East-borders

A reference to the eastern borders of the land of Gondor, especially the disputed land of Ithilien that ran between Anduin and the Ephel Dúath, the mountains beyond which Mordor lay. During the early part of Gondor's history, the lands of its East-borders had been a place of beauty, but they later became a battleground in the struggle between the Dúnedain and the forces of the Dark Lord.

Towards the end of the second millennium of the Third Age, armies of Wainriders and Haradrim rampaged through Gondor's eastern borderlands. They were turned back by the Gondorians, but soon afterward in III 2002, the Nazgûl captured Minas Ithil, the main stronghold of the East-borders. This caused most of the inhabitants of Ithilien to flee, and after III 2475, when Uruks ravaged the land and captured Osgiliath, the East-borders were entirely deserted by Gondor's people.

Despite these reverses, the soldiers of Gondor continued to fight against the encroaching power of Mordor. The Stewards - most notably Túrin II - established secret strongholds and refuges throughout the land, and from these the Rangers of Ithilien emerged to harry the forces of Sauron. These Rangers still fought on at the time of the War of the Ring, led by Boromir son of Denethor and, after Boromir departed to seek out Rivendell, by Faramir his brother.

Sauron was defeated in the War of the Ring, and the threat on Gondor's East-borders was thus removed. After this time the Ranger Faramir was made Prince of Ithilien by the new King Elessar. From the Prince's seat in the hills of Emyn Arnen, he oversaw a province that was able to return to the peace and tranquility of ancient times.