The War of Wrath
the great battle at the end of the First Age
The War
The War of Wrath (the “Great Battle” at the end of the First Age) is the final war between the hosts of the Valar and Morgoth, summoned by the voyage and intercession of Eärendil: “for the sake of the One” — the Valar at last consented to break their hiding and free Middle-earth. Its span was long (some forty-two years), its fighting over the ruined lands of the North and the sea:
- The coming of the host: Eönwë, herald of Manwë, led “the might of the Valar”, “the greatest host that ever came… under the sky” — with the Vanyar and the Noldor of Aman (and the remnant of the Edain) and the Eagles; it landed in the West and drove the Enemy’s forces before it.
- The last deeds of Morgoth: In the last years the Enemy loosed the winged dragons (the greatest, Ancalagon the Black) — which Eärendil, with the Vingilot and Thorondor’s eagles, fought and slew, casting Ancalagon down upon Thangorodrim and breaking the towers of the Enemy’s lair.
- The fall: With the mountains in ruin and his powers consumed, Morgoth was at last caught, bound with Angainor, and cast through the Door of Night into the Void; his crown was beaten into a collar about his neck; and the “Hells of Iron” fell with him.
The Wreck of Beleriand
The victory’s terrible price : so great was the conflict that the land was shattered — “Beleriand was broken” — and the greater part of Beleriand drowned beneath the Sea; only the eastern lands (Ossiriand, becoming Lindon) and the peaks stood above the rising waters. The dead were unnumbered, the Elves’ kingdoms gone — the age ended with the “long defeat” itself drowned in the final victory. In its aftermath the Valar summoned the Elves west (few went); the Silmarils, borne by the sons of Fëanor and destroyed/borne away (see The Silmarils), concluded their fate.
Significance
The War of Wrath is the eschaton of the First Age: the physical breaking of the Enemy’s despotism, the destruction (and baptism) of the old world, the conclusion of the Noldor’s exile in pardon and ruin — and the hinge to the Second Age (the passing of the Elven-kindreds, the gift of Númenor to the Edain). It is the age’s own “Dagor Dagorath” in miniature.