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{{quote|[[Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!]]|[[Gimli]]<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'', "[[Helm's Deep (chapter)|Helm's Deep]]"</ref>}}
[[File:Eric Faure-Brac - Axe.jpg|250px|thumb|An axe.]]{{quote|[[Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!]]|[[Gimli]]<ref>{{TT|Deep}}</ref>}}
'''Axes''' were tools for chopping wood and excellent mêlée weaponry, usually associated with [[Dwarves]], but not exclusively used by them.
'''Axes''' were tools for chopping wood and excellent mêlée weaponry, usually associated with [[Dwarves]], but not exclusively used by them.


==History==
==History==
When the threat of [[Melkor]] started to loom over [[Valinor]], there was unrest among the people of [[Fëanor]]. So they came to smithing weaponry. The [[Noldor]], renowned steelwrights, crafted sword, spears and axes.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor]]"</ref> Dwarves also made axes; their (doomed) alliance with [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]] made them trade many fine axes, swords and spears with the King of the [[Sindar]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Sindar]]"</ref> Axes would remain to be the main weapon of the march wardens of [[Doriath]],<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin]]"</ref> and were also used by their allies, the [[House of Haleth]] in [[Brethil]].<ref name="5B">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]"</ref>  
When the threat of [[Morgoth|Melkor]] started to loom over [[Valinor]], there was unrest among the people of [[Fëanor]]. So they came to smithing weaponry. The [[Noldor]], renowned steelwrights, crafted sword, spears and axes.<ref>{{S|Noldor}}</ref> Dwarves also made axes; their (doomed) alliance with [[Thingol|Elu Thingol]] made them trade many fine axes, swords and spears with the King of the [[Sindar]].<ref>{{S|Sindar}}</ref> Axes would remain to be the main weapon of the march wardens of [[Doriath]],<ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref> and were also used by their allies, the [[House of Haleth]] in [[Brethil]].<ref name="5B">{{S|Fifth}}</ref>  


==Axes by Faction==
==Axes by Faction==
* '''The [[Dwarves]]''' had the axe as their chief weapon. Dwarven warriors would carry at least one standard axe, though sometimes carried backup weapons as well.<ref>{{HM|H}}, "[[The Clouds Burst]]"</ref> The [[Dwarves of Belegost]] and their lord, [[Azaghâl]], bore axes. Axes were also used by [[Dáin Ironfoot]] and his army during the [[Battle of Five Armies]], and also during the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]. Durin had a [[Durin's Axe|legendary axe]],<ref name="journey">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Journey in the Dark]]"</ref>. [[Gimli]], member of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] bore one,<ref name="South">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Ring goes South]]"</ref> and [[Dáin Ironfoot]] could still swing his mighty axe at high age.<ref name="Quest">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[The Quest of Erebor]]"</ref>
* '''The [[Dwarves]]''' had the axe as their chief weapon. Dwarven warriors would carry at least one standard axe, though sometimes carried backup weapons as well.<ref>{{H|Burst}}</ref> The [[Dwarves of Belegost]] and their lord, [[Azaghâl]], bore axes.<ref name="5B"/> Axes were also used during the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]. Durin had a [[Durin's Axe|legendary axe]],<ref name="journey">{{FR|Journey}}</ref> [[Gimli]] bore one,<ref name="South">{{FR|South}}</ref> and [[Dáin Ironfoot]] had a red axe.<ref name="Quest">{{UT|Quest}}</ref>


* The '''Forces of Darkness''' were known to use axes in combat. [[Orcs]] and [[Balrogs]] used it as a weapon in battles. [[Gothmog (Lord of Balrogs)|Gothmog]], the Lord of Balrogs himself bore a black axe, as appears in [[Nírnaeth Arnoediad]]. During the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] [[Easterlings]] wielded great axes, and were among the most effective forces of [[Minas Morgul]].
* The '''Forces of Darkness''' were known to use axes in combat. [[Orcs]] and [[Balrogs]] used it as a weapon in battles. [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]], the Lord of Balrogs himself bore a black axe.<ref name="5B"/> During the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] [[Easterlings]] wielded great axes, and were among the most effective forces of [[Minas Morgul]].<ref>{{RK|Battle}}</ref>


