Brad's Battle Maps

Gondolin (510 FA) On 20-21 June 510 FA, the Siege of Gondolin was fought in Middle Earth between Angband under Gothmog against the Elves of Gondolin under Turgon during the Wars of Beleriand. Why did it happen? Founded in 104 FA by Turgon under the inspiration of Ulmo, the city of Gondolin was one of the greatest kingdoms of Elves during the First Age. Protected by the Encircling Mountains and guarded by the Eagles of Thorondor, the city was largely unknown to Morgoth for mos

Gladden Fields (2 TA) On 5 October 2 TA, the Battle of the Gladden Fields was fought in Middle Earth between Arnor under Isildur against the Orcs of the Misty Mountains during the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. Why did it happen? When Sauron was defeated in 3441 SA during the War of the Last Alliance, Isildur chose to keep the One Ring rather than destroy it, stating, “This I will have as weregild for my father’s death and my brother’s. Was it not I that dealt the Enemy his

Unnumbered Tears (472 FA) On 21-26 June 472 FA, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, or Nirnaeth Arnoediad, was fought in Middle Earth between the Union of Maedhros under Maedhros and Fingon against Angband under Morgoth during the Wars of Beleriand. Why did it happen? Following Morgoth’s victory at the Battle of Sudden Flame in 455 FA, the Noldor lost complete control of the north of Beleriand with only the strongholds of Hithlum, Himring and Nargothrond remaining. However, afte

Stars (1497 YT) In 1497 YT, the Battle under the Stars, or Dagor-nuin-Giliath, was fought in Middle Earth between the Noldor under Feanor and Celegorm against Angband under Morgoth and Gothmog during the Wars of Beleriand. Why did it happen? During the Years of the Trees, while Middle Earth lay in darkness under the stars, Valinor was illuminated by the Two Trees of the Valar: Telperion and Laurelin. In 1495 YT, the two trees were destroyed by the dark lord Melkor and the gi

Fords of Isen (3019 TA) On 25 February 3019 TA, the Battle of the Fords of Isen was fought in Middle Earth between Rohan under Theodred and Isengard under Saruman during the War of the Ring. Why did it happen? The War of the Ring began on 20 June 3018 TA when Sauron’s forces under the Witch-king attacked and captured the eastern half of Osgiliath. One of Sauron’s allies during the war was the wizard Saruman the White, who had occupied the tower of Orthanc since 2759 TA. Begi

Gwathlo (1700 SA) In 1700 SA, the Battle of the Gwathlo was fought in Middle Earth between Numenor under Gil-galad and Ciryatur and Mordor under Sauron during the War of the Elves and Sauron. Why did it happen? The War of the Elves and Sauron had its origin with the decision by the High Elves of Eregion to forge the Rings of Power in 1500 SA. By 1590 SA, nineteen rings had been created: three for the Elves, seven for the Dwarves, and nine for the race of Men. Unbeknownst to

Field of Celebrant (2510 TA) On 15 April 2510 TA, the Battle of the Field of Celebrant was fought in Middle Earth between Gondor under Cirion and Eorl the Young and Rhun under the Balchoth and Orcs during the Gondor-Rhun Wars. Why did it happen? Following the end of the Watchful Peace in 2460 TA, Sauron returned to Dol Guldur and increased his influence over the Orcs and Men of Rhovanion. In the winter of 2509 TA, Cirion, the twelfth Steward of Gondor, received reports of a

Fornost (1975 TA) In 1975 TA, the Battle of Fornost was fought in Middle Earth between Gondor under Earnur and Glorfindel and Angmar under the Witch-king during the Angmar War. Why did it happen? In 1300 TA, the Witch-king travelled to the Carn Dum mountains in northern Eriador and established the realm of Angmar. In 1409 TA, having gathered a large host of Orcs and Hillmen, the Witch-king invaded Arnor, which had been divided into three kingdoms (Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhu

Morannon (3019 TA) On 25 March 3019 TA, the Battle of the Morannon was fought in Middle Earth between Gondor and Rohan under Aragorn against Mordor under the Mouth of Sauron during the War of the Ring. Why did it happen? After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the leaders of Gondor and Rohan met on the battlefield to decide what to do next about Sauron. Gandalf reminded the leaders that although Sauron had lost the battle, he still had large reserves with which he would ass

Five Armies (2941 TA) On 23 November 2941 TA, the Battle of the Five Armies was fought between Dale under Thorin II against Gundabad under Bolg during the Quest of Erebor. Why did it happen? After their defeat at the Battle of Azanulbizar in 2799 TA, the Orcs of the Misty Mountains nursed a great hatred towards the Dwarves. During the Quest of Erebor in 2941 TA, Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and his company of Dwarves were captured by a colony of Goblins that infested th

Azanulbizar (2799 TA) In 2799 TA, the Battle of Azanulbizar was fought in Middle Earth between the Dwarves under Thrain II and the Orcs under Azog during the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. Why did it happen? After the sack of Erebor and Dale by Smaug the Dragon in 2770 TA, King Thror and his son Thrain II fled south and wandered for many years before settling in Dunland. In 2790 TA, after giving Thrain the last of the Seven Dwarven Rings, Thror went north through the Redhorn P

Dagorlad (3434 SA) In 3434 SA, the Battle of Dagorlad was fought in Middle Earth between the Last Alliance under Elendil and Gil-galad against Mordor under Sauron during the War of the Last Alliance. Why did it happen? Following the destruction of the island kingdom of Numenor in 3319 SA, Elendil fled with his sons, Isildur and Anarion, to Middle Earth. In 3320 SA, Elendil and his sons founded the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor with Elendil ruling Arnor and his sons, Isildur a

Pelennor Fields (3019 TA) On 14-15 March 3019 TA, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields was fought in Middle Earth between Gondor and Rohan under Denethor II and King Theoden against Mordor under the Witch-King and Gothmog during the War of the Ring. Why did it happen? On 6 March 3019 TA, two days after the Battle of the Hornburg and the destruction of Isengard, Aragorn revealed himself to Sauron through the Palantir of Orthanc as the Heir of Isildur. This event stirred Sauron

Hornburg (3019 TA) On 3-4 March 3019 TA, the Battle of the Hornburg was fought in Middle Earth between Rohan under Theoden and Isengard under Saruman during the War of the Ring. Why did it happen? Since 3014 TA, King Theoden of Rohan had been under the influence of Grima Wormtongue, a servant of the corrupted wizard Saruman, who had been undermining Rohan in preparation for Saruman’s eventual invasion. This persisted until 2 March 3019 TA when Gandalf the White healed Theode