An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor

Geography:

Ithilien was located on the east side the Anduin between the river and the Mountains of Shadow. North of Ithilien were the hills of the Emyn Muil and swamplands of the Wetwang the Dead Marshes. The River Poros formed the southern boundary of Ithilien.

Between North Ithilien and South Ithilien flowed the Morgulduin, originally called the Ithilduin. The Morgul-road ran alongside the Morgulduin from the city of Osgiliath on the Anduin to the Morgul Vale in the Mountains of Shadow, where the stronghold of Minas Morgul that was once Minas Ithil was located. The road was intersected at the Cross-roads by the Harad Road, which ran through Ithilien from the southern lands to the Black Gate in the north.

The hills called Emyn Arnen were in South Ithilien, within sight of Minas Tirith across the Anduin. In North Ithilien was the refuge of Henneth Annun behind a waterfall that spilled into the Forbidden Pool. The water flowed out of the pool and continued westward past the Field of Cormallen to the Anduin. There were many other streams and pools and falls in Ithilien, and it was called the land of many fountains.

Ithilien was also known as the garden of Gondor. It was a land of lush vegetation, much of which had been planted by the Men of Gondor but had grown wild over time. There were groves of ash, bay, cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, myrtle, oak, and olive trees. The ground cover included heather, ferns, moss, and briars. Among the many flowers that bloomed in Ithilien were anemones, celandines, hyacinths, irises, lilies, and wild roses. Herbs such as marjoram, parsley, sage, and thyme grew there as well.

The air of Ithilien was fresh and fragrant. Warm sea air flowed up from the south, while the land was sheltered on the east by the Mountains of Shadow and to the north by the Emyn Muil. When the full Moon set in the west, Ithilien was bathed in a silver light.

History:

Sauron had secretly returned to Mordor and in 3429 of the Second Age, he seized Minas Ithil. Sauron was defeated in the War of the Last Alliance in 3441. Minas Ithil was reclaimed and a watch was kept from there on Mordor. A guard was also kept in the Tower of Cirith Ungol, the easternmost outpost of the defenses of Ithilien.

In 1432 of the Third Age, the civil war of the Kin-strife began. A group of rebels led by Castamir opposed King Eldacar's right to the throne because Eldacar's mother was not of Gondor but of the Northmen. Castamir laid siege to Osgiliath and in 1437 he captured the city. His forces slaughtered many of the inhabitants, including Eldacar's son Ornendil. Osgiliath burned and the Dome of Stars was destroyed and the palantir that had been kept there was lost. Eldacar escaped, and when he returned to reclaim the throne of Gondor ten years later, many of the people of Ithilien joined his forces because they remembered Castamir's cruelty.

The Great Plague of 1636 claimed many lives. The guard on Mordor began to relax as Minas Ithil became deserted. Osgiliath was hardest hit, and many of its inhabitants fled into the lands of Ithilien. People also came to Ithilien from Calenardhon at this time.

In 1944, King Ondoher of Gondor was defeated in battle before the Black Gate by an army of Wainriders from Rhun. The Wainriders then invaded Ithilien from the north. At the same time, an army of Haradrim crossed the River Poros and entered South Ithilien. Earnil, the Captain of the Southern Army, defeated the Haradrim forty miles north of the river. Earnil then led his forces to North Ithilien, gathering the remnants of the retreating Northern Army to him, and they surprised the Wainriders in their camp. The Wainriders were defeated in the Battle of the Camp and were driven out of Ithilien.

The Nazgul returned to Mordor and in 2000 they besieged Minas Ithil. They captured the city in 2002 and it became their stronghold and was renamed Minas Morgul. The Morgul Vale was a place of fear and dread, and many people fled from Ithilien. In 2050, King Earnur went to Minas Morgul to face the Lord of the Nazgul in single-combat. He was never seen again and it was from this time that the Stewards ruled Gondor in the absence of a King.

In 2475, an army of black Uruks came out of Mordor and swept through Ithilien. They captured Osgiliath and the city was ruined and abandoned. Boromir, son of the Steward Denethor I, reclaimed Ithilien for Gondor but in the fighting he received a Morgul-wound that shortened his life. (Note: This Boromir is not the same as Boromir of the Fellowship.)

