Narrative

Coriantumr is the name of a Nephite dissenter who is appointed as a leader over the armies of Lamanite king Tubaloth, son of Ammoron and nephew of Amalickiah.^[2] Coriantumr, known as a strong man,^[3] leads the armies into battle against the Nephites in approximately 50 B.C.^[4] Coriantumr is described in chapter one of the book of Helaman as a descendant of Zarahemla, the founder of the City of Zarahemla and leader of the Mulekites at the time Mosiah I finds them.^[3] In about 51-50 B.C. Tubaloth encourages the Lamanites to war against the Nephites after the recent upheaval over the judgement seat between the sons of Pahoran.^[5]

Coriantumr arrives with such a large army and so much speed that the Nephites are left totally unprepared. He cuts down the watch at the entrance of the city and marches with his whole army into the city, killing anyone who resists. The chief judge Pacumeni sees this and flees; Coriantumr pursues and kills him against the walls.^[6] Coriantumr seeks to gain possession of Zarahelma though a quick march. This risky tactic works, giving him access to Zarahemla's protection and supplies,^[7] the first time in the history of Lehi's descendants that Lamanites have captured the capital.^[8] After seeing the Nephites fall due to a small number of present military,^[7] Coriantumr decides to conquer the entire land beyond only the capital.^[9] He and his armies march to the City of Bountiful to conquer the northern cities. Thinking the Nephites are strongest in the center, he leads his armies that way. This tactic ends up benefiting the Nephite commander Moronihah even though many Nephites are slain in the surprise attack.^[3] The Nephite army has not been gathered in the center, so they are able to surround the Lamanites, who are. Moronihah does this by sending Lehi, the Nephite commander, to head them off with his armies before they get to Bountiful while he comes up behind. Lehi then routes them from Bountiful; Coriantumr's armies flee back to Zarahemla but are met by Moronihah on the way. A terrible battle ensues, in which the Lamanites are unable to retreat in any direction. Seeing this, the Lamanites surrender after Coriantumr spurs them into the Nephite armies, which gets him killed.^[10]

Moronihah then takes back Zarahemla and sends the Lamanite prisoners home in peace.^[11]

Latter-day Saint interpretation

Grant Hardy says that the record indicates that the Lamanites would have most likely left the Nephites alone if it had not been for the impact that Nephite dissenters had on them.^[8] Similarly, Gardner discusses Mormon's emphasis on how dissenters caused conflict, both within and without the Nephite nation. He also points out that Coriantumr had a Jaredite name, suggesting that Jaredite ways may have rubbed off on the Mulekites in some degree.^[12] Warfare in the Book of Mormon suggests that Coriantumr may have desired kingship, leading to his zest to capture Zarahemla.^[13] In the fifth volume of his work Second Witness, Gardner strengthens this suspicion, stating that Coriantumr's strategy, if victorious, would essentially weaken the Nephite government system. He infers that because Coriantumr arrived in Zarahemla so quickly, he may have taken a direct course past Manti and other cities. The loss of the chief judge and Zarahemla would have probably led to uncertainty of action within the Nephite community.^[7] At the same time, Hardy argues that Coriantumr's zest ultimately led to his ruin.^[8] Unlike typical historians of the ancient world, Mormon focused more on the issues of the war than the victory itself. He was concerned with what caused it.^[14]