Battles in the Chronicles of Narnia

C. S. Lewis' fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia includes several battles set in Narnia, Archenland, and other places in the Narnian World. These are given below in an in-universe, fictional chronology while listing them in order of appearance.

First Battle of Beruna

The First Battle of Beruna is a fictional battle in The Chronicles of Narnia where it was a major battle in the Winter Revolution. It is fought in Narnia at the edges of the Great River near the Fords of Beruna,[1][2] in the year 1000 according to Lewis' Narnian timeline.[3] It is the climactic battle of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

The battle is fought between the Narnians (led by Peter Pevensie) and the army of the White Witch, following the apparent demise of the great Narnian leader, Aslan.[4] The White Witch's army includes monstrous creatures such as minotaurs, ogres, and hags.[5] Peter's force is comparatively minor,[6] and prominently represents the races of talking animal, faun/satyr, nymph, unicorn and centaur.[7]

It seemed to Lucy as if the Witch held the upper edge in the battle, petrifying many of Aslan's army with her wand, until the arrival of Aslan's reinforcements. However, at Lewis' first description of the battle scene, the Witch is no longer using her wand (which was revealed to have been broken by Edmund) but using instead her Stone Knife (which she had killed Aslan with the night before). At this point, the White Witch is engaged in a fight with Peter. Suddenly, the newly arisen Aslan, along with Peter's sisters Susan and Lucy, arrives with auxiliaries from among those formerly petrified by the White Witch's wand, now restored by Aslan.[8]

At once they invade the battleground and begin to wipe out the remainder of the Witch's forces. While some of the White Witch's army are trampled by the charging reinforcements, those that came with Aslan use their own ways of fighting: dwarves use their battle axes, dogs use their teeth, Rumblebuffin the giant uses his club (and steps on some of the enemy), centaurs use their swords, and unicorns use their horns. Then, Aslan kills the White Witch. When she is discovered dead, some of the surviving White Witch's army surrenders and the other portion flees.[8] They Witch's forces were later mentioned to have been exterminated sometime after the Pevensie Children's coronation.[9]

At the conclusion of the battle, Lucy uses her Christmas gift, a potion that can heal any wound, on Edmund, who was found under the care of Mrs. Beaver covered in blood, his mouth open, and his face a "nasty green color". Aslan urges her to repair all the injured soldiers on the field to good health, which she does, while he restores all those petrified.[10] The next day, Aslan crowns the four children Kings and Queens of Narnia and Peter the High King.[11][12]

The Battle is not named in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. It is first called the "Battle of Beruna" in Prince Caspian.[13] The word "first" has been added by Narnia scholars to distinguish from a later battle fought at Beruna in Prince Caspian, first called the Second Battle of Beruna in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.[14][15]

Battle of Anvard

Battle of Anvard
Part of The Chronicles of Narnia
Date1014 Narnian timeline[3]
LocationAnvard, Archenland
Result Allied Narnian-Archenlander victory
Belligerents

Army of Narnia

Archenlander Army

The Calormene Army

Commanders and leaders

Queen Lucy Pevensie

King Edmund Pevensie

King Lune

Prince Corin

Lord Peridan

Prince Rabadash

Anradin †
Strength
500 approx (300 Narnians, 100 Archenlanders on Horse back, Six giants, other creatures) 400 (200 Horse riders, each one on a Horse)
Casualties and losses
Unknown Almost all

The Battle of Anvard is an event that took place during the Archenland Conflict. It was started as a surprise attack on the Archenlander forces at Anvard by Prince Rabadash. The Prince wanted to take over Archenland quickly, send a force into Narnian territory, capture Queen Susan, and then ride back to Calormen.[16] However, due to the early warning of Prince Cor, going by the name of Shasta, King Lune was able to establish moderate defenses on the castle. Prince Cor was then guided over the mountanins into Narnia by Aslan and sent word to the Narnians at Cair Paravel via a stag.[17]

King Edmund, Queen Lucy and Lord Peridan rode at the head of a relief column to Anvard's aid. The relief column included men on horses, men on talking horses, centaurs, bears, dogs, leopards, panthers, dwarves, and six giants.[18] They marched over the mountains, taking Cor and Corin, his brother, with them.

