Sauron (pronounced ) is the title character and the main antagonist, through the forging of the One Ring, of J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", where he rules the land of Mordor and has the ambition of ruling the whole of Middle-earth. In the same work, he is identified as the "Necromancer" of Tolkien's earlier novel "The Hobbit". In "The Silmarillion", he is also described as the chief lieutenant of the first Dark Lord, Morgoth. Tolkien noted that the Ainur, the "angelic" powers of his constructed myth, "were capable of many degrees of error and failing", but by far the worst was "the absolute Satanic rebellion and evil of Morgoth and his satellite Sauron".
Introduction
Sauron
Sauron | Introduction
The Lord of the Rings In 'The Lord of the Rings'. "The Lord of the Rings" In J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings".
where is sauron during the lord of the rings
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He rules the land of Mordor
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where is this land?
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It lay to the east of Gondor and the great river Anduin, and to the south of Mirkwood.
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where does this character and place make a mention?
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Dol Guldur () (Sindarin: "Hill of Sorcery") was Sauron's stronghold in Mirkwood in the fictional world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, before he moves to Barad-dûr in Mordor. It is first mentioned (as "the dungeons of the Necromancer") in "The Hobbit". The hill itself, rocky and barren, was the highest point in the southwestern part of the forest. Before Sauron's occupation, it was called Amon Lanc ("Naked Hill"). It lay near the western edge of the forest, across the Anduin from Lothlórien. In a passage that appears to apply the name "Dol Guldur" principally to the fortress rather than the barren hill it rose from, the company of the Ring first catch sight of it from Cerin Amroth in Lórien.
Dol Guldur | Introduction
It is bordered to the north by the Ered Lithui, the Ash Mountains; to the west by the Ephel Duath, the Mountains of Shadow. Between those two ranges, at Mordor's northwest tip, are the Black Gates of the Morannon. In the angle between the two ranges is the volcanic Plateau of Gorgoroth, with the tall volcano of Orodruin or Mount Doom, where the Dark Lord Sauron forged the One Ring, at its centre. To the mountain's east is Sauron's Dark Tower, Barad-dur. To the south of Gondor and Mordor lie Harad and Khand.
Geography of Middle-earth | Lands to the South
Just to the South of both Fangorn and Isengard is the wide grassy land of the Riders of Rohan, who provide cavalry to its southerly neighbour, Gondor. The River Anduin passes the hills of Emyn Muil and the enormous rock statues of the Argonath, flows through the dangerous rapids of Sarn Gebir, and over the Falls of Rauros into Gondor. Gondor's border with Rohan is the Ered Nimrais, the White Mountains, which run east-west from the sea to a point near the Anduin; at that point is Gondor's capital city, Minas Tirith. Across the river to the East is the land of Mordor.
Geography of Middle-earth | Lands to the South
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth, Mordor (pronounced ; from Sindarin "Black Land" and Quenya "Land of Shadow") is the realm and base of the evil Sauron. It lay to the east of Gondor and the great river Anduin, and to the south of Mirkwood. Mount Doom, a volcano in Mordor, was the goal of the Fellowship of the Ring in the quest to destroy the One Ring. Mordor was surrounded by three mountain ranges, to the north, the west, and the south. These both protected the land from invasion and kept those living in Mordor from escaping.
Mordor | Introduction
East of the Misty Mountains, Anduin or the Great River flows southwards, with the forest of Mirkwood to its east. On its west bank opposite the southern end of Mirkwood is the elvish land of Lothlorien. Further south, backing on to the Misty Mountains, lies the forest of Fangorn, home of the tree-giants, the ents. In a valley at the southern end of the Misty Mountains is Isengard, home to the wizard Saruman.
Geography of Middle-earth | Rhovanion
Banished, he went to hide in the Misty Mountains. The Wizards discovered Sauron in Dol Guldur, and drove Sauron from Mirkwood; he returned to Mordor, openly declared himself, rebuilt Barad-dûr, and bred armies of specially large Orcs, Uruks.
Sauron | The Necromancer of Dol Guldur
Dol Guldur appears on the maps published with "The Lord of the Rings". The hill rose above the River Anduin across from Lothlórien within the great forest east of the River. Sauron's influence caused a great shadow of sickness and death to fall over the forest, which became known as Mirkwood. To the northeast on the other side of the forest lay Thranduil's kingdom and Erebor, the Lonely Mountain. Further north was Ered Mithrin, the Grey Mountains, where the Dwarves had once prospered. According to the Appendices of the book, at a meeting in the forest after the defeat of Sauron, Celeborn and Thranduil renamed the forest "Eryn Lasgalen", "The Wood of Greenleaves".
Dol Guldur | Geography
Gondor's geography is illustrated in the maps for "The Lord of the Rings" and "Unfinished Tales" made by Christopher Tolkien on the basis of his father's sketches, and geographical accounts in "The Rivers and Beacon-Hills of Gondor", "Cirion and Eorl", and "The Lord of the Rings". Gondor lies in the west of Middle-earth, on the northern shores of Anfalas and the Bay of Belfalas with the great port of Pelargir near the river Anduin's delta in the fertile and populous region of Lebennin, stretching up to the White Mountains (Sindarin: "Ered Nimrais", "Mountains of White Horns"). Near the mouths of Anduin was the island of Tolfalas.
Gondor | Country
In the Second Age, before Sauron occupied the hill, Silvan Elves of the Woodland Realm under Oropher, father of Thranduil, populated the area of Rhovanion around Amon Lanc, but they withdrew northward, evidently to avoid conflict with Lórien and Moria. Various Elf-lords and wizards perceived evil growing there early in the Third Age, starting about . During the latter part of the Third Age, Sauron used this fortress as a base to attack Lothlórien and the surrounding area. Tolkien suggests that Sauron settled on Dol Guldur as the focus for his rise during the period before the War of the Ring in part so that he could search for the One Ring in the Gladden Fields just up the river.
