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'''Fornost Erain''' ([[Sindarin]] 'Northern-fortress of the Kings' from ''for(n)'' (north) + ''ost'' (fortress); "Norbury of the Kings" in [[Westron]]) was a city of [[Eriador]] in the north of [[Middle-earth]].  It was located at the south end of the North Downs, about 100 [[Númenórean]] miles north of [[Bree]]; after Fornost Erain was abandoned, the site became known as '''Deadman's Dike''', visited only by Rangers. At the time when ''The Lord of The Rings'' is set, Fornost had been abandoned for "nearly a thousand years, and even the ruins of Kings' Norbury were covered with grass".
{{location
| image=[[Image:Fornost rotwk.JPG|250px]]
| name=Fornost Erain
| othernames=Deadmen's Dike, Norbury of the Kings
| etymology="Northern Fortress (of the) Kings"
| type=City/Fortress
| location=[[North Downs]]
| inhabitants=[[Dúnedain]]
| realms=[[Arnor]]<br/>[[Arthedain]]<br/>[[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=
| events=[[Fall of Fornost]]
| references=
}}{{Pronounce|Fornost.mp3|Ardamir}}


It is not known when Fornost was founded or when the kings of [[Arnor]] moved there from [[Annúminas]], but it is known that the kings moved to Fornost some time before [[Third Age|T.A.]] 861, when King [[Eärendur]] died, and Arnor was divided into three kingdoms with Fornost the capital of the greatest kingdom, [[Arthedain]].
{{quote|Deadmen's Dike, you say. So it has been called for long years; but its right name, [[Barliman Butterbur|Barliman]], is '''Fornost Erain''', Norbury of the Kings.|[[Gandalf]]<ref name="Bound">{{RK|VI7}}</ref>}}


In T.A. 1974, Arthedain was overrun by the forces of [[Angmar]], they captured Fornost, and King [[Arvedui]] fled into the northern wastes and was lost in the Ice Bay of [[Forochel]]. In the following year, a fleet from [[Gondor]] led by [[Eärnur]] landed at [[Mithlond]], fought the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] in the plains west of Fornost, and defeated him and his armies, although the Witch-king himself escaped.
'''Fornost Erain''' was the capital of [[Arthedain]]. It was located at the south end of the North Downs, about 100 [[Númenóreans|Númenórean]] miles north of [[Bree]], at the northern terminus of the [[North-South Road]].<ref>{{FR|Map}}</ref>


After King Elessar reunited the the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor, it seems he rebuilt the city, and made it the capitol of Arnor once again.  
==History==
===Early history===
Fornost most probably was founded, around or after the establishment of the realm of [[Arnor]] in {{SA|3320}}<ref>{{App|SA}}</ref> since there is no record of the Númenóreans penetrating so far north before the Downfall of Númenor.  After the fall of [[Sauron]], and early in the [[Third Age]], the Army of Arnor marched west through the [[Fords of Isen]] and continued north to Fornost.<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}</ref>


[[Category:Cities]]
In {{TA|861}}, when King [[Eärendur (King of Arnor)|Eärendur]] died, Arnor was divided into three kingdoms.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref>  Fornost would become the capital of the new realm of [[Arthedain]] at some point; the throne may have lingered for some time in the original capital, [[Annuminas]], after the division, if it wasn't moved immediately to Fornost. In {{TA|1409|n}}, when the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]] took the [[Tower of Amon Sûl]], the ''[[Amon Sûl-stone|palantír]]'' was saved and carried back to Fornost.<ref name="Eriador">{{App|Eriador}}</ref>
 
===Fall===
:''Main article: [[Fall of Fornost]]
In {{TA|1974}}, Arthedain was overrun by the forces of [[Angmar]]. Fornost was captured, and King [[Arvedui]] fled into the northern wastes and was lost in the [[Icebay of Forochel]] with the two palantirs he had saved from the forces of [[Angmar]]. In the following year, a fleet of ships from [[Gondor]], led by [[Eärnur]], landed at [[Mithlond]]. The Elves of [[Lindon]], led by [[Círdan]], joined the forces of [[Gondor]], the remaining [[Dúnedain of the North]] came, and so did a few archers from the Shire. Eärnur fought the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]] in the plains west of Fornost and defeated the armies of Angmar, but the Witch-king himself escaped.<ref name="Eriador"/>
 
===Deadmen's Dike===
After Fornost Erain was abandoned, the inhabitants of the nearest settlement, [[Bree]], referred to it as '''Deadmen's Dike''', and did not come there. Only [[Rangers of the North|Rangers]] came there from time to time, but no-one knew what they did there.<ref>{{FR|I10}}</ref>
 
After [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] reunited [[Reunited Kingdom|the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor]], he had the ruins rebuilt and made a great city where Men dwelt once again.<ref name="Bound"/>
 
==Etymology==
Fornost Erain is [[Sindarin]]. It means "Northern Fortress (of the) Kings";  from ''forn'' "north"  and ''[[ost]]'' "fortress", and ''erain'' is the plural of ''[[aran]]''. The ''Fornost'' component is a direct cognate to [[Quenya]] ''[[Formenos]]''.
 
