Fall of Amon Sûl

From Tolkien Gateway
Fall of Amon Sûl
Conflict: Angmar War
Date: c. T.A. 1409
Place: the Watchtower of Amon Sûl
Outcome: Arnor defeated, Weathertop is destroyed
Combatants

Men of Arnor

Forces of Angmar

Commanders

Arveleg I

Witch-King

Strength

Possibly a thousand Dúnedain

15-30,000 Orcs, Evil Men, and other creatures

Casualties

Heavy

Mild

The Fall of Amon Sûl was a siege that took place in T.A. 1409.

Prelude

In 1409 the Witch-King of Angmar led a great host across the river Hoarwell against land of Cardolan, after being beaten back out of the lands of the Dúnedain many years before.

The Siege

When the forces of Angmar reached Weathertop they besieged it, until they broke through. The attackers subsequently burned, then razed the fortress to the ground. King Arveleg I was killed, but some of the Dúnedain retreated and escaped with the Palantír that was stationed there.

Aftermath

Amon Sûl was the main defensive outpost in the Weather Hills and northern Cardolan. With it gone the Witch-King was able to take and ravage Cardolan, as well as consolidate his new conquests in Rhudaur, which his Hill-Men allies and subjects had taken, as well as launch attacks against the whole of Arthedain.

However despite permanently ending the threat that was Cardolan, Angmar was unable to ride its momentum, and was driven away from the city of Fornost and the North Downs by the forces of the new King Araphor and Lord Círdan of Lindon.