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| {{Campaignbox Wars of Beleriand}} | {{Campaignbox Wars of Beleriand}} | ||
| In the fiction of ], the '''War of Wrath''', or the '''Great Battle''' was the final war against ] at the end of the ]. | In the fiction of ], the '''War of Wrath''', or the '''Great Battle''' was the final war against ] at the end of the ]. It appears in the earliest versions of his legendarium (dating from the 1920s), and also appears in the '']'' (1977), the work published by the author's son and literary executor, ], after the death of the author. The War of Wrath is mentioned in passing in '']'' (1954-5) at the Council of Elrond, and also in the appendices to that work. The details about the war are fragmentary, and the the earlier versions of the story were published posthumously in the ''] series (1983-1996). | ||
| {{spoiler}} | {{spoiler}} | ||
Revision as of 22:33, 18 March 2007
| War of Wrath | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Host of the Valar, the Eldar and the Edain | Servants of Morgoth | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Eönwë, Eärendil | Morgoth, Ancalagon the Black† | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Most balrogs, uncounted legions of Orcs | ||||||
Template:Campaignbox Wars of Beleriand
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the War of Wrath, or the Great Battle was the final war against Morgoth at the end of the First Age. It appears in the earliest versions of his legendarium (dating from the 1920s), and also appears in the The Silmarillion (1977), the work published by the author's son and literary executor, Christopher Tolkien, after the death of the author. The War of Wrath is mentioned in passing in The Lord of the Rings (1954-5) at the Council of Elrond, and also in the appendices to that work. The details about the war are fragmentary, and the the earlier versions of the story were published posthumously in the The History of Middle-earth series (1983-1996).
Five centuries years after the rising of the sun, Morgoth had become mighty and uncontested in Middle-earth, not least because of the strife among the Noldor. The mariner Eärendil, by the light of the Silmaril on his brow, searched and came to Valinor, on behalf of the two kindreds (that of Elves and Men), begging the Valar to pardon and aid the enthralled Elves and Men of Middle-earth.
The Valar were moved by Eärendil's plea, and sent the Vanyar, the remaining Noldor in Aman and possibly many Maiar, to Middle-earth in a mighty host. The Teleri of Alqualondë, they granted the use of their ships to the powers of Aman, but none would aid the Noldor in Middle-earth, remembering the kinslaying of their people long ago when Fëanor wrested their ships from them for the transportation of his host to Middle-earth. The great force of Aman marched across Beleriand and met the terrible forces of Morgoth on the plains of Anfauglith. It is said that the glory of their weaponry illuminated the land.
As in previous battles with Melkor, the ground shook violently and lights from the battle were visible for miles. The host of the Valar completely destroyed the Orc armies of Melkor and destroyed most of the Balrogs, except for a few who fled and hid themselves in the deep places of the world. While the Three Houses of Men or the Edain fought for the Valar, many other Men from the east fought for the forces of Morgoth and were either destroyed or fled back to the far eastern parts of Middle-earth where they became kings of lesser men. Facing final defeat, Melkor released his ultimate weapon, the winged dragons, who had never been seen before, and the terror of that onslaught was like a great storm, and they drove the host of the Valar back.
At that moment Eärendil came with his ship Vingilot, along with the Eagles of Thorondor, Lord of Eagles, and there they contested with the dragons in the air, killing most of them. Eärendil personally slew the dragons' captain, the mighty Ancalagon the Black, who broke the towers of Thangorodrim in his fall.
Morgoth was finally captured cowering in the deepest dungeon of Angband and bound again with the chain Angainor; the two Silmarils still in his possession were taken by the Maia Eönwë, the herald of Manwë and guarded (whence they were later stolen by Maedhros and Maglor). Morgoth's legs were hewn at the ankles and his iron crown was beaten into a collar. In the end the Valar imprison him in the Void, where he remains until the Final Battle and the Day of Doom, and those doors are forever guarded by Ëarendil. Only then shall he be utterly destroyed.
Due to the raw power put forth from the Host of the Valar, the wreckage of the war was immense. Most of the land west of the Ered Luin was laid waste and soon after sank beneath the waves. The remaining Elves were bidden by Ëonwë to return with him to the lands of Aman. Most of them did so, but others refused the summons and instead journeyed eastward where they would become lords of the remaining Noldor and Sindar, as well as others remaining in the east such as the Silvan elves. Galadriel and Celeborn were among these, as was Gil-galad.
To those men of the Edain who fought for the host of the Valar was granted the land of Andor, where the realm Númenor (in the full Quenya form Númenórë) began. This land was neither of Aman nor Middle-earth, but was the nearest to Aman of all mortal lands.
After his master's defeat Morgoth's chief servant Sauron surrendered to Ëonwë and was summoned to Valinor to receive judgement by the Valar. However he evidently reconsidered and fled to the east, to trouble the Men and Elves of the West in later ages.
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