Why Did Sauron Not Attack Gondor During the Battle of Five Armies?

In The Lord of the Rings, Sauron's forces engaged in numerous battles, each strategically significant. The attacks on Minas Tirith and the Battle of Five Armies are two such pivotal engagements. However, in the story, Sauron did not attack Gondor during the Battle of Five Armies. The reasons behind this decision are multifaceted and are rooted in the strategic layout of the conflict and Sauron's priorities.

Sauron's Focus on Minas Tirith

The Lord of the Rings clearly depicts Sauron's primary focus on the defence and eventual fall of Minas Tirith, the capital city of Gondor. This was not just a symbolic attack but a crucial strategic move by Sauron, who had already set his sights on conquering Gondor for over a millennium. Minas Tirith, standing as a formidable bastion against overwhelming odds, represented the last line of defence for Gondor. The events surrounding the siege of Minas Tirith are well-documented in both the book and the film series, with Gandalf, Faramir, and the Roman-like forces of Gondor successfully defending the city against the encroaching dark army.

The Arrival of the Rohirrim and Aragorn's Counterattack

One of the most dramatic events leading up to the Battle of Five Armies is the arrival of the Rohirrim, led by King Théoden. The film's depiction of this event is indeed abbreviated, but the book details the manoeuvres much more extensively. The Rohirrim, guided through little-known and neglected woodland paths by the Wildmen of the forests near the Rohan-Gondor border, managed to approach Minas Tirith undetected. This strategic advantage, while achieving tactical success, did not divert Sauron's main forces from their primary objective.

Sauron's Troop Movements and Resource Allocation

Sauron's army faced significant logistical challenges in moving his forces across the Anduin River. The river, while a natural barrier, required careful planning and execution, especially given the size of his forces and the strategic importance of Minas Tirith. Sauron had already committed the bulk of his troops to besieging and assaulting Minas Tirith. Osgiliath, the prelude to Minas Tirith, was already under siege, and the remaining forces were busy with the preparations for the assault on Minas Tirith itself.

Further upstream at the Island of Cair Andros, another potential crossing point, was still guarded by the Rangers of Minas Tirith. Additionally, the path through the White Mountains, although used by the Rohirrim, provided adequate cover and a strategic advantage. Furthermore, the confrontation with the Druedain in the forests may have provided the Rohirrim with a quicker route, but it was not enough to displace Sauron's main forces from their objective. The bulk of Sauron's army, concentrated around Osgiliath and preparing for the final assault on Minas Tirith, was simply not in a position to divert to another front.

The Sauron's Delay and Gondor's Counterattack

The Battle of Five Armies takes place on March 15, 3019. By March 25, Gondor's forces were marching towards the Black Gate, and the Ring was destroyed, leaving only 10 days between the major battles. This significant gap allowed for Sauron's forces to regroup and reposition, particularly since he was unprepared for a second major offensive so quickly after the Battle of Minas Tirith.

The arrival of the Rohirrim and the subsequent assault on the Black Gate by Gondor's army caught Sauron off guard. However, this event did not directly impact the defence of Minas Tirith, as Sauron's main forces were already engaged in the preparatory assault.

By the time the Battle of the Pelennor Fields occurred, Sauron was no longer actively reinforcing the Siege of Minas Tirith, as his resources had been fully committed to the showdown at the Black Gate. This further strengthened Gondor's position and allowed them to hold Minas Tirith.

In conclusion, the reasons why Sauron did not attack Gondor during the Battle of Five Armies are multifaceted, including strategic preoccupation with Minas Tirith, significant logistical challenges, and the sheer scale of the forces committed to his primary objective. The events surrounding the Battle of Five Armies, while dramatic, did not divert Sauron's main forces from their engagement with Minas Tirith, which remained the central focus of his strategy throughout Middle-earth.