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Timeline Event

Sauron's forces breach the Pelennor Wall in the Siege of Minas Tirith

Event Type: Military/Strategic

Age: 3rd Age - Ring War

Date: March 13, 3019

Description:
An event in the prelude to the Siege of Minas Tirith; see that entry for an overview:

The bells of day had scarcely rung out again ... when far away he saw fires spring up, across in the dim spaces where the walls of the Pelennor stood. The watchmen cried aloud, and all men in the City stood to arms. Now ever and anon there was a red flash, and slowly through the heavy air dull rumbles could be heard.

'They have taken the wall!' men cried. 'They are blasting breaches in it. They are coming!'

'Where is Faramir?' cried Beregond in dismay. 'Say not that he has fallen!'

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 4, The Siege of Gondor

... out of the trees crept warily other púkel-shapes.... They spoke to Ghân in a strange throaty language.

Presently Ghân turned to the king. 'Wild Men say many things,' he said. 'First, be wary! Still many men in camp beyond Dîn ... But none to see between here and Stone-folk's new walls. Many busy there. Walls stand up no longer: gorgûn knock them down with earth-thunder and with clubs of black iron. They are unwary and do not look about them. They think their friends watch all roads!' At that old Ghân made a curious gurgling noise, and it seemed that he was laughing.

'Good tidings!' cried Éomer. ... 'Our Enemy's devices oft serve us in his despite. The accursed darkness itself has been a cloak to us. And now, lusting to destroy Gondor and throw it down stone from stone, his orcs have taken away my greatest fear. The out-wall could have been held long against us. Now we can sweep through -- if once we win so far.'

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 5, The Ride of the Rohirrim

[Said Elfhelm,] 'The scouts have found ... two dead men and two dead horses. ... they were errand-riders of Gondor; Hirgon was one maybe. At least his hand still clasped the Red Arrow, but his head was hewn off. And this also: it would seem by the signs that they were fleeing westward when they fell. As I read it, they found the enemy already on the out-wall, or assailing it, when they returned -- and that would be two nights ago.... They could not reach the City and turned back.'

'Alas!' said Théoden. 'Then Denethor has heard no news of our riding and will despair of our coming.'

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 5, The Ride of the Rohirrim

[They soon reached] where the out-walls had stood. ... Before the ruin of the north-gate in the Rammas the king halted again. ... Grimbold's men ... passed round to a great gap in the wall further eastward. ...

Now silently the host of Rohan moved forward into the field of Gondor, pouring in slowly but steadily, like the rising tide through breaches in a dike that men have thought secure.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 5, The Ride of the Rohirrim

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 2Sep04

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