The Encyclopedia of Arda - War of the Ring (original) (raw)
| Dates Location The northwest regions of Middle-earth Other names Indexes: Alphabetical: R Alphabetical: W Events About this entry: Updated 9 August 1998 This entry is complete |
The decisive conflict at the end of the Third Age The great conflict at the end of the Third Age, named for the One Ring and the importance this had in the final outcome. The war was fought between the Free (a loose alliance of peoples led by the Wise) and Sauron the Dark Lord, with Saruman as a third power based in Orthanc. Sauron at all times held the military advantage in the War, due to his overwhelming forces; not only Orcs and Trolls, but Men of Harad and the East. His main immediate object was the overthrow of Gondor, his near neighbour and the strongest of his enemies. He had such forces at his command, though, that he was able to fight the war on many fronts, also attacking Dale, Erebor and the Wood-elves in the far north, and Lórien from his secondary stronghold at Dol Guldur. If the outcome of the War had depended on military strength, there can be no doubt that Sauron would ultimately have been victorious. Saruman had claimed alliance with both the Wise and the Dark Lord, but was ultimately fighting for his own ends. In alliance with the Dunlendings, and having Orcs at his own command, his objective was the defeat of Rohan. Until late in the War, he held the advantage, defeating Rohan twice at the Battles of the Fords of Isen. He had not considered the Ents of Fangorn in his plans, however, and when they were roused to anger at his actions, they brought about his downfall. The policy of the Wise was based around the Quest of Mount Doom; a company of nine under the leadership of Gandalf travelled from Rivendell with the One Ring, with the hope of reaching Orodruin in Mordor and there destroying it. Because the Ring held much of Sauron's native power, they realised that in unmaking it, they would also defeat its creator. Against all hope, the Quest was achieved: the One Ring was unmade, and Sauron defeated. The War did not end with the defeat of Sauron, for Saruman fled northward after the capture of Orthanc, and established himself in the Shire, bending the Hobbits to his will by threat of violence and the persuasive power of his voice. The return of Frodo Baggins and his companions led to a rebellion by the Shire-hobbits, in which Saruman was killed by his servant, Gríma Wormtongue. Although Sauron and Saruman were both defeated, the Wise did not achieve total victory. With the destruction of the One Ring, the Three Rings that had maintained the realms of the Elves in Middle-earth lost their power, and the last of the High Elves began to leave Middle-earth for the Undying Lands. See also... Adelard Took, Adrahil, Aglarond, Ainur, Aldburg, Alfrida of the Yale, Aman, Amon Lhaw, Anborn, Ancient West, Anfalas, Angbor, Angelimir, Angmar, Anor-stone, [See the full list...]Aragorn Elessar, Archet, Arod, Arwen Evenstar, Asëa aranion, Ash Mountains, Athrad Angren, Bagshot Row, Banks Family, Bardings, Barley, Barrel-rider, Barrow-downs, Base Master of Treachery, Battle Gardens, Battle of Dale, Battle of Fornost, Battle of Greenfields, Battle of the Hornburg, Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Beacons of Gondor, Bergil, Berhael, Berilac Brandybuck, Better Smials, Big Bosses, Bill Ferny, Black Captain, Black Chasm, Black Númenóreans, Black Stone, Blade that was Broken, Bofur, Bonfire Glade, Book of the Stewards, Boromir, Bosco