Dol Guldur | Introduction
The interior of Mordor was composed of three large regions. The core of Sauron's realm was in the northwest: the arid plateau of Gorgoroth, with the active volcano Mount Doom located in the middle. Sauron's main fortress Barad-dûr was on the north side of Gorgoroth, at the end of a spur of the Ash Mountains. Gorgoroth was volcanic and inhospitable to life, but home to Mordor's mines, forges, and garrisons. Núrn, the southern part of Mordor, was less arid and more fertile; Sauron's slaves farmed this region to support his armies, and streams fed the salt Sea of Núrnen. To the east of Gorgoroth lay the dry plain of Lithlad.
Mordor | Interior
Sauron is a fictional character from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings, and the title of one of the three games in the board game "Middle Earth" based on the character. Sauron may also refer to:
Sauron (disambiguation) | Introduction
The fictional history of Dol Guldur is laid out across several of Tolkien's works, including "The Lord of the Rings", "The Hobbit", "The Silmarillion", and "Unfinished Tales". Sauron's history at the site begins in the Third Age, around the year 1100. Due to its situation inside Mirkwood and east of Lothlórien, Dol Guldur was a key stronghold in Sauron's return to power. After Sauron was defeated in the War of the Last Alliance, he retreated to Amon Lanc and built a fortress, where he hid in secrecy while recovering his strength. As the evil force residing there became apparent to the outside world, it was named "the Necromancer".
Dol Guldur | History
To the East of Rhovanion and to the North of Mordor lies the Sea of Rhûn, home to the Easterlings. North of that lie the Iron Hills of Dain's dwarves; between those and Mirkwood is Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, once home to Smaug the dragon, and afterwards to Thorin's dwarves. The large lands to the east of Rhûn and to the south and east of Harad are not described in the stories, which take place in the North-western part of Middle-earth.
Geography of Middle-earth | Lands to the East
The opening lines mention they are heading towards Tuscany, but the two major episodes take place somewhere in France. The city where Arthur replenishes provisions is of uncertain location, but presumably somewhere still to the west of the Rhone River. Golagros's castle is in the Rhone valley (somewhat confusing since on the first instance (line 319) the original print reads "Rome,") but this is to be emended as "Rone," as occurs elsewhere. Arthur vows to subjugate Golagros's castle on his way "to" the Holy Land, but only puts this into action after reaching Jerusalem, retracing his route back to the Rhone.
The Knightly Tale of Gologras and Gawain | Geographical identifications
In J. R. R. Tolkien's heroic romance "The Lord of the Rings", Harad is the immense land south of Gondor and Mordor. Its main port is Umbar, the base of the Corsairs of Umbar whose ships serve as the Dark Lord Sauron's fleet. Its people are the dark-skinned Haradrim or Southrons; their warriors wear scarlet and gold, and are armed with swords and round shields; some ride gigantic elephants called "mûmakil". Tolkien based the Haradrim on ancient Aethiopians, people of Sub-Saharan Africa, following his philological research on the Old English word "Sigelwara". He deduced that this word referred to some kind of soot-black fire demon before it was applied to the Aethiopians.
Harad | Introduction
In Tolkien's Middle-earth, Rohan is an inland realm. Its countryside is described as a land of pastures and lush tall grassland which is frequently windswept. The meadows contain "many hidden pools, and broad acres of sedge waving above wet and treacherous bogs" that water the grasses. Karen Wynn Fonstad calculated Rohan to be 52,763 square miles (136,656 km²) in area (slightly larger than England).
Rohan (Middle-earth) | Geography
Strachey's "Journeys of Frodo" estimates Mount Doom was probably no more than 10 miles west of Barad-dûr because Sauron's Road from Barad-dûr to the causeway was only a league (about 3 miles) long. From Mount Doom the road went southwest to Minas Morgul.
Barad-dûr | Geography
Then the Council "put forth its power" and drives Sauron from Dol Guldur. Sauron, however, has anticipated this and withdraws as a feint, only to reappear in Mordor.
Gandalf | "The Hobbit"
Mirkwood is a vast temperate broadleaf and mixed forest in the Middle-earth region of Rhovanion (Wilderland), east of the great river Anduin. In "The Hobbit", the wizard Gandalf calls it "the greatest forest of the Northern world." Before it was darkened by evil, it had been called Greenwood the Great. After the publication of the maps in "The Lord of the Rings", Tolkien wrote a correction stating "Mirkwood is too small on map it must be 300 miles across" from east to west, but the maps were never altered to reflect this. On the published maps Mirkwood was up to 200 miles (320 km) across; from north to south it stretched about 420 miles (675 km).
Mirkwood | The forest in Rhovanion
The refugees from Númenor fled east to the continent of Middle-earth. Isildur's father Elendil landed in the north and founded the realm of Arnor, while Isildur and his brother Anárion landed in the south, where they established the realm of Gondor, which they ruled jointly until Anárion was killed in Mordor. Isildur settled on the west bank of the Anduin and established the city of Minas Tirith. However, Sauron captured Minas Ithil and destroyed the White Tree. Anárion and his family escaped down the Anduin by boat, bearing with them a seedling of the tree. They sailed to Lindon, seeking the Elven King Gil-galad and Elendil in Arnor.
Isildur | In Middle-earth
Sauron (pronounced ) is the title character and the main antagonist, through the forging of the One Ring, of J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", where he rules the land of Mordor and has the ambition of ruling the whole of Middle-earth. In the same work, he is identified as the "Necromancer" of Tolkien's earlier novel "The Hobbit". In "The Silmarillion", he is also described as the chief lieutenant of the first Dark Lord, Morgoth. Tolkien noted that the Ainur, the "angelic" powers of his constructed myth, "were capable of many degrees of error and failing", but by far the worst was "the absolute Satanic rebellion and evil of Morgoth and his satellite Sauron".
