Post by Eohdrithen on Oct 6, 2006 16:49:54 GMT
Battle where the ancestors of the Rohirrim first came to the aid of Gondor. The Battle of the Field of Celebrant was fought on April 15, 2510, against the Balchoth - a group of Men from Rhun who were under the influence of Sauron.
The Balchoth made frequent raids on settlements on the east side of the Anduin until most of the inhabitants fled. Then Cirion, the Steward of Gondor, learned from his spies that the Balchoth were amassing a great army to invade the province of Calenardhon on the west side of the river. The defenses there were too weak to withstand an attack.
Cirion prepared to lead an army to Calenardhon, and he sent six errand-riders north to ask for help from the Eotheod, who were old allies of Gondor. The errand-riders had to pass through hostile territory patrolled by the Balchoth. Five of them were lost, and the sixth - a man named Borondir - was pursued by the Balchoth during his 15-day journey. He finally made it to the land of the Eotheod at the source of the Anduin on March 25, 2510, and delivered his message.
Eorl the Young was the leader of the Eotheod. He realized that if Gondor fell, his people would soon be in danger as well. Eorl amassed an eohere - or army - of 7,000 armed Riders and several hundred mounted archers. On April 6, the Eotheod began their southward journey of over 500 miles.
The Balchoth had built boats and rafts on the east side of the Anduin. They crossed the river en masse into Calenardhon and overcame the defenses on the west bank. The Balchoth were poorly equipped but had superior numbers. Cirion arrived with an army of reinforcements, but the Balchoth cut them off and drove them north over the Limlight into the Field of Celebrant. Then a great host of Orcs came down from the Misty Mountains and attacked Cirion's forces from the west, driving them toward the Anduin.
All seemed lost for Gondor, but then the Eotheod arrived. They had crossed the Anduin at the Undeeps into Calenardhon and then came over the Limlight to attack the Balchoth from the rear. Borondir charged ahead through the enemy forces to reach Cirion's side, and he died defending his lord.
The combined forces of Gondor and the Eotheod were victorious. Eorl drove the Balchoth back across the Limlight and he and his Riders hunted them down and slew them until Calenardhon was free of invaders. After the battle Cirion gave Calenardhon to Eorl and his people, and it became the land of Rohan. Eorl swore an oath to remain Gondor's ally and come to their aid in time of need.
The Oath of Eorl remained in effect for generations and was fulfilled most notably at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields during the War of the Ring. After that war, Aragorn, King Elessar, renewed the Gift of Cirion and King Eomer of Rohan renewed the Oath of Eorl.
Names & Etymology:
The Field of Celebrant was so called because it was south of the river called Celebrant in Sindarin, which was the Silverlode in the Common Speech.
The Balchoth made frequent raids on settlements on the east side of the Anduin until most of the inhabitants fled. Then Cirion, the Steward of Gondor, learned from his spies that the Balchoth were amassing a great army to invade the province of Calenardhon on the west side of the river. The defenses there were too weak to withstand an attack.
Cirion prepared to lead an army to Calenardhon, and he sent six errand-riders north to ask for help from the Eotheod, who were old allies of Gondor. The errand-riders had to pass through hostile territory patrolled by the Balchoth. Five of them were lost, and the sixth - a man named Borondir - was pursued by the Balchoth during his 15-day journey. He finally made it to the land of the Eotheod at the source of the Anduin on March 25, 2510, and delivered his message.
Eorl the Young was the leader of the Eotheod. He realized that if Gondor fell, his people would soon be in danger as well. Eorl amassed an eohere - or army - of 7,000 armed Riders and several hundred mounted archers. On April 6, the Eotheod began their southward journey of over 500 miles.
The Balchoth had built boats and rafts on the east side of the Anduin. They crossed the river en masse into Calenardhon and overcame the defenses on the west bank. The Balchoth were poorly equipped but had superior numbers. Cirion arrived with an army of reinforcements, but the Balchoth cut them off and drove them north over the Limlight into the Field of Celebrant. Then a great host of Orcs came down from the Misty Mountains and attacked Cirion's forces from the west, driving them toward the Anduin.
All seemed lost for Gondor, but then the Eotheod arrived. They had crossed the Anduin at the Undeeps into Calenardhon and then came over the Limlight to attack the Balchoth from the rear. Borondir charged ahead through the enemy forces to reach Cirion's side, and he died defending his lord.
The combined forces of Gondor and the Eotheod were victorious. Eorl drove the Balchoth back across the Limlight and he and his Riders hunted them down and slew them until Calenardhon was free of invaders. After the battle Cirion gave Calenardhon to Eorl and his people, and it became the land of Rohan. Eorl swore an oath to remain Gondor's ally and come to their aid in time of need.
The Oath of Eorl remained in effect for generations and was fulfilled most notably at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields during the War of the Ring. After that war, Aragorn, King Elessar, renewed the Gift of Cirion and King Eomer of Rohan renewed the Oath of Eorl.
Names & Etymology:
The Field of Celebrant was so called because it was south of the river called Celebrant in Sindarin, which was the Silverlode in the Common Speech.