Minas Anor - the Tower of the Sun - was established as a stronghold by Anarion, son of Elendil, and over time it became the greatest city in Gondor. As the threat from Mordor increased, the City was renamed Minas Tirith - the Tower of Guard.Minas Tirith was located in Gondor on the west bank of the Anduin across the river from Mordor. The City was at the foot of Mount Mindulluin, the easternmost of the White Mountains. A rocky spur joined Mount Mindolluin to the Hill of Guard, upon which the City was built.
Steward Tree
Just before dawn on March 15, the Great Gate of Minas Tirith was shattered by the huge battering ram called Grond. The Lord of the Nazgul rode through the gate and was confronted by Gandalf the White. Until that time, no enemy had ever entered the gates of the City. Then dawn came and horns sounded across the Pelennor Fields. The Riders of Rohan had come to the aid of Minas Tirith.
The Battle of the Pelennor Fields lasted from dawn until dusk. The Rohirrim and the Men of Gondor fought against the Enemy forces of Orcs and Men, including Easterlings and Haradrim mounted on Oliphaunts.
Battle of the Pelennor Fields
Greatest battle of the War of the Ring. The Battle of the Pelennor Fields was fought on March 15, 3019, between the forces of Sauron and the combined forces of Gondor and Rohan. At the end of the grueling day-long battle, the West was victorious and the Lord of the Nazgulwas vanquished, but Sauron remained undefeated.
Sauron launched his assault on Gondor on March 10, the Dawneless day. He sent forth a darkness from Mordor that sunlight could not penetrate in order to spread fear and uncertainty among his opponents. An army from the Black Gate comprised of battalions of Orcs and many companies of Easterlings captured the island of Cair Andrus in the Anduin and entered Anorien in northern Gondor. Their mission was to guard the Great West Road against the coming of the Rohirrim.
King Theoden of Rohan had mustered an army of 6,000 Riders to come to Gondor's aid. They had avoided Sauron's forces on the Great West Road by travelling through the Stonevain Valley guided by Ghan buri ghan of the Druadan Forest. Eomer led the first eored - or company - in the center, while Grimbold led the left flank and Elfhelm led the right flank and Theoden rode before them all. They easily overcame the Orcs at the north-gate of the Rammas Echor, who were not expecting an attack from that side. At dawn on March 15, the Battle of the Pelennor Fields began. The Rohirrim sounded their horns and King Theoden led them into battle. At that moment, the Darkness sent by Sauron lifted and the Sun shone in the sky. A fresh wind from the Sea came up the Anduin. The wind filled the sails of the Corsairs' ships which - unknown to both Sauron's forces and the City's defenders - had been captured by Aragorn and were sailing upriver toward Minas Tirith.
But for now, the battle was engaged between the Riders of Rohan and the enemy forces, of which there were at least 18,000 Men of Harad - three times the number of the Rohirrim - as well as countless thousands of Orcs. In their initial charge, the Rohirrim overran the northern half of the Pelennor Fields, and many foes fled or were slain. The southern half of the field was filled with enemy forces, and Minas Tirith remained besieged.
Aragorn received a message from Elrond reminding him of a prophecy spoken by Malbeth the Seer long ago during the reign of King Arvedui of Arthedain (1964-1975). Malbeth had foretold that a time of great darkness would come when Isildur's heir would summon the Dead to fulfill their oath. Aragorn looked into the palantir and learned that a fleet of Corsairs allied with Sauron were intending to attack Minas Tirith from the South. He dicided to take to the Path of the Dead to the Ouathbreakers port of Pelagir to stop the Corsairs.
The chieftain of the Haradrim attacked King Theoden, but Theoden slew him. But then the Lord of the Nazgul descended onto the battlefield mounted on a Fell Beast. A dart pierced Theoden's steed Snowmane, and the King was crushed beneath his horse and later died. Eowyn - the King's niece, who had ridden to battle disguised as a man - came to Theoden's defense and killed the Fell Beast. The Lord of the Nazgul struck her down with his mace, but the Hobbit Merry Brandyback stabbed the Nazgul behind the knee with his Sword of Westernesse. Eowyn then delivered the final blow, and the Lord of the Nazgul was vanquished.