Forest under Night

The pined northern highlands of Dorthonion ran west to east for some two hundred miles, forming a bulwark of protection for Beleriand from Angband to the North. They were held by Men of the House of Bëor, and at the time of the Dagor Bragollach, Barahir father of Beren was the chief of these.

In the Bragollach, Morgoth sent a force around the hills of Dorthonion to break through the Pass of Aglon in their southeast, and thus overran the highlands. The place fell under the control of Sauron, and became filled with darkness and dread. Through treachery, Sauron defeated Barahir and his few remaining defenders, and Beren fled the land. At this time it gained the name Taur-nu-Fuin, usually translated as 'Forest under Nightshade' but also seen in the rarer form 'Forest under Night'.