War of the Powers

From Tolkien Gateway
"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
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Previous war: First War with Melkor
Next war: Wars of Beleriand
War for Sake of the Elves
File:Primordial lightning.jpg
Beginning: VY 1090End: VY 1100
Place: North of Aman, northwest Middle Earth
Outcome: Decisive victory for the Valar, Downfall and Chaining of Melkor
Major battles: Battle of the Powers,Siege of Utumno
Combatants

Valarian forces of Aman

Melkor and his servants

Commanders

File:FirstdawnoftheSun Taniquetil cropped-TNasmith.jpg Oromë

File:Morgoth1.gifMorgoth

The War for Sake of the Elves was fought by the Valar, under orders from Manwë, the Elder King, against Melkor to liberate thenewly-awakened Elves from his influence. It culminated in the near-apocalyptic Siege of Utumno, where Melkor was captured, enchained, and imprisoned for three ages of the world.

Prelude

After the Fall of the Two Lamps, the Valar held council among themselves and spoke of the message they had received from Eru Ilúvatar of his coming children, the ElvesTemplate:Ref. Yavanna spoke among them and said:

"Ye mighty of Arda, the vision of Ilúvatar was brief and soon taken away, so that maybe cannot guess within a narrow count of days the hour appointed. Yet be sure of this: the hour approaches, and within this age our hope shall be revealed, and the Children shall awake. Shall we then leave the lands of their dwelling desolate and full of evil? Shall they call Melkor lord while Manwë sits upon Taniquetil?"
The Silmarillion, Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor

Tulkas likewise agreed with the necessity of immediate action. But the Valar chief, Manwë, bid Mandos to speak, and he replied:

"In this age the Children of Ilúvatar shall come indeed, but they come not yet. Moreover it is doom that the Firstborn should come in the darkness, and shall look first upon the stars. Great light shall be for their waning. To Varda ever shall they call at need."
The Silmarillion, Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor

Varda then created other stars to help to light Middle Earth for the coming of the Elves. Using silver dews from Telperion, she created many new stars, including Wilwarin, Telemendil, and others.

File:Varda pablodores lycos.jpg
Varda by Pablo Dores

As a challenge to Melkor, high in the north, she hung the seven stars that make up the Sickle of the Valar. After Varda's long effort, the Elves, the Firstborn Children of Ilúvatar awoke in the starlight by the shores of Cuiviénen, the Water of Awakening.Template:Ref

While Oromë conducted his hunting trips on his great steed Nahar, he heard the sound of many voices singing, the newly-born Elves. He met them and spent time among them, and yet perceived the influence of Melkor anong them. Oromë reported these happenings to the Elder King, who once again called a gathering of all the Valar, even the far-off Ulmo. He then proclaimed:

"This is the counsel of Ilúvatar in my heart: that we should take up again the mastery of Arda, at whatever cost, and deliver the Quendi from the shadow of Melkor."
The Silmarillion, Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor

The War Begins: The Battle of the Powers

File:Silmarillion malcolm mcclinton.jpg
Silmarillion by Malcolm Mcclinton.

The titanic conflict between the Valar and Melkor now began in earnest. The Host of the West (Valar) confronted the Host of the North (Melkor). Melkor would ever remember that this war was begun for the Elves' sake, and it would be burned in his memory. The hosts first clashed in the North-west of Middle Earth, and that region battered and broken by this showdown. This was known as the Battle of the Powers, and the Elves knew little of details of the battle. They could feel the earth creaking and groaning under them, and saw bright lights in the North, like those of great fires.Template:Ref

The Siege of Utumno

Melkor retreated to his great underground fortress of Utumno. There the Valar besieged him for years, and fought many battles before its gates. It was during this time that the contour of Middle Earth was changed, with the Great Sea being widened. The Bay of Balar was carved, and the great river Sirion came into existence. The northern highlands of Hithlum and Dorthonion, sources of Sirion, were raised up as new mountain ranges. The far north was laid waste, as the Valars' power descended into the deep pits of Utumno. In the end, the pits were uncovered, and Tulkas wrestled Melkor and cast him down, and bound him with a powerful chain.

Aftermath

References