The War of the Last Alliance

Second Age 3429-3441

After the bending of the world and the Great fall of Men in S.A.3319, at which time Númenor and Beleriand were drowned by the seas, Gil-Galad, the High King of the Noldor, and Cirdan from the isle of Balar founded the realms of the Elves in Lindon by the Gulf of Lhun. The waters had broken through the mountains of the Ered Luin and here established those twain - the Grey-Havens. At the Grey Havens Elendil and his sons Anarion and Isildur who were saved from the Fall of Númenor, came in their ships after a long sojourn. They dwelt here for a while until Elendil passed into Middle-Earth and founded the Kingdom of Arnor. Isildur and Anarion sailed East and up the great river Anduin and established the realm of Gondor, not far from the Black country of Mordor. Sauron, ever struggling to gain the mastery of Middle-Earth, made war against them as well as against all the Elves and Men of Westernessë or any other who aided them. Anarion and Isildur were hard pressed by his cruel forces. Therefore Gil-Galad and Elendil seeing that unless some stand was made against Sauron, the Dark Lord would become master of all Middle-Earth. Gil-Galad and Elendil took counsel together and made a great league. They gathered what force they could and summoned as many as possible to meet in Imladris and thus march into Middle-Earth.

In S.A.3429. Sauron attacked the realm of Gondor and Minas Ithil, hence forcing Isildur to flee and give up Minas Ithil and Ithilien. He burns the White Tree in Minas Ithil and moves on towards Osgiliath, but the city was defended by Anarion, who temporarily succeeded in driving Sauron out of Ithilien. Isildur fled to Annúminas, where his father Elendil and Gil-Galad in 3430 proposed a unified attack upon Sauron in order to finally destroy him. The next year they gathered their respective peoples to prepare for war. When Elendil was ready, it is told that he was standing upon Amun-Sûl staring into the West looking for the host of Gil-Galad and Cirdan to arrive so that they then could march East to Imladris.

Well they all arrived at Imladris in 3431. The preparations for the war against Sauron and the gathering of the peoples of Middle-Earth continued for 3 more years. It is told that in the war hosts of both camps there were beings of every kind and that every kind of being, save the Elves, was divided between the Alliance and the Enemy. In 3434 the ever growing host of the Alliance climbed Hithaeglir and came down into the vales of Anduin, between the Old Ford and the Gladden Fields. They crossed east over the Anduin and as they marched, the Elves from Loth-Lórien and Mirkwood under the command of Oropher joined them. The Dwarves from Moria and Men from Rhovanion came; and from the South through Ithilien came the army of Gondor, leaving only enough men to hold the enemy at bay at the Crossroads. The vast army approaching Mordor and Sauron was in number second only to that which had fought in the War of Wrath.

At their arrival at the stony plain of Dagorlad, the first battle had a sad outcome : At the call of the Alliance, Oropher had assembled a great army of his numerous people and he himself led his host to battle. Though they were hardy and valiant, they were ill-equipped compared to the Elves of the West; and Oropher was headstrong and not disposed to place himself under the supreme command of Gil-Galad. At Dagorlad he rushed forward at the head of his most doughty warriors before the signal for advance was given. Thus he was cut off from the main host and driven into the marshes ( Later the Dead Marshes ) North-East of the Black Gates, where he and those who had followed him in this hasty assault were slain. Fortunately the main force together with his son Thranduil.was left behind.

When the signal for attack was given, the battle waved back and forth outside the Black Gate for months and the dead were buried in what was later known as the Dead Marshes. But the Alliance slowly gained the upper hand and defeated Sauron`s forces and forced him to retreat. Sauron retreated to his fortress Barad-Dûr, and the siege carried out by the Alliance began that same year and lasted until 3441. During those years many skirmishes were fought, and in 3440 Anarion was slain. At last in 3441 Sauron was so hard pressed that he himself came forth to face his enemy.

At the final battle stood Elendil, who at his side had Isildur, Gil-Galad had Elrond and Cirdan at his side. They were all ready to do battle against Sauron wearing his Master Ring. It may be assumed that the Nine Ringwraiths were at his side too. The battle between them was fought at the flanks of Orodruin, where Sauron`s Ring was at its strongest. Sauron slew both Gil-Galad and Elendil, but he stumbled and fell. Isildur, seeing that here he had a chance, cut Sauron`s ring finger off. Without the Ring, the spirit of Sauron fled.

Related Links.: Battles. Disaster at Gladden Fields.