Sauron | Introduction
Lothlórien lay in the west of Wilderland. To its west stood the Misty Mountains, with the Dwarf-realm of Moria, and on its east ran the great river Anduin. Across the Anduin lay the forest of Mirkwood and the fortress of Dol Guldur, which could be glimpsed from high points in Lothlórien. The river Silverlode or Celebrant flowed through Lothlórien and joined the Anduin; it had a tributary from the west, the river Nimrodel. The realm lay primarily to the north of the Silverlode, with a small strip of forested land to the south. The main part of the realm was the triangular region between the converging rivers called the Naith (Sindarin for "spearhead") by the Elves or the Gore or Angle in the Common Speech.
Lothlórien | Geography
An area of forestry and farming comprising the village and several hamlets situated in the Taurion river valley some south of Guéret, at the junction of the D10, D60 and the D43 roads.
Thauron | Geography
Northeast of there is Bree, the only place where hobbits and Men live in the same villages. Further east from there is the hill of Weathertop, the hill with the ancient fortress of Amon Sul, and then Rivendell, the home of Elrond. South from there is the ancient land of Hollin, once the elvish land of Eregion where the Rings of Power were forged. At the Grey Havens (Mithlond), on the Gulf of Lune, Cirdan built the ships in which the Elves departed from Middle-earth to Valinor.
Geography of Middle-earth | Eriador
Sauron spent a thousand years as a shapeless, dormant evil. A few years after the War of the Last Alliance, Isildur's army was ambushed by Orcs at the Gladden Fields. Isildur put on the Ring and attempted to escape by swimming across Anduin, but the Ring, trying to return to Sauron, slipped from his finger. Isildur was killed by Orc archers.
Sauron | Third Age
Sauron served Aulë the Vala Smith, acquiring much knowledge; he was at first called "Mairon" (Quenya for "the Admirable") until he joined Melkor. In Beleriand, he was called in Sindarin "Gorthu" "Mist of Fear" and "Gorthaur" "The Cruel". Sauron was drawn to the power of Melkor, who attracted him by seeming to have power to "effect his designs quickly and masterfully", as Sauron hated disorder. Sauron became a spy for Melkor in Almaren. Melkor soon destroyed Almaren, and the Valar moved to the Uttermost West: the Blessed Realm of Valinor, still not perceiving Sauron's treachery. Sauron left the Blessed Realm and went to Middle-earth, the central continent of Arda, where Melkor had established his stronghold.
Sauron | Servant of Aulë
Beren gladly gave him the keys to Orthanc. At first he resided there as Warden of the Tower on behalf of Gondor. The valley became known as Nan Curunír, the "Wizard's Vale". On Sauron's return to Mordor, Saruman asserted himself as Lord of Isengard.
Isengard | Depopulation
Dor Daedeloth ("Land of the Shadow of Dread") far to the north, lay around the fortress of Angband and the Ered Engrin. It was here that the Orcs and other creatures of Morgoth lived and bred. The march of the Noldor early in the First Age was halted there, when Fëanor was mortally wounded by Balrogs. The Noldor then encircled the land, starting the Siege of Angband.
Beleriand | Dor Daedeloth
Esgaroth was located in north-eastern Wilderland, a large inland region of Middle-earth. It was situated on the western shores of the Long Lake, close to the inflow of the Forest River. The Forest River provided an upstream route to Mirkwood. The Lonely Mountain, which could be seen from the town and could be reached by travelling up the Long Lake and then up its northern inflow, the Celduin. The Celduin flowed out of the south of the lake, providing a travel route from Esgaroth all the way downstream to the land of Dorwinion on the Sea of Rhûn.
Esgaroth | Geography
The elves named the land and its people "Haradwaith", "South-folk", from the Sindarin "harad", meaning "south", and "gwaith", meaning "people". The Quenya word "Hyarmen" similarly means "south" in addition to being the name of the country. The hobbits called the area the "Sunlands", and the people "Swertings". Aragorn briefly describes his journeys in the land as being in "Harad where the stars are strange". Tolkien confirmed that this meant that Aragorn had traveled "some distance into the southern hemisphere" in Harad. The great harbour city of Umbar lies on Harad's north-west coast; its natural harbour is the base of the Corsairs of Umbar, inspired by the Barbary pirates, who provide the Dark Lord Sauron with a sizeable fleet.
Harad | Geography
They are pursued by Sauron's Black Riders, but escape to a stronghold of the Elves, Rivendell. There, they learn that it can only be destroyed in the volcano, Mount Doom, where Sauron forged the Ring, in the evil land of Mordor. They are joined by others opposed to Sauron, forming a Fellowship of the Ring, led by Gandalf. They face many perils on the journey, and the Fellowship is split up. Merry and Pippin become involved in wars against the evil Wizard Saruman and then against Sauron: Merry becomes a knight of Rohan, while Pippin becomes a guard of Gondor.
The Scouring of the Shire | Context
Rivendell lay in eastern Eriador at the edge of a narrow gorge of the river Bruinen (one of the main approaches to Rivendell comes from the nearby Ford of Bruinen), well hidden in the moorlands and foothills of the "Hithaeglir" or Misty Mountains. Contrary to the map of western Middle-earth published in "The Lord of the Rings", the Great East Road did not in Tolkien's view lead through Rivendell: Rivendell was maintained as a hidden valley away from the road to the High Pass. Like Hobbiton, it is at about the same latitude as Tolkien's workplace, Oxford.
Rivendell | Geography
The book opens with a boy called Jarred, a friend of Prince Endon. After the death of King Alton and his queen, Endon is proclaimed King in his father's place. To consummate this, a magical steel belt, the Belt of Deltora, is set around Endon's waist. The Belt recognizes Endon as Deltora's rightful king. Jarred goes to the library and learns that the evil Shadow Lord, a Sauron-like intelligence located in the Shadowlands, once tried to seize the land in which is the kingdom of Deltora. Because the people of those days were divided into seven tribes, the Shadow Army soon overwhelmed much of the land.
