Timeline Event
Fall of Gondolin
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 1st Age
Dates: January 1, 0510 ~ December 31, 0510
Description:
Tolkien changed the date several times, so depending on source, it can be taken as 507 from The Lost Road, The Later Annals of Beleriand; or 510 or 512 from The War of the Jewels, The Tale of Years. I am using the latest version given in The War of the Jewels as the final date.
Maeglin, sister-son to Turgon, King of Gondolin, was captured by Morgoth and betrayed the secret of finding and entering Gondolin. He was then released to further Morgoth's plans from within the city.
On the eve of Tarnin Austa, the feast of the Gates of Summer, Gondolin was attacked by orcs, balrogs, dragons and wolves. Maeglin played his treacherous part by dissuading Turgon from a sally to confront the forces of Morgoth. He also gave false messages to some, keeping reinforcements from certain parts of the City. Salgant of the Harp, who was craven, helped pursuade Turgon to this disasterous course.
Valiant parts were played by the lords and warriors of various houses: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Egalmoth of the Heavenly Arch, Glorfindel of the Golden Flower, Rog of the Hammer of Wrath, Galdor of the Tree, Legolas of the Tree, Penlod of the Pillar, and Duilin of the Swallow. Tuor led the people of the Wing, and was brave and energetic in the defense of the city.
Duilin was killed upon the north wall of the city, shot by a flaming bolt; Rog and the entire House of the Hammer of Wrath perished at the north gate; and Penlod died in an unnamed street. Maeglin was flung from the south wall by Tuor after trying to kill Eärendil; his men of the Mole were killed by those of Tuor's White Wing. Salgant cowered in his house by the Lesser Market, where he presumably died; his men of the Harp went to the aid of Glorfindel in the Great Market. Ecthelion died in the King's Square, drowned with Gothmog Lord of Balrogs, whom he killed.
Some of the people of Gondolin, including Tuor, Idril, and Eärendil, escaped by the pass of Cirith Thoronath, or Eagle's Cleft. Here the group was attacked by a balrog, and Glorfindel fought and killed it, falling himself in the battle.
Turgon refused to leave Gondolin, and perished there.
Material from The Book of Lost Tales 2, The Fall of Gondolin; and The Silmarillion, Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin.
Contributors:
Lyllyn 04.17.03 and Zimraphel 07.08.03