It was translated as "Norbury of the Kings" (from supposedly [[Old English]] ''norð-burg''<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 774 (entry ''Norbury'')</ref>), which represents its [[Westron]] name.
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Pictures of adaptations of Fornost
|height=150
|width=200
|lines=2
|File:Fornost rotwk.JPG|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Battle for Middle-earth II: Rise of the Witch-king]]''
|File:The Lord of the Rings War in the North - Fornost.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
}}
'''2006: ''[[The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king]]'':'''
:In the expansion pack, ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king|The Rise of the Witch-king]]'', Fornost is besieged by the forces of the Witch-king.
 
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Fornost Erain is simply called Fornost and is located in the northern end of the [[North Downs]]. It is populated with wights, orcs and wargs.
 
'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:The first chapter of the game is centered around Fornost. Agandaûr has assembled an army of [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] in Fornost, and prepared to attack the [[Free peoples]].<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], ''Prologue''</ref> [[Eradan (video game character)|Eradan]], [[Andriel]] and [[Farin (video game character)|Farin]] infiltrate Fornost on [[Aragorn]]'s orders. They free the captured [[Eagles|Eagle]], [[Beleram]],<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Main Gate''</ref> and work together with [[Elladan]] and [[Elrohir]] to stop Agandaûr.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Inner Wards''</ref> Agandaûr flees and [[Tharzog]] - leader of the [[Orcs]] - is killed. After which the Orcs remain leaderless and inter factional fighting starts, hereby preventing an attack.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Citadel Tower''</ref>
:Visitable locations are the Main Gate, the Battlements, the Inner and Outer wards and the Citadel.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost</ref>
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Arnor]]
[[Category:Arnor]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Fortresses]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
 
[[de:Fornost]]
[[fi:Fornost Erain]]

Revision as of 08:03, 15 May 2016

Fornost Erain
City/Fortress
Fornost rotwk.JPG
General Information
Other namesDeadmen's Dike, Norbury of the Kings
LocationNorth Downs
TypeCity/Fortress
RegionsArnor
Arthedain
Reunited Kingdom
People and History
InhabitantsDúnedain
EventsFall of Fornost
"Deadmen's Dike, you say. So it has been called for long years; but its right name, Barliman, is Fornost Erain, Norbury of the Kings."
Gandalf[1]

Fornost Erain was the capital of Arthedain. It was located at the south end of the North Downs, about 100 Númenórean miles north of Bree, at the northern terminus of the North-South Road.[2]

History

Early history

Fornost most probably was founded, around or after the establishment of the realm of Arnor in S.A. 3320[3] since there is no record of the Númenóreans penetrating so far north before the Downfall of Númenor. After the fall of Sauron, and early in the Third Age, the Army of Arnor marched west through the Fords of Isen and continued north to Fornost.[4]

In T.A. 861, when King Eärendur died, Arnor was divided into three kingdoms.[5] Fornost would become the capital of the new realm of Arthedain at some point; the throne may have lingered for some time in the original capital, Annuminas, after the division, if it wasn't moved immediately to Fornost. In 1409, when the Witch-king of Angmar took the Tower of Amon Sûl, the palantír was saved and carried back to Fornost.[6]

Fall

Main article: Fall of Fornost

In T.A. 1974, Arthedain was overrun by the forces of Angmar. Fornost was captured, and King Arvedui fled into the northern wastes and was lost in the Icebay of Forochel with the two palantirs he had saved from the forces of Angmar. In the following year, a fleet of ships from Gondor, led by Eärnur, landed at Mithlond. The Elves of Lindon, led by Círdan, joined the forces of Gondor, the remaining Dúnedain of the North came, and so did a few archers from the Shire. Eärnur fought the Witch-king of Angmar in the plains west of Fornost and defeated the armies of Angmar, but the Witch-king himself escaped.[6]

Deadmen's Dike

After Fornost Erain was abandoned, the inhabitants of the nearest settlement, Bree, referred to it as Deadmen's Dike, and did not come there. Only Rangers came there from time to time, but no-one knew what they did there.[7]

After King Elessar reunited the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor, he had the ruins rebuilt and made a great city where Men dwelt once again.[1]

Etymology

Fornost Erain is Sindarin. It means "Northern Fortress (of the) Kings"; from forn "north" and ost "fortress", and erain is the plural of aran. The Fornost component is a direct cognate to Quenya Formenos.

It was translated as "Norbury of the Kings" (from supposedly Old English norð-burg[8]), which represents its Westron name.

Portrayal in adaptations

Pictures of adaptations of Fornost

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

In the expansion pack, The Rise of the Witch-king, Fornost is besieged by the forces of the Witch-king.

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Fornost Erain is simply called Fornost and is located in the northern end of the North Downs. It is populated with wights, orcs and wargs.

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

The first chapter of the game is centered around Fornost. Agandaûr has assembled an army of Orcs of the Misty Mountains in Fornost, and prepared to attack the Free peoples.[9] Eradan, Andriel and Farin infiltrate Fornost on Aragorn's orders. They free the captured Eagle, Beleram,[10] and work together with Elladan and Elrohir to stop Agandaûr.[11] Agandaûr flees and Tharzog - leader of the Orcs - is killed. After which the Orcs remain leaderless and inter factional fighting starts, hereby preventing an attack.[12]
Visitable locations are the Main Gate, the Battlements, the Inner and Outer wards and the Citadel.[13]

References