The History of Dol Guldur, Sauron's Northern Fortress | Tolkien Explained

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Barad-dur - Shadow of War
Dol Guldur - WETA
Dol Guldur - Aronja Art
Dol Guldur Entrance - WETA
Entering Mirkwood - Ted Nasmith
Oropher and Thranduil - AnotherStrangerMe
The Elvenking - AnotherStrangerMe
Necromancer in Dol Guldur - AnotherStrangerMe
Mirkwood - WETA
Gandalf in Moria - Donato Giancola
Gandalf in Dol Guldur - WETA
Smeagol and the Ring - Anke Eissmann
The Mirror of Galadriel - Alan Lee
Gandalf in Dol Gudlur - WETA
Entering Dol Guldur - WETA
Smaug Unleashed - WETA
Sauron revealed - WETA
The Map of Thorin - Donato Giancola
Spirit of Sauron - Skullb*st*rd
Glorfindel with Elrond & Gandalf - Alystraea
Saruman in Orthanc - AnotherStrangerMe
The Sea - Ted Nasmith
Saruman - Elrodimus Flash
Gandalf and Thorin in Bree - Ted Nasmith
Dol Guldur - Angus McBride
Pass the Doors of Dol Guldur - John Howe
Saruman the White - Matt DeMino
Barad-dur - Ted Nasmith
Galadriel in Dol Guldur - WETA
Lorien - Ralph Damiani
Galadriel - Ann Shetelia
Thranduil - Andrea Piparo
Eowyn and Witch-king - Alan Lee
Eowyn and the Lord of the Nazgul - Donato Giancola
Dol Guldur - John Howe
At the Cracks of Doom - Ted Nasmith
Rangers Scout the Ruins of Barad-dur - Ted Nasmith
The Shadow of Sauron - Ted Nasmith
And the orcs fled before his face - Jenny Dolfen
Battle of Dale - WETA
The Cleansing of Dol Gudlur - Ralph Damiani
Wrath of Galadriel - WETA
Beren and Luthien Flee Angband - Pete Amachree
Catherine Karina Chmiel - Luthien and Huan
On the bridge of woe, in mantle wrapped at dead of night - Alan Lee
Dol Guldur - Felix Englund
Traveler to Dol Guldur - Felix Englund
The White Council at Dol Guldur - WETA
Carn Dum, Angmar the Lost Realm
Rivendell - Jerry Vanderstelt
Sauron - AnotherStrangerMe
Lorien - The Brothers Hildebrandt
For more information on Dol Guldur, check out these great resources:
Unfinished Tales
The Lord of the Rings (Appendix B)
Tolkien Gateway
The Encyclopedia of Arda
#dolguldur #sauron #lordoftherings

[@meenalkale136]

Yeah the way Galadriel destroyed Dol Guldur mirrored Luthiens actions in the first age. Both destroyed fortresses belonging to Sauron who killed someone they loved ( Finrod & Beren ). Truly magnificent writing and I love how Tolkien connects small small details to the first age.... really brings more meaning and depth to them.

[@NerdoftheRings]

While Sauron didn't kill Beren (he certainly would have I'm sure), he did kill Finrod right before his fortress is destroyed. Like you said, it is quite an awesome connection that Finrod's sister would destroy his later fortress in much the same manner!

[@meenalkale136]

@@NerdoftheRings Ah yes I was just about to edit my comment about Beren almost getting killed, but not dying by the hands of Sauron, and yep the connections are quite fascinating.

[@michaelminch5490]

@@meenalkale136 Superb storytelling.

[@EAKugler]

Every Age is an echo of the First Age

[@nfragala]

Huan held Sauron's throat in a death grip until he revealed the words that would unlock the fortress holding Beten. Galadriel used her own might to destroy Dol Goldur.

[@mariapazgonzalezlesme]

I imagine that Sauron re-decorated the whole fortress with gothic designs and show how much of a edgelord he is.

[@NerdoftheRings]

😂

[@rebeccalyn9908]

Go copyright the concept before Amazon sees this and somehow screws it up trying to incorporate it. Sauroun's sexy, remember?

