Fornost



Fornost also known as Fornost Erain (Sindarin 'Northern-fortress of the Kings' from for(n) (north) + ost (fortress); Norbury of the Kings or simply Norbury in Westron) was a city of Eriador in the north of Middle-earth. It was located at the south end of the North Downs, about 100 Númenórean miles north of Bree; after Fornost Erain was abandoned, the site became known as Deadman's Dike, visited only by Rangers. At the time when The Lord of the Rings is set, Fornost had been abandoned for "nearly a thousand years, and even the ruins of Kings' Norbury were covered with grass".

History
It is not known when Fornost was founded or when the Kings of Arnor moved there from Annúminas, but it is known that the kings moved to Fornost some time before TA 861, when King Eärendur died, and Arnor was divided into three kingdoms, Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur with Fornost being the capital of the greatest kingdom, Arthedain.

Fornost is located along the southernmost edge of the North Downs, and was important in holding the frontier of the Weather Hills in Arthedains wars with Angmar.

In TA 1974, Arthedain was overrun by the forces of Angmar, they captured Fornost, and King Arvedui fled into the northern wastes and was lost in the Ice Bay of Forochel. In the following year, a fleet from Gondor led by Eärnur landed at Mithlond, fought the Witch-king of Angmar in the plains west of Fornost, and defeated him and his armies, although the Witch-king himself escaped. Following the War of the Rings Fornost Erain was rebuilt by the King Elessar.

External link

 * Fornost at Tolkien Gateway