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The '''Surprise Attack on Umbar''' was a battle that took place in [[Third Age 2980|T.A. 2980]].
{{unnamed}}
{{battle
|image=[[Image:John Howe - Corsairs of Umbar.jpg|300px]]
|name=Surprise Attack on Umbar
|conflict=[[Corsair Wars]]
|date={{TA|2980}}
|place=[[Umbar]]
|result=Victory for Gondorian naval forces, Destruction of much of the Corsair Navy
|side1=[[Gondorian Military Forces#Gondorian Naval Forces|Gondorian Navy]]
|side2=[[Corsairs of Umbar]]
|commanders1=[[Image:ME-Gondor.png|45px]] [[Thorongil]]
|commanders2=[[Image:ME-Harad.png|45px]] [[Captain of Umbar]]†
|forces1=Unknown, less than 100 ships, several hundreds raiders and sailors
|forces2=Unknown, est. thousands of Corsair soldiers and sailors, hundreds of ships
|casual1=Unknown, light
|casual2=Unknown, many ships and an est. hundreds of sailors, Captain of Umbar|
}}
The '''Surprise Attack on Umbar''' was a battle that took place in {{TA|2980}} upon the waters and quays of the [[Umbar|Haven of Umbar]].


==Leading Up to the Battle==
==Prelude to the Battle==
 
During the reign of [[Ecthelion II]], [[Steward of Gondor]], the realm of [[Umbar]] was a grave seafaring threat to the [[Southern Fiefs]] of [[Gondor]].  The [[Corsairs]] attacked trade ships, fishing vessels, and the [[Gondorian Military Forces#Gondorian Naval Forces|Gondorian Navy]], as well as the Gondorian coast. The Steward's most trusted counselor was a man the people called [[Thorongil]].  He was very concerned about what the Corsairs could do to the coasts, and voiced his worries often to Ecthelion. Finally Ecthelion gave him permission to tackle this menace.<ref name="Gondor">{{App|Gondor}}</ref>
During the reign of [[Ecthelion II]], [[Steward of Gondor]] the realm [[Umbar]] was a mighty seafaring threat to the [[Southern Fiefs]] of Gondor.  The [[Corsairs]] attacked trade ships, fishing vessels, and Gondorian Navy ships, and soon possibly the Gondorian coast.
The Steward's most trusted council was a man the people called [[Thorongil]].  He was very worried about what they Corsairs could do to the coasts, and voiced his worries often to Ecthelion.
Finally Ecthelion gave Thorongil permission to take out this threat.  Thorongil's plan was to take a small fleet of ships by night into the Havens of Umbar and by surprise destroy as many of the unmanned ships as possible.


==The Attack==
==The Attack==
 
In {{TA|2980|n}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> when all was prepared Thorongil led his small naval task force into the Gulf of Umbar to the Havens, and catching the Corsairs unprepared and unaware, they burned and destroyed many of their shipsDuring the battle Thorongil slew the [[Captain of Umbar]] upon the quays, and then withdrew his forces with little loss.
When all was prepared Thorongil lead his small group of ships into the Gulf of Umbar to the Havens, and caught unprepared and unaware, burned and destroyed many of their largest vesselsAlso during the battle Thorongil killed the Captain of Umbar on the quays.


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
Thanks to the brilliance of Thorongil, the threat of [[Umbar]] was definitely diminished. Many of their ships were destroyed along with many of their sailors.  Thorongil would have received much praise and honor for his victory, but when the returning victors reached [[Pelargir]] he refused to return to [[Minas Tirith]].  He sent a message of farewell to [[Ecthelion II|Ecthelion]], saying: "Other tasks now call me, lord, and much time and many perils must pass, ere I come again to Gondor, if that be my fate."  Though no one could guess what those tasks could be, or by whom he was summoned, they did know where went.  For he took a boat and crossed the [[Anduin]] river, and there he said farewell to his companions and went on alone; and when he was last seen he was headed toward the [[Ephel Dúath|Mountains of Shadow]].  This Thorongil turned out to be the young [[Aragorn|Aragorn II]].<ref name="Gondor"/>


Thanks to tthe brilliance of Thorongil, the threat of Umbar was severally depleted many of their best ships were destroyed along many of their Me.  With little damage done to the Gondorian Navy.
{{references}}
 
==References==
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]].
 
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]

Revision as of 06:21, 12 January 2014

This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Surprise Attack on Umbar
John Howe - Corsairs of Umbar.jpg
Conflict: Corsair Wars
Date: T.A. 2980
Place: Umbar
Outcome: Victory for Gondorian naval forces, Destruction of much of the Corsair Navy
Combatants

Gondorian Navy

Corsairs of Umbar

Commanders

File:ME-Gondor.png Thorongil

File:ME-Harad.png Captain of Umbar

Strength

Unknown, less than 100 ships, several hundreds raiders and sailors

Unknown, est. thousands of Corsair soldiers and sailors, hundreds of ships

Casualties

Unknown, light

Unknown, many ships and an est. hundreds of sailors, Captain of Umbar

The Surprise Attack on Umbar was a battle that took place in T.A. 2980 upon the waters and quays of the Haven of Umbar.

Prelude to the Battle

During the reign of Ecthelion II, Steward of Gondor, the realm of Umbar was a grave seafaring threat to the Southern Fiefs of Gondor. The Corsairs attacked trade ships, fishing vessels, and the Gondorian Navy, as well as the Gondorian coast. The Steward's most trusted counselor was a man the people called Thorongil. He was very concerned about what the Corsairs could do to the coasts, and voiced his worries often to Ecthelion. Finally Ecthelion gave him permission to tackle this menace.[1]

The Attack

In 2980[2] when all was prepared Thorongil led his small naval task force into the Gulf of Umbar to the Havens, and catching the Corsairs unprepared and unaware, they burned and destroyed many of their ships. During the battle Thorongil slew the Captain of Umbar upon the quays, and then withdrew his forces with little loss.

Aftermath

Thanks to the brilliance of Thorongil, the threat of Umbar was definitely diminished. Many of their ships were destroyed along with many of their sailors. Thorongil would have received much praise and honor for his victory, but when the returning victors reached Pelargir he refused to return to Minas Tirith. He sent a message of farewell to Ecthelion, saying: "Other tasks now call me, lord, and much time and many perils must pass, ere I come again to Gondor, if that be my fate." Though no one could guess what those tasks could be, or by whom he was summoned, they did know where went. For he took a boat and crossed the Anduin river, and there he said farewell to his companions and went on alone; and when he was last seen he was headed toward the Mountains of Shadow. This Thorongil turned out to be the young Aragorn II.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"