The fifth of the major battles of the Wars of Beleriand, and the last to be fought between the Noldor and Morgoth. It followed the defeat and devastation wreaked by Morgoth in the Fourth Battle, the Dagor Bragollach, in which the Siege of Angband had been broken and the Noldor scattered.
In the aftermath of the Fourth Battle, Maedhros son of Fëanor worked to unite the Eldar and Edain of Beleriand against their common foe, and successfully formed the Union of Maedhros some twelve years after the Bragollach. The Elves prepared their counterstroke against Morgoth, and planned a powerful combined assault in the year I 472.
The resulting Fifth Battle raged across the entire ashen plain of Anfauglith, and its outcome was finely balanced, with the Eldar coming close to victory. At a crucial moment, the sons of Ulfang, Men within Maedhros' army, revealed themselves as traitors and drove against their former forces. This betrayal was sufficient to turn the tide in Morgoth's favour, and the Fifth Battle ended in utter defeat for Elves and Men, and total victory for Morgoth. Thus the battle is known to history as the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, a name that translates as 'Unnumbered Tears'.
Indexes:
About this entry:
- Updated 2 June 2018
- Updates planned: 1
For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.
Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2018. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.
SHARE
