Battle of Tumhalad
Encyclopedia
In J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth
, the Battle of Tumhalad was the last battle of the Elves
of the kingdom of Nargothrond
. It was fought on the plain of Tumhalad between the river Narog and its tributary, the river Ginglith.
Túrin Turambar
, son of Húrin
, a Man
and an especial target of the malice of Morgoth
, had become an influential commander of Nargothrond's forces. He had urged its king, Orodreth
, to abandon their prior tactics of hidden ambush and fight the forces of Morgoth
in the open field. He conducted a series of successful offensive campaigns that cleared Mid-Beleriand
and West Beleriand of raiding bands of Orc
s and Wolves. He convinced the king to build a great stone bridge over the fierce, deep and unfordable river Narog that ran before the entrance of the fortresses of Nargothrond. While this provided swift access to the field for the army to attack the enemy, it compromised the strongest part of the defences of Nargothrond as an attacking enemy could now use the bridge to assault the gates which had previously been unapproachable if the river crossing was opposed. Túrin's sorties, ultimately, were only minor victories and had the effect of giving Morgoth a clearer idea of where Nargothrond was and some idea of the strength and capabilities of its army.
By the year 495 of the First Age, there was a mustering of a great Orc-host beneath the Ered Wethrin and in the Pass of Sirion. Messengers from Círdan
the Shipwright brought these tidings and a warning from the Vala
Ulmo
to the Elves of Nargothrond that they shouldn't fight in the field but to stay in their fortress. Túrin dismissed these warnings and his previous successes led Orodreth to continue to support the tactics of Túrin.
Led by the Dragon
, Glaurung
, the Orc-host advanced south from Eithel Ivrin ravaging and burning the land of Talath Dirnen between the rivers Narog and Teiglin. Túrin and the host of Nargothrond were therefore drawn north and met the enemy there. Outnumbered, and with no defence against the dragon, their right flank was turned and they were driven west, retreating over the River Narog and uncovering the South Road to Nargothrond. On the plain of Tumhalad the battle was fought. Túrin and the Elves were trapped in the narrowing field between the river Ginglith and Narog where most of them, including King Orodreth, were slain. Only Túrin withstood the attack of Glaurung for he wore a protecting mask made by the Dwarves
. He, and some few others, escaped.
Glaurung, following his crushing victory in the Battle of Tumhalad, led his Orc-host south to Nargothrond, crossed the stone bridge, broke the gates and sacked Nargothrond, slaughtering most of its people and driving the rest off as slaves. Glaurung then set himself up as the Dragon-king of Nargothrond.
The story of the battle and the fall of Nargothrond is told by Tolkien in numerous forms. The earliest can be found in The History of Middle-earth
, Vol.II, Lost Tales II, Turambar and the Foalókë. There is an incomplete epic poem in the Lays of Beleriand. Others are in The Silmarillion
and the sources for the Silmarillion in History of Middle-earth, Vol.III-V, XI, XII. And in The Children of Húrin
.
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
, the Battle of Tumhalad was the last battle of the Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
of the kingdom of Nargothrond
Nargothrond
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Nargothrond , called Nulukkhizdīn by the Dwarves, was the stronghold built by Finrod Felagund...
. It was fought on the plain of Tumhalad between the river Narog and its tributary, the river Ginglith.
Túrin Turambar
Túrin Turambar
Túrin Turambar is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. "Turambar and the Foalókë", begun in 1917, is the first appearance of Túrin in the legendarium. J.R.R...
, son of Húrin
Húrin
Húrin is a fictional character in the Middle-earth legendarium of J. R. R. Tolkien. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as a hero of Men during the First Age, said to be the greatest warrior of both the Edain and all the other Men in Middle-earth...
, a Man
Man (Middle-earth)
The race of Men in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth books, such as The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, refers to humanity and does not denote gender...
and an especial target of the malice of Morgoth
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
, had become an influential commander of Nargothrond's forces. He had urged its king, Orodreth
Orodreth
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Orodreth was an Elf of the First Age, the son of Angrod and nephew of Finrod Felagund, and a ruler of Nargothrond....
