War of the Elves and Sauron
This was the first great conflict of the Second Age, brought about by Sauron's betrayal of the Elven-Smiths and his forging of the Ruling Ring.
The War started when Celebrimbor discovered that he had been deceived by Sauron with the creation of the Ruling Ring. He immediately hid the Three Elven Rings and declared his enemity to Sauron. In SA 1693, the first clashes between the Elves and Sauron's armies occurred - but the Elves had waited in passivity for too long, and Sauron's power was much greater than theirs. In SA 1695, he swept into Eriador.
Sauron drove a wedge between Eriador and Gil-galad's forces, which were situated further northwards and westwards, and concentrated his forces on Eriador.
In SA 1697, Eregion was captured and ravaged, and Celebrimbor was slain. The surviving Noldor retreated northwards beyond the Bruinen, and founded the refuge of Imladris - Rivendell.
Sauron then turned his attention to Lindon and Gil-galad. By SA 1699, the armies of Mordor were at the borders of Lindon. But then, a great fleet arrived in the Gulf of Lune, sent by Tar-Minastir of Númenor for the aid of Gil-galad. The Númenóreans and the Elves of Lindon were able to mount an offensive against Sauron, and he was defeated in Eriador in SA 1700, and the following year, he was driven out of Elven lands all together.
The War started when Celebrimbor discovered that he had been deceived by Sauron with the creation of the Ruling Ring. He immediately hid the Three Elven Rings and declared his enemity to Sauron. In SA 1693, the first clashes between the Elves and Sauron's armies occurred - but the Elves had waited in passivity for too long, and Sauron's power was much greater than theirs. In SA 1695, he swept into Eriador.
Sauron drove a wedge between Eriador and Gil-galad's forces, which were situated further northwards and westwards, and concentrated his forces on Eriador.
In SA 1697, Eregion was captured and ravaged, and Celebrimbor was slain. The surviving Noldor retreated northwards beyond the Bruinen, and founded the refuge of Imladris - Rivendell.
Sauron then turned his attention to Lindon and Gil-galad. By SA 1699, the armies of Mordor were at the borders of Lindon. But then, a great fleet arrived in the Gulf of Lune, sent by Tar-Minastir of Númenor for the aid of Gil-galad. The Númenóreans and the Elves of Lindon were able to mount an offensive against Sauron, and he was defeated in Eriador in SA 1700, and the following year, he was driven out of Elven lands all together.
Encyclopedia entry originally written by atalante_star