[@Broockle]

I imagine it's the same kind of magic Galadriel and Elrond use to make their realms beautiful. Sauron instead makes it all look edgy 😅

[@samuelbattershell3413]

I wouldn't call Mairon an edgelord, he atleast has the will to fight his greatest foe... it hasn't worked out see the story of Beren and Luthien and the final battle of The Last Alliance... but he he tried to back it up...

[@jeromebirth2693]

Gothic decor is tight

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

This is what I love about Sauron, he takes what seems trivial to the forces of good and turns it into a focal point of corruption and power.

[@JohanCruyff-the-Dutch-GOAT]

NOTR said he could have used the fortress to destroy everything west and north of middle earth! Just an abandoned fortress, hell in the game battle for middle earth 2 you can actually use that fortress to launch all these attacks and win for evil! As it actually happen play all these stories he said in the video from defending Rivendell to taking the fortress down

[@NuisanceMan]

Focal point? More like a fecal point

[@thomasbravado]

Only to meet his end thanks to the seemingly trivial hobbits.

[@kyungsik]

Galadriel curb stomping Dol Guldur will always be one of my fav events in the lore

[@chrisworland7754]

I still struggle to comprehend how one mind can create such a complete and utterly stunning world

[@edcramer5370]

Word

[@leonardofaber5823]

Small thing: I believe the Wise did not suspected it was Sauron, not at first. They believed (If memory serves, and I might be wrong) that the shadow over Dol Guldur was that of a Wraith.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Ah, yes. I didn't really clarify that very well, but you are correct - they did initially think it to be a wraith. It was Gandalf alone who first had the suspicion of Sauron. Thanks for keeping me on my toes!

[@leonardofaber5823]

@@NerdoftheRings no problems, man. The Legendarium is vast. We are aim to slip here and there.

[@swordofstabbingold]

Well, eventually it was a wraith.

[@midimusicforever]

@@swordofstabbingold Ba-dum-dum...

[@hushamnoor6112]

@@NerdoftheRings The falls of rhaudar next

[@TolkienAnswers]

If they ever did remake LOTR (like an animated clone wars series), they need to show the northern campaign. It would be awesome to see the siege of Erebor and Galadriel casting down the walls of Dol Guldur.

[@NerdoftheRings]

I would love an animated LOTR series! (Actually one of my earliest videos gave the clone wars example!)

[@LagunaShirogane]

​@@NerdoftheRings I would love to see an anime series of the 1st Age up to the 3rd Age. Anime in the style like Dragon Ball Z or Sword Art Online. Or even Bleach. And Sauron and Morgoth be the big bads of the anime. I can only imagine the epic battle of the final battle of the War of Wrath happening and seeing Ancalagon the Black get slain. The intensity and the despair in that battle would be felt and epic. I know i felt those battles in LotR. Especially Helm's Deep.

[@ghost_wizard_rain]

@@LagunaShirogane idk imo if it were to be in an anime style a Berserk/Vinland Saga or Samurai Champloo would be a better fit

[@dracorn8558]

Just don't let Amazon touch it.

[@bandite1250]

@@LagunaShirogane You kidding? Don't ruin LOTR

[@mavinajfan]

I honestly know I shouldn’t, but the more I learn about Sauron the more I like and respect the guy for his skill and cunning. Also have you seen the fan art, forget being a snack, Sauron is a full course meal! If only he had a more elite tier name like Morgoth or Melkor, he had to be evil from creation with such bad ass metal names, there was no other option. What are Sauron fangirls called and if they don’t have a name we need to create one. I might be the only Sauron fan girl but that’s a cross I’ll bear.

[@istari0]

Sometimes I think the worst thing Saruman did was delay the assault of the White Council on Dol Guldur. They could have thrown Sauron's plans into disarray if not for Saruman's interference.

