Fall of Gondolin

The Fall of Gondolin was a significant engagement in the Wars of Beleriand, occurring shortly after the great Battle of Unnumbered Tears.

The hidden city of Gondolin, long protected from the gaze of Morgoth, was ultimately betrayed from within, allowing Morgoth’s forces to descend upon it. Belryg, Orcs, wolves, and dragons surrounded the city and began a devastating siege. In the fierce combat that followed, Ecthelion and the Balrog Gothmog killed each other, while Glorfindel engaged another Balrog in mortal combat and fell alongside it. High King Turgon perished in his tower as the city was overrun.

With the fall of Gondolin, the last major Noldor stronghold in Beleriand was destroyed, leaving Morgoth's rule unchallenged across the land.

Despite the catastrophic losses, Eärendil survived the city’s destruction by fleeing through secret passages. In the aftermath, he resolved to seek the aid of the Valar in Valinor against Morgoth, ultimately playing a pivotal role in the events that followed.