Dagorlad

The Dagorlad lies directly north of the Morannon, bounded by the Ephel Duath on the west, the Ered Lithui on the east and the slowly spreading Dead Marshes on the northwest. It is flat, stony and treeless, which is exactly why armies met there: it is the only place to deploy in force in front of Mordor's northern entrance.

The name means Battle Plain, and it earned it at the end of the Second Age. The host of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men fought Sauron's army here in SA 3434, broke it, and then moved on to besiege Barad-dur for seven years. Many of the Elves and Men of the Alliance died in that fighting.

Gondor returned to the plain repeatedly. In TA 1944 the Wainriders killed King Ondoher and both his sons here, before the Morannon. By TA 3019 the whole region was watched from the Towers of the Teeth, and nothing crossed it unseen.

Aragorn's small army marched over the Dagorlad on 25 March TA 3019 to draw Sauron's forces away from Frodo, and formed up on two slag hills in front of the Gate. They stood on ground that had been fought over in two ages, and the slag heaps and pits left by earlier armies gave them the only cover in sight.

Events at this place

1. SA 3434 · The Silmarillion

   Battle of Dagorlad

   The Last Alliance defeated Sauron's host on the plain, opening the way to the siege of Barad-dur.

2. TA 1944 · Appendices

   Ondoher falls before the Morannon

   King Ondoher of Gondor and both his sons were killed on the plain before the Morannon fighting the Wainriders, and Gondor's northern army was overthrown.

3. TA 3019, March 24 · The Lord of the Rings

   The host of the West crosses

   Aragorn led the army from Minas Tirith over the Dagorlad to challenge Sauron at the Black Gate.

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