Osgiliath

Osgiliath (S, pron. [osˈɡiljaθ]) was the old capital city of Gondor. The city straddled the Anduin River at a point approximately half way between the cities of Minas Anor to the southwest and Minas Ithil to the northeast, and north of the nearby Emyn Arnen.

In the Great Hall of the city the thrones of the sons of Elendil were set side by side. In its days of glory, the city featured quays to handle sea-going vessels that came up from the sea, a great stone bridge supporting houses and towers of stone, and the Dome of Stars, which housed the Osgiliath-stone, the greatest of the seven Palantíri.[

Type: City in Decline (Third Age)
Inhabitants: 90% Gondorian,10% Mixed Mannish .
Population: TA 3019 ~2,500; (TA 1149 ~100,000)
Origin: Founded by Elendil in SA 3320
Purpose: The former capital of Gondor; a center for learning and art; the major port for Anduin traffic.
Symbol: The White Tree surrounded by Seven Stars

History[]

Founded by Isildur and Anárion^[1] near the end of the Second Age,^[2] Osgiliath was designated the capital of the southern Númenórean kingdom in exile, Gondor. Soon after its founding, Sauron attacked and took Minas Ithil in S.A. 3429 and then moved westward. While Isildur sought aid from the north, Anárion defended the city. When the army of the Last Alliance arrived and later defeated Sauron the threat to the city was lifted.^[1] Thereafter, for over a thousand years, Osgiliath was the capital of Gondor, as well as its largest and most important city.

The beginning of the city's decline came in T.A. 1437 when it was sacked and burned, after a siege by the rebel Castamir's forces during the Kin-strife. It was during this siege that the Osgiliath-stone was lost in the River. The Great Plague of T.A. 1636 led to further depopulation with many victims, and those who fled never returned. The city began to fall into ruin; the capital was moved to the more secure Minas Anor in T.A. 1640.

Over the next few hundred years, Gondor endured many military defeats east of the Anduin, especially the fall of Minas Ithil in T.A. 2002. Osgiliath became vulnerable to attack and was widely believed to be haunted, as its population continued to shrink. Osgiliath was finally abandoned by the remaining civilian population after being captured temporarily by Uruk-hai in T.A. 2475 until it was liberated by Steward Boromir.^[3]

Over the following centuries, the western part of the ruined city was under the control of Gondor, and was at times provided with a military garrison as a means of defending the crossing of the Anduin. The eastern part, with Ithilien, was disputed territory, under Gondor's control for most of the rule of Denethor II, but in June of T.A. 3018 it was taken and occupied by Sauron's forces and its last bridge fell. This attack some later considered the beginning of the War of the Ring.^[4]

In the following March, well into the War, Sauron launched a full-scale invasion of Gondor west of the Anduin, and despite the Rangers' defense of the western part of the city, Osgiliath quickly fell to Sauron's forces,^[4] but it was reclaimed by Gondor after Sauron's ultimate defeat a few weeks later.

After the War, Osgiliath was apparently rebuilt^[source?], but it never became as great as it once was. Minas Tirith remained the capital and King's city^[source?].

Etymology[]

The Sindarin name Osgiliath, "Citadel of the Stars", consists of the elements ost ("fort, citadel") + giliath ("hosts of stars").

Places of Note[]

Osgiliathbattlefield — Battlefield outside the eastern gates of Osgiliath

Osgiliathbattle2 — Battlefield in central Osgiliath

Osgiliathbattlefield3 — Battlefield in eastern Osgiliath

Osgiliathbattlefield4 — Battlefield at the western end of Osgiliath's bridge

Osgiliathbattlefield5 — Battlefield on the Bridge of Osgiliath

Centralosgiliath — Ruins in central osgiliath

Abad Atanatar
Abad Minalcar
Ancient Harbor
Armoury
Arms Factory
Bar Annabon
Bar Raudh
Basilica of Beruthiel
Baths of Cerisan
Bazaars
Bull Market
Burnt Column of Ostoher
Captured Watchtower
Cerisan Manor
Common Hallows
Condir Gate
Crown Inn
the Culverts
- Ranger Hideout
Dome of Stars
East Quarter
Eastern Bridge
Falasser Gate
Falassion Gate
Fisher-Town of Helluin
Flooded Ruins of Belthil
Foodmerchants
Forum of Narmacil
Forum of Turambar
Gardens of Beleganor
Gate of Salmar
Gate of Tulkas Victorious
Grain merchant's guild
Great Granary
The lower Harbor
Great Bridge
Healing Fountain
High Archives
House Calardan
Houses of Healing
Hyarmendol
Hyarost Gate
Iant Breithon
Iant Ciryaher
Ianr Rómendacil
Iant Sollen
The King's Library
Lumbar Quays
Mausoleum of Morvegil
Men Alcarin
Meneldil's Square
Menelvagor Quays
Military Baths
Minas Númen
Noble Houses
northern bridge camp
Obelisk of Atanatar
Old Bridge
Olive Trees
Osgiliath Culverts
Palace of Eldacar
Palatium
Romendacils square
Rond Giliath
Rotunda of Este
Rotunda of Osse
Rozinbarad
Ruined Square
Ruined Tower
Ruins and Pasture
Sactuary of Ulmo
Serondo's Cellar
Silver Gate
sunken labyrinth
Supply stores
Theatre of Alagos
Thoronúmen Ghetto
Tol Gilthoniel
the tunnels
Warehouses and Brothels
West Gate
Westgate Gaol
West Quarter
Wilwarin Quarter

Characters:[]

Early Third Age[]

Men: Beruthiel

Animals: Ormenel

Before T.A.ca.1640[]

Helluin Radhruin

TA ca.3018-19:[]

Men: Boromir Candúr Damrod Daughter of Shadow Derufin Duilin Echil Faramir Golthor Halhir Jukotor Lord of Pinions Lúmithil Mablung Madril Meldir Norhún Thurindol Upâl-keng

Orcs: Aarlok Argdush Goroth Gothmog Grarbag Guriz Kamábhil Mornok Murgash Zagdûsh

Trolls: Gúrkodar Muzgásh Thrug