Rabadash assaulted the castle just after dark on the first day of the battle. However, with the gates closed and archers on the battlements, he withdrew by early morning. He then built a battering ram from a tree and began an assault on the main gate.[19]

By mid-morning, the Narnian relief column arrived over the pass and fell on Rabadash's rear. The large cats attacked on the left flank, quickly killing most of the Calormene mounts. However, Rabadash reformed a line of about one hundred cavalry and charged the Narnian line. By leaving the gate, he exposed his rear to attack from the castle. Lune and Archenlander's mounted knights rode out from Anvard. Meanwhile, the giants fell on Rabadash's right flank as the cats closed in on his left. Hemmed in, Rabadash had no chance. Within minutes the entire force was either killed or had surrendered.[20]

Rabadash was one of the few Calormenes not killed in the attack. He was tried by the Allied commanders, cursed by Aslan (by being turned into a donkey) and shipped back to Tashbaan. Being forbidden to stray more than ten miles from the Temple of Tash, he became a very peaceful Tisroc, leading to a long peace with Narnia and Archenland. People call him "Rabadash the Peacemaker" but in reality they consider him "Rabadash the Ridiculous", as they never forget his donkey transformation. His name becomes a synonym for a stupid person over future generations in Calormen.[21]

First Battle of Aslan's How

The First Battle of Aslan's How is a battle that was fought between the "Old Narnians" and the Telmarines in Prince Caspian.

In the fight against the Telmarines, Prince Caspian and his dwarves would attack the right wing of King Miraz's army at daybreak. When they were heavily engaged with the army, Wimbleweather the Giant, the Centaurs, and the fiercest beasts of Narnia would break out of a certain spot to cut off the enemy combatants.

When the fight took place, Wimbleweather broke out at the wrong place and the wrong time causing Prince Caspian's army to suffer badly and cause little damage to King Miraz's army. This caused Prince Caspian's army to retreat with low morale and also caused Caspian to blow Queen Susan's horn to summon help.[22]

Second Battle of Aslan's How

The Second Battle of Aslan's How is a battle that was fought between the "Old Narnians" and the Telmarines in Prince Caspian.

King Miraz's army attacked Prince Caspian's forces almost before Trumpkin left for the river mouth near the ruins of Cair Paravel. The battle lasted for hours. At many dwarves were killed and the Narnians retreated. Nikabrik later mentioned that the dwarves took the brunt of the battle while Trufflehunter the Badger said otherwise.[23]

Second Battle of Beruna

The Second Battle of Beruna is the final battle that was fought between the "Old Narnians" and the Telmarines in Prince Caspian.

In Prince Caspian, Caspian was fighting against his Uncle, King Miraz, who had killed his father. He managed to summon the four Pevensie children using Queen Susan's Horn. Edmund Pevensie then was sent to Miraz's camp to give Miraz a challenge by Peter Pevensie to fight to the death in single combat.[24] Two disgruntled lords, Glozelle and Sopespian, manage to goad Miraz into accepting Edmund's offer. Miraz names Glozelle, Sopespian, and an unnamed Telmarine baron as his marshals, while Peter names Glenstorm the Centaur, Wimbleweather the Giant, and the eldest Bulgy Bear as his. The fight goes well for Peter until Miraz slips on a tussock. Sopespian declares treachery stating that Peter slashed Miraz in the back while he was on the ground, thus beginning the battle.

After the supposed "illegal move" from Peter during the duel, Lord Sopespian and an unnamed Telmarine Baron led the Telmarine charge at the Old Narnians. During the stampede and the confusion, Lord Glozelle stabbed Miraz in the back killing him (stating "that's for your insult, this morning"[25]) unnoticed by any others. During the battle, Reepicheep runs off and is seriously wounded. As the Telmarines appear to take the upper hand, Aslan and an army of awakened Dryads return and help turn the table, causing the Telmarine army to quickly break ranks and flee to Beruna. However, the remaining Telmarines were unable to escape as Bacchus had destroyed the bridge that "trapped" the River God.[26]

Following this victory, the Telmarine Throne was now Caspian's for the claiming. Aslan offers the Telmarines who do not wish to stay in Narnia a chance to travel to a new land in the world of High King Peter. Peter and his siblings, along with General Glozelle, Miraz's widow Prunaprismia, her newborn son, and many other Telmarines, travel through a door summoned by Aslan and return to their world.[27] Caspian stayed in Narnia, building a new nation of Narnians and Telmarines, and ruling well until his death.

Cair Paravel Massacre

The Cair Paravel Massacre is the first battle of the Calormene Conquest.

At the time when King Tirian was away from Cair Paravel, he was informed by Farsight the Eagle about a massacre that occurred at Cair Paravel. The Calormenes sailed from Tashbaan and arrived at Cair Paravel where they slaughted Roonwit the Centaur, his army, and those who were at the castle at the time.[28]

Battle of Stable Hill

Battle of Stable Hill
Part of The Chronicles of Narnia
LocationStable Hill, Narnia
Result
Belligerents

Land of Narnia

Calormene Empire

Disloyal Narnians:

 Independent Dwarves
Commanders and leaders
King Tirian
Jewel the unicorn  †
Jill Pole
Eustace Scrubb
Farsight the Eagle
Poggin the dwarf
Puzzle the donkey		 Shift the Ape  †
Rishda Tarkaan  †
Ginger the Cat		 Griffle
Strength
  • 15 Talking Dogs
  • Several small animals
  • 1 Bear
  • 1 Boar
  • Other loyal Narnians
  • About 15 Calormenes, then many Calormene Reinforcements
  • Disloyal Narnians
  • About 30 Dwarves
See also: The Last Battle

The Battle of Stable Hill is the final battle in the Calormene Conquest.

