Dagor Bragollach

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth, the Dagor Bragollach (IPA: [ˈdɑɡɒr brɑˈɡɒlːɑx]) (Sindarin for Battle of Sudden Flame) was the fourth battle of the Wars of Beleriand. It was the great turning point in the War of the Jewels.

It began on a winter's night in the beginning of the year 455 of the First Age, with the eruptions of the volcanic peaks of Thangorodrim sending out rivers of flame, poisonous fumes and clouds of smoke and ash. All this provided confusion, destruction and darkness to cover the advance of Morgoth's forces. The fires, spearheaded by Glaurung the Dragon, destroyed the vegetation of the grassy plain of Ard-galen, which was later renamed Anfauglith, the Gasping Dust. Both Fingolfin, High-king of the Noldor, and Fëanorian Noldor led by Maedhros had maintained camps of cavalry on Ard-galen as a forward watch on Morgoth. Many of these were caught by the fires and killed; the remainder were forced to escape to their fortresses in the mountains. Morgoth's armies of Orcs, led by numerous Balrogs, were now able to advance, without interference and under cover of darkness, to attack each of the realms of the Noldor simultaneously and individually, preventing the three Houses of the Noldor from joining forces or coming to one another's assistance.

As in the Third Battle, Dagor Aglareb, Morgoth's prime objective was the capture of the central highland of Dorthonion, a fief of Finrod's realm that lay directly south of Angband across the plain. Possession of Dorthonion would provide Morgoth with a forward base easily supported from Angband while splitting the Noldorin forces in two, physically preventing any effort to unite forces against him. And the first realm to be overrun was Dorthonion. Both Angrod and Aegnor, together with Bregolas, Lord of Ladros and brother of Barahir, died in battle, with Barahir holding onto western Dorthonion. Finrod Felagund led an army of reinforcements from Nargothrond, but was ambushed by Morgoth's forces at the Fens of Serech and cut off from the bulk of his troops. Finrod would have been killed or captured but for a sortie by Barahir, who descended from Dorthonion and rescued the elven lord, despite suffering heavy losses. In return for Barahir's courage and loyalty, Finrod swore an oath of friendship to Barahir and his family, giving him his ring as a token. The armies of Hithlum also attempted to come to Dorthonion's assistance, but were driven back to their hill fortresses in the Ered Wethrin, suffering severe losses. Hador, Lord of Dor-lómin, his younger son Gundor and many of their followers died in the rearguard of Fingolfin's army as it retreated to the fortress of the Barad Eithel. Dorthonion, the centre of the northern Noldorin siege line, was gained by Morgoth, and a new pass south into Mid-Beleriand at Anach was opened for the Orcs.

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