Southern Fiefs

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Southern Fiefs
Regions
General Information
Other namesOutlands
LocationSouth and west Gondor
TypeRegions
DescriptionCoastlands south of the White Mountains
InhabitantsNúmenórean, Pre-Númenórean

The Southern Fiefs or Outlands of Gondor were the seabord lands south of Anórien,[1] the fiefs of Gondor outside the Pelennor.[2]

These seaboard lands along the Bay of Belfalas provided much of Minas Tirith's needs: fish from the Ethir, flowers from Lossarnach, and at earlier times, stone from Anórien. The fiefs also provided skilled soldiers.

History[edit | edit source]

After the Great Plague the Corsairs of Umbar raided the Gondorian coasts up to Anfalas, until Umbardacil avenged retook Umbar in T.A. 1810.[3]

Years later the Corsairs once more harried the coasts of Gondor during the time of Cirion.[4]

In T.A. 2758, when Gondor and Rohan were plagued by the Long Winter, three great fleets sailed from Umbar and Harad and raided and landed on the Gondorian coasts, as north as the mouth of Isen. Travelling up Lefnui and Isen they even attacked Rohan. Before the spring of 2759, Beregond overcame the invaders.[4][5]

By the late Third Age, most regions of Gondor were either deserted or overrun and only the Southern Fiefs remained. During the War of the Ring, the Outlands are under attack from the south by a large army of Corsairs from Umbar, allies of Mordor, and they sent small reinforcements to Minas Tirith.[6]

Known fiefs[edit | edit source]

The Southern Fiefs were:

Etymology[edit | edit source]

A fief is, in feudalism, a piece of inheritable land given to a vassal. The vassal returned this gift with (military) allegiance and/or revenue.

See also[edit | edit source]

References