[@blinkin78]

That’s kind of the whole point was Saruman being corrupted 🤦‍♂️

[@TheCradM]

Your videos literally get me to the weekend. The best part of my Saturday is always drinking a room temperature black coffee with my pups outside, late morning, and hearing these great narratives. I found your channel when I had two broken ankles. Couldn’t work, for a week in the midst of the deepest dark of the pandemic.. and since then you’ve been a major part of my lifely routine. Thank you, nerd

[@NerdoftheRings]

Glad to hear the vids are a fun part of your weekend! ❤️ We’ll see you right back here tomorrow. 😊

[@midimusicforever]

Now, Saruman was corrupt and all, but still, I can't get over what a bad take it was to say that Sauron was not a threat without the ring. Had the ring never been found, Sauron would have won!

[@anlumo1]

Well, Saruman only wanted them to ignore the threat so he could claim the Ring, and Gandalf didn't believe him anyways. The rest probably just couldn't know.

[@midimusicforever]

@@anlumo1 Yeah, I know. He was corrupt as I said. But it's still such a dumb lie.

[@goochmcduck4285]

Right, look at all he did without the ring

[@thomasbravado]

The ring is central to the story for a reason. Orcs need dark lords who know dark magic in order to be organized enough to pose a threat outside their mountain homelands, where they have overwhelming strength in numbers. The Nazgul serve the ring because their spirits are bound to the nine rings of men, and it is with their help that Sauron is able to gather and organize a lot more orcs than he could alone. It is his command of giant armies of orcs that enables him to corrupt and intimidate evil kings of men into serving him as well. The Nazgul, bound to the nine rings of men, are therefore central to the story, and they are always constantly focused on finding the one ring as a long term goal. The ring itself also wants to be found, and has a magical way of making itself discovered. The Nazgul and Sauron could feel the ring making its presence known, and that is why Sauron has been on the rise the way he has, it's all connected.

[@FatGuyInALittleCoat1]

Yeah that’s right. But the ring was his biggest weakness and weapon. He knew he needed it to preserve himself from certain death if someone manages to destroy it

[@Garl_Vinland]

Dol Guldur was Sauron’s workplace. Mordor was his Summer home where he would go to unwind after being defeated

[@makoyoverfelt3320]

I was having a terrible day today but new NOTR videos put me right on cloud 9. Great work as always, cant express enough how high quality your work is.

[@NerdoftheRings]

❤️ Hope your day gets better. Glad to hear the vid could start it back on the right track. Stay strong, my friend!

[@TheCradM]

NOTR is also my constant 😂🤙

[@GOLDSLF]

Check out grace for purpose

[@rogueascendant6611]

@@NerdoftheRings I like your channel man! The images, the music - all synchronized in perfect hum along your voice! I've been a huge fan of Tolkien since going back in 2000s!

[@davidponseigo8811]

I love the term " Make War " it just sounds so final and complete. As someone who has been in war " Make War " to myself is complete and total destruction.

[@rafaelgustavo7786]

Interesting that Dol Guldur demonstrates a strategic sense of Sauron. From this stronghold, he covered Mirkwood in a cloak of darkness and disorientation. This must have greatly disrupted the flow of trade and movement in the Dwarven and Northmen realms, as well as hampering communication between Lórien and the realm of Thranduil. Another possibility is to open another front in the north and prevent the union of the dwarves and elves with the kingdoms of Rohan and Gondor. I remember that in the Unfinished Tales version, Sauron cast a cloud/shadow to stop the Eored of Eorl, the Young, from passing. If not for the power of the white mist that protected the army that aided Gondor.

[@NerdoftheRings]

I always love stuff like this, and the downfall of Numenor, etc that demonstrate how cunning and smart Sauron is. If one only watched the films, they might think he was all about brute strength, but he really is an incredible strategic villain.

[@juliahenriques210]

@@NerdoftheRings True. Sauron could have never foreseen the redemption of the Forsworn, nor the strength of Samwise Gamgee, the Brave. For everything else, however, he was uncanningly prepared, forcing the powers that opposed him to fight in several fronts so as to not unite in a formal alliance against him again. And he only needed one or two of those fronts to succeed for the balance of power to swing heavily in his favour. In the end, but for his blindness to good, Sauron would have undoubtedly won the war.

[@jeffersonjjohnson]

But what were his tax policies?