The Haradrim once again invaded Ithilien in 2885. The Rohirrim came to the aid of Gondor and together they defeated the Haradrim at the Crossings of Poros. Folcred and Fastred, the twin sons of King Folcwine of Rohan, were killed in the battle. They were buried together on the banks of the Poros in South Ithilien. Their burial mound was called Haudh in Gwanur - the Tomb of the Twins - and the enemies of Gondor were afraid to pass it.

Uruks from Mordor also made incursions into Ithilien. By 2901, most of the inhabitants of Ithilien left their homes and moved west of the Anduin, though a few hardy folk remained. Companies of Rangers patrolled Ithilien, and it was at this time that Henneth Annun and other refuges were built.

Sauron returned to Mordor and in 2951 he declared himself openly. Mount Doom burst into flame in 2954 and the remaining inhabitants of Ithilien fled. All that remained were the Rangers of Ithilien who continued to maintain their outposts east of the Anduin.

On June 20, 3018, the War of the Ring began when the Lord of the Nazgul led an assault on Osgiliath. Boromir and Faramir, the sons of the Steward Denethor II, led the defense of the city. Sauron's forces took the eastern part of the city in Ithilien, but Boromir and Faramir cast down the bridge across the Anduin and held the western shore.

Faramir returned to Ithilien on March 1, 3019. He was the captain of a company of two to three hundred Rangers, including Anborn, Damrod, and Mablung. On March 7, they assaulted an army of Haradrim who were marching up the Harad Road to Mordor. That same day, Faramir encountered Frodo Baggins, the Ring-bearer, in Ithilien.

Frodo and his companion Sam Gamgee had been led into Ithilien by their guide Gollum, who was taking them to the Stairs of Cirith Ungol in the Morgul Vale. Frodo and Sam felt their hearts lighten as they entered the green and pleasant land of Ithilien. The scent of the air reminded them of the uplands of the Northfarthing in the Shire. With Gollum's help, they even managed to enjoy a hot meal of stewed rabbit.

When they encountered Faramir, the Hobbits were taken to the refuge of Henneth Annun where they spent the night. Gollum was found fishing in the Forbidden Pool below the falls. Frodo coaxed Gollum to come to him and the Rangers seized the creature. Gollum felt that Frodo had betrayed him, though Frodo had been trying to save his life.

Faramir and the Hobbits parted company on the morning of March 8. Frodo and Sam were led southward through Ithilien by Gollum. They reached the Morgul-road at dusk on March 9. The next day they turned east to the Cross-roads, where they saw the great statue of a King. It had been defiled by Orcs and covered with crude symbols. The head had been replaced by a stone painted with a hideous face with one red eye. The head of the statue lay on the ground by the road. A beam of sunlight from the West touched the fallen head, and Frodo saw that white and gold flowers had twined around it like a crown.

That night the Hobbits continued to the Morgul Vale and they saw the Lord of the Nazgul lead the great Morgul-host from Minas Morgul. As the Morgul-host crossed Ithilien, they were joined by regiments of Haradrim from the South. Terror spread before the Lord of the Nazgul and his forces won the crossing of the Anduin on March 12. The Morgul-host and the Lord of the Nazgul were finally defeated at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15.

On March 18, Aragorn led the Host of the West into Ithilien and marched north toward the Black Gate. A guard comprised mainly of archers was left at the Cross-roads to defend against the possibility of attack from Minas Morgul. Scouts discovered a force of Orcs and Easterlings lying in ambush on March 21, but the Host easily overcame them. They continued to the Black Gate, where on March 25 they fought the Battle of the Morannon until the Ring was destroyed and Sauron's realm fell.

Frodo and Sam were rescued from the ruin of Mordor and were brought to the Field of Cormallen in Ithilien. There they were healed of their wounds and were honored by the Host of the West on April 8. They remained in Ithilien resting and recuperating until they went to Minas Tirith for Aragorn's coronation on May 1.

After Aragorn was crowned King Elessar, he declared that Ithilien would be a princedom of Gondor and he made Faramir the first Prince of Ithilien. Faramir and his wife Eowynand their son Elboron made their home in the hills of Emyn Arnen. Beregond was named the captain of Faramir's guard, the White Company. Faramir and his company maintained the eastern marches of Gondor and cleared Ithilien of any Orcs and outlaws that remained. Minas Morgul was utterly destroyed and the process of cleansing the Morgul Vale of evil took many years.

