Dagor-nuin-Giliath
Encyclopedia
In J. R. R. Tolkien
's fictional Middle-earth
, the Dagor-nuin-Giliath (Battle under the Stars) is the second battle of the Wars of Beleriand
, but the first involving the Noldor
.
The Noldor
following of Fëanor
arrive in Middle-earth at the Firth of Drengist, and after burning their fleet, pass into Hithlum
and encamp on the northern shore of Lake Mithrim. Their unforeseen arrival completely surprises Morgoth
. This opportunity is somewhat compromised by Fëanor's ill-considered, wanton burning of the Telerin
ships. The great fire alerts Morgoth and causes the Dark Lord to delay his plan to conquer Beleriand. He redeploys his forces to meet this new and unexpected threat.
Morgoth yet knows little of his foe's strengths and abilities. He hopes to destroy the Noldor under Fëanor before they can establish themselves. He attempts to concentrate several Orc forces to achieve this. An Orc-host is sent from Angband to attack over passes of the mountains of Ered Wethrin, and the Orc-host occupying East Beleriand and besieging the Havens of Círdan
in the south is recalled to join in the attack. The Orc
s of Morgoth far outnumber the Fëanorian Noldor, but the Orc-captains are unable to coordinate their attack and take advantage of their full, combined might. The Noldor are freshly empowered by the Light of Valinor
, and using marvellous weapons and armour as well as the previously unseen cavalry they defeat the Orc forces in detail.
The first Orc-host of some 40,000 is quickly overwhelmed in Mithrim and retreats north through Ard-galen, with Fëanor in furious pursuit leading much of the cavalry. The Orc-captains of the south commanding an army reduced in strength from besieging the Havens of the Falas after the First Battle of Beleriand
, move north to join the attack. Celegorm
, leading the rest of the Fëanorian Noldor, waylays their line of march in the pass below Eithel Sirion, driving them into the Fens. Trapped between Celegorm's force and the Fens of Serech, the majority of the Orcs perish in a ten-day battle and the remnants try to flee back to Angband.
Fëanor, reckless in his wrath, pursues the Orcs across the plain of Ard-galen and became separated from his vanguard. At the north edge of the plain, on Dor Daedeloth, the Orcs make a stand and Gothmog leads his Balrog
s forth from Thangorodrim
to their aid. Fëanor stands his ground and long fights alone, until he is mortally wounded. Fëanor is rescued by his sons, but dies soon after.
The Dagor-nuin-Giliath is a bittersweet victory for the Fëanorian Noldor, as they destroy nearly all of Morgoth's forces in the several battles, but Fëanor is slain, and they had lost one of their princes.
In some tellings of the War of the Jewels, the Battle of Lammoth is counted as part of the Battle-under-Stars. In those tales, immediately following the rising of the Moon, Fingolfin
and the second, greater Host of the Noldor arrive in Lammoth. There, they are attacked by Orcs which are sent by Morgoth to attack Fëanor in the rear, and they fight their first battle, the Battle of Lammoth. The Noldor are caught off-guard, and Fingolfin's son Argon
is slain after a valiant fight that nevertheless dismays the enemy. Fingolfin and his host pursue the Orcs until they are completely destroyed, and then pass into Mithrim as the Sun first rises.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's fictional Middle-earth
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 Dagor-nuin-Giliath (Battle under the Stars) is the second battle of the Wars of 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...
, but the first involving the Noldor
Noldor
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Noldor are Elves of the Second Clan who migrated to Valinor and lived in Eldamar. The Noldor are called Golodhrim or Gódhellim in Sindarin, and Goldoi by Teleri of Tol Eressëa. The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin...
.
The Noldor
Noldor
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Noldor are Elves of the Second Clan who migrated to Valinor and lived in Eldamar. The Noldor are called Golodhrim or Gódhellim in Sindarin, and Goldoi by Teleri of Tol Eressëa. The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin...
following of Fëanor
Fëanor
Fëanor is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium who plays an important part in The Silmarillion. He was the eldest son of Finwë, the High King of the Noldor, and his first wife Míriel Serindë...
arrive in Middle-earth at the Firth of Drengist, and after burning their fleet, pass into Hithlum
Hithlum
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, Hithlum is the region north of Beleriand near the Helcaraxë.Hithlum was separated from Beleriand proper by the Ered Wethrin mountain chain, and was named after the sea mists which formed there at times: Hithlum is Sindarin for "Mist-shadow";...
and encamp on the northern shore of Lake Mithrim. Their unforeseen arrival completely surprises 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...
