Osgiliath

Find Minas Tirith on the map, then follow the Great West Road east until it meets the Anduin: that crossing is Osgiliath. The city was built on both banks and joined by a great stone bridge, so it controlled the only major river crossing in central Gondor. East of it the road climbs to the Cross-roads and on to Minas Morgul; west it runs across the Pelennor to the White City.

Isildur and Anárion founded Osgiliath after they came out of the sea from Númenor, and for over sixteen centuries it was the royal seat of Gondor. At its center stood the Dome of Stars, which housed the chief palantír of the South Kingdom, the stone that could speak to Minas Anor, Minas Ithil and Orthanc alike.

The city never recovered from two disasters. In the Kin-strife of TA 1437 the rebel Castamir burned Osgiliath and the Dome of Stars fell, taking its palantír into the river. Two centuries later the Great Plague of TA 1636 emptied what was left, and the Kings moved their seat to Minas Anor. In TA 2475 Uruks out of Mordor stormed the ruins and broke the bridge, and Gondor held the west bank only.

By the War of the Ring, Osgiliath was rubble held by outposts. On 20 June TA 3018 Sauron's forces drove Gondor from the eastern shore, and it was during that fight that Boromir and Faramir both dreamed the verse that sent Boromir north to Rivendell. In March TA 3019 Faramir fought a losing action in the same ruins before falling back wounded to Minas Tirith, and after the Ring was destroyed the Army of the West passed back through Osgiliath on its way home.

Events at this place

1. SA 3320 · Appendices

   Osgiliath founded

   Isildur and Anárion built the city on both banks of the Anduin and made it the capital of the new realm of Gondor.

2. TA 1437 · Appendices

   The Dome of Stars burns

   The city was sacked during the Kin-strife. The Dome of Stars fell and the palantír of Osgiliath was lost in the river.

3. TA 1636 · Appendices

   The Great Plague

   Plague emptied the surviving quarters, and the Kings of Gondor moved their seat permanently to Minas Anor.

4. TA 2475 · Appendices

   Orcs break the bridge

   Uruks out of Mordor overran the ruins. Steward Boromir drove them out, but the great bridge was destroyed and the city left deserted.

5. TA 3018, June 20 · The Lord of the Rings

   Loss of eastern Osgiliath

   On 20 June the eastern shore fell to an assault out of Minas Morgul. Boromir and Faramir were among the last men across the river.

6. TA 3019, March 12 · The Lord of the Rings

   Faramir's retreat

   Faramir held the ruins against the Witch-king's army in March, then fell back wounded to Minas Tirith as the siege closed in.

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