[@Averagejoemk262]

As a movie only person (I just can’t get into reading a lot) I appreciate this channel a ton. I think the movies are fantastic but it barely scrapes the surface of this fantasy world

[@nunya___]

Try a few pages a night at bedtime or on the throne. The adventure is worth it. If not that then audio books are nice to dose off to or take on a walk. Popular audiobook players have stop timers you can set to slowly fade to silence.

[@frankphillips7436]

I was the same way when I first read the books in 1990. However, once I started I found that before I knew it, I’d read 50-60 pages and I wasn’t ready to put it down for the evening.

[@rebeccalyn9908]

Thanks for this video. Being the "nerd" in my company, when the movies were released I was asked a lot about how Sauron was able to be in Mirkwood when elves live there by casual fans of the book or Jackson introduced fans. Edit- When The Hobbit movies came out.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Absolutely. You don't get a sense of geography in those scenes, I think. Especially throwing in the High Fells of Rhudaur (made up for the movie). That would be on the entire opposite side of the Misty Mountains. It all seems really close by in the films.

[@rebeccalyn9908]

@@NerdoftheRings I know. If I'm not mistaken Gimli, Aragon, and Legolas tracked the orcs some 60/70 miles (US here) in the three days they'd started before encountering the Roharim. That's damn impressive. Says something about the Ûrk-Hai

[@death2denemy]

@@rebeccalyn9908 coOL!!

[@Knowfere]

One of my favorite zones in Lord of the Rings Online, Mirkwood and Dol Guldur! The story writers of that game are phenomenal. From the very first day of my playing back in 2007, I have truly felt like I have lived and wandered all of Middle-earth. Fifteen long years I have been wandering Middle-earth. I encourage anyone who loves Tolkien's world to go play that game

[@darkhighwayman1757]

That was a great map area. I played from launch day and missed a few years as I had kiddos but came back. It's still great. I'm poking around Mordor now.

[@gyderian9435]

Im going through siege of mirkwood for the first time now and came for the extra lore tidbits 😅

[@trenchcoatbrigade698]

Great cover as always. I think you should a video covering the Undying Lands. It's still a bit of a mysterious subject.

[@thighdude7]

Yes this would make for great content.

[@Rauruatreides]

Well the comment is hearted so it very well could be a possibility.

[@mudyao]

Except this isn’t much said about the undying lands

[@finrodfelagund8668]

It is both a strange and a great feeling when you understand every word in video explaining Tolkien's vast world 😃

[@diddyknux]

Its easy to lose track of the timeframes when there's hundreds to thousands of years, so its amusing that in the times Sauron set up in Dol Guldur, the One Ring was still there in the Anduin. The "halflings" living on its shores probably never even crossed his mind.

[@dolandarkxgrandayy6953]

Elrond attacking the ringwraiths at Dol Guldur and saying "you're supposed to be dead" was the best moment in any Hobbit Film, it was so bad ass.

[@alexanderren1097]

"You should have stayed dead." But yes, it was a fantastic line. That whole scene is incredible; Elrond, Saruman, and especially Galadriel when she's "revealed in wrath." The extended edition is even better

[@chrisseals6191]

I must say that I've viewed most, if not all of your videos. You have an excellent narrator's voice. Keep these videos coming!

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much! ❤️ I will certainly keep them coming! We will be talking Fell Beasts this Saturday! 🦇

[@tonypapas9854]

Excellent summary. This is very impolrtsnt info. for those who have not read the books nor have really studied the timeline of events that occured simultaneously with the events at Osgiliath, Minas Tirith, and the Morannon. Well done.

[@christopherbennett5713]

Debbie is my favorite supporter of the channel. I imagine her contributions to be glorious.

[@Wijking_A]

Hi Nerd of the rings was this video as a respons to my suggestion about geography/location based videos? That would be FIRE

[@CounciloftheRings]

Great video! Dol Guldur is a location always worth reading about

[@GreatGreebo]

Thanks for the video. *WELL DONE* . Also, thanks for such an engaging conversation yesterday 🤘

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks GG! Likewise, I appreciate folks like yourself who are willing to engage in conversation, especially when dealing with topics where emotions can run high. It certainly speaks to your quality.

