The Fortified Plain

(click to enlarge the picture)

The Fortified Plain (Atlas of Beleriand - Map 5)

During the Siege of Angband (F.A. 7-455), Morgoth was surrounded by the Ñoldor around the plain of Ard-Galen. The Black Enemy was entrenched in the citadel of Angband.

The plain was framed by the mountains, which are pierced with many passes and kept by strongholds [1]. The plain were guarded by many guards and spies : elvish horse riders in the lowland plains, and majestic eagles nestled in the Crissaegrim [2].

Morgoth was surrounded by the Ñoldor, and the southern mountains was a natural barrier to his extension. Although he was entrenched in his fortress of Angband, he get an indefinite supply produced by slaves in deep underground caves.

In front of him, the elf alliance was fragile due to many frictions between the allied forces. In addition, elfs hesitated to start an unsure war [3].  However, during four centuries, this alliance was sufficient to stop the orks at the gates of Beleriand.  The situation changed dramatically with the sudden attack of Morgoth and the beginning of the Dagor Bragollach, the prelude to the defeat for the elfs.  At this time, Ard-Galen the green plain was burned to become an ash plain, and was called  Anfauglith.

The words "Guarded Plain" describe well Ard-Galen, but they actually apply to Talath Dirnen, the desert plain between Nargothrond and Doriath in West Beleriand.

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About the Atlas of Beleriand

This Atlas is a serie of ten maps (and more !) concerning geography, history and geopolitics of Beleriand, which is a territory of  the famous Legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien, including the Silmarillion.

This map was firstly created to illustrate an essay (in french) dedicated to explore the geopolitics in Beleriand published on the website JRRVF (many thanks to Cedric for his support).This map was firstly released on Deviantart.

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Technical details

In these maps, two free fonts are used : Franklin Gothic Medium and Cardo by David J. Perry.

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Bibliography and references

[1] The fortress of Tol Sirion was drawn by Tolkien, see the book "Pictures of JRR Tolkien" number 36.
[2] Silmarillion p102

"For Manwë to whom all birds are dear, and to whom they bring news upon Taniquetil from Middle-earth, had sent forth the race of Eagles, commanding them to dwell in the crags of the North, and to keep watch upon Morgoth;" 

[3] Silmarillion p138

"But because the land was fair and their kingdoms wide, most of the Noldor were content with things as they were, trusting them to last, and slow to begin an assault in which many must surely perish were it in victory or in defeat Therefore they were little disposed to hearken to Fingolfin, and the sons of Fëanor at that time least of all."