Udûn

On the map Udûn is the small pocket of ground directly south of the Black Gate, where the two mountain ranges almost meet twice over. Its northern entrance is Cirith Gorgor with the Morannon across it, and its southern exit is the Isenmouthe, called Carach Angren, another narrow gap fortified with forts and trenches.

The name comes from Utumno, Morgoth's first stronghold in the north of the world, and Gandalf used it when he named himself a servant of the Secret Fire against the flame of Udûn on the bridge in Moria.

The valley was full of pits, armories and slave quarters, and roads from it ran south into Gorgoroth and east under the Ash Mountains. Frodo and Sam, dressed in orc mail, were swept up by a company marching to the Isenmouthe and only escaped in a pileup of troops at the gate.

Events at this place

1. TA 3019, March 18 · The Lord of the Rings

   The hobbits herded through the valley

   Frodo and Sam were driven along the Udûn road with an orc company before escaping in the confusion at the Isenmouthe.

2. TA 3019, March 25 · The Lord of the Rings

   The Army of the West at the gate

   Aragorn's host halted on the slag hills outside Udûn and offered battle at the Morannon to draw Sauron's eye.

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