Angband

Quick Facts

Timeline:
Dates:	Constructed in very ancient times, destroyed at the end of the First Age, c.I 583
Location:	Far to the north of Beleriand
Meaning:	Usually given as 'Hells of Iron', but the literal meaning is 'iron prison'
Meaning:	Usually given as 'Hells of Iron', but the literal meaning is 'iron prison'

Morgoth’s fortress beneath Thangorodrim

Angband was a mighty fortified citadel originally constructed by the first Dark Lord in the earliest days of the world as an outlying fortress to his northern stronghold of Udûn. Udûn was destroyed by the Valar, and its master imprisoned in Valinor for three ages, but on his return to Middle-earth, he took Angband as the seat of his power, and raised the towers of Thangorodrim above its gates.

Angband was beseiged by the Noldor during the early part of the First Age, but the siege was broken in a torrent of fire. It was finally destroyed by the forces of the Valar at the end of the First Age.

Origins and History

Angband was first constructed in the ancient past of Middle-earth², originally as an outlying fortress and armoury to the great northern citadel at Udûn. It was commanded from its first construction by Sauron, at that time a mere servant of the original Dark Lord. Angband was built near the northwestern shores of the Great Sea, as a first defence against any attack on the Dark Lord's realm from the Valar in Aman.

When the Valar captured the Dark Lord and took him in chains back to Valinor, Angband was largely destroyed and lay in ruins for many thousands of years, although beneath the ruins lay many hidden chambers in which some of the Dark Lord's servants escaped the Valar's assault. Sauron was one of these, and the Balrogs lay hid with him in Angband's deepest vaults.

Angband re-entered history when its ruler escaped Valinor with the stolen Silmarils: he chose the ruined fortress as his new capital, and rebuilt it as a base for the dark reign he intended for the lands of Middle-earth.

Soon after the Noldor returned to Beleriand, Morgoth took Fëanor's eldest son by deceit and trickery, and hung him by the wrist from the towers of Thangorodrim above Angband. He was rescued with the aid of Thorondor, but lost his right hand.

The third of the great battles of the First Age had profound consequences for Angband. Until that time (the year 60 of the First Age) Morgoth sent out hosts of Orcs in the hope of taking the Noldor by surprise. The Noldor, though, chased these Orcs back to the very gates of Angband, and slew them to the last creature. For a period of almost 400 years, Angband was surrounded and besieged by the Noldor.

Appearance and Construction

Angband was primarily an underground fortress, at least after its initial destruction by the Valar. It had many hidden underground chambers and vaults far beneath the earth. Its main features above ground were the three peaks of Thangorodrim, mighty towers of ash and slag raised above Angband's gates.

The peaks of Thangorodrim were hollow, and from them channels and chimneys ran down to the deepest pits of Angband. So, Morgoth could produce poisonous clouds and vapours, as indeed he sent against the Noldor during the first days after their Return.

Footnotes