Crossings of Poros

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The Lord of the Rings Online tapestry: Folcred and Fastred perish while fighting Haradrim and Oliphaunts at the Crossings of Poros

The Crossings of Poros[1], also known as the Crossing of Poros[2] or Fords of Poros[3], marked the point where the Harad Road passed over the river Poros from Ithilien to South Gondor.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The Fords first entered history in the year T.A. 1944, when the enemies of Gondor made an alliance. King Ondoher of Gondor knew that the Wainriders in the north and his enemies in the south were preparing to attack Gondor. As a consequence, he divided his forces into a northern army and a southern army and left the southern army under the command of Eärnil, a member of the royal house and a descendant of King Telumehtar to deal with the enemies approaching from Near Harad[4] in the south. Eärnil intentionally left the Fords undefended and positioned his troops in a camp about forty miles north of the Fords in South Ithilien[3] and achieved a great victory in South Ithilien and destroyed the army of the Harad, which had crossed the river Poros[5].

In the days of Steward Túrin II of Gondor the Haradrim had occupied South Gondor and there were many armed conflicts along the river Poros.[2] In T.A. 2885 emissaries of Sauron stirred up the Haradrim who crossed the Poros invaded Ithilien[6] with a large army[2]. When King Folcwine of Rohan heard of the invasion he fulfilled the Oath of Eorl[2] and sent many men led by his twin sons Folcred and Fastred to help Túrin II.[7]

Túrin II defeated the Haradrim invaders with the help of the troops from Rohan in a battle at the Crossings of Poros,[2] but Folcred and Fastred fell side by side in battle in Ithilien[7]. They were buried together high upon the shore of the river Poros according to the customs of their people in a burial mound, which was called Haudh in Gwanûr. The mound stood there for a long time and the enemies of Gondor were afraid to pass the mound.[2]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2012: The Lord of the Rings Online::

A tapestry depicting Folcred and Fastred's last stand is found in Meduseld and can be acquired for use in player's houses.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards", entry for Steward Túrin II, p. 1054
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "(i) The Northmen and the Wainriders"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan", "Notes", note 14
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", entry for King Ondoher, p. 1049
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2885, p. 1088
  7. 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", entry for King Folcwine, p. 1069