, to abandon their prior tactics of hidden ambush and fight the forces of Morgoth
Morgoth
Morgoth Bauglir is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium. He is the main antagonist of The Silmarillion, figures in The Children of Húrin, and is mentioned briefly in The Lord of the Rings.Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, but turned to darkness and became...
in the open field. He conducted a series of successful offensive campaigns that cleared Mid-Beleriand
Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional legendarium, Beleriand was a region in northwestern Middle-earth during the First Age. Events in Beleriand are described chiefly in his work The Silmarillion, which tells the story of the early ages of Middle-earth in a style similar to the epic hero tales of Nordic...
and West Beleriand of raiding bands of Orc
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
s and Wolves. He convinced the king to build a great stone bridge over the fierce, deep and unfordable river Narog that ran before the entrance of the fortresses of Nargothrond. While this provided swift access to the field for the army to attack the enemy, it compromised the strongest part of the defences of Nargothrond as an attacking enemy could now use the bridge to assault the gates which had previously been unapproachable if the river crossing was opposed. Túrin's sorties, ultimately, were only minor victories and had the effect of giving Morgoth a clearer idea of where Nargothrond was and some idea of the strength and capabilities of its army.
By the year 495 of the First Age, there was a mustering of a great Orc-host beneath the Ered Wethrin and in the Pass of Sirion. Messengers from Círdan
Círdan
Círdan the Shipwright is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien. He was a Telerin Elf, a great mariner and shipwright, and lord of the Falas during much of the First Age. He was the bearer of the Great Ring Narya, which he in turn gave to Gandalf.He had a beard, which was rare for...
the Shipwright brought these tidings and a warning from the Vala
Vala (Middle-earth)
The Valar are fictional characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. They are first mentioned in The Lord of the Rings, but The Silmarillion develops them into the Powers of Arda or the Powers of the World...
Ulmo
Ulmo
Ulmo is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He first appears in The Silmarillion as a god or Vala of the Elven pantheon. Ulmo is a title, which means He who pours. He is also known as King of the Sea and Lord of Waters...
to the Elves of Nargothrond that they shouldn't fight in the field but to stay in their fortress. Túrin dismissed these warnings and his previous successes led Orodreth to continue to support the tactics of Túrin.
Led by the Dragon
Dragon (Middle-earth)
J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium features dragons closely based on those of European legend.Besides dragon , Tolkien variously used the terms drake and worm .-History:The dragons were created by Morgoth...
, Glaurung
Glaurung
Glaurung is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium. He is introduced in The Silmarillion as the first of the Dragons. He is also a major antagonist in The Children of Húrin. He was known as The Deceiver, The Golden, The Great Worm and the Worm of...
, the Orc-host advanced south from Eithel Ivrin ravaging and burning the land of Talath Dirnen between the rivers Narog and Teiglin. Túrin and the host of Nargothrond were therefore drawn north and met the enemy there. Outnumbered, and with no defence against the dragon, their right flank was turned and they were driven west, retreating over the River Narog and uncovering the South Road to Nargothrond. On the plain of Tumhalad the battle was fought. Túrin and the Elves were trapped in the narrowing field between the river Ginglith and Narog where most of them, including King Orodreth, were slain. Only Túrin withstood the attack of Glaurung for he wore a protecting mask made by the Dwarves
Dwarf (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Dwarves are a race inhabiting the world of Arda, a fictional prehistoric Earth which includes the continent Middle-earth....
. He, and some few others, escaped.
Glaurung, following his crushing victory in the Battle of Tumhalad, led his Orc-host south to Nargothrond, crossed the stone bridge, broke the gates and sacked Nargothrond, slaughtering most of its people and driving the rest off as slaves. Glaurung then set himself up as the Dragon-king of Nargothrond.
The story of the battle and the fall of Nargothrond is told by Tolkien in numerous forms. The earliest can be found in The History of Middle-earth
The History of Middle-earth
The History of Middle-earth is a 12-volume series of books published from 1983 through to 1996 that collect and analyse material relating to the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, compiled and edited by his son, Christopher Tolkien. Some of the content consists of earlier versions of already published...
, Vol.II, Lost Tales II, Turambar and the Foalókë. There is an incomplete epic poem in the Lays of Beleriand. Others are in The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion
The Silmarillion is a collection of J. R. R. Tolkien's mythopoeic works, edited and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 1977, with assistance from Guy Gavriel Kay, who later became a noted fantasy writer. The Silmarillion, along with J. R. R...
and the sources for the Silmarillion in History of Middle-earth, Vol.III-V, XI, XII. And in The Children of Húrin
The Children of Húrin
The Children of Húrin is an epic fantasy novel which forms the completion of a tale by J. R. R. Tolkien. He wrote the original version of the story in the late 1910s, revised it several times later, but did not complete it before his death in 1973...
.