The Second Battle of Leyndell
The Second Battle of Leyndell was a critical event in the Shattering, the great war that followed the breaking of the Elden Ring in the world of Elden Ring. It refers to the various sieges and defenses of the Royal Capital, Leyndell, which served as the last bastion of the Golden Order and the location of the Erdtree.
The main defender of Leyndell was Morgott, the Omen King (secretly known as Margit, the Fell Omen), who, despite his cursed Omen birth, was fiercely loyal to the Erdtree and the Golden Order. He took on the role of the city's self-proclaimed "Last of All Kings," repelling the other ambitious demigods who sought to claim the capital and the Great Runes.
Key Defenses of Leyndell
Leyndell was subjected to multiple assaults during the Shattering:
First Defense of Leyndell: This battle involved forces of the Golden Lineage that turned against the capital. Godrick the Golden himself fled the capital in disguise as one of the fleeing women during this time and retreated to Stormveil Castle.
Second Defense of Leyndell: This was a major confrontation where a massive army, including forces of other demigods like General Radahn, besieged the capital. The iconic cinematic trailer for Elden Ring depicts a massive battle at the outer walls, showing Morgott (as Margit) hurling golden spears from the ramparts at the encroaching army. Morgott successfully repelled this invasion, stacking high the corpses of heroes.
Volcano Manor Conflict: While not a direct siege on Leyndell, the loyalists of the capital, led by Morgott, went on the offensive and attacked Volcano Manor on Mount Gelmir due to Praetor Rykard's blasphemous acts (including possibly the burning of a Minor Erdtree). The resulting battle was horrific, and while Leyndell forces suffered heavy losses, the fight devolved into a stalemate, leaving the slopes of Mt. Gelmir scarred.
Morgott's Role in the Battle
Morgott was the linchpin of Leyndell's defense. He was unique among the Shardbearers in that he did not seek to become Elden Lord but rather to preserve the Golden Order by preventing any of the other demigods—whom he viewed as "willful traitors"—from claiming the throne.
He fought under the guise of Margit, the Fell Omen, which allowed him to command forces and fight directly on the battlefield without revealing his Omen nature, which had led to his and his brother Mohg's initial imprisonment in the Subterranean Shunning-Grounds.
His powerful command and martial prowess were essential in making Leyndell a nearly impregnable fortress during the entire war. He earned a fearsome reputation, with his actions helping the capital resist until the Shattering essentially ground to a halt.
Leyndell never ultimately fell to the demigods' armies during the Shattering, primarily due to Morgott's relentless defense.