. This opportunity is somewhat compromised by Fëanor's ill-considered, wanton burning of the Telerin
Teleri
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Teleri, Those who come last in Quenya were the third of the Elf clans who came to Aman...
ships. The great fire alerts Morgoth and causes the Dark Lord to delay his plan to conquer Beleriand. He redeploys his forces to meet this new and unexpected threat.
Morgoth yet knows little of his foe's strengths and abilities. He hopes to destroy the Noldor under Fëanor before they can establish themselves. He attempts to concentrate several Orc forces to achieve this. An Orc-host is sent from Angband to attack over passes of the mountains of Ered Wethrin, and the Orc-host occupying East Beleriand and besieging the Havens of 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...
in the south is recalled to join in the attack. The 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 of Morgoth far outnumber the Fëanorian Noldor, but the Orc-captains are unable to coordinate their attack and take advantage of their full, combined might. The Noldor are freshly empowered by the Light of Valinor
Valinor
Valinor is a fictional location in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the realm of the Valar in Aman. It was also known as the Undying Lands, along with Tol Eressëa and the outliers of Aman. This is something of a misnomer; only immortal beings were allowed to reside there, but the land itself,...
, and using marvellous weapons and armour as well as the previously unseen cavalry they defeat the Orc forces in detail.
The first Orc-host of some 40,000 is quickly overwhelmed in Mithrim and retreats north through Ard-galen, with Fëanor in furious pursuit leading much of the cavalry. The Orc-captains of the south commanding an army reduced in strength from besieging the Havens of the Falas after the First Battle of Beleriand
First Battle of Beleriand
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the First Battle of Beleriand is the first battle of the Wars of Beleriand, fought by the Sindarin Elves, led by Elu Thingol, King of Doriath and Lord of Beleriand, against the armies of Morgoth, the Great Enemy, the Dark Lord.-History:Morgoth,...
, move north to join the attack. Celegorm
Celegorm
Celegorm is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, appearing in The Silmarillion.He was the third son of Fëanor and Nerdanel, most closely associated with another brother, Curufin. Celegorm is described as "the fair," which could mean either that Celegorm had fairer...
, leading the rest of the Fëanorian Noldor, waylays their line of march in the pass below Eithel Sirion, driving them into the Fens. Trapped between Celegorm's force and the Fens of Serech, the majority of the Orcs perish in a ten-day battle and the remnants try to flee back to Angband.
Fëanor, reckless in his wrath, pursues the Orcs across the plain of Ard-galen and became separated from his vanguard. At the north edge of the plain, on Dor Daedeloth, the Orcs make a stand and Gothmog leads his Balrog
Balrog
Balrogs are fictional demonic beings who appear in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Such creatures first appeared in print in his novel The Lord of the Rings, though they figured in earlier writings that posthumously appeared in The Silmarillion and other books.Balrogs are described as...
s forth from Thangorodrim
Thangorodrim
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Thangorodrim was a group of three volcanic mountains in the Iron Mountains in the north of Middle-earth during the First Age...
to their aid. Fëanor stands his ground and long fights alone, until he is mortally wounded. Fëanor is rescued by his sons, but dies soon after.
The Dagor-nuin-Giliath is a bittersweet victory for the Fëanorian Noldor, as they destroy nearly all of Morgoth's forces in the several battles, but Fëanor is slain, and they had lost one of their princes.
In some tellings of the War of the Jewels, the Battle of Lammoth is counted as part of the Battle-under-Stars. In those tales, immediately following the rising of the Moon, Fingolfin
Fingolfin
Fingolfin is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, appearing in The Silmarillion.-Internal history:He was a High King of the Noldor in Beleriand, second eldest son of Finwë, full brother of Finarfin, and half-brother of Fëanor, who was the eldest of Finwë's sons. His mother was...
and the second, greater Host of the Noldor arrive in Lammoth. There, they are attacked by Orcs which are sent by Morgoth to attack Fëanor in the rear, and they fight their first battle, the Battle of Lammoth. The Noldor are caught off-guard, and Fingolfin's son Argon
Argon (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Argon was the fourth child of Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor in Beleriand.His mother was Anairë, and his brothers were Fingon, and Turgon. He had an older sister, Aredhel....
is slain after a valiant fight that nevertheless dismays the enemy. Fingolfin and his host pursue the Orcs until they are completely destroyed, and then pass into Mithrim as the Sun first rises.