mouth.

The Second Battle of Osgiliath was a futile attempt to stem the advance of Sauron's army advancing from Minas Morgul towards Minas Tirith through the ruins of the city on the Anduin.

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Faramir returned to Osgiliath at around nightfall and had mustered about 1,500 Gondorian troops and Ithilien Rangers. While all the rangers of Ithilien were preparing their weaponry as the Gondorian soldiers and Knights of Dol Amroth in Osgiliath were doing their job in guarding the ruins of the city, Faramir, Golasgil, Duinhir, and Madril believed that the Orcs were to attack from the north. However, they were deceived since the Orcs were secretly on the river. Led by Gothmog, more then 190,000 Orcs and Uruks were making their move on large rafts across the Anduin and plan to engage Faramir's garrison throughout the ruins of western Osgiliath. As the Orcs and Uruks were drawing closer towards the city, one soldier notices them approaching, and Gothmog quickly orders his demise. When Faramir and his Rangers saw a Gondorian lookout took an arrow to the chest, they instantly realized they were about to be attacked from the river and not the north. Faramir quickly leads a heroic defense of the city, having all his troops guard each side of the river bank. As the rafts hit the city and the enemy inside them run into Osgiliath, Faramir waits for the attack, and when the time was right, he charges into the invading Orcs, Uruks, and Easterlings. The defenders of Osgiliath did the same thing as they charge against the enemy while more rafts hit the bank, and a huge battle ensues. During the battle, a battalion of Orcs and Uruks altogether lowered a ramp on the bridge and swarm into the city first, but the Rangers experience very early success by shooting many of them before they could enter. The battle lasted for hours until the morning, and by then all the defenders of Osgiliath desperately continued to defend Osgiliath from the enemy that was now overruning the city in their path. Early in the morning word gets to Minis Tirith and the Steward for aide and emergency reinforcements needed to Osgiliath. In the morning several hundred Gondorian reinforcements arrive but quickly get overrun. As the defenders fought and died all around being overwhelmed as well as Nazgûl arriving. Faramir, the Ithilien Captain calls for a retreat, and all the remaining defenders were ordered to retreat and ride for Minas Tirith. Some did not all make it out the city but it is unknown what their fates were its assumed most perished.

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During the retreat. Faramir’s lieutenant, Madril, was attacked by an Orc and left wounded before he could reach his horse that was taken by Golasgil, who he rode back to Anfalas to rally hunters, herdsmen, and villagers. Before Madril could do anything to escape, he is quickly finished off by Gothmog, who cruelly executes him with a spear. As Faramir and his defenders retreat to Minas Tirith, they are attacked by Nazgûl on winged fell beasts and several die across the field. That was when Gandalf and Pippin ride out of Minas Tirith towards them on Shadowfax. Gandalf managed to drive the Nazgûl back with a beam of white light from his staff. However, on the afternoon, Denethor then delusionally orders Faramir to lead a counter-attack to retake Osgiliath, despite Faramir's complaint that the city is completely overrun. Obeying this order, Faramir sadly leaves to go and try to retake Osgiliath, knowing that this act will claim his own life. He would go onto leading a sacrificial cavalry charge of what was believed to be the remaining Gondorian troops who were tasked in the early morning by Steward Denethor to help aid the soldiers and Rangers who had been defending the city all night. They were tasked to ride to retake the city and go back for those they had left behind. The Orcs and Uruks would be astonished by how sacrificial it was and would draw their bows, releasing a volley of a arrows that would kill all that rode out. The whole company is killed except Faramir, who is later dragged back to Minas Tirith by his horse, unconscious with several arrows in him.

The Battle of Isengard was described as an assault launched by an army of Ents, Entwives, and Huorns. Persuaded by Treebeard to take action, they attacked Isengard and liberated the fortress, although they could not bring down Orthanc.

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Spurred on by Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took, the Ents, followed by Huorns, invaded the Ring of Isengard from Fangorn Forest. The defenders of Isengard were Orcs and Men led (if not personally) by Saruman. The attackers surrounded Isengard, destroyed its gates, crumbled its walls and broke the dam, which flooded Isengard and the pits that Saruman used to create his war machines. Several Ents were scorched and burned, notably Beechbone. The entire force of Orcs and Men that defended Isengard were destroyed, which may have been around one or two thousand.

THE AFTERMATH -

In the end, the Ents took over Isengard. After Saruman's death and the end of the War of the Ring, the Ents made it one of the most beautiful gardens left in all of Middle-earth.

"Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake, fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! After blowing the horn, Théoden adds: Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!" - Theoden

The Battle of the Pelennor Fields was a battle for the city of Minas Tirith, and ultimately for Gondor, immediately following a large-scale siege of Minas Tirith by Sauron's army. It was the greatest battle of the War of the Ring, and indeed the largest of the entire Third Age. Major casualties resulted from the battle, including the deaths of King Théoden and the Witch-king of Angmar.

