Battle of the Field of Celebrant

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of the Field of Celebrant
Date T.A. 2510 Location Calenardhon Result Victory for Gondor
Combatants
Gondor, Éothéod	Balchoth, Orcs
Commanders
Cirion, Eorl	Unknown
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties
Unknown	Unknown

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, a fierce battle was once fought on the the Field of Celebrant, which ultimately led to the creation of the kingdom of Rohan.

In the year 2510 of the Third Age, the fierce Easterlings known as the Balchoth waged open war against a weakened Gondor, and had already overran most of Wilderland. Gondor had no allies left east of Anduin, and against hope had sent the Red Arrow north to the Éothéod, ancient allies of Gondor, but they had received no reply.

In 2510 the Balchoth crossed Anduin on numerous lands, passing into the Wold in the north of the Gondorian province of Calenardhon. They met little resistance as Calenardhon had been mostly abandoned long before, and by the time the North Army of Gondor appeared from the fortresses of Isengard, Aglarond and other fortresses in the White Mountains the bulk of the Balchoth army had crossed. The North Army counter-attacked, and was driven into the Wold, cut off from the later reinforcements by the Balchoth host. By the time the South Army appeared, the North Army had come under attack by an Orc band which by chance or design had descended from the mountains, and the Dúnedain were backed against the river in a hopeless situation.

At this time the Éothéod under their leader Eorl the Young suddenly appeared, unexpected by friend or foe. The Éothéod crossed the Anduin at the Undeeps of the river, and broke on the rearguard of the Balchoth. The Balchoth were completely defeated and the Gondorian armies saved. The Éothéod continued their foray into northern Gondor, scattering and destroying all the Balchoth in Calenardhon.

After the Battle the Steward of Gondor Cirion gave the Éothéod the entire land of Calenardhon to dwell in as thanks. The Éothéod founded the kingdom of Rohan there.