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“.... Now they sprang forward, formed, quickened to a gallop, and charged with a great shout. And from the walls an answering shout went up; for foremost on the field rode the swan-knights of Dol Amroth with their Prince and his blue banner at their head.. 'Amroth for Gondor!' they cried. 'Amroth to Faramir!'” - The Return of the King Dol Amroth is the chief city and port in the fiefdom of Belfalas in southern Gondor. The name, Dol Amroth, means "Hill of Amroth," referring to the high promontory on which the city was built and to the legend of the Elf-lord Amroth who was lost off the coast in the Bay of Belfalas. Dol Amroth was located on the coast of the Bay of Belfalas on a high promontory overlooking the inlet called Cobas Haven. The Blackroot River flowed into the inlet north of Dol Amroth, and the Elf-haven of Edhellond was located near the mouth of the river. Sea-walls protected Dol Amroth from the waves in the windy bay, and within the city were the tall Sea-ward tower - Tirith Aear - and the castle of the Princes of Dol Amroth, who ruled Belfalas. The emblem of Dol Amroth was a silver swan-prowed ship on a blue background, representing the maritime tradition of the city. Dol Amroth was also noted for having the most skilled harpists in the land; they were invited to play at the coronation of Aragorn, King Elessar, on May 1, 3019. Many of the people of Dol Amroth were of Numenorean descent; they were tall with dark hair and grey eyes and could speak Elvish. There are two different accounts of the origin of Dol Amroth. According to one story, the first Prince of Dol Amroth was one of the Faithful who left Numenor before it was destroyed and settled in Belfalas. It was said that Elendil granted him the title of Prince after Gondor was founded in 3320 of the Second Age. According to another story, the first Lord of Dol Amroth was Galador, who lived from 2004 to 2129 of the Third Age. He was the son of a Numenorean named Imrazor and an Elf-maiden named Mithrellas - one of the companions of Nimrodel of Lothlorien who became lost while travelling to the Elf-haven of Edhellond. Nimrodel's lover Amroth drowned in the Bay of Belfalas trying to return to shore to find her. This version accounts for both the name of the city and the belief that the Princes of Dol Amroth had Elvish blood. The Princes of Dol Amroth ruled Belfalas independently for the most part, but they maintained allegiance to Gondor. As a coastal city, Dol Amroth was on guard against the threat of the Corsairs. The 15th Prince of Dol Amroth was slain by the Corsairs of Umbar in 2746. His successor also died in battle in unknown circumstances in 2799. Two women of Dol Amroth made important marriages to leaders of great realms in Middle-earth. Finduilas was the wife of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, and the mother of Boromirand Faramir. Lothiriel married King Eomer of Rohan and from them were descended the Third Line of Kings. During the War of the Ring, Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth led a company of his Knights along with 700 men-at-arms to the defense of Minas Tirith. They rode to the aid of Faramir during the siege and fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019. After the battle, Prince Imrahil was given temporary command of Minas Tirith by Aragorn, and the banner of Dol Amroth flew for a time from the Tower of Ecthelion. At the Battle of the Morannon on March 25, the Knights of Dol Amroth fought on the front line. When Gondor had a King once more, the Princes of Dol Amroth were among the King's chief commanders and counsellors, and the city of Dol Amroth continued to flourish into the Fourth Age. The swan-knights of Dol Amroth were considered the most elite of Gondor's army, riding on grey horses and wielding great lances and swords, they did not give in easily to fear or intimidation and are on the front line of every battle. Though their numbers were few compared with the other more numerous horsemen, however, they were still one of the most feared cavalrymen in all of middle-earth. |