The Forests of Silence | Plot summary
Located on the far side of the realm, away from Isengard, the Eastfold has seen little of Saruman's savagery, but is not at peace. Long thought destroyed and starved for vengeance, the Orcs of the White Mountains stir once more through Sauron's dark will. Eastfold's lands divide into three areas: the Folde, the Fenmarch, and the Everholt. The Folde is rich farmland that has long served the realm. The Fenmarch blooms with wildflowers, tussocks, reeds. Everholt is an old oak forest and royal hunting ground running uphill to the White Mountains. Home of Éomer, Third Marshal of the Riddermark, Eastfold is among the oldest Ridings in the Mark; it was the seat of Eorl the Young when he first became King.
The Lord of the Rings Online: Helm's Deep | Eastfold
Orodruin is more than just an ordinary volcano; it responds to Sauron's commands and his presence, lapsing into dormancy when he is away from Mordor and becoming active again when he returns. When Sauron is defeated at the end of the Third Age, the volcano erupts violently.
Mount Doom | Fictional history
The army included: King Éomer of Rohan, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth, Elladan & Elrohir (the twin sons of Elrond), Beregond, and five members of the Fellowship of the Ring (Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli and Pippin Took). They were ambushed by Orcs and Easterlings on the very spot where Faramir and the Rangers of Ithilien had ambushed a company of Haradrim some two weeks earlier, but the enemy was beaten back without much loss. Aragorn realized that this was an intentionally weak feint, meant to lure them into thinking that Sauron's army was exhausted. Later, some whose fear overcame them were sent to retake and hold the island of Cair Andros.
Battle of the Morannon | Context
"Southern Mirkwood: Haunt of the Necromancer" is a campaign module which focuses on the stronghold of Dol Guldur, which Sauron inhabited while using the identity of the Necromancer.
Southern Mirkwood: Haunt of the Necromancer | Contents
Ringló Vale lay between Lamedon and Lebennin. The regions of Anórien, with its capital Minas Anor, and Calenardhon, with fortresses at Isengard and Helm's Deep, lie to the north of the White Mountains. Calenardhon was granted independence as the kingdom of Rohan. To the northeast, the river Anduin enters the hills of the Emyn Muil and passes the Sarn Gebir, dangerous straits, above a large river-lake, Nen Hithoel. Its entrance was once the northern border of Gondor, and is marked by the Gates of Argonath, an enormous pair of kingly statues, as a warning to trespassers. At the southern end of the lake are the hills of Amon Hen (the Hill of Seeing) and Amon Lhaw (the Hill of Hearing) on the west and east shores; below Amon Hen is the lawn of Parth Galen, where the Fellowship disembarked and was then broken, with the capture of Merry and Pippin, and the death of Boromir.
Gondor | Country
Before the battle, a nameless leader, the "Mouth of Sauron", taunts the leaders of the army with the personal effects of Frodo and Sam. Battle is joined, but just as it seems the army of Gondor will be overwhelmed, the Ring is destroyed, and the forces of Sauron lose heart. Mount Doom erupts, and Sauron's tower, Barad-dûr, collapses, along with the Black Gate. The army of Gondor returns home victorious, the War of the Ring won.
Battle of the Morannon | Introduction
To the north-west of Gondor lies Arnor; to the north, Gondor is neighboured by Wilderland and Rohan; to the north-east, by Rhûn; to the east, across the great river Anduin and the province of Ithilien, by Mordor; to the south, by the deserts of northern Harad. To the west lies the Great Sea. The hot and dry region of South Gondor was by the time of the War of the Rings "a debatable and desert land", contested by the men of Harad. The region of Lamedon and the uplands of the prosperous Morthond, with the desolate Hill of Erech, lay to the south of the White Mountains, while the populous valleys of Lossarnach were just south of Minas Tirith.
Gondor | Country
Suddenly, Gollum reappears and takes the Ring from Frodo, but he loses his balance and falls into the fire with it. With the Ring's destruction, Sauron is defeated and the dominion of Men begins. Aragorn becomes King and marries Arwen ("City of Kings"), but Frodo, wearied by his quest, decides to leave Middle-earth forever and sail with Bilbo, Gandalf and the Great Elves to the lands of the West ("Epilogue (Farewells)"). After bidding farewell to their friend, Sam, Merry and Pippin return to the Shire ("Finale").
Lord of the Rings (musical) | Act III
Harad is a large land in the south of Middle-earth, bordered to the north by (from west to east) the lands of Gondor, Mordor, Khand and Rhûn. Historically the border with Gondor was to be the river Harnen, but by the time of the War of the Ring all the land further north to the river Poros is under the influence of the Haradrim. The border with Mordor runs along the southern Mountains of Shadow. Harad's west coast (the nearest to Gondor) is washed by the Great Sea, the western ocean of Middle-earth. Harad's eastern shores looks out on the Eastern Sea, Middle-earth's eastern ocean.
Harad | Geography
The south includes the Border Kingdoms, Dambrath, the Great Rift, Halruaa, the Lake of Steam, and The Shaar. South and east of the grassy plains is an area known as the Shaar, along the shores of the Great Sea opposite the land of Zakhara. The region includes the lands of Durpar, Estagund and Var the Golden (collectively called the "Shining Lands"), Luiren, the land of Halflings, Ulgarth, the easternmost extent of Faerûn, and Veldorn, the land of monsters, as well as The Great Rift, a large, powerful nation of dwarves, within a titanic canyon
Faerûn | Southern nations
Númenor first appears in "The Lord of the Rings", as the vague land of "Westernesse", an advanced civilisation which had existed long ago, far to the west over the Sea, and the ancestral home of the Dúnedain. Tolkien chose the name for its resonance with "Lyonesse", a faraway land that sank into the sea in the Middle English romance "King Horn".
