Dagor Dagorath
Morgoth Breaks the Doors of Night
Conflict: Dagor Dagorath
Date: Unknown
Place: Aman
Outcome: Final Victory for the free people Death of Morgoth
Combatants
The Dark Powers	The Free People
Commanders
Morgoth† Sauron† Various other dark commanders	Tulkas, Manwë, Eönwë, Túrin Turambar Various other champions
Strength
The greatest host of evil creatures ever; Most likely Millions of Orcs, Balrogs, Trolls, Wargs, Goblins, Uruk-hai, Werewolves, Vampire's and Dragons	The greatest host ever assembled by the free people Most likely Millions of Elves, Dwarves, Men, Hobbits, Eagles, Valar, Maiar, Ents and all the animals of Middle-Earth
Casualties
Believed to be no survivors	Most likely Very Heavy
{{Campaignbox Dagor Dagorath}}

The Dagor Dagorath, Sindarin for Battle of Battles or The Final Battle, is an event described in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. The published Silmarillion ends with the recounting of the voyage of Eärendil the Mariner, but this is due to an editorial decision by Christopher Tolkien. The Silmarillion as J.R.R. Tolkien originally wrote it ends with a prophecy by Mandos about the Dagor Dagorath, often referred to as "The End". The remaining clue to this prophecy is found at the end of Akallabêth, where "Ar-Pharazôn and his mortal warriors who had set foot on Aman were buried by falling hills, imprisoned in the Caves of the Forgotten until the "Last Battle and Day of Doom". The account is clearly inspired by and bears many similarities to the Norse legend of Ragnarök, but also that of the Abrahamic Armageddon.

In later writings of Tolkien's, it becomes apparent that Melkor was not merely bound, but unhoused, after his final capture, being "beheaded" and thus "killed", that is, the body to which he had become so bound was destroyed, after which execution his spirit, still bound with the enchanted chain Angainor, was cast out through the Door of Night. His "will" is spoken of as an active force in the world, tempting and urging in thought, and sometimes in phantom manifestation; and it is foretold that at the end of the world, his old strength will come back to him, that he will overcome the guard upon the Door, and reenter Arda.

This however does not appear in later versions of the Silmarillion; and indeed is inconsistent with the above late conception, unless Melkor re-incarnates himself after entering Arda, as he already has been slain by the Valar like a common criminal.

The Second Prophecy of MandosEdit

"Thus spoke Mandos in prophecy, when the Gods sat in judgement in Valinor and the rumour of his word was whispered among all the Elves of the West. When the world is old and the Powers grow weary, then Morgoth, seeing that the guard sleepeth, shall come back through the Door of the Night out of the Timeless Void; and he shall destroy the Sun and the Moon. But Eärendil shall descend upon him as a white and searing flame and drive him from the airs. Then shall the Last Battle be gathered on the fields of Valinor. In that day, Tulkas shall strive with Morgoth, and on his right hand shall be Eönwë, and on his left Túrin Turambar, son of Húrin, coming from the halls of Mandos; and the black sword of Túrin shall deal unto Morgoth his death and final end; and so shall the Children of Húrin and all Men be avenged.

Thereafter shall Earth be broken and remade, and the Silmarils shall be recovered out of Air and Earth and Sea; for Eärendil shall descend and surrender that flame which he hath had in keeping. Then Fëanor shall take the Three Jewels and bear them to Yavanna Palúrien; and she will break them and with their fire rekindle the Two Trees, and a great light shall come forth. And the mountains of Valinor shall be levelled, so that the light shall go out over all the world. In that light the Gods will grow young again, and the Elves awake and all their dead arise, and the purpose of Ilúvatar be fulfilled concerning them. But of Men in that day the prophecy of Mandos doth not speak, and no Man it names, save Túrin only, and to him a place is given among the sons of the Valar."

