Flags of the Fiefdoms news - Folk of Middle Earth (edain submod) for Battle for Middle-earth II: Rise of the Witch King

Description

The defense of Gondor’s fiefdoms were the responsibility of the respective lords of these territories. Their training, strength in numbers, and armaments varied from each fief (Lossarnach brought axemen to the aid of Minas Tirith while the men of Morthond Vale consisted of archers). The greatest of these fiefs was Dol Amroth, which brought forth the largest force to Minas Tirith, made up of men-at-arms and arguably the best cavalry in Middle Earth- the elite Swan Knights.

Gondor’s fleet at the time of the War of the Ring was docked at Pelargir. This port and the Anduin River was essential in the defense of Minas Tirith. As made evident by the fiefdom’s dire need to defend their coasts and many rivers of Gondor, a majority of the fleet was concentrated at Pelargir. This fleet was destroyed when the Black Ships of Umbar attacked, enslaving many of Gondor’s sailors into the service of Mordor.

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Southern Fiefdoms :

• Harondor: Historically, this region was a part of Gondor. It was absorbed by Gondor during the height of its power, perhaps the expansions of Tarannon Falastur. During the War of the Ring, Harondor was often described as a «debatable and desert land» on maps.

• Tol Falas: Tolfalas also Tol Falas was a large island, that stood beyond the Ethir Anduin in the Bay of Belfalas. During the Drowning of Númenor Tolfalas was almost destroyed. The name would mean «coastal island», with tol «island» and falas «coast».

• Belfalas: Belfalas was a region of southern Gondor, encompassing the coast from the mouth of the Anduin to Dol Amroth. South of the Belfalas lay a great Bay, which was named after it: the Bay of Belfalas.

• Dor-En-Ernil: Dor-en-Ernil was a coastland region of southern Gondor. Its name is Sindarin for «Land of the Prince», a reference to the Princes of Dol Amroth. It appears to be a part of - or perhaps synonymous with - the mountainous coastland fief known as Belfalas.

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Western Fiefdoms:

• Andrast: Andrast was a long cape in the south-west of Gondor.[1] At the end was a great headland called Ras Morthil. The White Mountains ended their southward bend at the Andrast, and as such it formed an effective barrier to invaders from the north for Gondor. There were no passes over it, so all had to venture around the Ras Morthil.

• Anfalas: Anfalas, or Langstrand, was a coastal region of Gondor between the rivers Lefnui and Morthond, south of Pinnath Gelin. In the Third Age the Men of Gondor had traditions that it was once inhabited by Elves.

• Pinnath Gelin: The Pinnath Gelin or Green Hills was a fief in the far west of Gondor, bounded to the west by the River Lefnui, and to the east by the Morthond. At the time of the War of the Ring, the lord of this region was Hirluin the Fair. He led three hundred of his soldiers to the defence of Minas Tirith.

• Ras Morthil: Ras Morthil was the last mountain on a southern spur of the White Mountains. It stood on the cape of Andrast. Ras is a Sindarin word for «horn» (cf. Caradhras); Morthil likely contains the element mor, «dark, black».

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Northern Fiefdoms:

• Ethring: Ethring was a major crossing point of the river Ringló, along the main road from Erech to Pelargir. Aragorn and the Oathbreakers crossed the river here during the War of the Ring. The name Ethring perhaps comes from ath (across) and Ring (cold)

• Lamedon: Lamedon was a region and fiefdom in southern Gondor; a series of valleys through which the Ringló and Ciril rivers flowed south. It was one of the most densely populated regions in Gondor. At the time of the War of the Ring its lord was Angbor. (This flag was designed by mateusz for the banner contest of aotr)

• Morthond: The Morthond (S. «Black root») was one of the seven rivers of Gondor. It arose in the White Mountains in a narrow valley that led to the southern entrance of the Paths of the Dead. The river flowed south-west for half its length and then turned south-east before joining the Ringló

• Tarlang: According to folklore, Tarlang belonged to a group of giants who in «ancient days» were building the White Mountains in order to prevent Men from entering the giants’ land close by the Sea. While carrying a heavy load of rocks, Tarlang stumbled and fell on his face, fatally breaking his neck.

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Eastern Fiefdoms:

• Lebennin: Known as Fair Lebennin of the Five Streams, referring to the Five Rivers of Lebennin, it was one of the faithful fiefs of Gondor. Its largest city was Pelargir. Lebennin was largely populated by Men of mixed blood, as many Men of Lebennin traced their ancestry to the forgotten ‘Men of the Mountains.

• Linhir: Linhir was a town in southern Gondor, at the juncture of the River Gilrain and the River Serni, north of the Mouths of Anduin. Through it passed the road from Pelargir to Ethring.

• Pelargir: Pelargir was a great city on the river Anduin, and the main harbour of Gondor. It was built in S.A. 2350 as a haven of the Faithful. The King’s Men established havens farther South. Pelargir was one of the cities that assembled Gondor when it was founded in S.A. 3320 by the Faithful.

• Lossarnach: Known as the «Vale of flowers», it was a fertile region lying south of the eastern end of the White Mountains. It was the region closest to Minas Tirith, which depended on the fruit cultivated in the orchards of Lossarnach.

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Greater Gondor:

• Cair Andros: Cair Andros was a large river-island in the Anduin River that resembled a ship, hence the name. Its northern end of sharp rocks split the waters of the upstream Anduin in a bubbling foam like the «prow» of a ship, and this gave the island its name.

• Cirith Ungol: Cirith Ungol was guarded by the Tower of Cirith Ungol, built by the Men of Gondor after the War of the Last Alliance of Elves and Men was fought. It was located on the north shoulder of the Morgul Pass.

• Osgiliath: In the Great Hall of the city the thrones of the sons of Elendil were set side by side. In its days of glory, the city featured quays to handle sea-going vessels that came up from the sea, a great stone bridge supporting houses and towers of stone, and the Dome of Stars, which housed the Osgiliath-stone, the greatest of the seven Palantíri.

• Minas Ithil: Minas Ithil (S. ‘Tower of the Moon’) was the name of Minas Morgul until it was captured by the Nazgûl in T.A. 2002. Isildur built Minas Ithil near the mountainous border of Mordor from where he would rule the fief of Ithilien.

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