Fall of Fornost

The Fall of Fornost occurred in Third Age 1974, marking the final collapse of Arthedain, the last surviving realm of the Dúnedain in the North-kingdom of Arnor. The city of Fornost—also called Fornost Erain ("northern fortress of kings") or, among Men, "Deadmen's Dike"—was besieged and captured by the forces of the Witch-king of Angmar, signaling the effective end of Arnorian power in Eriador.

Background

Fornost was established as the capital of Arthedain by King Amlaith, a descendant of Isildur, following the division of Arnor into Arthedain, Cardolan, and Rhudaur. For over eleven centuries, the kings of Arthedain ruled from Fornost, overseeing the northern lands and maintaining connections with Elves in Lindon and Rivendell. The city served as a political, military, and cultural center of the North Kingdom.

By the late Third Age, the threat of Angmar had intensified. Rhudaur had fallen under Angmar’s control, and the Witch-king systematically targeted Arthedain’s strongholds, including Amon Sûl and other fortresses in the North Downs.

The Siege and Fall

In T.A. 1974, the Witch-king led a massive army southward into Arthedain, overwhelming the defenses of Fornost. King Arvedui, the last king of Arthedain, fled north to the Icereave Mines in the Ered Luin and eventually attempted to escape by sea to Forochel. His ship, the Thoroval, was lost in a storm, and Arvedui drowned in the Ice Bay of Forochel, marking the official end of Arthedain.

During the siege, Angmar’s forces devastated the city. Contemporary accounts suggest that some internal treachery may have aided the attackers. The surviving population of Dúnedain fled or was scattered, leaving Fornost and the surrounding lands in ruin.

Aftermath

Although the Witch-king held Fornost briefly, he was defeated the following year at the Battle of Fornost in T.A. 1975 by a coalition led by Eärnur, last king of Gondor, Glorfindel, and Elves of Rivendell, along with remnants of the Dúnedain. The Witch-king fled east to Carn Dûm, leaving Fornost in desolation.

The city remained a ruin for centuries, becoming overrun by Orcs, Oathbreakers, and other fell creatures. For the Dúnedain and later travelers, Fornost became a place of caution, often referred to as "Deadmen’s Dike."

Artifacts of the North-kingdom survived in part, such as the Ring of Barahir, which was entrusted to the Lossoth chieftain Hasikkä and later retrieved by Dúnedain brothers Laegened and Haerdor. Other remnants, including fragments of palantírs and ruins, continued to mark the historical significance of the site.

Legacy

The Fall of Fornost signaled the collapse of the North Kingdom and the end of direct Númenórean rule in Eriador. Its loss relegated the remaining Dúnedain to scattered communities and ranger bands, whose vigilance preserved the memory of Arnor until the events of the War of the Ring. The city’s ruins and fields remained a stark reminder of the power of Angmar and the long struggle of the North-kingdom.