[Legendarium, The Silmarillion] –Background Information Lord of the Rings – History of the Legendarium Part 12 - Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Death of Fingon, Capture of Hurin, Death of Azaghal
Years of the Sun – First Age
Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Battle of Unnumbered Tears – Betrayal of the Easterlings
After the eastern army of Maedhros arrived at the battlefield, Morgoth would release his full forces that resided at Angband led by the Worm Glaurung. The armies of Maedhros didn’t have the chance to link up with the Western Army of Fingon.
While Maedhros and his forces were tangled up in battle, suddenly Ulfang the chieftain of the Easterlings and his sons betrayed the Union of Maedhros in the middle of the battle.
Bor and his Easterlings that were loyal to Maedhros fought with the Easterlings of Ulfang and were killed in action. (Bor would be the only Easterling that would fight against Morgoth and Sauron)
Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Battle of Unnumbered Tears – Turgon and Gondolin at aid
At the western front, Fingon and the western army was tangled up with the forces of Angband and were desperate for help. Meanwhile Turgon and his army of Gondolin that included the elf warriors Glorfindel and Ecthelion successfully breaks through the defense of Morgoth and links up with Fingon’s western army.
Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Battle of Unnumbered Tears – Collapse of the eastern army, Glaurung and the death of Azaghal, Retreat of Maedhros and the sons of Feanor
The eastern army of the Union of Maedhros collapsed by the might of Glaurung and the forces of Morgoth before it united with the western army of the Union of Maedhros. The dwarf king of Azaghal along with the dwarves of Belegost held the final defense line to allow the retreat of the eastern army.
Maedhros himself was almost killed during battle but thanks to the dwarves of Belegost and their king Azaghal, Maedhros and his brothers the sons of Feanor all successfully retreated to Ossiriand, the east of Beleriand.
The dwarf king Azaghal faced the wingless dragon and father of dragons Glaurung. Glaurung was severely wounded by the duel with Azaghal but Azaghal was killed by the might of Glaurug.
The dwarves of Belegost finally abandoned battle with the corpse of their king Azaghal while mourning by singing requiem in honor of their king.
Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Battle of Unnumbered Tears – Spearhead of Gothmog, Death of Fingon, capture of Hurin
At the western front, the lord of Balrogs Gothmog led the spearhead that would penetrate the defense of Fingon and Turgon’s army.
Gothmog broke through and challenged Fingon in single combat and slays the Noldor elf king Fingon. Hurin and Huor who participated in battle with Fingon would beg Turgon now, the only Noldor king of House of Fingolfin to retreat for the sake of Fingon.
Hurin and Huor’s Edain set up a defensive perimeter to secure the retreat of Turgon and the forces of Gondolin and the remaining western army of the Union of Maedhros. Turgon, Ecthelion, Glorfindel and the survivors successfully retreat thanks to Hurin and Huor’s men.
Huor was killed by a toxic arrow and Hurin was taken prisoner and sent to Morgoth where Hurin would be tortured and witness the tragedy of his children depicted by The Children of Hurin.
Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Battle of Unnumbered Tears – Hills of Tears Haudh-en-Nirnaeth, Siege of Beleriand
Morgoth would pile up the dead corpses of elves, men and dwarves that was so high it formed a hill. The elves would name these hills of the dead the Hills of Tears or Haudh-en-Nirneth.
Morgoth would encircle Beleriand as he captured most of the territories of the east and north of Beleriand including Himring that the sons of Feanor used to reign and Hithlum originally led by Fingon.
The Easterlings that served Morgoth harassed Hithlum while capturing humans as slaves to labor in Angband while the orcs defiled the east of Beleriand.
The Falas of the coast of west Beleriand where Cirdan ruled was also captured by Morgoth. Cirdan along with Gil-Galad had to retreat to the island of Balar.
Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Battle of Unnumbered Tears – Search of Gondolin, Doriath and Nargothrond
Morgoth turns the tide on the war against the elves by Nirnaeht Arnoediad and almost holds complete control of Middle-Earth. Yet Morgoth was aware that the elf kingdoms Doraith, Nargothrond and Gondolin could still resist his reign. Morgoth didn’t know where these kingdoms were located and held off the attack while he collects information.
Doriath was concealed by the Maia Melian as she held the powers called the Girdle of Melian that could deny access foreigners and hide the whole nation of Doriath.
Turgon secretly founded Gondolin where even the other elves didn’t know due to his strict policy to ban exit of those who know of Gondolin and Nargothrond was in the deep caves where it was difficult to find.
