The founding of angmar, and the taking of Arnor.
Please note : Much of what is written is taken from adaptations (canon or non-canon) and the Apendixes of the return of the king, and little to nothing is known of Angmar.
Let us begin with the creation of the realm. The Witch-King left Minas Morgul and traveled north of the misty mountains, where remained the forsaken men of the line of Ulfang the black ; the betrayer of the sons of Fëanor during the first age ; to prepare the return of his master by corrupting the local hills-men and destroying the greatest ally of Gondor, the legacy kingdoms of Arnor. And as such in TA 1300 was founded the fell realm of Angmar. While at first only fell men and orcs joined him at Carn Dûm, it is said in the game "Lord of the rings online : Shadows of Angmar" that older evils from Morgoth's age had lain hidden in Angmar after the destruction of Angabad and joined the lord of the nazgûl, most notable amongst these were the Gaunt men and their gaunt lords. The lord of Angmar also drew Black Númenóreans to himself ; whose fate after the battle of Fronost is unknown ; and in "The battle for Middle-Earth 2 : The rise of the Witch-King" had also taken control over Gundabad and used it's forces in his war along with "Dark Rangers" and all sorts of wraiths.
Soon after it's founding, Angmar assaulted one of the three splinter Dunedain kingdoms : Rhudaur. After a swift victory he installed the kin of Ulfang as lords of Rhudaur ; who would, ironically, according to Peter Jackson's adptations bury him and his servants the nazgûl in the high fells.
Soon after it's founding, Angmar assaulted one of the three splinter Dunedain kingdoms : Rhudaur. After a swift victory he installed the kin of Ulfang as lords of Rhudaur ; who would, ironically, according to Peter Jackson's adptations bury him and his servants the nazgûl in the high fells.
After the Fall of Rhudaur, Arthedain and Cardolan united against the joint threat of Angamr and Rhudaur. It is at this time that the great fortreses of the Weather Hills were built by Arthedain northwards of Weathertop, Amon Sûl, the great watchtower of Arnor, where a palantîri was installed so that it could communicate with Fornost, capital of Arthedain. Cardolan also built it's own fortifications to protect the great east road and it's own capital Tyrn Gorthad situated in the Barrow-Downs.
In TA 1356, Rhudaur launched an attack on Arthedain which ended in the death of King Argeleb the first. Yet thanks to reinforcements from Cardolan, little to no land was lost and from the weather hills a stern defence was mounted. Soon afterwards, as the hill-men began dwindling, Rhudaur dissapeared and became a deserted land.
In TA 1356, Rhudaur launched an attack on Arthedain which ended in the death of King Argeleb the first. Yet thanks to reinforcements from Cardolan, little to no land was lost and from the weather hills a stern defence was mounted. Soon afterwards, as the hill-men began dwindling, Rhudaur dissapeared and became a deserted land.
In TA 1409 Angmar launched a massive assault with all of it's forces and utterly crushed Cardolan. Arveleg the first, son of Argeleb had with the aid of Rivendell and Cardolan maintained a defensive line along the Hoarwell up to the Ettenmoors. Yet this line was broken and Arveleg's army feld west while Rivendell and Cardolan had to fend for themselves. Arveleg was finally slain while mounting a last defence at Amon Sûl, which was destroyed and burnt in the process. Angmar destroyed all of Cardolan save for the barrow-downs, and even bessieged Imladris. But Angmar could go no further as new forces from Fornost had rallied under the new king Araphor, while the elves had broken their siege, and this new army routed the remaining forces of Angmar. With Arthedain as the last Dunedain realm, the witch-king had almost reached his goal, yet could not finish Arnor off as the alliance with elves made the northern kingdom too strong to be taken. He regrew his army, patiently waiting. In the meantime a plague from Mordor ravaged Cardolan while evil spirits from Angmar, the barrow-wights, haunted the capital, finishing off the realm.
After nearly 500 years, the witch-king determined that Fornost, Arthedain, and all of Arnor, was ready to fall. The men of Arthedain had warning of the witch-king's coming onslaught and sought out Eäurnur and Gondor for aid. But Gondor could not come for they were beset by Wainriders at the time. So, when at last the Witch-king was ready, he overthrew the remnant of the Dúnedain with little difficulty. The survivors were driven west across the River Lune, or into the cold north with their last desperate King, Arvedui., who would end up drowning in the frozen bay of Forochel. Imagining that he had won a final absolute victory, the Witch-king settled in Arthedain's capital of Fornost, and peopled it with his evil followers.
Shortly there after Eärnur, having finally settled the problems in Gondor set out to aid the people of Fornost, only to find they had come too late. With the armies of Gondor came men from Rhovanion, elves from Lindon ; inculding Glorfindel ; and the remainder of the Dunedain. Accroding tho shire historians a company of Hobbit archers were sent. The battle took place on the eaves of lake Evendim, by a plain to the west of Fornost. The combine armies of the free people crushed the Angmarians ; most notably thanks to the gondorian cavalry ; and the witch-king fled the field, eastwards. Eärnur whished to hunt him down but Glorfindel convinced him otherwise, making his prophecy : He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall. In Peter Jackson's adaptation it was after this event that he was buried along with the other eight nazgûl in Rhudaur.
Still this was not to be the end of Angmar or it's witch-king, as I will speak of the role this realm has to play during the war of the ring next time
- The mad Hobbit.
- The mad Hobbit.
