War of Wrath

The **War of Wrath**, also called the **Great Battle**, was the war of Elves, Men, Dwarves, and Valar against Morgoth at the end of the First Age, which marked both the end of the Age and of Morgoth's rule in Middle-earth. It was the largest battle of the First Age and possibly the largest battle ever to have taken place in Middle-earth. It resulted in the expulsion of Morgoth from Arda and the ruin of Thangorodrim, but the violence of the clashes between the forces of the Valar and Morgoth shattered the northwestern portion of Middle-earth, Beleriand, and caused it to sink beneath the ocean.

## Background

After more than five centuries since the rising of the sun, Morgoth had become mighty in Middle-earth. He had defeated his enemies in the war and the majority of the Elves and Men of Beleriand were captured in droves and enslaved in the pits of Angband. The few that remained outside his grasp lived around the Mouths of Sirion or elsewhere in the woods and mountains.

Following the Fall of Gondolin, the few survivors protected by Ulmo had escaped the city, among them was Eärendil son of Tuor and Idril. He later married Elwing, the daughter of Dior and Nimloth, and became the lord of the people living in the mouths of Sirion. With the aid of Círdan the shipwright they built the vessel Vingilótë and Eärendil sailed the sea hoping to find the last shore and beseech for aid.

## History

### Prelude

While Eärendil was returning from his voyages the sons of Fëanor attacked the havens when Elwing refused to yield the Silmaril to them and she cast herself to the ocean with the jewel. The Silmaril was not lost as Ulmo bore her up from the sea and she took the form of a great white bird and reunited with Eärendil. Eärendil then sought to look for Valinor once more and, wearing the Silmaril on his brow, he traversed past the enchantments of the sea and he came to Valinor, the first with even a drop of mortal blood to set foot there. He was brought before the Powers of Arda and he delivered the "errand of the Two Kindreds", begging the Valar for pardon for the Noldor and to deliver them from Morgoth.

The Valar were moved by Eärendil's plea and his prayer was granted. So, the host of the Valar prepared for battle joined by many Maiar, along with the Vanyar and Noldor that were in Valinor, riding in the ships of the Falmari. Still bitter about the First Kinslaying, the Teleri did not participate in the war.

Meanwhile Eärendil and Elwing were given their judgement, as it was decreed by Mandos that no mortal should set foot in Aman and live. But Eärendil was also of Elf lineage, so Manwë forbade punishment for the two as Eärendil came out of love of the Two Kindreds while Elwing came out of love for him. However they would never return to Middle-earth again and would be given a choice of which kindred their fate shall be judged together. Elwing chose to be counted among the Eldar and Eärendil chose alike. Then the Valar took Vingilótë, hallowed it, and bore it away to the edge of the world through the Door of Night with Eärendil at the helm and the Silmaril bound upon his brow.

### Battle

The Host of Valinor landed in Beleriand in F.A. 545 and the "whole power of the Throne of Morgoth" was gathered, the arrayed armies of Morgoth were uncountable, and the mountains rang underneath the boots of the Valar; the entire North was aflame with war, which subsequently caused heavy damage to the land by the colossal exchanges of power from the combatants.

Eventually the forces of Morgoth were defeated in the field, the Balrogs were destroyed (save a few who fled and hid themselves in the depths of the earth) and the armies of the Orcs perished like straw in a great fire or leaves before a hot wind. While the Three Houses of the Edain fought with the forces of Valinor, many other Men fought and died alongside Morgoth, which led to their scorn by the Elves. As the War carried into its final years Morgoth faced defeat, and so unleashed his last desperate assault, the winged Dragons, which had never been seen in Middle-earth before. The Host of Valinor was taken by surprise and overcome by the devastation the dragons brought, and were driven back across the region. The greatest of these dragons was Ancalagon the Black, the largest and most powerful dragon in the history of Arda, and the damage his dragon horde inflicted on the Valar was grievous. The skies erupted with lightning and flame at the dragons' arrival, and Morgoth's hosts repulsed the host of the Valar, pushing them away from Angband.

As the situation grew dire for the Valar, Eärendil came with his sky-ship Vingilótë, along with Thorondor and a great flocks of birds and the Eagles, and they fought the dragons. After a fight lasting a full day, Eärendil slew Ancalagon, and in his fall Ancalagon broke the towers of Thangorodrim. With Ancalagon slain, morale was renewed, and the host of the Valar retook the ground that had been lost. The majority of Morgoth's other forces were soon defeated, survivors driven to the depths of the world and to places far underground. Soon Morgoth's power was dispersed entirely, and Angband alone remained his only possession.

Morgoth fled to the deepest dungeons of Angband, where he was caught. By this point, Morgoth's power had weakened considerably, and rather than challenge his foes, he demanded peace and parley, but his feet were hewn from under him and Morgoth fell upon the floor. He was bound with his old chain Angainor; the two Silmarils still in his possession were taken by the Maia Eönwë and guarded. In the end the Valar thrust him "through the Door of Night, beyond the Walls of the World, into the Timeless Void".

### Aftermath

Countless slaves were freed from Angband after his defeat and they looked upon a world that had changed greatly, for the fury of both sides in the war had wreaked havoc on much of the land. The northern areas were torn asunder, rivers formed or destroyed, mountains and hills changed. The wreckage of the war was immense indeed; most of the land west of the Ered Luin, as well as a large part of the central part of the mountains, was laid waste and soon after sank beneath the waves.

Eönwë, the herald of Manwë, summoned all the Elves of Beleriand to depart Middle-earth and go to Valinor. Most of the Noldor and Sindar did so, but a number of them did not and instead went east, such as Galadriel and Gil-galad. Maedhros and Maglor sent word to Eönwë to yield the Silmarils to them but they received the reply that they no longer have any right to the Silmarils due to the deeds wrought pursuing the oath. Despite this, the two sons of Fëanor stole the jewels from Eönwë's camp. But as they held the jewel it burnt their hands. So great was the pain that Maedhros cast himself and the Silmaril into a chasm of fire and Maglor cast his jewel into the sea; the Silmarils found their homes in the high heavens, earth, and deep waters.

The Edain were rewarded for fighting with the Valar in the war and were given a new land to dwell in that was neither part of Middle-earth nor of Valinor: the land was called Andor, the Land of Gift, but the Edain named it Elenna and later Númenórë. The Men that fought with Morgoth fled east.

The Dwarven cities Nogrod and Belegost were ruined when Ered Luin was broken forcing their populaces to flee.

The surviving servants of Morgoth fled east. Sauron, the former chief lieutenant of Morgoth, came out to sue for Eönwë's pardon. He was ordered to return to Valinor to receive judgement; instead he fled and hid back in Middle-earth.