Battle of Fornost

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

History

A year prior to the battle, the armies of Angmar conquered Arthedain, the last realm of Arnor. Angmar's armies had taken Fornost Erain, the capital of the Dúnedain, and Arvedui, the last King of Arthedain, had drowned in the Icebay of Forochel. A year later, a fleet of ships from Gondor under Eärnur arrived in the Grey Havens and set off toward what was left of the once-great northern kingdom. With the army from 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, Gondor's 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.

Eärnur then challenged the Witch-king to single combat, but his horse panicked under the Nazgûl's evil power and the Witch-king mocked him, although his laughter turned to flight with the arrival of Glorfindel. Eärnur attempted to pursue but was stopped by Glorfindel who told him that not by the hand of mortal man would the Witch-king be slain. Though the battle itself had been lost and Angmar utterly destroyed, Sauron was extremely pleased with the Witch-king's work, for the destruction of the northern kingdoms of the Dúnedain was a victory for the Dark Powers which far outweighed the loss of the Witch-king's realm.

The battle also laid the foundations for the extinction of the male line of the House of Anárion, as Eärnur's humiliation resulted in him riding to Minas Morgul to challenge the Witch-king seventy five years later.

In adaptations

The battle is portrayed in The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king as the epilogue mission to the game's story. The battle has some notable differences from canon, for it takes place in the heart of Angmar itself. Elrond is present as an additional hero, along with Glorfindel and Eärnur. The player must navigate through various ambushes waiting in line before confronting the Witch-king. Killing him automatically completes the mission.

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