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{{battle|
{{disambig-more|Battle of Dagorlad|[[Battle of Dagorlad (disambiguation)]]}}
name=Battle of Dagorlad|
{{battle
conflict=War of the Last Alliance|
|image=
date=3434 SA|
|name=Battle of Dagorlad
place=The plains or Dagorlad outside Morodor|
|conflict=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
result=Defeat of the forces of Saurons|
|date={{SA|3434}}
side1=Men, Elves, and Dwarves|
|place=The plains or Dagorlad outside Mordor
side2=Orcs, Easterlings, Southrons, Trolls, and other creatures and servants of Sauron|
|result=Decisive victory for the Allies
commanders1=*[[Elendil]]
|side1=Men, Elves, and Dwarves
*[[Gil-galad]]|
|side2=Orcs, Easterlings, Southrons, Trolls, and other creatures and servants of Sauron
*[[Elrond]]|
|commanders1=
*[[Isildur]]|
{{Gil-galad blazon}}
*[[Anarion]]|
*[[Elendil]]
commanders2=*Sauron|
*[[Elrond]]
forces1=Hundreds of thousands of Men, Elves, and Dwarves|
*[[Oropher]]
forces2=Hundreds of thousands of Orcs, Fallen Men, and other evil creatures|
*[[Amdír]]
casual1=Very many, innumberable|
|commanders2= {{Sauron blazon}}
casual2=Vast numbers, more than the allies|
|forces1=Hundreds of thousands of Men, Elves, and Dwarves
|forces2=Hundreds of thousands of Orcs, Fallen Men, and other evil creatures
|casual1=Many thousands
|casual2=Vast numbers, more than the allies|
}}
}}
The '''Battle of Dagorlad''' occurred in the year 3434 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]]. The army of the Last Alliance won the battle and was able to attack the [[Morannon]], the entrance to Sauron's land of [[Mordor]].  But the Elves and Men suffered such heavy casualties, that they had to bury them, and the dead Orcs in the Dead Marshes.  Later, in the [[Third Age]], the Dagorlad was the site of many battles between [[Gondor]] and various [[Easterlings|Easterling]] armies.  
{{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]]<ref name=Passage/>}}
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]].  


==Prelude==
{{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> with a host from [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref>


The word '''Dagorlad''' means &#8216;Battle Plain&#8217; in the [[Sindarin]] [[Languages|Language]]
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.


[[Category:Battles|Dagorlad]]
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.<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> No account is given about the course of events during those months; it is possible that it consisted of a siege of the [[Black Gate]] and skirmishes against sorties by the Orcs and [[Men of Darkness]].<ref>{{HM|Guide}}, entry "Battle of Dagorlad"</ref>
 
Elendil and Gil-galad were invincible and 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"/>
 
==Aftermath==
A great part of Sauron's soldiers was 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]].
 
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 climatic [[Battle of the Morannon]].
 
{{references|notes}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[de:Schlacht auf der Dagorlad]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:2a:guerres:bataille_de_dagorlad]]
[[fi:Dagorladin taistelu]]

Revision as of 22:59, 15 October 2014

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
Conflict: War of the Last Alliance
Date: S.A. 3434
Place: The plains or Dagorlad outside Mordor
Outcome: Decisive victory for the Allies
Combatants

Men, Elves, and Dwarves

Orcs, Easterlings, Southrons, Trolls, and other creatures and servants of Sauron

Commanders

Template:Gil-galad blazon

Template:Sauron blazon

Strength

Hundreds of thousands of Men, Elves, and Dwarves

Hundreds of thousands of Orcs, Fallen Men, and other evil creatures

Casualties

Many thousands

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[1]

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 between the Dead Marshes and Cirith Gorgor.

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.[1] No account is given about the course of events during those months; it is possible that it consisted of a siege of the Black Gate and skirmishes against sorties by the Orcs and Men of Darkness.[4]

Elendil and Gil-galad were invincible and 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 was 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]].[1]

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

Notes

  1. In the text in the Unfinished Tales Amdír is named Malgalad for an unknown reason.

References