Boffin, Bounders, Brand, Bree-hobbits, Bree-landers, Bridge Inn, Bridge of Nimrodel, Bridge of Stonebows, Brockenbores, Bucca of the Marish, Buckland Gate, Bucklebury Ferry, Buffo Boffin, Bunce Family, Butterbur Family, Bywater Pool, Cair Andros, Calembel, Captain of Despair, Captain of the Host of the West, Captain of the Hosts, Captain of the King’s Household, Captains of the West, Cardolan, Carl ‘Nibs’ Cotton, Causeway Forts, Cave-trolls, Caverns of Helm’s Deep, Celebrían, Chestnuts, Chieftain of the Dúnedain, Chieftain of the Ringwraiths, Chronology of the Westlands, Circle of Isengard, Cirith Dúath, City Gate, City of Gondor, City of the Corsairs, City of the Men of Gondor, Cock-robin, Common Room, Companions of the Ring, Company of the Ring, Cormallen, Cottar, Cotton Family, Counsellor of the North-kingdom, Court of the Fountain, Crebain, Cross-roads, Dark Days, Dark Door, Dark Elves, Dark Mountains, Dark Throne, Dead City, Dead Men, Dead Tree, Deadmen’s Dike, Deeping-coomb, Deeping-road, Denethor I, Denethor II, Deputy Mayor, Derufin, Dervorin, Desolation of Smaug, Dís, Dome of Osgiliath, Door of the Dead, Doorward of Théoden, Downfall of Barad-dûr, Drúath, Drúedain, Drúedain of Anórien, Drughu, Drúwaith Iaur, Duilin, Duinhir, Dúnedain of the North, Dúnedain of the South, Dwarves of the Iron Hills, Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain, Éadig, Eagles of the Misty Mountains, Eagles of the North, East Anórien, East Lórien, East Wall of Rohan, East-borders, East-mark, Ecthelion II, Ednew, Eglantine Banks, Eldar of Eressëa, Eldar of the West, Elendil, Elf-havens, Elfhild, Elladan, Elrohir, Elven-cloaks, Elves beyond the Sea, Elves of Lórien, Elves of Middle-earth, Elves of Thranduil, Elvish World, Emyn Arnen, Emyn Uial, Emyn-nu-Fuin, Entings, Entwood, Eofor, Éomund, Éomund of Eastfold, Erestor, Erkenbrand, Eryn Vorn, Estella Bolger, Ethring, Exile of the Noldor, Fading Years, Fall of Barad-dûr, Fallohides, Fang, Fangorn Forest, Fangorn’s Wood, Far Harad, Fastred, Fastred, Fell Riders, Ferny Family, Fire of Doom, Fire-drakes, Firefoot, First Marshal of the Riddermark, First Shirriff, Flame of the West, Folcred, Folk under the Mountain, Folklands, Fords of Isen, Forelithe, Forest of Fangorn, Forgoil, Forlong, Fornost Erain, Fortress of Sauron, Freca, Free Fair, Free Land, Free Peoples, Frogmorton, Full Muster, Galadriel, Gamgee Family, Gammidge Family, Gandalf, Gardner Family, Gate of Erebor, Gate of Gondor, Gate of Kings, Gate of the Dead Men, Gate-keepers, Ghân, Ghân-buri-Ghân, Ghosts, Gilly Brownlock, Glǣmscrafu, Gladden River, Glamdring, Glittering Caves, Glóin, Goatleaf Family, Goblin-men, Golasgil, Golden Tree, Golden Tree, Gollum, Gondorians, Gorbag, Gorgûn, Gorthaur, Great Battle, Great Darkness, Great Eagles, Great Hall of Feasts, Great Haven, Great King, Great Middle Haven, Great Place of the Tooks, Great Tower, Great War of the Ring, Great Wars, Great Year of Plenty, Green Dragon, Green Hills, Grey Company, Grey Wood, Grimbeorn the Old, Grond, Guards of the Citadel, Guthláf, Gúthwinë, Gwaihir, Halbarad, Half-elves, Halifirien, Hall of the White Tower, Háma, Hamfast of Gamwich, Harad, Haradrim, Hardbottle, Harlond, Haunted Mountain, Haunted Pass, Haven of Umbar, Hawks, Headstrong Family, Healers, Heir of Durin, Heir of Isildur, Helmingas, ‘Herblore of the Shire’, Heribald Bolger, Herugrim, Hidden Land, High Elves, High Hay, High King, High Nazgûl, High Pass, Hildeson, Hill of Erech, Hill of Hearing, Hill-trolls, Hob