Dagor Bragollach
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| Dagor Bragollach | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
| Angband | Sons of Fëanor, Hithlum, Edain | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Morgoth, Glaurung, Gothmog | Fingolfin†, Hador†, Finrod, Barahir, Maedhros, Caranthir, Orodreth | ||||||
| Wars of Beleriand |
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| First Battle - Dagor-nuin-Giliath - Dagor Aglareb - Angband - Dagor Bragollach - Nirnaeth Arnoediad - War of Wrath |
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the Dagor Bragollach (Sindarin for Battle of Sudden Flame) was the fourth battle of the Wars of Beleriand.
It began when Morgoth broke the Siege of Angband, which had held for four hundred years. On a winter's night in the year 455 of the First Age, Morgoth sent out rivers of flame, consuming Ard-galen, which was renamed Anfauglith. Many Elves and Men perished as they fled from the fire. The forts and camps of the Noldor in Ard-galen were destroyed. Many of the Sindar renounced the war, abandoned their Noldorin allies and fled south to Doriath. Morgoth's armies of Balrogs, dragons and countless Orcs, led by Glaurung first of the Dragons, assaulted the realms of the Noldor simultaneously, preventing the three houses of the Noldor from aiding one another.
The first kingdom to be overrun was Dorthonion. Both Angrod and Aegnor, together with Bregolas, Lord of Ladros and brother of Barahir, died in battle, with Barahir holding onto western Dorthonion. The forces of Fingolfin and Fingon were driven back to Hithlum after suffering severe losses. Hador, Lord of Dor-lómin, his younger son Gundor and many of their followers died in the rearguard of Fingolfin's army. In the East, Maglor's horsemen were burnt alive on the plain of Lothlann by Glaurung, and Maglor's Gap was taken, giving Morgoth an entry into Beleriand. After taking heavy losses, Maglor retreated to Himring, where he helped to defend the city of Maedhros. All the forts of the March of Maedhros were overrun, but the ferocity and valour of Maedhros was unmatched in the battles, so Himring could not be taken, as the Orcs fled before his wrath.
The Pass of Aglon was finally breached, although Morgoth's forces suffered severe losses, and Celegorm and Curufin fled via the north marches of Doriath towards Minas Tirith. Morgoth's Orcs took the mountain forts on Mount Rerir, and defiled Lake Helevorn, then scattered south through Thargelion into East Beleriand. Caranthir fled to Amon Ereb, where he and Amrod built defences. From there they slowly freed East Beleriand of the Orcs, aided by the Laiquendi, while Maglor and Maedhros held the northern border. Many survivors from Dorthonion and the other eastern realms rallied at Himring, being inspired by the deeds of Maedhros. Maedhros then recaptured Aglon and closed that pass for Morgoth's forces once more. Thingol sent no direct aid to the Noldor, and the strength of Doriath grew with many Sindar refugees settling there.
Minas Tirith in the Pass of Sirion in the West under Orodreth held, and Orodreth's uncle and Lord Finrod Felagund came north from Nargothrond with a large army. However, Finrod was ambushed by a large army of Morgoth's forces at the Fens of Serech, when he had become separated from his army. The Noldor found themselves trapped, and Finrod would have been killed or captured but for a sortie by Barahir, who descended from Dorthonion and rescued the elven lord, despite suffering heavy losses. This deed later earned Barahir the ring of Finrod which would become known as the Ring of Barahir.
Finrod and his folk retired south to Nargothrond, while Barahir continued defending Dorthonion. The women and children of the House of Beor left Dorthonion when the evil spirits of Angband turned the land uninhabitable and settled in Hithlum under the leadership of Emeldir, the wife of Barahir. The mountain forts of the Ered Wethrin around Hithlum also held against all attacks, although barely. Thus the Siege was broken, the sons of Fëanor were scattered, parts of Finrod's realm lost, Fingolfin and Fingon were shut up in Hithlum, and Orcs roamed at will throughout the north. Despite their successes, the armies of Mrogoth had suffered severe losses, and he recalled his hosts in the spring, ending the main battle.
When Fingolfin, the High King of the Noldor, learned of the heavy casualties of so many Noldor, he rode in anger across Anfauglith. The Orcs fled at rumour of his approach, and even the Balrogs thought Oromë had returned. When Fingolfin arrived at Angband, the Enemy's fortress, he challenged Morgoth to single combat. They fought a great duel in which Fingolfin wounded Morgoth seven times with his sword Ringil. Yet, he was felled by Morgoth's mace, Grond, and crushed beneath Morgoth's foot. Morgoth would have defiled his body even further, but Fingolfin was borne away by Thorondor, King of Eagles.
Morgoth launched attacks on selected targets after the battle. Avoiding Maedhros in the east, who had defied dragons, balrogs and orcs to hold Himring, he attacked Minas Tirith, where Orodreth had held out for two years after the main battle had ended. He was finally driven off Tol Sirion by Sauron and Draugluin. Celegorm and Curufin, coming unlooked-for from the east, aided his escape,and found refuge in Nargothrond. The Orcs then come south in force, but the Haladin of Brethil, aided by the Sindar of Doriath led by Beleg, destroyed that army at the crossing of Teiglin. The northern marches of Doriath became a battleground between Orcs and the Grey Elves.
The army of Barahir would be destroyed in Dorthonion, with Beren being the sole survivor. The second assult on Hithlum would see Galdor, Lord of Dor-lómin, die defending Barad Ethil. Morgoth launched a two pronged assault a few years later, one army attacking the mountain passes of Ered Withrin, while the other came down from the north, crossing the ice and attacking Fingon's host on the plains of Hithlum. Húrin, son of Galdor and the new lord of Dor-lómin, routed the armies of Morgoth and drove them back at Barad Ehtil. Fingon, however, was outnumbered, but he was victorious because the Falathrim sailed to his rescue in great strength and landed their warriors near the Gate of the Noldor. The Orc host, caught between the armies of Hithlum and Falas, was destroyed.
