From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, the city of Tharbad was a city in middle Eriador.
Tharbad was built by the Dúnedain of Gondor during the early Third Age where the Great South Road that connected Gondor with Arnor crossed the river Gwathló with a great bridge.
Tharbad formed the northern most outpost of Gondor, built at the north of Enedwaith and partially in Minhiriath, the southern part of Arnor. Its main feature was the aforementioned bridge, which was the only crossing of the Gwathló in its lower stream.
Tharbad was gradually abandoned during the Third Age, and most of its remaining population was killed by the Great Plague. Gondor had retreated south beyond the river Isen long ago, and Tharbad was in essence a free city which only nominally formed part of Gondor. Arnor to the north was retreating as well, and had become split in three petty realms.
The end of Tharbad came in 2912 T.A., when great floods devastaded Enedwaith following the Fell Winter. Tharbad was ruined and abandoned.
By the time of the War of the Ring the great bridge had been destroyed, and the river had to be crossed by way of a dangerous ford made out of the ruins.
