Malgun I

Malgun I (died TA 1330) was a King of Rhudaur during the early fourteenth century of the Third Age. His reign was marked by aggressive expansion against Cardolan, culminating in the Battle of the Deadmount, where he and King Artandil of Cardolan were both slain.

History

Malgun succeeded to the throne of Rhudaur at a time when the Dúnedain kingdom was increasingly dominated by the native Hill-men. Though descended from the royal line of Eärendur, Malgun relied heavily on Hill-man levies to bolster his forces and secure his rule.

Seeking to expand Rhudaur’s power and weaken its rivals, Malgun launched an invasion of Cardolan in TA 1330. His army crossed the Hoarwell and marched westward, threatening the fortresses of the Tyrn Gorthad. King Artandil of Cardolan met him in battle at the Deadmount, a rocky hill on the frontier between the two realms.

The clash ended in disaster for both kingdoms: Malgun and Artandil were slain in the fighting, and their forces broke apart. The indecisive result left Rhudaur weakened and vulnerable to internal strife.

Aftermath

Following Malgun’s death, Rhudaur fell further under the sway of the Hill-men. His successors proved unable to resist the influence of Angmar, founded by the Witch-king in TA 1300. Within a generation, Rhudaur became effectively a vassal of Angmar, its Dúnedain nobility diminished or destroyed.

Legacy

Malgun was remembered chiefly for his role in the Battle of the Deadmount, one of the bloodiest conflicts between Cardolan and Rhudaur. Though he sought to secure dominance for his realm, his death instead hastened Rhudaur’s decline and opened the way for Angmar’s ascendancy.