Battle of the Gwathló

In Second Age 1695 Gil-galad, the High King in Lindon, requested aid from Númenor when Sauron invaded Eriador. Minastir, the heir of Queen Tar-Telperiën, sent a fleet commanded by the admiral Ciryatur, but it was delayed until Second Age 1700, by which time the beleaguered Elves and Númenóreans (that were already in Lindon before the invasion) were barely holding the line of the River Lhûn. The arrival of the Númenórean fleet immediately changed the balance of forces such that Sauron's host was driven back with heavy casualties.

Prelude

After being defeated at Lhûn, Sauron retreated with his host to Sarn Ford, the crossing on the Baranduin, and suffered another defeat. He further retreated southwards to Tharbad where more of his forces joined him after coming up from the south-east. Unbeknownst to Sauron, Ciryatur also had more forces at his disposal and sent part of his fleet at the small Númenórean harbour at the mouth of the Gwathló.

Battle

This new contingent fell upon Sauron's rear from the south-west while Gil-galad's Elves and the other Númenóreans attacked from the north. Sauron's army was completely routed and he barely escaped himself.

Aftermath

Sauron and his small remaining forces fled across the Isen but were caught in eastern Calenardhon. Only a small bodyguard was left when Sauron escaped to Dagorlad. Gil-galad moved north to lift the siege of Imladris and Eriador was cleared of the enemy. Eriador had peace for many years but the humiliation inflicted on Sauron made him determined to seek vengeance upon Númenor. Imladris became the new Elvish stronghold in eastern Eriador as Eregion was never rebuilt. Elrond became Gil-galad's vice-regent and received the ring Vilya.

1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 21/05/2026.