Eowyn had pledged herself to be a healer and love all growing things, and she worked to restore the beauty of Ithilien. Legolas brought a company of Elves from the Woodland Realm to live in Ithilien and they made gardens and tended the plants and trees. Over time, Ithilien became the fairest country in the westlands of Middle-earth once more.

Important Dates:

3320
Founding of Gondor. Osgiliath and Minas Ithil are built around this time.

3429
Sauron seizes Minas Ithil.

3441
Sauron is defeated by the Last Alliance. Minas Ithil is reclaimed for Gondor.

Third Age:

1432
War of the Kin-strife begins.

1437
Osgiliath is captured by Castamir.

1447
King Eldacar returns to reclaim the throne and many people of Ithilien join forces with him.

1636
The Great Plague claims many lives. People from Osgiliath and Calenardhon move into the lands of Ithilien.

1944
The Wainriders invade Ithilien from the north while the Haradrim invade Ithilien from the south. Earnil defeats the Haradrim and then defeats the Wainriders in the Battle of the Camp.

2000
The Nazgul besiege Minas Ithil.

2002
The Nazgul capture Minas Ithil and it is renamed Minas Morgul.

2050
King Earnur goes to Minas Morgul and never returns.

2475
An army of black Uruks sweeps through Ithilien and captures Osgiliath. Osgiliath is reclaimed by Boromir.

2885
The Haradrim invade Ithilien. They are defeated by the armies of Gondor and Rohan at the Crossings of Poros.

2901
Most of the inhabitants of Ithilien flee due to increasing incursions by Uruks. The refuge of Henneth Annun is built in Ithilien.

2951
Sauron declares his return to Mordor.

2954
Mount Doom bursts into flame and the remaining inhabitants of Ithilien flee.

3018
June 20: The Lord of the Nazgul launches an assault on Osgiliath. The eastern side of the city in Ithilien is captured but Boromir and Faramir cast down the bridge and hold the western shore.

3019
March 1: Faramir returns to Ithilien with a company of Rangers.
March 7: Faramir and the Rangers attack a company of Haradrim heading to Mordor. They meet Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee and take them to Henneth Annun.
March 8: Gollum is found fishing in the Forbidden Pool. The Hobbits part company with Faramir and continue south through Ithilien.
March 9: Faramir leaves Henneth Annun for Cair Andros. The Hobbits reach the Morgul-road at dusk.
March 10: The Hobbits reach the Cross-roads and continue to the Morgul Vale. Frodo sees the Witch-king leading an army from Minas Morgul.
March 18: Aragorn leads the Host of the West into Ithilien.
March 21: The Host of the West is ambushed by Orcs and Easterlings but easily defeat them.
March 25: The Battle of the Morannon. The Ring is destroyed and Sauron is defeated.

May 1: Aragorn is crowned King. Shortly afterwards, Faramir is named Prince of Ithilien. (Exact date unknown.)

Names & Etymology:

Ithilien means "Moon land." The word ithil means "moon" from sil or thil meaning "shine with white or silver light." The ending -ien is a variation of a commonly used suffix in the names of countries or regions. The endings-and,-end, and -ond are other variations. It was so named because it was originally the domain of Isildur.
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for SIL and THIL
Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," p. 318 note 49 (on the ending -ien)
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Sunlending

Sources:

The Two Towers: "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit," p. 256-59 and passim; "The Window on the West," passim; "The Forbidden Pool," p. 292-93 and passim; "Journey to the Cross-roads," passim; "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol," p. 312-16

The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 22, 34, 38; "The Siege of Gondor," p. 84-87; "The Last Debate," p. 149; "The Black Gate Opens," p. 160-62; "The Tower of Cirith Ungol," p. 176; "The Field of Cormallen," passim; "The Steward and the King," p. 247

Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 327-29, 332-33, 335; "The House of Eorl," p. 350; "Durin's Folk," p. 361-62

Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 367, 369, 371, 373-75, 378

The Silmarillion: "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," p. 291-93, 296-97

Unfinished Tales: "Cirion and Eorl," p. 289-95, 310, 312 note 15, 318 note 49, 319 note 51; "The Palantiri," p. 404

All entries are Copyright © by the Thain from former tuckborough.net. Please contact me if you are Thain or know anything about how to contact the original author. 2003-2011, The Thain's Book - thainsbook.minastirith.cz - e-mail: thain at tuckborough.net