Battle of Fornost

The Battle of Fornost was the decisive battle between the forces of Angmar, under the Witch-king, and of Eärnur, Crown-Prince of Gondor, in the year TA 1975, that ended the northern kingdom of Angmar.

History
A year prior to the battle, the last realm of Arnor, the armies of Angmar conquered Arthedain. Angmar's armies had taken Fornost, the capital of the Dúnedain, and Arvedui, the last King of Arnor, had drowned in the Ice-Bay of Forochel. A year later, a fleet of ships under Eärnur arrived in Mithlond and set off toward what was left of the once-great northern kingdom. With the armies of Gondor came men from Rhovanion, elves from Lindon, and the remainder of the Dúnedain (among them Aranarth, the Prince of Arthedain). According to Shire historians, a company of archers was also sent to the battle.

The battle itself did not take place in the city of Fornost, but on the plains to the west of the city, near Lake Evendim. The armies of Angmar hurried west to meet the assault, and seeing this, the cavalry of Gondor rode north into the Hills of Evendim to wait in ambush. As the main part of the army of Gondor met the enemy in battle, the Gondorian cavalry set out from the hills to strike the rear of the army of Angmar. This served as the turning point in the battle, and allowed the combined armies of the west to gain the advantage. Realizing that his forces were all but completely destroyed, the Witch-king of Angmar fled eastward. As he fled, an army led by Glorfindel came up out of the south and blocked his escape, destroying what was left of his crumbling army; the Witch-king himself was able to escape during the night and fled southward.

External link

 * Battle of Fornost at Tolkien Gateway