The Harad Road, also known as the North Road of Ithilien, the Southward Road, the South Road, and the Road, was a long, ancient road used by the armies of Harad to enter Mordor.
Course
The Harad Road ran from the Black Gate of Mordor through North Ithilien to the Cross-roads of the Fallen King, and then southwards across South Ithilien, before passing over the Crossings of Poros into Harondor. The road then crossed the ford over the Harnen and went on south into Haradwaith for an untold length.
History
It is untold when the Harad Road was made, but it is known that it was built by the Gondorians, though some form of the road may have been used as a trading route before Gondor was founded. The actual structure of the road itself must have been made at some point between the year 3320 of the Second Age when Gondor was founded, and 1050 of the Third Age when Ciryaher led a great army by land to Umbar after spending several decades making preparations. It is probable that its construction was part of these preparations.
During the days of the War of the Ring, the Rangers of Ithilien never passed "east of the Road" under the command of Boromir and Faramir.
On March 7 of the year 3019, an army of Haradrim that came north on the Harad Road were ambushed by Faramir and the Rangers of Ithilien near Henneth Annûn on the North Road of Ithilien. Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee witnessed the battle after meeting the Rangers, but were taken captive after it.
After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, some scouts in the Host of the West had "reported that no enemies remained upon the roads east as far as the Cross-roads of the Fallen King".
Etymology
Harad is the Sindarin word for "south", making the road translate to "South Road".
In adaptations
In the video game The Lord of the Rings Online, the Harad Road can be followed from the Black Gate down until the border of Harondor. There, the rest of the road is blocked by a Haradrim war-camp blocking the path, as Harondor is not yet present within the game.