[@chrisp.9380]

I love this video and the way you bring Tolkein's world to life for us, but I have one point I would like to make. The elven ring's powers was not in destruction, even the destruction of evil, the ring's powers were those of preservation against the decays of time, healing, and protection from evil. So I don't think the means by which Galadriel threw down the walls of Dol Guldur had their source in Nenya. I believe it had more to do with her tutelage under the Valar and the maia Melian, as well as the strength of her bloodline and the enhancement that comes with being born under, and dwelling within, the light of the two trees. I also assume her sheer age and time it allowed for her to further learn and practice her arts didn't hurt either.

[@dimitrikron9941]

Your videos are still so well made and interesting. Very understandable and well documented. Best LOTR work on KZbin

[@leonardofaber5823]

Another video, another day. Well done, man

[@craemac]

That Sauron took Thrain's ring but missed the map and key is mind boggling.

[@nunya___]

Maybe they were sewn into his undies. Not even Orcs would search a Dwarf's skivvies.

[@iandennis7836]

@ Nunya: I think if Sauron had tried he would have ended up hobbling back to his throne room 😂

[@nickolas.vicente]

I've always thought "devices of Saruman" to be another ambiguous term Tolkien uses that people misinterpret. This could just mean that Saruman was the architect of the White Council's plan. I don't think Peter Jackson's interpretation is as far off as most people make it out to be.

[@jimdoom2276]

He's literally described in the books as having "a mind of wheels and metal". His deforestation campaign and industrialisation of Isengard is unambiguous also. Peter Jackson's interpretation isn't wrong at all.

[@jimdoom2276]

Oh sorry I misunderstood. Thought you were talking abt his general characterization of saruman in LOTR. Sorry.

[@jimdoom2276]

I think in this context though "devices of Saruman" could almost equally mean 'stratagems' or 'physical inventions'. He's more of a mad scientist archetype than a traditional wizard, to my mind. Basically the difference comes down to strategy or tactics. Either way, he was instrumental to the victory of the White Council, even if acting out of selfish motives.

[@KazgarothUsher]

I have always wondered about the history of Dol Guldor. Great post, and the illustrations are excellent. :)

[@erich9882]

Welcome back, missed you last week

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

KZbin randomly recommended this channel that I never heard of to me, and I'm very glad it did. This is the first video I'm watching, but I imagine I'll be binging this channel for a while

[@NerdoftheRings]

Welcome! I’m glad you found the channel and even more glad you enjoyed the vid! 😊

[@aleksandarvujanic7914]

Looking the Dol Guldur in ruins, it makes it even more scary and powerfull to me. So old, dark and scary, with long and high towers that looks like they are rising from the hill and Earth.

[@sriharshab7792]

was a fortress of the elves of mirkwood before it fell to Sauron.

[@aleksandarvujanic7914]

@@sriharshab7792 This were lands of elves, including the hill where Dol Guldur was made later by Sauron in second age.

[@MrLemon-fe3qc]

Best Chanel on KZbin rn 🔥🔥

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much! ❤️

[@urbynwyldcat9131]

Some of the artwork here is unreasonably cool.

[@mrrbb2028]

Awesome video as always. 🔥🔥

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks so much! :)

[@michaelminch5490]

Now I want to see a cinematic or television depiction of Sauron's war in the north.

[@metaforge9978]

I'm currently building an underwater volcano experiece for VR (Quest 2) and recently made a custom 3D model of Barad Dur for the summit, because its the only building tall enough to reach out of the water. However I cant seem to find any useful videos relating to its lore, not even on your channel 😱 so I would love to see a Barad Dur video in future too ❤️

[@NerdoftheRings]

That sounds awesome! And a fun video topic! Spoiler alert: it did not actually have a giant flaming eyeball on it. 😉

[@metaforge9978]

@@NerdoftheRings Not to worry, the seawater extinguished the giant flaming eyeball 🌊🔥 right before the titanic ran aground between the horns 😅🤦‍♂️

[@wrestlebro69]

Amazing video brother 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@grimmalurch8173]

I am new to your channel and I love you're content! I love lord of the rings and the hobbit but I am more into the movies than the books because I unfortunately don't have the time to read the books. I love all the storys from middle earth and your videos make it possible to understand all the lore that's behind the great world of Tolkien. keep it up man!

