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Region · Eriador

Cardolan

The southern third of divided Arnor, ruined by Angmar and finished by the Great Plague

View on map Eriador
Appears in
Appendices
Region
Eriador
Cardolan on the map of Middle-earth

Cardolan covered the country south of the Road and east of the Brandywine: Minhiriath, the Barrow-downs, the land around Bree and the crossing at Tharbad. On the map its old territory is the blank space between the Shire and the Greyflood, which is the point. It is a kingdom that shows mainly as absence.

Arnor divided in TA 861 among the sons of Eärendur into Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan. Cardolan and Arthedain generally stood together, since both were ruled by Dúnedain, and they disputed possession of Amon Sûl with Rhudaur. In TA 1409 the Witch-king's assault overran Cardolan entirely. The last prince fell defending Tyrn Gorthad, and he was buried in the barrows he had died among.

A remnant of the people held on for two more centuries in the woods and the downs. The Great Plague of TA 1636 killed them. Afterwards Angmar's wights entered the empty mounds, and no ruler claimed the land again until the Reunited Kingdom of the Fourth Age.

Events at this place

  1. TA 861 · Appendices

    Arnor is divided

    The North-kingdom split into Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan on the death of Eärendur, and the three realms soon fell out over Amon Sûl.

  2. TA 1409 · Appendices

    Cardolan is overrun

    Angmar and its Rhudaur allies destroyed the kingdom. The last prince of Cardolan died on the Barrow-downs.

  3. TA 1636 · Appendices

    The Great Plague ends the remnant

    The plague killed the surviving Dúnedain of Cardolan, and evil spirits came into the barrows of the dead.

Frequently asked questions

Where was Cardolan on the Middle-earth map?

In southern Eriador, between the Brandywine in the west, the Greyflood in the south and the Great East Road in the north, including Bree and the Barrow-downs.

What happened to Cardolan?

Angmar destroyed it in TA 1409 and the Great Plague of TA 1636 killed the survivors. Its burial mounds became the haunt of the barrow-wights.