Númenor | Lyonesse
Sauron settled in Mordor in the Second Age of Middle-earth, and it remained the pivot of his evil contemplations. He built his great stronghold Barad-dûr, the Dark Tower, near the volcano Mount Doom (Orodruin), and became known as the Dark Lord of Mordor. He discovered how the Rings of Power were made from the Elves of Eregion in Eriador, and secretly forged the One Ring in Orodruin. He then set about conquering Middle-earth, launching an attack upon the Elves of Eregion, but was repelled by the Men of Númenor. Over a thousand years later, the Númenóreans under Ar-Pharazôn sailed to Middle-earth to challenge Sauron's claim to be "King of Men".
Mordor | Early history
Sauron began to put his plans for war into effect, and he sent Orcs and Trolls to the Misty Mountains to bar the passes
Balrog | Durin's Bane
The Dead Marshes is a fictional place from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe, Middle-earth.
Dead Marshes | Introduction
Orcs and Trolls became his servants, with Easterlings and men of Harad.
Sauron | The Rings of Power in the Second Age
To the north is the mountain mass of Starkadh, dominated by Rangat mountain where Rakoth Maugrim is trapped, reminiscent of Ered Engrin and the Thangorodrim.
The Fionavar Tapestry | Tolkien
Tolkien's map-notes for the illustrator Pauline Baynes indicate that the city had the latitude of Ravenna, a city on the Mediterranean sea, though it lay "900 miles east of Hobbiton more near Belgrade". The Warning beacons of Gondor were atop a line of foothills running back west from Minas Tirith towards Rohan.
Gondor | Capital, Minas Tirith
The Dark Tower stood at the end of a south-western offshoot of the Ash Mountains (Ered Lithui), the range that ran eastwards from the Black Gate of Mordor. Barad-dûr rose above the arid plain of Gorgoroth, and lay south-east of Udûn and the Black Gate. From the fortress's east entrance a road went north then west to the Isenmouthe. Frodo and Sam travelled part of this route on their way south to Mount Doom. A second route "Sauron's Road" went from the west gate of Barad-dûr westwards across Gorgoroth to Mount Doom's "Chambers of Fire." This road ran from Barad-dûr between two smoking chasms and then reached the causeway that led to the mountain.
Barad-dûr | Geography
The city thereafter became Minas Morgul, the stronghold of the Nazgûl. Sauron returned from Dol Guldur in Mirkwood to Mordor late in the Third Age and declared himself openly. He sent two or three of the Nazgûl to garrison Dol Guldur. By the time of the main narrative of "The Lord of the Rings", Sauron had already learned from Gollum that a hobbit, Bilbo Baggins of the Shire, had acquired the One Ring. Sauron entrusted its recovery to the Nazgûl. They reappeared "west of the River", riding black horses that were bred or trained in Mordor to endure their terror.
Nazgûl | Third Age
The Path of the Wizard continues immediately after the events of the first level. The remains of the Uruk-hai and orc army flee into Fangorn Forest. However, within the forest, the Ents, led by Treebeard, have awoken and joined the fight against Sauron. Gandalf helps the ents as they destroy the rest of the army, and then assists them in bringing down a dam holding back the River Isen. This floods Isengard, trapping Saruman (Christopher Lee), who had joined forces with Sauron, in his tower, Orthanc. Gandalf and Pippin (Billy Boyd) then head to Minas Tirith, capital of Gondor, leaving Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and the Rohirrim to follow them.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game) | Synopsis
Frostfell is an unexplored land of ice in the north. The other two main continents are Sarlona (a continent ruled by quori, creatures from the Region of Dreams) and Argonnessen (a continent inhabited by dragons).
World of Eberron | Geography
The northern nations of this mysterious area are termed the "Unapproachable East" and the southern nations the "Old Empires" in campaign setting publications. This region includes the nations of Aglarond, Altumbel, Mulhorand, Murghôm, Thay and Unther. Chondalwood is a long, forested region to the south of Chondath and Chessenta.
Faerûn | Middle lands
Sauron openly joined the Valar's enemy, now renamed Morgoth.
Sauron | Servant of Aulë
In "The Silmarillion", the forested highlands of Dorthonion in the north of Beleriand (in the northwest of Middle-earth) eventually fell under Morgoth's control and was subjugated by creatures of Sauron, then Lord of Werewolves. Accordingly, the forest was renamed "Taur-nu-Fuin" in Sindarin, "Forest of Darkness", or "Forest of Nightshade"; Tolkien chose to use the English form "Mirkwood". Beren becomes the sole survivor of the men who once lived there as subjects of the Noldor King Finrod of Nargothrond. Beren ultimately escapes the terrible forest that even the Orcs fear to spend time in. Beleg pursues the captors of Túrin through this forest in the several accounts of Túrin's tale.
Mirkwood | The First Age forest in Beleriand
Barad-dûr (pronounced ), also called the Dark Tower, is a fictional place in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings and is described in "The Lord of the Rings", "The Silmarillion," and other works. It is an enormous fortress of the Dark Lord Sauron, whence he rules the volcanic and barren land of Mordor. Located in northwest Mordor, near Mount Doom, the Eye of Sauron keeps watch over Middle-earth from its highest tower. The Lieutenant of Barad-dûr is the Mouth of Sauron, an ambassador and herald for Mordor and Sauron. Barad-dûr was completed by Sauron in the Second Age. It was destroyed following the victory of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men at the end of that age.
Barad-dûr | Introduction
From Peter Pan From Middle-Earth: From Chronicles of Narnia
-land | Fictional places
Sauron, troubled by this revelation, attacked Minas Tirith sooner than he had planned. His army was destroyed at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Meanwhile, Frodo and Sam entered Mordor through the pass of Cirith Ungol. Aragorn diverted Sauron's attention with an attack on the Black Gate of Mordor. Frodo and Sam reached Mount Doom; Gollum seized the Ring and fell into the Cracks of Doom, destroying the Ring. Thus Sauron was utterly defeated, and vanished from Middle-earth.
