Black Gate (Middle-earth)
The Black Gate or Morannon is a fictional location in J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth.
The Black Gate of Mordor was originally an gate built by Sauron at the gap between the Ered Lithui and the Ephel Duath. After Sauron's fall, it became a Númenorean installation. Backed up on the other side by the Isenmouthe, and protected by the castle of Durthang to the west, it was originally redesigned to keep all of Mordor's evil inside, shielding the outside from it - and it from the outside. The reconstruction of Minas Ithil, Tower of the Rising Moon, as well as the construction of Cirith Ungol were also done for the same purpose.
However, during the aftermath of the Kin-strife in Gondor the watchfulness of the guards in these strongholds relaxed. Thus evil spirits and creatures re-entered Mordor, eventually overrunning the garrisons and inhabiting them for themselves. It was at this time that the tower of Minas Ithil was taken by the Nazgul, having its name changed to Minas Morgul, Tower of Sorcery.
During the War of the Ring, the Army of the West, numbering some 7,000 men, assaulted this stronghold in vain to draw Sauron's gaze away from Mount Doom, to allow Frodo the ringbearer to cast the One Ring into the Crack of Doom. See: Battle of the Morannon.