[@briangarrow448]

I was at the Prancing Pony a few years ago, on a cold midwinter evening, and I happened to meet a dwarf who told me about his last trip south. He was traveling from the Lonely Mountain to visit the Glittering Caves that the famous Gimli had worked on for the King of Rohan and he took a small detour to check out the old fortress of Dol Guldur. He said that the old evil had been cleansed, but it still wasn’t a place anyone with half a hobbit brain would spend the night in. As we all know that dwarves don’t scare easily, I can imagine how creepy that place still must be. He said in jest, “just give it 500 years or so and it should be tolerable.” LOL! BTW- he also said if you get a chance, definitely check out those caves Gimli and his compatriots “remodeled” for the King of the Rohirrim. On his top 10 of caves of Middle Earth!

[@thegamingpigeon3216]

"Hey guys, uh, Sauron has returned to Dol Guldur like 3 times now. You think maybe we should have a force, idk, occupying the fortress or something? Or maybe even tear it down?" "...............................nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

[@LordTelperion]

Galadriel is a third generation High Elf, born in Valinor under the light of the Two Trees. Her native power is quite substantial even without wielding one of the Three...with her Ring she's probably as strong as Melian was.

[@lordbalthosadinferni4384]

I thought she was a High Elf too but her heritage is actually rather unique. Tolkien Untangled has a really good video on the subject and I would recommend it

[@BigSarnt]

Melian? Hold on there bucko...

[@LordTelperion]

@@lordbalthosadinferni4384 She was born and lived in the light of the Two Trees and the presence of the Valar, that by default makes her a Calaquendi/High Elf. Even one day in the light of the Trees would uplift an Elf to Calaquendi status (hence why Thingol was considered a High Elf having been one of the three ambassadors). But I'll check out this video you mentioned.

[@gabrieltippery3873]

Elvish power sometimes seems to be enhanced by great need, great dedication to do good or right, and righteous emotion. Things that enhance the spirit of men to endure seem to enhance the power of magic elder. They can perform great acts in pivotal moments. Think of Fingolfin riding out to face Morgoth, looking like Orome, and the fight he gave him, Finrod battling Sauron in song before breaking his bonds to kill a werewolf with his bare hands, that sort of thing. I think the peaks of elvish power are high, but I don’t think they generally, even the highest and mightiest of them, even with a ring of power, are a match for maia, of which Melian was one of the most powerful. Maybe I’m wrong, and the realm of Lorien was more blessed and protected by Galadriel and her ring than Doriath was by the Girdle of Melian. It seems to me that Galadriel was taking a page from her friend and mentor’s book in the method of protecting her realm, but wasn’t as powerful. Ungoliant couldn’t even dispel Melian’s protection. That’s a pretty high standard. That said, I don’t think Melian could have thrown down Dol Guldor to punctuate the end of the age. I think Luthien got that power from her elvish side, as well.

[@LordTelperion]

@@gabrieltippery3873 Thoughtful analysis, thanks for contributing! I agree Elven power had moments of peaking, going above their order. Heck, even humans do that too to some degree (though there could be some argument about divinely given fortitude) as well as the Ainur (the Two Trees were a once-in-a-universe event). As for Melian, she was a demigoddess of the Vala Lorien, a worker of dreams and enchantments, but her and Elwë's love actually empowered her to then effect physical matter too, allowing her to throw up the shield around Doriath (similarly how Manwë and Varda's love empowered them to see and hear across the world in ways they couldn't alone). This was unfortunately also the reason why when Thingol died Melian's powers also ended. I don't think that was the same with Galadriel and Celeborn, but I could be wrong, I don't think Tolkien said anything on the matter, but it would be consistent with the legendarium. That said, Tolkien did state that Galadriel had the most native power of all Elves besides Fëanor. That combined with her Ring, I contend, she was as strong as a Maia.

