Black Country

A translation of the name Mordor, the land of Sauron that lay eastward of Gondor, ringed by mountains. The name was a reference to the land as the country under the direct power of the Dark Lord, and also more literally to the ash that rained down from its central volcano of Orodruin.

Sauron had established himself in Mordor in the Second Age, and ruled there throughout much of that Age. When the Exiles of Númenor settled in Middle-earth and founded their realms there, Sauron was absent from his land, but soon returned. There followed the War of the Last Alliance in which the Dúnedain and their allies the Elves overcame the Dark Lord. Thereafter Gondor set a guard on the land of Mordor, ringing it with defences to prevent the return of Sauron or his servants.

This long watch lasted for centuries, but eventually failed. First the Nazgûl, and then Sauron himself, returned to his Black Country and made war against Gondor. Sauron's victory seemed assured, but this victory turned to utter defeat when his Ruling Ring was destroyed in the Fire of Orodruin. After this time the Black Country fell once again under the power of the Gondorians. The new King, Aragorn Elessar, released the many slaves who had toiled there and gave them the southern parts of the Black Country as their own land.

The name 'Black Country' is a translation of Elvish Mordor, but appears far less commonly than the more usual 'Black Land'. In fact, its only recorded use is by the old woman Ioreth of Minas Tirith, suggesting that the 'Black Country' was the name used for Sauron's land among the common folk of Gondor.