In TA 1409, the Tower of Amon Sûl was destroyed by the forces of Angmar, in the climax of the Witch-king's war on the kingdom of Arnor.
Prelude[]
Fifty years after the Witch-king's initial assault upon Arnor, King Arveleg I upheld his father Argeleb's defence against Angmar along the fortified Weather Hills, the East-West Road, and the lower Hoarwell, and for many years repelled the assaults of Angmar and Rhudaur. It was also at this time that the Elven haven of Rivendell was besieged by the forces of Angmar. Arnor's capital of Fornost Erain lay upon the North Downs and the Witch-king of Angmar sought a way to break through the frontier and outflank the city's defences. It was to this end that in TA 1409 a great host from Angmar crossed the river and entered Cardolan, surrounding Amon Sûl. After a fierce battle the Dúnedain of Arnor were defeated, the Tower of Amon Sûl was destroyed, and King Arveleg was slain. However, the Witch-king's victory was not complete, as the palantír of Amon Sûl, the greatest of the three in the north, was carried back in retreat to Fornost Erain.
After the destruction of the Tower of Amon Sûl, the power of Arthedain to resist the army of Angmar was severely weakened. The watch-tower's destruction meant that the army of Angmar had now made the fortified line along the Weather Hills untenable, and its forces gained easy access to the heart of Arthedain. Rhudaur was now absorbed by Angmar and populated by evil men subject to the Witch-king. The few Dúnedain who remained were either slain or fled far westwards, never returning to the lands now claimed by Angmar. Cardolan was ravaged by the forces of Angmar who entered its northern borders uncontested by the crippled army of Arthedain, and its people fled into hiding on the ancient Tyrn Gorthad. It was in this desperate defence against Angmar that the last prince of Cardolan fell in battle, and he was entombed by the survivors among his people in what some say was the very same barrow that Frodo Baggins and his companions would be imprisoned in before the Great War of the Ring.
Though the situation was dire, the young King Araphor, son of Arveleg, defended Fornost Erain against Angmar. Araphor proved valiant despite his youth, and with the help of Círdan of the Grey Havens he repulsed Angmar's army from the North Downs. It was at this time that Angmar was subdued by Elven-folk from Lindon, Rivendell, and even Lothlórien, for Elrond had brought help over the passes of the Misty Mountains. At the same time, the Stoors who had previously dwelt in the Angle between the Hoarwell and the Loudwater fled south-westwards because of the wars and dread of Angmar, and because the land and clime of eastern Eriador worsened and became unfriendly.
Amon Sûl
Aftermath[]
The Tower of Amon Sûl was the main defensive outpost in the Weather Hills and northern Cardolan. With it gone, the Witch-king was able to take and ravage Cardolan, as well as consolidate his new conquests in Rhudaur, which his Hill-men allies and subjects had taken, as well as launch attacks against the whole of Arthedain.
However, despite permanently ending the threat that was Cardolan, Angmar was unable to ride its momentum, and was driven away from the city of Fornost and the North Downs by the forces of the new King Araphor and Lord Círdan.
Translations[]
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Danish | Ødelæggelsen af Amon Sûl |