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City · Gondor

Minas Tirith

Minas Anor · White City

The seven-walled White City of Gondor, built against Mount Mindolluin above the Pelennor

View on map Gondor
Appears in
The Lord of the Rings, Appendices
Region
Gondor
Journeys passing through
6
Minas Tirith on the map of Middle-earth

On the map, Minas Tirith sits where the White Mountains end and the plains of Anórien begin. The city is backed by Mount Mindolluin to the west and faces east across the walled farmland of the Pelennor toward Osgiliath and the Anduin. Its seven circles are each ringed by a wall and set into the hillside, cut through by a great rock buttress so that the gates of each level face a different way, and a tunnel pierces the spur to reach the Citadel at the top.

Anárion built it as Minas Anor, the Tower of the Setting Sun, as companion to his brother's Minas Ithil across the river. It was only a summer residence at first. After the Great Plague the Kings moved here for good, and when Minas Ithil fell to the Nazgûl in TA 2002 the city was renamed Minas Tirith, the Tower of Guard.

The last King, Eärnur, rode to Minas Morgul in TA 2050 and never returned. From then until the War of the Ring the Stewards of the House of Húrin ruled from the Citadel, leaving the throne empty and sitting on a black stone chair below it. The White Tree in the Court of the Fountain died in TA 2872 and was left standing dead, since no seedling could be found.

In March TA 3019 the army of Minas Morgul broke the Rammas Echor and besieged the city. The Great Gate was shattered by the ram Grond, Denethor burned himself in the Hallows, and the arrival of the Rohirrim and of Aragorn's ships from Pelargir turned the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. On 1 May Aragorn was crowned Elessar before the ruined gate, and he later found a sapling of the White Tree on the slopes of Mindolluin.

Events at this place

  1. SA 3320 · Appendices

    Minas Anor built

    Anárion founded the city under Mount Mindolluin as the western fortress of Gondor, facing his brother's Minas Ithil.

  2. TA 1640 · Appendices

    The capital moves west

    After the Great Plague, King Tarondor moved the royal seat from ruined Osgiliath to Minas Anor.

  3. TA 2002 · Appendices

    Renamed the Tower of Guard

    When the Nazgûl took Minas Ithil, Minas Anor was renamed Minas Tirith and became the watch against Mordor.

  4. TA 2050 · Appendices

    Rule of the Stewards begins

    King Eärnur answered the Witch-king's challenge, rode to Minas Morgul and vanished. Mardil Voronwë ruled as the first Ruling Steward.

  5. TA 3019, March 14 · The Lord of the Rings

    The Siege of Gondor

    Mordor's army closed around the city on 14 March, and in the early hours of 15 March the Witch-king broke the Great Gate. The Rohirrim and Aragorn's fleet relieved it later that day.

  6. TA 3019, May 1 · The Lord of the Rings

    Coronation of King Elessar

    On 1 May Aragorn was crowned before the shattered gate, restoring the line of kings after nearly a thousand years of Stewards.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Minas Tirith on the Middle-earth map?

In Anórien, in northern Gondor, on a spur of Mount Mindolluin at the western edge of the Pelennor Fields, with the Anduin and Osgiliath to the east.

How many levels does Minas Tirith have?

Seven, each with its own wall and gate, rising to the Citadel and the White Tower at the top.

What was Minas Tirith called before?

Minas Anor, the Tower of the Setting Sun. It took the name Minas Tirith in TA 2002 after Minas Ithil fell to the Nazgûl.