In The Last Battle, Shift the Ape persuades a donkey named Puzzle to pretend to be Aslan. Then Shift invites the Calormenes to take over Narnia. Tirian, the last King of Narnia, attacks the Calormenes at the stable following the Cair Paravel Massacre. The stable where Puzzle was pretending to be Aslan is now haunted by the Calormen god Tash. Tiran throws Shift the ape into the stable and Tash swallows him whole. Then the Calormenes attack.[29]

The Mice, Moles and a Squirrel went to free the Narnian Horses from the Calormene, but were shot by Griffle's Archers. Fifteen dogs, a bear, a boar, Jewel the Unicorn, Farsight the Eagle, Tirian, Eustace, Jill and several unknown Narnians fought Calormene soldiers led by Rishda and rebel Narnians (for fear of Tash) during the battle. Jill Pole managed to kill some Calormene Soldiers, Wraggle the Satyr, and a Wolf while Eustace Scrubb killed Slinkey the Fox and many Calormenes. Three Dogs and a Bear were killed by the Calormenes while Jewel the Unicorn and a Boar were killed by the Calormenes that were wielding spears while the others were killed by Calormenes with swords or bows. Both sides were then attacked by the dwarves where they killed the horses on both sides. Tirian, left alone and fighting for his life, drags Rishda Tarkaan, the leader of the Calormenes, into the stable. However, inside the stable is an environment much like Narnia's. Much to the Calormen leader's surprise and terror, Tash appears and snatches him up under an arm. Peter, Edmund, Eustace, Lucy, Jill, Polly, and Digory appear before them. Peter orders Tash to leave.[30]

Aslan appears, and as they watch at the stable door, all of the people and animals, including those who had previously died, gather outside the barn and are judged by Aslan. Those who have been faithful to Aslan join Aslan in Aslan's Country. Those who have opposed or deserted him become ordinary animals and vanish to an unknown fate where not even C.S. Lewis knows where they were transported. The Calormene were sent to Tash.[31]

Notes

  1. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 143, 173. ISBN 0020442203.
  2. ↑ Lewis, C. S. (July 1994) [1951]. Prince Caspian. New York: HarperTrophy. p. 139. ISBN 0-06-447105-5.
  3. 1 2 Hooper, Walter (1979). Past Watchful Dragons: The Narnian Chronicles of C. S. Lewis. New York: Macmillan Pub Co. ISBN 0-02-051970-2.
  4. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 132. ISBN 0020442203.
  5. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 127, 149–150. ISBN 0020442203.
  6. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 173. ISBN 0020442203.
  7. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 122–123. ISBN 0020442203.
  8. 1 2 Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 173–176. ISBN 0020442203.
  9. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 180. ISBN 0020442203.
  10. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 176–177. ISBN 0020442203.
  11. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 178–179. ISBN 0020442203.
  12. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1954]. The Horse and His Boy. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 1. ISBN 0020442009.
  13. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1950]. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 128. ISBN 0020442203.
  14. ↑ Lewis, C. S. (July 1994) [1952]. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. New York: HarperTrophy. p. 15. ISBN 0-06-447107-1.
  15. ↑ Ford, Paul F. (2005). Companion to Narnia (rev. and expanded ed.). San Francisco: HarperCollins. p. 114. ISBN 0-06-079127-6.
  16. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1954]. The Horse and His Boy. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 110. ISBN 0020442009.
  17. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1954]. The Horse and His Boy. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 165. ISBN 0020442009.
  18. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1954]. The Horse and His Boy. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 169–170. ISBN 0020442009.
  19. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1954]. The Horse and His Boy. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 180–181. ISBN 0020442009.
  20. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1954]. The Horse and His Boy. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 181–184. ISBN 0020442009.
  21. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1954]. The Horse and His Boy. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 210–213. ISBN 0020442009.
  22. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1951]. Prince Caspian. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 87–89. ISBN 0020442408.
  23. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1951]. Prince Caspian. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 157. ISBN 0020442408.
  24. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1951]. Prince Caspian. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 171–174. ISBN 0020442408.
  25. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1951]. Prince Caspian. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 189. ISBN 0020442408.
  26. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1951]. Prince Caspian. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 190-191, 193. ISBN 0020442408.
  27. ↑ Lewis, Clive Staples (1970) [1951]. Prince Caspian. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. p. 209-216. ISBN 0020442408.
  28. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1956]. The Last Battle. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 90–91. ISBN 0020442106.
  29. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1956]. The Last Battle. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 115–117. ISBN 0020442106.
  30. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1956]. The Last Battle. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 132–133. ISBN 0020442106.
  31. ↑ Lewis, C.S. (1970) [1956]. The Last Battle. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. pp. 153–154. ISBN 0020442106.
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