Mordor
Mordor (S. Black Land) (K. Nargûn) was a land in the south-east of the Westlands east of Gondor. During most of the Second and Third Ages it was ruled by Sauron and it was his dwelling and base from which he attempted to conquer Middle-earth.
Mordor was surrounded by three enormous mountain ridges from the North, from the West and from the South, protecting it from an unexpected invasion by any of the Free peoples.
Mordor is protected from three sides by mountain ranges, arranged roughly rectangularly: the Ered Lithui in the north, and the Ephel Dúath in the west until they turned to the east, forming a southern range. The Morgul Pass led from the Morgul Vale in Ithilien, wich was guarded by the city of Minas Morgul (earlier Minas Ithil) through the Ephel Dúath into Mordor; Cirith Ungol, a higher more difficult pass was guarded by the giant spider Shelob and by the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Another known fortress was Durthang in the northern Ephel Dúath.
In the north-west corner of Mordor the deep valley of Udûn was the only entrance for large armies, and that is where Sauron built the Black Gate of Mordor. In front of the Black Gate lay the Dagorlad. Sauron's main fortress Barad-dûr was at the foothills of Ered Lithui. To south-west of Barad-dûr lay the arid Plateau of Gorgoroth and the volcanic Mount Doom (also called Orodruin to the east lay the plain of Lithlad. The land in the western parts of Mordor were largely infertile, producing only sparse brambles.
The southern part of Mordor, Nurn, was slighly more fertile, and moist enough to carry the inland sea of Núrnen. Nurn was made somewhat fertile because the ash blown from Mount Doom left its soil nutrient rich, thus allowing dry-land farming. Unfortunately, the inland sea of Núrn was salty, not freshwater.
To the west of Mordor was the narrow land of Ithilien with the great river Anduin, to the east Rhûn, and to the south-east, Khand.
Early history Melkor created Mount Doom in the long First Age, and the name "Mordor" may have been given to the land before Sauron settled there because of its eruptions. Also in the First Age, the Drúedain migrated westward, and historians in Gondor believed that they came through lands south of Mordor and, after turning northward into Ithilien, became the first Men to cross the Anduin. The first being known to occupy the mountains of Mordor was Shelob, fleeing from the War of Wrath in Beleriand at the end of the First Age. She fed herself on Elves and Men living or passing nearby until these became scarce. Sauron settled in Mordor around S.A. 1000. In the north-western corner of this land stood Mount Doom, where he had forged the One Ring. Near Orodruin he built his stronghold Barad-dûr. After this time, Sauron was known as the Dark Lord of Mordor. For two and a half thousand years, Sauron ruled Mordor uninterruptedly. It was from Mordor that he made war against the Elves of Eregion and came to dominate most of Eriador in a period known as the Dark Years. That was until he was repelled by the High Men of Númenor. Retreating to Mordor, Sauron then directed his power over the far south and east of Mordor conquering and dominating the savage tribes of the Easterlings and the Haradrim. Almost a thousand years later, Sauron was captured by the Númenóreans and brought to their island kingdom, eventually causing its destruction. Sauron returned to Mordor as a spirit and resumed his rule.
The Last Alliance and Third Age Sauron's rule was interrupted yet again when his efforts to overthrow the surviving Men and Elves failed, and they fought their way back to their foe's domain. After several months of siege in the Battle of Dagorlad, forces of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men came into Mordor. Sauron was defeated in a final battle and the Dark Tower was leveled to the ground, but Mordor was not settled by Men because of the dreadful memory of Sauron, and Orodruin. The Kings of Gondor built watchtowers and fortresses around Mordor, such as the mountain fortress of Durthang, the Towers of the Teeth at the Morannon, and the Tower of Cirith Ungol, in order to prevent Sauron's servants from returning to Mordor; however, these would all inevitably fall into the hands of the Dark Lord. Mordor is in the process of becoming the greatest garrison and forge of war in the history of Arda.
Early history Melkor created Mount Doom in the long First Age, and the name "Mordor" may have been given to the land before Sauron settled there because of its eruptions. Also in the First Age, the Drúedain migrated westward, and historians in Gondor believed that they came through lands south of Mordor and, after turning northward into Ithilien, became the first Men to cross the Anduin. The first being known to occupy the mountains of Mordor was Shelob, fleeing from the War of Wrath in Beleriand at the end of the First Age. She fed herself on Elves and Men living or passing nearby until these became scarce. Sauron settled in Mordor around S.A. 1000. In the north-western corner of this land stood Mount Doom, where he had forged the One Ring. Near Orodruin he built his stronghold Barad-dûr. After this time, Sauron was known as the Dark Lord of Mordor. For two and a half thousand years, Sauron ruled Mordor uninterruptedly. It was from Mordor that he made war against the Elves of Eregion and came to dominate most of Eriador in a period known as the Dark Years. That was until he was repelled by the High Men of Númenor. Retreating to Mordor, Sauron then directed his power over the far south and east of Mordor conquering and dominating the savage tribes of the Easterlings and the Haradrim. Almost a thousand years later, Sauron was captured by the Númenóreans and brought to their island kingdom, eventually causing its destruction. Sauron returned to Mordor as a spirit and resumed his rule.
The Last Alliance and Third Age Sauron's rule was interrupted yet again when his efforts to overthrow the surviving Men and Elves failed, and they fought their way back to their foe's domain. After several months of siege in the Battle of Dagorlad, forces of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men came into Mordor. Sauron was defeated in a final battle and the Dark Tower was leveled to the ground, but Mordor was not settled by Men because of the dreadful memory of Sauron, and Orodruin. The Kings of Gondor built watchtowers and fortresses around Mordor, such as the mountain fortress of Durthang, the Towers of the Teeth at the Morannon, and the Tower of Cirith Ungol, in order to prevent Sauron's servants from returning to Mordor; however, these would all inevitably fall into the hands of the Dark Lord. Mordor is in the process of becoming the greatest garrison and forge of war in the history of Arda.
Geography
Regions:
Nurn, Gorgoroth, Lithlad, and UdûnMajor Landmarks:
Minas Morgul, Carchost, Narchost, Tower of Cirith Ungol, Barad-dûr, and DurthangWithin the Ered Lithui (S. Ash Mountains) of the Ephel Dúath (S. Mountains of Shadow)
Alternative Name(s)
Nargûn
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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