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Unknown to both Gondor and Mordor, the Drúedain secretly guided Théoden's army safely through the Drúadan Forest via an old, hidden road built by the Men of Gondor long ago, and forgotten by all save the Wild Men. This allowed the Rohirrim to circumvent the defenses of the enemy on the northern road, and attack the forces of Mordor from the rear. Due to the dismantling of the Rammas Echor, Sauron's forces could not mount a strong defense, and Théoden's forces quickly overran the northern half of the Pelennor Fields. However, after forcing the retreat of the Haradrim cavalry, they were halted by the appearance of the Witch-king. He mortally wounded Théoden, who was crushed by his own horse Snowmane. At that moment, Éowyn and Meriadoc Brandybuck rode up to face him. Éowyn killed the Fellbeast upon which he rode, and the Witch-king fell to the ground. He was unharmed by this, however, and he stood up menacingly, readying his mace. He swung at Éowyn, who managed to block the attack with her shield, which shattered under the great mace's force. Éowyn's arm was also shattered upon impact. She fell to the ground, and the Witch-king lifted his mace for a final blow. As he did so, Merry, who was behind him, stabbed him in the back of the leg with his Barrow-blade. The Witch-king was wounded, and Éowyn used this distraction to drive her sword into his face, killing him. During this, and afterwards, the Rohirrim, under the command of Éomer, continued their assault, while the footmen of Gondor launched their own counterattack, sortieing from the gate while Imrahil, his Swan Knights and Gondor's cavalry tried to reach Éomer. Even so, they were all outmatched by the Mûmakil and Haradrim, as the enemy committed their reserves. As the tide of battle turned against Gondor, the Men of the West were dismayed to see the Corsairs of Umbar had arrived.

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The Dark Host was lost all but completely. Few ever made it to Mordor, and fewer still survived of the Haradrim forces. However, they only represented a fraction of the forces of the Dark Lord. Most important to Sauron was the loss of his mightiest servant, the Witch-king. Although the numbers lost were not incredibly significant to Sauron, as he could afford to lose many times that of his enemies, the loss of his chief servant was a devastating blow. The losses of the West were significant as well. In addition to the lost commanders, it was said by Éomer later that not 4000 Riders were combat worthy, and the losses in other forces were probably considerable as well. However, despite that, with the newcomers from southern Gondor and more arriving by prior order of Aragorn, even with all the losses of the battle and the 7000 heading for the Morannon, the city was estimated to be better defended than before the battle, discounting the loss of the Great Gate.

THE WAR (PART II)

Neither side knew that Aragorn and the Grey Company, with the help of the Army of the Dead, had vanquished the fleet of the Corsairs in the Battle of Pelargir. The Army of the Dead repaid their debt to Isildur by driving the Corsairs upon the ships mad, causing them to jump off of their ships and drown. After loading the ships with as many men of southern Gondor as possible, they sailed north to the battle. Upon arriving, the enemy found itself in a disadvantageous position, with their enemies where (and when) they least expected. The extra reinforcements brought by Aragorn punched a wide salient within the most vulnerable area of the Mordor-host, severing the forces nearer to Minas Tirith and the ones close to the river Anduin. The Men of Gondor and the Rohirrim exploited this tactical advantage to the fullest, utterly routing the enemy with prolonged infantry charges and cavalry pursuit. The tactical and morale advantage was effective in turning the battle into a rout of the Mordor host. Most of the Mordor-host was slain and the rest fled back toward the Land of Shadow, many drowning in the Anduin. A strong force of Easterlings fought to the last man, and Gothmog rallied many evil servants across the Pelennor to fight while other Orcs retreated. While they were decimated by the now numerically superior Armies of the West, Sauron's remaining army inflicted considerable casualties among their foes. The battle was over by sunset, with most enemies dead and a meager few fleeing.

The Battle of the Hornburg, known in various adaptations as the Battle of Helm's Deep, was the first large-scale battle of the War of the Ring, where the Rohirrim under King Théoden defended the Hornburg from Saruman's army of Dunlendings and Uruk-hai.

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The forces of Saruman arrived at the valley of Helm's Deep in the middle of the night and quickly scaled over the first defence, Helm's Dike, and attempted to break down the fortress's gate with a battering ram. But Aragorn, Éomer, and some other Rohirrim attacked, through a postern gate on the side of the Hornburg, scattering the forces threatening the doors. The Orcs and Dunlendings then raised hundreds of ladders to scale the wall. Aragorn and Éomer had to repeatedly move the defenders, who were getting weary, to repel the Orcs coming up the ladders and crossing the wall. However, some Orcs had crept in though a culvert which let a stream out of Helm's Deep, and while the defenders were busy with the assault on the wall, they suddenly attacked, having made it past the wall. The defenders quickly reacted and drove back the Orcs, and the culvert was blocked up under supervision by Gimli.