Hayward, Hobbit-names, Hobbiton Hill, Hobbitry-in-arms, Holfast Gardner, Holman Greenhand, Horn-call of Buckland, Horse-men, Horsebreeders, Horsemen of Rohan, Horses, Host of the West, Hound of Sauron, House of Elendil, House of Elros, House of the Stewards, House of the Stewards, Houses of the Dead, Huorns, Húrin the Tall, Imrahil, Incánus, Inn of Bree, Isembard Took, Isengard, Isengarders, Isildur, Isildur’s Heir, Isumbras Took I, Ithil-stone, Ithryn Luin, Khamûl, Khazad-dûm, King of Durin’s Folk, King of Gondor, King of Khazad-dûm, King of Rohan, King of the Dead, King of the Mark of the Riders, King of the Mountains, King of the Nine Riders, King of the Rohirrim, King of the Second Line, King of the Silvan Elves, King of the Southern Realm, King under the Mountain, Kingdom of Dáin, Kingdoms of the Dúnedain, King’s Company, King’s Host, Kings’ Norbury, Kûd-dûkan, Lady of Rivendell, Lady of the Shield-arm, Lady of the Wood, Lagduf, Lake Núrnen, Land of the Prince, Largo Baggins, Last Bridge, Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings, Last-king, Later Ages, Legolas Greenleaf, Lieutenant of Morgul, Lieutenant of the Tower of Barad-dûr, Lily Baggins, Line of Anárion, Linhir, Little Folk, Living Creatures, Lockholes, Long Cleeve, ‘Long Hom’, Longbeards, Lord of Barad-dûr, Lord of Dol Amroth, Lord of Gondor, Lord of Harrowdale, Lord of Isengard, Lord of Lamedon, Lord of Lossarnach, Lord of the Black Land, Lord of the City, Lord of the Dark Tower, Lord of the Fields of Rohan, Lord of the Nazgûl, Lord of the Tower of Guard, Lord of the White Tower, Lord Steward, Lords of the West, Lost Isle, Lost Realm, Lothíriel, Lugbúrz, Maggot Family, Mallor, Malva Headstrong, Mansion of the Khazâd, Many Colours, Marshal of the East-mark, Marshal of the Mark, Master of Fangorn’s Wood, Master of the Grey Havens, Master-ring, Masterful, Mat Heathertoes, Mayor of Michel Delving, Mearas, Meduseld, Men of Darkness, Men of Dunland, Men of the Ancient Houses, Men of the Anfalas, Men of the Mountains, Men of the West, Men out of the South, Menelya, Mentha Brandybuck, Merethrond, Merimac Brandybuck, Mering Stream, Merry Gamgee, Messenger of Mordor, Min-Rimmon, Mistress of Magic, Misty Mountains, Monendei, Moontower, Mordor, Morgul-host, Morgul-king, Morgul-lord, Mornan, Morthond Vale, Mosco Burrows, Mountains of Shadow, Mouth of Sauron, Mrs. Lily Cotton (née Lily Brown), Muster of Edoras, Muster of Rohan, Muster of the East-mark, Muster of the West-mark, Muster of Westfold, Naked Hill, Nameless Pass, Narchost, Narsil, Narya, Nazgûl of Dol Guldur, New Reckoning, New Row, Nîn-in-Eilph, Nine Ringwraiths, Norbury of the Kings, Nori, North March, North-gate, North-South Road, Northern Sceptre, Númenórean Realms, Nurn, Oath of Cirion, Old Ent, Old Gamgee, Old Gondor, Old Grange, Old Guesthouse, Old Púkel-land, Old Will, ‘Old Words and Names in the Shire’, Olórin, Orc-arrows, Orcs of Dol Guldur, Orcs of Mordor, Orcs of the Eye, Orcs of the Misty Mountains, Orcs of the Red Eye, Orcs of the White Hand, Orod-na-Thôn, Osgiliath, Otto Boffin, Oxen, Palantíri, Party Tree, Peregrin ‘Pippin’ Took I, Pickthorn Family, Pinnacle of Orthanc, Pinnath Gelin, Place of the Fountain, Polo Baggins, Ponies, Ponto Baggins, Ponto Baggins, Pool Side, Potatoes, Power of the Black Land, Powers of the World, Prancing Pony, Prince of Dol Amroth, Prince of the Halflings, Proudneck, Queen of Gondor, Radagast, Rammas Echor, Rangers of the North, ‘Reckoning of Years’, Red Arrow, Red Book of the Periannath, Reunited Kingdom, Revised