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 assault Minas Tirith a second time. Eventually, Aragorn suggested that their hopes now lay with Frodo destroying the One Ring inside Mount Doom and that they should send an army north to meet Sauron’s forces outside the Black Gate to distract his attention away from Frodo. Subsequently, on 18 March, Aragorn, Gandalf, Imrahil and Eomer led a force of 6,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry out from Minas Tirith and marched across the Anduin River into Ithilien. After leaving a force of 1,000 men to guard the Morgul Vale, the forces of Gondor and Rohan arrived at the Morannon on 24 March. The following day, Aragorn and Gandalf met the Mouth of Sauron outside the Black Gate to discuss terms before the battle was joined. The Mouth of Sauron demanded that the forces of Gondor and Rohan withdraw behind the Anduin River and never take up arms against Sauron again. In addition, he demanded that Gondor and Rohan pay a regular tribute to Sauron and rebuild Isengard with the Mouth of Sauron as its lieutenant. When these terms were rejected, both sides withdrew to their respective armies to prepare for battle.
Who was involved?
The combined forces of Gondor and Rohan at the Morannon numbered 5,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry and 6 Eagles. The forces of Gondor and Rohan were positioned on the slag hills in front of the Black Gate with Aragorn and Gandalf commanding the left-wing and Imrahil and Eomer commanding the right-wing. On each hill were positioned 2,500 infantry in front and 500 cavalry in the rear. The Eagles arrived from the north during the middle of the battle. The forces of Mordor at the Morannon numbered 60,000 Orcs, Trolls, Haradrim and Easterlings along with 8 Nazgul riding on Fell Beasts. Most of this force was positioned in front of the Black Gate while the remaining Easterlings and Orcs were positioned on the left and right wings respectively. Because of their superior numbers, the Mordor host was able to surround Aragorn’s small force, although Aragorn’s strategy was simply to divert Sauron's attention away from Frodo’s mission to destroy the One Ring inside Mount Doom.
What happened?
As the Mordor host poured out through the Black Gate, the Easterlings and Orcs attacked Gondor and Rohan’s armies from the flanks, effectively surrounding the Men of the West. The main forces then engaged with Orc archers firing arrows to soften up Gondor and Rohan’s shield wall while Trolls broke through their frontline. At that moment, the Eagles arrived to engage the Nazgul’s Fell Beasts in mid-air until the Nazgul flew back into Mordor upon hearing a sudden terrible cry from the Eye of Sauron. Seeing the Mordor host’s morale disintegrating, the cavalry of Gondor and Rohan charged the wavering enemy line with their own morale soaring under Gandalf’s leadership. With Sauron destroyed, the Mordor host panicked and fled in all directions. Only the Haradrim and Easterlings fought on until forced to flee or surrender.
What changed as a result?
The Battle of the Morannon was a decisive victory for the Men of the West. Although further battles would be fought at Dol Guldur and Bywater in the following weeks and months, Sauron’s power had been destroyed and his Orcs and Men scattered to the east and north. On 1 May 3019 TA, the monarchy of Gondor was restored with Aragorn being crowned King Elessar of the reunited realms of Gondor and Arnor, marrying Arwen, daughter of Elrond, and ruling together until their deaths 122 years later. In addition, the destruction of the One Ring caused the power of the Three Elven Rings to dissipate, and the Elves began leaving for the Undying Lands. On 29 September 3021 TA, the last three Ring-Bearers departed over the sea, thus ending the Third Age and the beginning of the Fourth Age with the dominion of Men over Middle Earth.
Bibliography
Larsen, Merlin Douglas. “The battles of Dagorlad, Orodruin, Fornost, Azanulbizar and Morannon.” Larsen Family. Accessed August 19, 2021. www.larsen-family.us/~1066/azanetal.html
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. London, Harper Collins Publishers, 2004.