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Fornost Erain (Sindarin 'North fortress of the Kings'), or just Fornost, known in Westron as Norbury of the Kings or just King's Norbury, was a city in Eriador of the Kingdom of Arnor. It was located at the south end of the North Downs, about 100 Númenórean miles north of Bree. It was eventually abandoned and fell into ruin, and became popularly known as Deadmen's Dike. At the time of the events of The Lord of the Rings (TA 3018 – 3019), Fornost Erain had been abandoned for about a thousand years, and "even the ruins of Kings' Norbury were covered with grass."[citation needed]
History[]
In TA 861, when High King Eärendur died, Arnor was divided into three kingdoms, Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. Eärendur's eldest son, Amlaith became King of Arthedain and moved the royal capital from Annúminas to Fornost Erain.[1]
Fornost Erain was located along the southernmost edge of the North Downs. As a military fortress, it served to guard the gap between the North Downs and the Weather Hills against incursions by the forces of Rhudaur or Angmar. The Stone of Annúminas may have eventually been relocated to Fornost Erain; the Stone of Amon Sûl was taken to Fornost Erain when the Tower of Amon Sûl fell to the Witch-king's forces in TA 1409. The city was besieged for a time in that year, but was successfully defended by King Araphor.
Early in TA 1974, Fornost Erain, along with the rest of Arthedain, fell to a full-scale invasion from Angmar, and most of its inhabitants were killed or driven over the Lune. King Arvedui, after resisting for a time on the nearby North Downs, fled into the northern wastes and was eventually lost in the Icebay of Forochel. The Witch-king then set up his residence in Fornost Erain, and populated the city with "evil folk". The next year, a fleet from Gondor, led by Eärnur, landed at Mithlond. Along with allies from Lindon, Rivendell and the former territories of Arnor, they defeated the Witch-king of Angmar on the plains west of Fornost Erain; though he escaped, Angmar's army was utterly destroyed.
At the end of the war, the northern Dúnedain, now led by Arvedui's son Aranarth, were too few in number to rebuild their kingdom or maintain cities. Fornost Erain was not resettled, and gradually fell into ruin. The Dúnedain, who became a secretive and wandering people known in Eriador as Rangers, visited Fornost Erain, but most other folk avoided the ruined city; the Men of Bree called it "Deadmen's Dike" and many believed it to be haunted.
After the War of the Ring, Fornost Erain was rebuilt by King Elessar.
In adaptations[]
Video games[]
Several video games have depicted Fornost Erain to date.
- The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king features it as a site of battle during the Witch-king's campaign.
- The Lord of the Rings Online depicts Fornost as overrun by Angmar's forces in TA 3018, players are encouraged to fight through the city and cleanse it of the servants of the enemy.
- In The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, Fornost Erain is where Sauron's lieutenant, Agandaûr, made a deal with the Witch-king of Angmar to help conquer Middle-earth with Orcs he gathered in the North, until a small band of free peoples (Elladan, Elrohir, Eradan, Andriel, Farin and Beleram) forces him to flee.
Etymology[]
Fornost literally translates in Sindarin as "Northern City", from "forn" meaning north, northern and "ost" meaning city, fortress or large dwelling. The same basic roots are present in Quenya; Formenos, the "Northern Fortress" Fëanor built in Valinor.
Translations[]
Foreign Language | Translated name |
Arabic | فورنوست |
Amharic | ፎርኖስት |
Armenian | Ֆորնոստ |
Belarusian Cyrillic | Форност |
Bengali | ফর্নোস্ট |
Bulgarian Cyrillic | Форност (Fornost)
Форност Ераин (Fornost Erain) |
Chinese | 佛諾斯特 |
Georgian | ფორნოსტი |
Greek | Φορνοστ |
Gujarati | ફ઼ઓર્નોસ્ત |
Hebrew | פורנוסט |
Hindi | फ़ोर्नोस्त |
Kannada | ಫ಼ೊರ್ನೊಸ್ತ್ |
Kazakh Cyrillic | Форност |
Korean | 포르노스트 |
Kyrgyz Cyrillic | Форност |
Macedonian Cyrillic | Форност |
Marathi | फ़ोर्नोस्त |
Mongolian Cyrillic | Форност |
Nepalese | फ़ोर्नोस्त |
Persian | فورنوست |
Russian | Форност (Fornost)
Форност Эраин (Fornost-Erain) |
Serbian | Форност/Fornost
Форност-Ераин/Fornost-Erain |
Sinhalese | ෆොර්නොස්ත් |
Swedish | Fornost/Nordmark |
Tajik Cyrillic | Форност |
Tamil | பொர்னொச்ட் |
Thai | ฟอร์นอส |
Telugu | ఫోర్నోస్ట్ |
Ukrainian Cyrillic | Форност (Fornost)
Фо́рност-Е́раїн (Fornost-Erain) |
Urdu | فورنوسٹ |
Uzbek | Форност (Cyrillic) Fornost (Latin) |
Yiddish | פאָרנאָסט |
Middle-earth Locations:
Provinces/Regions: Arnor | Dunland | Ettenmoors | Forochel | Forodwaith | Gondor | Harad | Ithilien | Khand | Lindon | Minhiriath | Mordor | Rhovanion | Rhûn | Rivendell | Rohan | The Shire Forests & Mountains: Amon Dîn | Amon Hen | Amon Lhaw | Caradhras | Emyn Muil | Erebor | Fangorn Forest | High Pass | Iron Hills | Lórien | Mirkwood | Mount Doom | Mount Gundabad | Old Forest | Orod-na-Thôn | Tower Hills | Weathertop Hill City/Fortifications: Angband | Barad-dûr | Bree | Caras Galadhon | Dol Guldur | Fornost Erain | Hornburg | Isengard | Minas Morgul | Minas Tirith | Last Homely House | Tower of Amon Sûl | Tower of Orthanc | Osgiliath | Umbar | Utumno Miscellaneous: Argonath | Astulat | Buckland | Cair Andros | Dagorlad | Dead Marshes | Enedwaith | Fords of Isen | Gap of Rohan | Grey Havens The rest of Arda:
Aman | Burnt Land of the Sun | Dark Land | Empty Lands | Neldoreth | New lands | Númenor | Tol Eressëa |