Calendar, Rhosgobel, Riders of Théoden, Ring of Adamant, Ring of Air, Ring of Barahir, Ring of Doom, Ring of Power, Ring-maker, Ringló Vale, Rings of Power, Ringwraiths of Dol Guldur, Rivendell, River Anduin, River Baranduin, River Limlaith, Robbers of the North, Robin ‘Cock-robin’ Smallburrow, Rochan, Rohan, Roheryn, Rose, Royal Road, Ruby Gamgee, Ruler of Gondor, Ruling Steward, Sackville-Baggins Family, Sandyman, Sandyman Family, Saradoc ‘Scattergold’ Brandybuck, Sarn Gebir, Saruman, Scary, Scatha, Scattergold, Sceptre of Arnor, Sea of Núrnen, Sea-longing, Second Chief, Second Marshal of the Riddermark, Seven Stones, Shadow of the Wood, Shadow-men, Shadowy Mountains, Shagrat, Shards of Narsil, Sharkey, Sharkey’s Men, Shieldmaidens, Ship of Long-foam, Shire Calendar, Shire-muster, Shire-reckoning, Shire-thain, Shirriff-houses, Shirriffs, Siege of Barad-dûr, Siege of Gondor, Silmarillion, Silvan Elves, Silver Crown, Silver Pennies, Silver Swan, Silver Tree, Slugs, Sons of Elrond, Sons of Eorl, South-realm, Southlands, Southlinch, Star of the Dúnedain, Star of the North Kingdom, Sterday, Sterrendei, Steward of Gondor, Steward of the King, Stewards’ Reckoning, Stone of Orthanc, Stonehelm, Stones of Gondor, Stonewain Valley, Storm of Mordor, Straight Way, Strider, Sutherland, Swan-knights, Swertings, Sword Reforged, Sword that was Broken, Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, Tarlang’s Neck, Ted Sandyman, Teeth of Mordor, Thain of the Shire, The Boss, The Causeway, The Courts, The Darkness, The Dead, The East, The Eyrie, The Fat, The Floating Log, The Fool, The Great, The Magnificent, The Mountain, The Númenórean, The Red, The Ring, The Rock, The Rules, The Seer, The Ship and the Silver Swan, The Tombs, The Towers, The Towers, The Tree, The Watch, The White, Third Company of the Citadel, Third Marshal of the Riddermark, Thorin III Stonehelm, Thrimidge, Tighfield, Togo Goodbody, Tolman ‘Tom’ Cotton, senior, Tom Bombadil, Tom Pickthorn, Tosto Boffin, Tower of Ecthelion, Tower of Orthanc, Tower of the Setting Sun, Tower-gate, Towers of Gondor, Town Hole, ‘Translations from the Elvish’, Travellers, Treegarth of Orthanc, Turgon, Two Kingdoms, Tyrn Gorthad, Udûn, Uffo Boffin, Underharrow, Underhill Family, Underking, Undertowers, Upbourn, Úrui, Valley of Saruman, Variags, Vice-regent of Eriador, Vigo Boffin, Vilya, Wall of the Pelennor, Wand of the Stewards, War of the Alliance, War of the Last Alliance, Warden of the Keys, Warden of Westmarch, Watch-towers of the Morannon, Waymeet, West Wind, West-gate of Bree, West-march of Rohan, West-mark, Western Muster, Westfold-men, Westfolders, Westmarch of the Shire, White Council, White Crown, White Hand, White Horse, White Lady, White Mountains, White Rider, White Ship, White Towers, White Tree of Minas Anor, White Tree of Minas Tirith, White Tree of the Eldar, White Wolves, Whitfoot Family, Whitfurrows, Widow Rumble, Wilcome ‘Jolly’ Cotton, Wild Men of the Woods, Will Whitfoot, Windlord, Window of the Sunset, Winged Crown, Winged Messenger, Winged Terrors, Wiseman Gamwich, Withered Tree, Wizards, Wizard’s Vale, Wood of Greenleaves, Woodland Realm, Wraith-king, Wraith-lord, Yellowskin Indexes: Alphabetical: R Alphabetical: W Events About this entry: Updated 9 August 1998 This entry is complete For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1998, 2000. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.Our online Knowledge Base is full of information about Discus and the DISC personality system it uses. |