Sauron | The War of the Ring
Lord Hanuman sleeps on a wealth of gold and diamonds.
Sausar | Places
Sauron concealed himself in the south of Mirkwood as the Necromancer, in the stronghold of Dol Guldur, "Hill of Sorcery". The Valar sent five Maiar as Wizards to oppose the darkness, supposing it was a Nazgûl rather than Sauron himself. The chief of the Nazgûl, the Witch-king of Angmar, repeatedly attacked the northern realm of Arnor, destroying it. When attacked by Gondor, the Witch-king retreated to Mordor, gathering the Nazgûl there. The Nazgûl captured Minas Ithil, which was renamed Minas Morgul, and seized its "palantír", one of the seven seeing stones brought from Númenor. Sméagol's friend Déagol found the One Ring in the River Anduin, Sméagol, later known as Gollum, killed Déagol to get it, and was swiftly corrupted by it.
Sauron | The Necromancer of Dol Guldur
Sauron had been exiled from Mordor which was under the guard of the men of Gondor for a time. He subsequently built the fortress of Dol Guldur in Greenwood the Great. Due to the Great Plague, Gondor was unable to continue to man its forts, and Mordor was left unguarded. Minas Ithil was besieged and captured by the Nazgûl, and it was renamed Minas Morgul. Its palantír was seized and taken to Barad-dûr. When Dol Guldur was attacked by the White Council, Sauron withdrew from Mirkwood, and the following year returned secretly to Mordor, where he rebuilt Barad-dûr. The fortress could be rebuilt quickly because the foundations were still in place.
Barad-dûr | The Third Age
Sauron let them capture him and take him back to Númenor, where he caused its destruction. He at once returned to Mordor as a spirit and resumed his rule.
Mordor | Early history
Gondor is a fictional kingdom in J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, described as the greatest realm of Men in the west of Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age. The third volume of "The Lord of the Rings", "The Return of the King", is largely concerned with the events in Gondor during the War of the Ring and with the restoration of the realm afterward. The history of the kingdom is outlined in the appendices of the book. According to the narrative, Gondor was founded by the brothers Isildur and Anárion, exiles from the downfallen island kingdom of Númenor.
Gondor | Introduction
The Stoors lived on the marshy Gladden Fields where the Gladden River met the Anduin; and the Fallohides preferred to live in the woods under the Misty Mountains. In the Third Age, the hobbits undertook the arduous task of crossing the Misty Mountains. Reasons for this trek are unknown, but they possibly had to do with Sauron's growing power in nearby Greenwood, which later became known as Mirkwood as a result of the shadow that fell upon it during his search of the forest for the One Ring. The hobbits took different routes in their journey westward, but as they began to settle together in Bree-land, Dunland, and the Angle formed by the rivers Mitheithel and Bruinen, the divisions between the hobbit-kinds began to blur.
Hobbit | Fictional history
In this temple human sacrifices were offered to Melkor. During this time, the White Tree Nimloth, which stood before the King's House in Armenelos and whose fate was tied to the line of kings, was cut down and burned as a sacrifice to Melkor, at Sauron's direction. Isildur rescued a fruit of the tree which became an ancestor of the White Tree of Gondor.
Númenor | Sauron
Not all Men were on the side of good; the Men who lived in the east and south were under Sauron's dominion. They included the "Haradrim" or Southrons and the Black Númenóreans (and later the Corsairs of Umbar) who pledged their allegiance to Mordor, and many different Easterling peoples, such as the Balchoth, the Wainriders, and the Men of Khand, who attacked Gondor and Rohan on numerous occasions. The Men of Dunland served as agents to the traitorous wizard Saruman. In the First Age, some Easterlings were under Morgoth's dominion.
Middle-earth peoples | Men
In "The Atlas of Middle-earth", Karen Wynn Fonstad assumed that the lands of Mordor, Khand, and Rhûn lay where the inland Sea of Helcar had been, and that the Sea of Rhûn and Sea of Núrnen were its remnants. This was based on a First Age world-map drawn by Tolkien in the "Ambarkanta", where the Inland Sea of Helcar occupied a large area of Middle-earth between the Ered Luin and Orocarni, its western end being close to the head of the Great Gulf (later the Mouths of Anduin).
Mordor | First Age
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Isengard () is a large fortress in Nan Curunír, the Wizard's Vale, in the west of Middle-earth. It is supposedly a translation of Angrenost in the elvish language Sindarin, in reality from Old English, meaning "iron enclosure". Orthanc, the tower at the centre of Isengard, was at the time of "The Lord of the Rings" the home of the Wizard Saruman. He had been ensnared by the Dark Lord Sauron through the tower's "palantír", a far-seeing crystal ball able to communicate with others like it. Saruman had bred Orcs in Isengard, in imitation of Sauron's forces, ready for war with Rohan.
Isengard | Introduction
Since the earliest versions of "The Silmarillion" legendarium as detailed in the "History of Middle-earth" series, Sauron underwent many changes. The prototype or precursor Sauron-figure was a giant monstrous cat, the Prince of Cats. Called "Tevildo", "Tifil" and "Tiberth" among other names, this character played the role later taken by Sauron in the earliest version of the story of Beren and Tinúviel in "The Book of Lost Tales". The Prince of Cats was later replaced by "Thû", the Necromancer. The name was then changed to "Gorthû", "Sûr", and finally to Sauron. "Gorthû", in the form "Gorthaur," remained in "The Silmarillion"; both "Thû" and "Sauron" name the character in the "Lay of Leithian".
Sauron | Concept and creation
It is close to the route of the ancient Wansdyke.
Belluton | Introduction
That places the Shire and the elves' Grey Havens in the Northwest as certainly good, and Mordor in the Southeast as certainly Evil; Gondor in the Southwest is in their view morally ambivalent, matching the characters of both Boromir and Denethor. They observe further that the Shire's four quadrants or "Farthings" serve as a "microcosm" of the moral geography of Middle-earth as a whole: thus, the evil Black Riders appear first in the Eastfarthing, while the once good but corrupted Saruman's men arrive in the Southfarthing.
