The Eagles of Manwe: Why They Couldn't Fly the Ring | Tolkien Lore Explained

The Great Eagles of Middle-earth are among Tolkien's most misunderstood creations. Sent by Manwe, Lord of the Valar, to watch over the exiled Noldor and observe Morgoth's fortress, they served primarily as divine messengers and intelligence gatherers rather than a rescue force. Thorondor, mightiest of all Eagles with a wingspan of 180 feet, wounded Morgoth's face and led the Eagles against Ancalagon the Black in the War of Wrath. In the Third Age, Gwaihir the Windlord rescued Gandalf three times and ultimately saved Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom. Yet the Eagles were mandated to help only in extreme cases, which explains why flying the Ring to Mordor was never considered - the Eagles represent eucatastrophe, Tolkien's term for the sudden joyous turn that cannot be planned or commanded. They are grace made visible, arriving only when mortal strength has been utterly exhausted.