However, the enemies reentered the culvert and caused an explosion using a device of Saruman's. This made a wide hole in the wall, and Saruman's forces could not be stopped. The defenders retreated to the Glittering Caves and to the Hornburg. Soon Saruman's forces used their blasting fire to gain entrance to the keep. At this moment, however, the horn of Helm's Deep was sounded, and after a moment a sortie led by Théoden and Aragorn rode forth, followed by men on foot from the keep, and the defenders of the caves, who made a break-out attempt and were driving the enemy out of the deep. Théoden and Aragorn cut through the Orcs and Dunlendings and arrived at Helm's Dike. Both armies then noticed that many trees, Huorns, had moved to block a possible escape route for the Orcs. Then Gandalf, Erkenbrand, and a thousand men on foot from the Westfold arrived, and charged. The Dunlendings were so terrified of Gandalf that they could no longer fight. The Orcs lost control and ran into the trees, where the Huorns destroyed them. Thus, Rohan won the battle.

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After the battle those Dunlendings who surrendered were given amnesty by King Théoden and allowed to return to home. The Rohirrim required that all hostilities cease, and that the Dunlendings retreat behind the Isen river again. The slain Dunlendings were buried in a mound of their own apart from the Orc carcasses. The next night those carcasses disappeared and the Death Down was left by the departing Huorns.

"We have not the Ring. … Without it we cannot by force defeat his force. But we must at all costs keep his Eye from his true peril. We cannot achieve victory by arms, but by arms we can give the Ring-bearer his only chance, frail though it be. … We must push Sauron to his last throw. We must call out his hidden strength, so that he shall empty his land. We must march out to meet him at once. We must make ourselves the bait, though his jaws should close on us. … We must walk open-eyed into that trap, with courage, but small hope for ourselves." - Aragorn II Elessar

The Battle of the Black Gate or Battle of the Morannon was the final major battle of the War of the Ring, fought before Mordor's Black Gate. It resulted in the ultimate defeat of Sauron not by victory on the battlefield, but by means of the destruction of the One Ring by the Hobbit Frodo Baggins. After the Last Debate, the Men of the West assembled the Host of the West, 7,000 strong, led by Aragorn, who marched on the Black Gate as a diversionary feint to distract Sauron's attention from Frodo and Sam, who were carrying the One Ring through Mordor to be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. It was hoped that Sauron would think Aragorn had the Ring and was now trying to use it to overthrow him in Mordor.

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Against the Host of the West was arrayed large hordes of Orcs, Trolls, and Mannish allies such as the Easterlings and Haradrim. An exact count of Sauron's host is not given, but it is said that they were "ten times and more than ten times" greater than the Host of the West, making it a force of at least 60,000. Sauron's forces surrounded the Army of the West entirely, circling around them to prevent any escape. Initially, Sauron's forces found difficulty in getting to the Army of the West, due to the large slag pools and pits of waste surrounding parts of the Black Gate, which impeded their progress. This gave Aragorn time to prepare his forces, splitting them between two Slag Hills. During the course of the battle, the remaining eight Nazgûl emerged and attacked the Army of the West. Shortly thereafter, however, the Great Eagles of the Misty Mountains, led by Gwaihir the Windlord, arrived and attacked the Ringwraiths, preventing them from pressing their aerial advantage. Trolls began to crash through the lines of infantry, and the Orcs and Easterlings made renewed assaults on the Army of the West, encircling it. That was when Frodo put on the One Ring and Sauron realized that Frodo and the Ring were inside Mount Doom. Immediately the forces of Sauron began to waver as his will was no longer driving them on.

The Nazgûl immediately left the battle to intercept Frodo. Before they could get there, however, Gollum bit the Ring off Frodo's finger and slipped into the Crack of Doom, destroying the Ring and ending Sauron's power. Barad-dûr, the Black Gate, and the Towers of the Teeth collapsed to ruin. At this the Orcs and other creatures of Sauron at the battle scattered in disarray, and were routed by the Host of the West or fled. Seeing the power of Mordor collapse, some of the Easterlings and Haradrim fought on to the end, whilst others surrendered and were pardoned.

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"I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam." - Frodo Baggins

On March 25 T.A. 3019 Barad-dûr was utterly destroyed. The hobbit, Frodo Baggins and Gollum dueled over the one ring, however Gollum took the ring and fell, a result of the One Ring being unmade as it fell into the Cracks of Doom whilst in the clutches of the creature Gollum. The One Ring was said to be the foundation of Barad-dûr, this great tower of Sauron could only stand whilst the power of the One Ring endured. The tower crumbled and exploded, and so did Mount Doom.