* '''The [[Númenóreans]]''' were passed the craft of weaponsmithing by the [[Noldor]], and they managed to forge great axes. Their main purpose seems to have been not in war, but in deforesting the woods of [[Middle-earth]] for ship-timber.<ref name="Description">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', "[[A Description of the Island of Númenor]]"</ref>
* '''The [[Númenóreans]]''' were passed the craft of weaponsmithing by the [[Noldor]], and they managed to forge great axes. Their main purpose seems to have been not in war, but in deforesting the woods of [[Middle-earth]] for ship-timber.<ref name="Description">{{UT|Numenor}}</ref>


*'''[[Rohirrim]]''' militia and foot soldiers used small axes in combat. Throwing axes were probably used by the Rohan army.{{fact}}
*Among '''the [[Atani]] of the First Age''', the most notable axe-bearers are probably [[Huor]] and [[Tuor]], whose axe was called [[Dramborleg]]. The Men of [[Brethil]] carried little weaponry, but mostly axes.
 
*Among '''the [[Atani]] of the First Age''', the most notable axe-bearers are probably [[Huor]] and [[Tuor]], whose axe was called [[Dramborleg]]. The Men of [[Brethil]] carried little weaponry, but mostly axes.  


==Notable Axe-wielders==
==Notable Axe-wielders==
* [[Dáin Ironfoot]]<ref name="Quest"/>
* [[Dáin Ironfoot]]<ref name="Quest"/>
* [[Dorlas]]<ref name="Narn"/>
* [[Dorlas]]<ref name="Narn"/>
* [[Durin I|Durin]]<ref name="journey"/>
* [[Durin]]<ref name="journey"/>
* [[Gimli]]<ref name="South"/>
* [[Gimli]]<ref name="South"/>
* [[Huor]]<ref name="Coming"/>
* [[Huor]]<ref name="Coming"/>
* [[Húrin]]<ref name="5B"/>
* [[Húrin]]<ref name="5B"/>
* [[Sador]]<ref name="Narn">{{HM|UT}}, "[[Narn i Hîn Húrin]]"</ref>
* [[Sador]]<ref name="Narn">{{UT|Narn}}</ref>
* [[Tuor]]<ref name="Coming">{{HM|UT}}, "[[Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin]]"</ref>
* [[Tuor]]<ref name="Coming">{{UT|Tuor}}</ref>


{{references}}
{{references}}


[[Category:Weapons]]
[[Category:Weapons]]

Revision as of 22:00, 7 July 2012

An axe.

Axes were tools for chopping wood and excellent mêlée weaponry, usually associated with Dwarves, but not exclusively used by them.

History

When the threat of Melkor started to loom over Valinor, there was unrest among the people of Fëanor. So they came to smithing weaponry. The Noldor, renowned steelwrights, crafted sword, spears and axes.[2] Dwarves also made axes; their (doomed) alliance with Elu Thingol made them trade many fine axes, swords and spears with the King of the Sindar.[3] Axes would remain to be the main weapon of the march wardens of Doriath,[4] and were also used by their allies, the House of Haleth in Brethil.[5]

Axes by Faction

  • The Númenóreans were passed the craft of weaponsmithing by the Noldor, and they managed to forge great axes. Their main purpose seems to have been not in war, but in deforesting the woods of Middle-earth for ship-timber.[11]
  • Among the Atani of the First Age, the most notable axe-bearers are probably Huor and Tuor, whose axe was called Dramborleg. The Men of Brethil carried little weaponry, but mostly axes.

Notable Axe-wielders

References