[@KlaelDemon]

Love videos like this, focusing on an in-depth look at more specific parts of Tolkien's world. Skål!

[@rossm2340]

Great video! I feel adding the Turin / Mim story here would've been a nice addition to the importance of this place. Thanks!

[@ergu7811]

Very impressive. I had no idea the fortress still played a role at the time of Frodo.

[@LetsTalkLions]

Incredible work as always ✊🏼

[@yatothinks4506]

This is such a treat! Another amazing video added to the list!

[@VoiceoftheRings]

Such a great video Matt! Enjoyed it alot! Such good details. Also, love the images you use and how! Your details on top of that just make it so fun!

[@rehanmomin3199]

Really great explain ❤️ from India

[@petersheffer3482]

I consider myself learned in the LOTR lore.. but this was new to me! Well done!

[@mboyd92]

Been waiting for this dive!!!

[@h2obubbli]

I really like name, Dol Guldur, its satisfying to say as strange as that sounds

[@ritchieblackmore2711]

Hay my Lord of the rings friend these video's are amazing thanks...greetings from Scotland to you...

[@jeromebirth2693]

No surprise Galadriel had the power to level Dol Guldur to the ground. When her words to Frodo were: "And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!" This was no boast, only the honest truth from a humble Sorceress.

[@Alaedious]

Awesome, thanks so much to you, your team and patrons! 😍🥰

[@javiermauricio8377]

I imagine Sauron saying "Holy Crap, they all came and they even brought the white witch, I'm out" when he saw the White Council arriving at Dol Guldur

[@TheRedBook]

That's some nice artwork, it has Ralph Damiani all over it 😅

[@donquijoker9871]

Sauron with a fake moustache: "Sauron? I've never heard that name, I'm just a humble Necromancer"

[@jorenaltura524]

Great video! But I highly doubt Galadriel used Nenya in Dol Guldur's destruction. It was already stated in LOTR by Elrond that the Elven Rings were not made for conquest or destruction, but for preservation and protection. So the destruction of Dol Guldur was purely Galadriel's feat, without any help from her ring.

[@Ithirahad]

To be fair, Dol Guldur was both a) a work of Sauron and b) a blight on the land. So if there was any power at all left in Nenya (due, say, to Sauron being dispersed but not quite dead) Nenya's power to preserve good and fair things might have deleterious effects on a work of evil, and its tie to Sauron's own power might've helped in unmaking a place Sauron had a hand in creating and maintaining.

[@jamiegregg9211]

awesome vid Matt loved it looking forward to the next

[@joemck74]

For some reason it hadn't occurred to me that Galadriel destroyed Dol Guldur *after* the Ruling ring was unmade and the power of the Three was failing. It shows how devastating her intrinsic power actually was, and makes Amazons 'warrior Galadriel' seem even more ridiculous. Galadriel with a sword and in armour is 1000 times *less* powerful and dangerous than a barefoot Galadriel in a dress.

[@jeromebirth2693]

Agreed when has a Sorceress ever needed armor and sword? That's the gear her bodyguards wear.

[@madmerlinsart]

This was very informative. The war against Dol Guldur and the Necromancer is one of my favourite pieces of Middle-Earth lore. I'm currently gearing up to play the old Fall of the Necromancer MESBG campaign over on my channel, one I've been planning to do for 15 years now.

[@kimopuppy]

Dol Guldur is worthy of a novel all by itself

[@shehansenanayaka3046]

We always appreciate your hard work and dedication towards these videos. Thank you for this video.

[@user-ui3dv5ek7l]

Around the 9 minute mark Matt said that Galadriel was likely aided by her ring when she destroyed Dol Guldur. It does not make sense since all Great rings lost their power immediately when the One was destroyed.

[@haggishighways]

I just love that there's so much depth in this world that I keep discovering new things about Tolkein's world

[@andrewbrown9981]

Dol Guldur served a important purpose during the war of the ring to keep the elven and dwarven kingdoms away from Gondor.