Geography of Middle-earth | Moral geography
During the Battle of the Morannon, the One Ring was destroyed in Mount Doom, along with Sauron's power, Barad-dur, and the morale of his armies. This ultimate defeat of Sauron ended the Third Age. Gorgoroth became empty as its Orcs fled or were killed. The land of Núrn was given to Sauron's freed slaves.
Mordor | War of the Ring
In Tolkien's fiction, the Shire is described as a small but beautiful, idyllic and fruitful land, beloved by its hobbit inhabitants. They had agriculture but were not industrialized. The landscape included downland and woods like the English countryside. The Shire was fully inland; most hobbits feared the Sea. The Shire measured 40 leagues (193 km, 120 miles)) east to west and 50 leagues (241 km, 150 miles) from north to south, with an area of some : roughly that of the English Midlands. The main and oldest part of the Shire was bordered to the east by the Brandywine River, on the north by uplands rising to the Hills of Evendim, on the west by the Far Downs, and on the south by marshland.
The Shire | Geography
One reason was to enrich his descriptions of an area with beauty and emotion, such as with the small white Niphredil flowers and the gigantic Mallorn trees with green and silver leaves in the Elvish stronghold of Lothlórien, symbolising indeed Galadriel's Elves. Similarly, when describing the Island of Númenor, lost beneath the waves before the time of "The Lord of the Rings", Tolkien introduces Oiolairë, an evergreen fragrant tree said to be highly esteemed by the people there. Or again, when describing the grave-mounds of the Kings of Rohan, Tolkien mentions Simbelmynë (Old English for "Evermind"), a white "Anemone" that once grew in Gondolin and that stands for remembrance of the noble and brave Riders of Rohan.
Plants in Middle-earth | Sense of place
Isildur is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the elder son of Elendil. He was born in Númenor, and fled with his father when the island was drowned. He became King of Gondor. He cut the Ring from Sauron's hand, but instead of destroying it, claimed it for his own. He was killed by orcs, and the Ring was lost in the River Anduin.
Isildur | Introduction
Led by Elendil, nine ships carrying faithful Númenóreans were saved from the Downfall; they founded the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor in Middle-earth. Sauron returned to Mordor; Mount Doom again erupted. Sauron captured Minas Ithil and destroyed the White Tree; Isildur escaped down the Anduin. Anárion defended Osgiliath and for a time drove Sauron's forces back to the mountains. Isildur and Anárion formed an alliance and defeated Sauron at Dagorlad. They invaded Mordor and laid siege to Barad-dûr for seven years. Sauron was killed by Gil-galad and Elendil, who perished in the act. When Elendil fell, his sword Narsil broke beneath him.
Sauron | War of the Last Alliance
Originally, the name Beleriand belonged only to the area around the Bay of Balar, but in time, the name was applied to the entire land. Beleriand was originally inhabited by Elves, and later also by Men and Dwarves. To the west and south it had a long shore with the Great Sea Belegaer, to the north were the highland regions of Hithlum, Dorthonion and the hills of Himring, to the east the Ered Luin reached nearly to the sea. The land of Nevrast in the northwest was sometimes considered part of Beleriand. In the far north were the Iron Mountains (Ered Engrin), containing Morgoth's fortresses of Thangorodrim and Angband.
Beleriand | Fictional geography
The Tolkien scholar Paul H. Kocher writes that Galadriel perceives Sauron with Lothlórien's light, "but cannot be pierced by it in return". The good intelligence has the "imaginative sympathy" to penetrate the evil intelligence, but not "vice versa". The Christian author Elizabeth Danna writes that the Elf Haldir's explanation of this [from a "flet" or tree-platform high above Cerin Amroth], "In this high place you may see the two powers that are opposed to one another, and ever they strive now in thought; but whereas the light perceives the very heart of the darkness, its own secret has not yet been discovered" echoes a biblical description: "The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." The scholar of humanities Susan Robbins notes that Tolkien, a devout Roman Catholic, associated light as the Bible does with "holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope, and God’s revelation", and that Galadriel was one of the bearers of that light.
Lothlórien | Land of light
Eorl the Young, lord of the Éothéod, answered the summons, arriving unexpected at a decisive battle on the Field of Celebrant, routing the orc army. As a reward, Éorl was given the Gondorian province of Calenardhon (except for Isengard).
Rohan (Middle-earth) | Early history
Mount Doom is a fictional volcano in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. It is located in the northwest of the Black Land of Mordor and close to Barad-dûr. Alternative names, in Tolkien's invented language of Sindarin, include Orodruin ("fiery mountain") and Amon Amarth ("mountain of fate"). The Sammath Naur ("Chambers of Fire"), located high up in the mountain's cone, were made by the Dark Lord Sauron in the Second Age. They comprised a tunnel leading to an interior platform with molten lava below it, known as the Cracks of Doom. It was here Sauron forged the One Ring during the Second Age.
Mount Doom | Introduction
In the late Third Age, Sauron's power is increasing, and he has sent his Orcs to seek out the remnants of the bloodline of Elendil, kept alive in the Dúnedain. Dirhael, his wife Ivorwen and their daughter Gilraen are fleeing from an attack on their village when they are ambushed by Orcs on a forest road, and saved by a group of rangers led by Arathorn. Not having any place safer to go, the refugees go with Arathorn to Taurdal, the village led by his father and Chieftain of the Dúnedain, Arador. While there, Arathorn and Arador ponder the orcs' motives after finding various pieces of jewelry on their bodies.
