The Epic Battle of Pelennor Fields: A Comprehensive Guide to LOTR

The Battle of the Pelennor Fields is widely regarded as one of the most significant conflicts in The Lord of the Rings saga. Located in the townlands and fields between the River Anduin and Minas Tirith, Gondor's fortified capital, this pivotal battle sees the forces of the Dark Lord Sauron launching a relentless attack on the city. With the aim of breaking down the remaining defenses of the Gondorians, Sauron's army of Mordor marches forward in a spectacular display, while the defenders face seemingly insurmountable odds.

When Was the Battle of the Pelennor Fields?

After the fall of Osgiliath, Sauron's forces make their way to Minas Tirith, causing fumes from Mount Doom to spread and shroud the city in darkness on what would become known as the Dawnless Day. This darkness allows the Orcs to fight more freely and wreak havoc on the city. Denethor II, the Ruling Steward of Gondor, consults with Gandalf and his lords and decides to send his son Faramir to command the forces in Osgiliath. However, the Witch-king of Angmar leads his army to overthrow Faramir and his men, forcing them to retreat to the Causeway Forts. Mordor's troops manage to blast fire at the forts, causing the Gondorians to flee. Gandalf and Prince Imrahil arrive to help the wounded and guide them back to Minas Tirith, but by the night of the 13th of March, the opposing army prepares to lay siege to the city, launching missiles and the heads of fallen soldiers over the walls while the Winged Nazgûl circle above, causing despair among the defenders.

Who Fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields?

After being deceived by Sauron’s palantír, Denethor loses all hope and orders his men to prepare a funeral pyre for himself and his son, Faramir, who has been gravely wounded by a dart. Gandalf takes charge of the situation and leads the battle on the Pelennor Fields on March 15th.

In the epic battle, the army of Gondor, consisting of thousands of soldiers and several hundred Guards of the Citadel, fought alongside 6000 Rohirrim cavalry, 30 Dúnedain of Arnor, and 3000 men from other provinces. The brave warriors fought against a formidable army comprising tens of thousands of Orcs, Trolls, Easterlings from Rhûn, Haradrim, Oliphaunts, and Variags from Khand.

Upon seeing the Beacons of Gondor, King Théoden begins to gather his Riders while Aragorn and his horsemen set out for the Paths of the Dead to seek more allies. As the sun rises, the Rohirrim arrive and engage in a fierce battle with the Orcs, ultimately defeating them. However, Théoden is mortally wounded by the Nazgûl Lord, who is then killed by Éowyn and Merry. Despite being outnumbered by the Haradrim and their Oliphaunts, the Rohirrim fight bravely. With the arrival of Aragorn and the Grey Company, along with the Army of the Dead on the ships of the Corsairs, the tide of the battle turns in their favor. The madness induced by the Dead Men of Dunharrow causes the Corsairs to jump to their deaths from their vessels.

By sunset, the enemy has left the Pelennor Fields; most of them had been slain while the rest drown when they try to cross Anduin.

What Was the Outcome of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields?

Once the siege has been lifted, a grey rain falls over the city, and the arrival of additional troops allows Gondor to secure Minas Tirith much more effectively.

Despite the defeat of Sauron's army at the Pelennor Fields, his remaining forces in Mordor are still formidable and pose a significant threat. The loss of his chief lieutenant, the Witch-king, is a major blow to Sauron's plans, but he still has a vast number of Orcs at his disposal.

Although the victory at Pelennor Fields was hard-won, the winning side recognizes that true triumph can only be achieved by destroying the One Ring. Aragorn, now in command following Théoden's death, consults with his council of advisors to plan their next move. The decision is made to launch an assault on the Black Gate of Mordor, in an attempt to draw Sauron's attention away from Frodo and Sam's mission to destroy the Ring. The resulting Battle of the Morannon is a critical moment in the war for Middle-earth.