[@rickjensen2035]

While watching this video brought a question to mind. Even though Sauron was in his weaken state and at Dol Guldur when the ring was found, why didn't he feel the presence of the ring when Gollum put on the ring or was he too weak to notice?

[@JohnEversen]

He was looking for the ring in the area of Dol Guldur because of Gollum. I think his weakened state required Gollum to be using it. It has been long since I read the Simarillion.

[@overhyped_1005]

I really like your thumbnails

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks!! This one features art that I was able to commission by Ralph Damiani thanks to the support of my Patreon & KZbin supporters! It's been a really fun development with the channel that I've been able to have original artwork made for the fandom to enjoy. :)

[@BlimpMcGee]

This format would work great for history educational purposes, trademark your process man

[@joeybox0rox649]

G'mornin' Matt!👍

[@NerdoftheRings]

Good morning, Joey!!

[@elwizschold]

Things relating to Dol Guldur (including Radagast) was the highlight of the Hobbit movies.

[@Marcotonio]

They waited 1013 years to check if this "could actually be Sauron"? Damn...

[@hollowichigo7540]

Literally the greatest fictional stuff ever written

[@davidmiddleton7958]

Purely a what if. What if (at the time of The Hobbit) Gandalf manages to fool Sauron into believing that the One Ring is in the lonely mountain guarded by Smaug!

[@andreasderycke42]

always wonderd what it was before dol guldur

[@bryanmatthews2370]

The mighty Mihm? A might petty dwarf? Lol, awesome dude

[@Minifutzi_o.O]

Could you maybe do a video about what if the ring wasn't found or indeed swept in to the ocean and Smaug still killed? How that would affect the Ring war and Sauron?

[@kirandeepchakraborty7921]

Refreshing Episode

[@ethanbailey6075]

I really wish the battles in Dol Guldur had made it into the films. That would have been pretty awesome.

[@spacejocky6012]

Hi dude I just wanna say its awsome watching you i only watch your videos about dwarfs your awsome

[@vn_bricks]

you should really do a podcast

[@NerdoftheRings]

How about a regular scheduled livestream here on the channel? 👀

[@vn_bricks]

@@NerdoftheRings that works too

[@ChudSonOfChud]

I don’t know why, but your last five or six videos have all caused my Roku player to crash and restart about two minutes into the video. Has anyone else had this happen?

[@bryanasmr62]

The narration and the microphone sounds amazing. What mic does the narrator use?

[@NerdoftheRings]

Thanks. It’s the AT-2035. 👍

[@chadiradwan5511]

thank you for this great video

[@tcgtonysamazingpulls]

Sauron 2024 - make Dol Guldur great again!

[@aronmakan]

So cool!

[@jacobhouse1521]

Are you going to do another What If video real soon because I would like to know what would happen if Saruman got the One Ring and Isengard wasn't defeated so easily in both the books and Films.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Ah, that's an interesting one! I would imagine it would be somewhat similar to Gandalf getting the ring, but I think the military movements would be very interesting to track/speculate! I'll add that to my "What if" list right now!

[@jacobhouse1521]

@@NerdoftheRings Thanks it does seem like a great idea to look into.

[@matthewbryan6280]

Really great stuff. The visuals and pace of narration work very well! Might I ask what the main sources of information are? Been meaning to get back into the books as it was a long time ago when I read them and have not yet read silmarillion.

[@treyowen9213]

2:07 it was right under his nose and he never even noticed.

[@sinasafizadeh1164]

Best KZbin channel ever

[@christophertoledo5161]

It never get old watching the same history different timelines Nerd of the Rings and my favorite is What if Gandalf Grey took the one Rings and take totally control on Middle-Earth 9 mortal Nazgul and witch-Kimg Angmar following directions order from Gandalf new LORD

[@itsatrap1017]

Sauron: I am the only Maiar who actually cares about law and order. Sauron’s Summer Home:

[@MightyYaks]

No, I really don’t want to know where Thrain hid the map and key while he was imprisoned in Dol Guldur…

[@shaolinotter]

loving the background music lol