BattleEdit

According to the prophecy, Morgoth will discover how to break the Door of Night, and will destroy the Sun and the Moon. For the love of these, Eärendil will return from the sky and shall meet Tulkas, Manwë, Eönwë (with the old version of his name Fionwe) and Túrin Turambar on the plains of Valinor. Also, the rest of the Valar, and the The Host of Valinor including the Vanyar, Noldor and Teleri will be present as well. All the Free Peoples of Middle-earth will participate in this final battle, Elves, Men and Dwarves alike and presumably the Great Eagles and Horses. It is likely that the Hobbits and the other animals in Middle Earth will fight for the free people as well. Dragons, the Iron and Bronze monsters formed in the likeness of Dragons for the Fall of Gondolin, Fell Beasts, Trolls and Orcs will likely fight for Morgoth. Easterlings, Haradrim, Variags, Black Numenoreans, as well as Ar-Pharazôn and the Númenóreans who landed at Aman in SA 3319 Dunlendings Corsairs of Umbar, Rhudaur Men, Men of Carn Dum, and every other dark human will fight, but it remains unknown if they will finally resist Morgoth or once again pledge loyalty to him. Wolves, Mumakil, Bats, Spiders and everyother other dark beast will also fight but like evil men, it remains unknown if they will once again fight for evil or if they will finally decide to fight for what is right. It is also likely that Sauron will participate. Gandalf personally believes The Witch-king and the Nazgul may have been thrown into the void with Sauron as well, and as a result will fight as well. It is likely that Morgoth's monstrosities, the Orcs, the Wargs, and the Balrogs will fight for him in the war.

There the forces of the Valar shall fight against Melkor and The Dark Powers, many elves, men, and dwarves will be slain although the dark powers will also take heavy casualties. Tulkas will wrestle with Morgoth, but it will be by the hand of Túrin that finally death and destruction will be dealt to Melkor. Túrin will run his black sword Gurthang (Iron of Death) through Melkor's heart, thus avenging the Children of Húrin (Sindarin: Chîn Húrin) and all Men (In the end of The Hiding of Valinor Eonwe, and not Turin, kills Morgoth). Then the Pelóri Mountains will be levelled, the three Silmarils will be recovered from the Earth, sea, and sky, and Fëanor's spirit shall be released from the halls of Mandos to give them to Yavanna, who will break them and rekindle the light of the Two Trees. The battle will end and renew Arda's existence: all the Elves shall awaken and the Powers will be young again.

Following this, there will be a Second Music of the Ainur. This song will sing into being a new world. Men and Elves will sing it with the Ainur. It is unknown what the fate of the old races, or of the old world, will be in the new one. However, It is worth noting that the Dwarves believe that after the greatest battle of all time, they will help their god, Mahal, rebuild Arda. For though Mandos prophesised it, even the Ainur do not know anything of the second world or the Second Music. All the Ainur know is that the Second Music will be greater than the First Music.

NotesEdit

Christopher Tolkien removed the prophecy from The Silmarillion based on a 1958 version of the Valaquenta wherein his father wrote that none of Mandos' dooms had declared whether the Marring of Arda would ever be repaired (Christopher Tolkien adopted this passage and used it to close the Quenta Silmarillion). Given this removal of the prophecy Christopher apparently assumed that the Dagor Dagorath had been removed as well. He later noted his surprise at finding references to it and a new version (in which Beren also returns from death for the final battle) written after the Valaquenta passage.

It is to be noted that the published Silmarillion contradicts the Second Prophecy in places. Whereas the Second Prophecy explicitly states that the Elves and Valar shall be renewed after Dagor Dagorath and that the fate of Men is unknown, The Silmarillion states that Men will participate in singing the Second Music, and that it is the fate of the Elves that is unknown.

It must be noted, however, that in any case the Creator, Eru, retained his sovereignty and that nothing Morgoth nor any evil force could do would be able to threaten his plan in any way. "And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined." From this passage alone can be taken that Good would see victory in the end, no matter what damage Melkor had or would do.

External linkEdit

• Dagor Dagorath at Tolkien Gateway