Born of Hope | Plot
Rohan is bordered to the north by the Fangorn forest, home to the Ents (tree-giants) led by Treebeard, and by the great river Anduin, called Langflood by the Rohirrim. To the northeast are the walls of Emyn Muil. After the War of the Ring, the kingdom is extended northwards over the Limlight to the borders of Lothlórien. To the east are the mouths of the River Entwash, and the Mering Stream, which separated Rohan from the Gondorian province of Anórien, known to the Rohirrim as Sunlending. To the south lie the White Mountains ("Ered Nimrais"). To the west are the rivers Adorn and Isen, where Rohan borders the land of the Dunlendings.
Rohan (Middle-earth) | Borders
This land is stated to have previously belonged to Eormenred.
Eormenred of Kent | Introduction
With Sauron distracted, Frodo and Sam manage to travel to Mount Doom. The Ring is destroyed in the Cracks of Doom, and Sauron is overthrown. The hobbits, much changed by their experiences, ride home to the Shire, hoping to return to a peaceful rural life.
The Scouring of the Shire | Context
In "The Lord of the Rings", Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age is described as having free peoples, namely Men, Hobbits and Dwarves, in the West, opposed to peoples under the control of the Dark Lord Sauron in the East. Some commentators have seen this as implying a moral geography of Middle-earth.
Geography of Middle-earth | Introduction
Sauron appears most often as "the Eye", as if disembodied. Tolkien, while denying that absolute evil could exist, stated that Sauron came as near to a wholly evil will as was possible. Commentators have compared Sauron to Bram Stoker's 1897 "Dracula", and to Balor of the Evil Eye in Celtic mythology. He is depicted as a humanoid figure in animated films of "The Lord of the Rings". He is briefly seen in a similar form in Peter Jackson's films, which otherwise show him as a disembodied Eye.
Sauron | Introduction
Some other absences may be significant; Christopher Tolkien wrote that the frequently mentioned Dwarf-road over the mountains bordering Beleriand is not shown, because the Noldorin Elves who lived there never crossed the mountains.
Tolkien's maps | "The Silmarillion"
The journey to Gondolin was thus up the River Sirion. In some texts Tolkien spells his name "Tûr", but finally decided on "Tuor".
Tuor | Concept and creation
Nevrast ("Hither Shore", as opposed to Aman) is a coastal region in the north of Beleriand; its city was Vinyamar. It was the centre of Turgon's Elven kingdom until people left for Gondolin. The land was then abandoned until Tuor came there, guided by Ulmo.
Beleriand | Nevrast
"Dagorlad and the Dead Marshes" is an adventure that takes place on the plain of Dagorlad, to the north of Mordor.
Dagorlad and the Dead Marshes | Contents
The south of the land refers to Iceland.
Gauks saga Trandilssonar | Introduction
In the northwest, the pass of Cirith Gorgor led into the enclosed plain of Udûn. Sauron built the Black Gate of Mordor (the Morannon) across the pass. This added to the earlier fortifications, the Towers of the Teeth – Carchost to the east, Narchost to the west, guard towers which had been built by Gondor to keep a watch on this entrance. The passage through the inner side of Udûn into the interior of Mordor was guarded by another gate, the Isenmouthe. Outside the Morannon lay the Dagorlad or Battle Plain, and the Dead Marshes.
Mordor | The Black Gate
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Lothlórien or Lórien is the fairest realm of the Elves remaining in Middle-earth during the Third Age. It is ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn from their city of tree-houses at Caras Galadhon. The wood-elves of the realm are known as Galadhrim. The realm, a broad woodland between the Misty Mountains and the River Anduin, is the Elven centre of resistance against the Dark Lord Sauron in "The Lord of the Rings". Galadriel had one of the Three Elf-Rings, and used it to keep Sauron from seeing into Lothlórien. The Fellowship of the Ring spent some time in Lothlórien after passing through Moria.
Lothlórien | Introduction
He appeared then "as a man, or one in man's shape, but greater than any even of the race of Númenor in stature ... And it seemed to men that Sauron was great, though they feared the light of his eyes. To many he appeared fair, to others terrible; but to some evil." After the destruction of his fair form in the fall of Númenor, Sauron always took the shape of a terrible dark lord.
Sauron | Physical body
The novel is set in two neighbouring fictional countries: To the South lies Ancelstierre, which has a technology level and society similar to that of early-20th century Australia, and to the North lies the Old Kingdom, where both Free magic and Charter Magic exist—a fact officially denied by the government of Ancelstierre and disbelieved by most of Ancelstierre's inhabitants. A wall separates the two countries. Near the border some magic crosses the Wall, especially on days when the wind is blowing out of the Old Kingdom. Since the fall of the Royal Family, dangerous entities roam, ranging from the undead to powerful sorcerers and Free Magic elementals.
Sabriel | Plot introduction
Esgaroth, or Lake-town, is a fictitious community of Men upon the Long Lake that appears in the 1937 novel "The Hobbit" by J. R. R. Tolkien. Constructed entirely of wood and standing upon wooden pillars sunk into the lake-bed, the town is south of the Lonely Mountain and east of Mirkwood. The town's prosperity is apparently built upon trade between the Men who inhabit it, and the Elves and the Dwarves of northern Middle-earth. The chief mode of transport of the people of Esgaroth is stated to be their boats. At the time in which "The Hobbit" is set, Esgaroth appears to be a city-state, and a republic with no king (the only real republic shown in Middle-earth).
Esgaroth | Introduction
The Land of Nod is a location mentioned in the Bible to where Cain was exiled. It may also refer to:
Land of Nod (disambiguation) | Introduction
Sauron was caught in the cataclysm he had helped bring about. His body perished, and he could never again assume a fair form. He fled back to Middle-earth as a monstrous spirit of hatred that "passed as a shadow and a black wind over the sea", returning to Mordor. Some of his servants, the Black Númenóreans, had left the island before its destruction, and continued to serve Sauron in Middle-earth; one of these was the nameless "Mouth of Sauron", Sauron's lieutenant, who spoke to the Captains of the West before the Battle of the Morannon. Elendil and the Faithful, too, came to Middle-earth before the cataclysm.
Númenor | Aftermath