Sea of Rhûn

The Sea of Rhun lies in the far east of the map, south of the plains that run down from the Iron Hills and east of the wide grasslands of Rhovanion. The River Running comes into it from the north after gathering the Carnen. Dorwinion is on its northwestern side. East and south of it the map simply ends, because Gondor's knowledge ended there.

For most of the Third Age this was the frontier of the Southern Kingdom's ambitions. Romendacil I fell fighting Easterlings in TA 541. Romendacil II beat them in TA 1248 and broke up their camps east of the sea, then fortified the west bank of the Anduin because he knew the victory was temporary.

It was temporary. The Wainriders came out of the east in TA 1851 and fought Gondor on and off for almost a century, killing King Narmacil II in battle beyond the Anduin in TA 1856 and King Ondoher at the Morannon in TA 1944. Earnil destroyed their host in the Battle of the Camp in the same year. The Balchoth came later from the same direction, and were broken at the Field of Celebrant in TA 2510 by Eorl's riders.

In the War of the Ring, Sauron's eastern allies moved again. Easterling armies crossed toward Dale and Erebor and besieged the mountain, and other forces marched to the Black Gate. After Sauron fell, Aragorn as King Elessar took the war east and made peace on those frontiers.

The sea itself is never described from the shore in the narrative. It functions on the map as a boundary marker: what lies beyond it is the unmapped east from which trouble keeps arriving. Tolkien gives it no city, no harbor and no named ruler, and the country past its far shore is left blank on the maps.

Events at this place

1. TA 541 · Appendices

   Romendacil I falls to the Easterlings

   The eighth King of Gondor was killed fighting Easterlings, the first of Gondor's long wars with the peoples of the east.

2. TA 1248 · Appendices

   Romendacil II breaks the Easterling camps

   Gondor's forces destroyed Easterling settlements east of the Sea of Rhun, then fortified the Anduin against their return.

3. TA 1856 · Appendices

   The Wainriders invade

   A confederation from the east overran Rhovanion and killed King Narmacil II in battle, cutting off Gondor's eastern lands.

4. TA 3019 · Appendices

   Easterlings attack Dale

   Forces from the east marched on Dale and Erebor during the War of the Ring, killing King Brand and Dain Ironfoot.

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