Black Gate (Middle-earth)

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Black Gate
Place from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium
Other names Morannon
Description Gates to Mordor
Location Mordor
Founder Sauron, around the same time he first came and fortified Mordor, some time between S.A. 1000 and S.A. 1600.
Lord Sauron
later Kings of Gondor
later Sauron

The Black Gate or Morannon is a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy universe of Middle-earth.

The Black Gate of Mordor is often thought to have been a gate built by the Númenóreans, to shield the forces of Mordor from exiting. It was, in fact, built by Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor, to prevent invasion at the gap between the Ered Lithui and the Ephel Dúath. The Towers of the Teeth, Carchost and Narchost, were however built by the Men of Gondor as a guard after Sauron's first defeat. The reconstruction of Minas Ithil, Tower of the Rising Moon, as well as the construction of Cirith Ungol were also done for the same purpose.

However, during the aftermath of the Kin-strife in Gondor the watchfulness of the guards in these strongholds relaxed. Thus the Ringwraiths and Orcs re-entered Mordor, eventually overrunning the garrisons and inhabiting them for themselves. It was at this time that the tower of Minas Ithil was taken by the Nazgûl, having its name changed to Minas Morgul, Tower of Sorcery.

During the War of the Ring, the Army of the West, numbering some 6,000 men, arrived at the Black Gate with the intention of drawing the Eye of Sauron away from Mount Doom, to allow Frodo the Ring-bearer to cast the One Ring into the Crack of Doom within it. This they achieved, and the Ring was destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom, following which the Black Gate and the Towers of Teeth immediately collapsed.