The One Ring is one of fictional history’s most memorable magic items. Most fantasy stories have a MacGuffin, glowing sword, or mystical key for the heroes to chase after. The Ring is the preeminent example. The journey of the Ring is critical to the story but uneventful for long periods. Between Saruon’s hold on its power and Gollum’s long obsession, the Ring spent over 2,400 in a riverbed. The Disaster of the Gladden Fields was the event that landed it there.
There’s a fascinating element ofwar history inLord of the Rings. Different fans will find things to love about a franchise as complex as Tolkien’s opus. Some will chart troop movements and various armaments to follow the moment-to-moment battles from the warriors' perspective. Some aspects of the conflict make more sense than others.
What is the Disaster of the Gladden Fields?
Isildur became a hero in theWar of the Last Alliance. His father, King Elendil, wielded the legendary sword, Narsil. After Elendil died on Mount Doom, Isildur picked up the remnants of his blade to execute Sauron. He used the broken sword to hack off Sauron’s fingers and took the Ring, casting Sauron’s soul from his body. Isildur should have destroyed the Ring, but its beauty tempted him. He kept it as he became the King of Gondor and Arnor. Isildur didn’t enjoy his reign for long. He stayed in Gondor for two years, settling affairs and recapturing territory. He led his men back home to seek counsel from Elrond and see his family. Unfortunately, a detachment of Orcs was wandering the Misty Mountain passes. They hid from Elendil’s force at the beginning of the battle but were hunting for a fight. The Orcs found Isildur’s men marching at Gladden Fields and attacked.
The Dúnedain forces led by Isildur were caught off-guard. Orcs filled the hills surrounding them, claiming the high ground and outnumbering them several times. The Orcs struck, but the Dúnedain’s powerful bows and defensive formation slaughtered many. After the first wave, Isildur handedthe shards of Narsilto his squire and sent him back home. They attacked again, creating cracks in the Dúnedain’s line. Men died in droves as their defenses failed. The Orcs overwhelmed the men with numbers and wiped them out. 200 Dúnedain fought Gladden Fields against 1,000 to 2,000 Orcs. More than half of the Orcs died. Three men lived. Isildur wasn’t one of them. Isildur donned the Ring and attempted to escape. Unfortunately, he had to cross a deadly river. He was caught in reeds and rushes when the current stole the Ring from his finger.An Orc shot himdead while the Ring sunk into a riverbank. It remained there for 2,461 years until a hobbit named Déagol fished it out.
When did the Disaster of Gladden Fields take place?
The Disaster of Gladden Fields occurred in the second year of the Third Age. The Second Age ended when Sauron was defeated at the War of the Last Alliance. The Disaster of Gladden Fields is one of the first world-changing events of the Third Age. The event was overwhelmingly terrible for the people of Middle-Earth, but there was one upside. Isildur’s death split Gondor and Arnor. Arnor wouldn’t recover until the reign of Isildur’s distantdescendant, Aragorn II Elessar. The Ring stayed out of Sauron’s hand. Isildur’s death kept it out of the hands of the Keepers of the Three, who could’ve kept it safe for a long time. Instead, it lay at the bottom of a riverbed where no one would ever think to look.
Who was involved in the Disaster of the Gladden Fields?
Isildur was the mostmemorable figure in the Disaster but wasn’t the only notable name. Three of Isildur’s four sons were killed along with their father at the battle. His youngest boy, Valandil, took the throne of Arnor. Three Dúnedain warriors survived the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. Ohtar was Isildur’s squire who fled as soon as the Orcsattacked to preserve Narsil. Thanks to his actions, Valandil received the blade and passed it down throughout the generations until it was reforged into Andúril. An unnamed companion accompanied him on his quest home. Finally, Estelmo was Isildur’s son’s squire. He was found alive in a pile of bodies. He told the Woodmen who drove off the Orcs the tale of the Disaster.
The Disaster of Gladden Fields was a tragic moment that quietly lit the fuse on the War of the Ring. Isildur’s heroism and wisdom came to an endbecause a group of Orcshid in the hills and attacked. The only saving grace is the Ring’s absence. Middle-Earth might have been a better place if the Ring had eroded to dust at the bottom of the river Anduin. The Disaster of Gladden Fields earned its name.
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