The Defeat of Mordor's Defenses in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The defenses of Mordor were not defeated in combat. Frodo the ring-bearer sneaked past them to reach Mount Doom and destroy the One Ring, causing massive destruction to all of Mordor. This action, coupled with the fall of Sauron's power and leadership, led to the collapse of his forces.

Mordor was originally created by Morgoth at the same time as Mount Doom during the First Age. It was designed for defense, even within a land that could not support an army. Capturing it by force was nearly impossible. Sauron, the Dark Lord, had concentrated his power in Barad-D?r and other parts of Mordor, making them nearly invulnerable to direct assault.

When the One Ring was destroyed, Sauron's power was released, and the structures he built with it started to crumble. Additionally, the loss of their leader, Sauron, and the arrival of the Eagles demoralized his forces. They transitioned from a disciplined army to an unorganized mob with no purpose.

The True Nature of the Defeat

Mordor's forces were not defeated in a conventional military sense. They would have easily defeated the forces of good if left to their own devices. The destruction of the Ring nullified Sauron's will, which was the controlling power behind his armies. Without this will, the armies lost their willingness to fight and retreated.

Had Sauron survived and maintained his control, his forces would have been formidable. His army vastly outnumbered those of Gondor and Rohan combined, and the presence of the Nazg?l would have ensured that even fear alone could incapacitate the enemies. However, the Ring was Sauron's greatest weapon and his greatest weakness. It was the direct link between his consciousness and his power.

The Role of the One Ring

The One Ring itself was Sauron's primary strength and his ultimate vulnerability. His spirit was bound to the Ring, and its destruction would irrevocably weaken Sauron. The Ring's nature was one of irresistible desire, seducing all who came into contact with it and filling them with lust for it. Virtually no one could resist its allure, and those who did were momentarily resistant before succumbing to its power.

Because Sauron never imagined that anyone would seek to destroy the Ring rather than use it, he did not anticipate such a scenario. His complete focus was on using the Ring for domination and control. This oversight allowed the Fellowship to slip under his radar for most of their quest. Only when Frodo claimed the Ring in the heart of Mordor did Sauron realize the true nature of the Fellowship’s mission.

At this moment, he sent all the Nazg?l to Mount Doom to intercept the Ring. However, Gollum, driven by his own lust for the Ring, took it and fell into the fires of Mount Doom, destroying it. This destruction marked the end of Sauron's power and the fall of Barad-D?r.

The Aftermath

The crumbling of Barad-D?r as the Ring was destroyed and Sauron's disappearance marked the end of the war and the physical defenses of Mordor. The victory over Sauron and his forces was not a matter of military success but of destiny and the power of the Ring itself. In the end, the forces of good won because the Ring was destroyed, but the defeat of Mordor's defenses was a result of the collapse of Sauron's will and power.