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{{battle|
{{sources}}
image=[[Image:Fotr1117.jpg|300px]]<br /><small>The Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul as depicted in [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]|
{{battle
name=Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul|
|image=[[File:John Howe - Under His Blow.jpg|300px]]
conflict=Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul|
|name=Battle of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm
date=January 15, 3019 T.A.|
|conflict=[[War of the Ring]]
place=The [[Chamber of Mazarbul]] in [[Khazad-dûm]]|
|date=[[15 January]], {{TA|3019}}
result= no victory for either side|
|place=[[Chamber of Mazarbul]] and the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]] in [[Moria]]
side1=The [[Fellowship of the Ring]]|
|result=Victory for the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]]
side2= The hordes of Moria, the [[Balrog of Moria]]|
*The [[Fellowship of the Ring]] escapes
commanders1=[[Gandalf]]|
*[[Gandalf]] and [[Durin's Bane]] fight in the [[Battle of the Peak]]
commanders2=The [[Balrog of Moria]]|
|side1=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
forces1=9 combatants|
|side2=[[Orcs of the Mountains]]<br>[[Cave-trolls]]<br>[[Durin's Bane]]
forces2=Unknown total strength, over 14 [[Moria orcs]] and [[Uruks]], but probably not many more, at least one [[Cave-trolls|Cave-troll]], the Balrog of Moria|
|commanders1=[[Gandalf]]
casualties1=
|commanders2=Unknown †
[[Frodo Baggins]] skewered with a spear and thought dead, though he suffers a mere bruise, [[Samwise Gamgee]] receives small head injury|
|forces1=[[Gandalf]]<br />[[Aragorn]]<br />[[Boromir]]<br />[[Gimli]]<br />[[Legolas]]<br />[[Frodo Baggins]]<br />[[Samwise Gamgee]]<br />[[Meriadoc Brandybuck]]<br />[[Peregrin Took]]
casualties2=
|forces2=Unknown, except for at least one [[Cave-trolls|cave-troll]] and a [[Balrogs|Balrog]]
14 orcs killed, Cave-troll injured in foot
|casual1=[[Samwise Gamgee]], [[Boromir]], and [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] lightly wounded
|casual2=14 Orcs killed
}}
}}


A skirmish between the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] and the hordes of Moria in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]].
The '''Battle of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm'''<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings]], pp. 40, 42</ref> was a skirmish between the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] and the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] which took place on [[15 January]] {{TA|3019}}. It was a significant event in the [[Quest of the Ring]], resulting in the separation of [[Gandalf]] and the rest of the Fellowship.


==The Books==
== History ==
===Description===
=== Prelude ===
The Fellowship, having just read fragments of the [[Book of Mazarbul]] inside the Mazarbul chamber, hear the sounds of an approaching band of [[orcs]]. This group includes both [[Moria orcs]] and large, black [[Uruks]] of Mordor. The Fellowship tries to shut the doors to the chamber, but the orcs are already trying to force their way in. A large [[Cave-trolls|Cave-troll]] beats on the door and forces its foot thru. [[Frodo]] stabs the foot with [[Sting]], causing the troll to withdraw. Orcs shoot arrows through the door, but they bounce uselessly off the walls of the chamber. At last, the orcs manage to burst their way through the chamber door. A fierce skirmish ensues.
After being turned back by a snowstorm at the [[Redhorn Pass]] and unwilling to risk the [[Gap of Rohan]] for fear of capture by [[Isengard]], the Fellowship attempted to cross the [[Misty Mountains]] through the abandoned [[Dwarves|dwarven]] city of [[Moria]]. [[Gimli]] hoped to encounter, or at least discover the fate of, [[Balin|Balin's]] expedition to re-establish [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] with which the Dwarves had lost contact.<ref>{{FR|Journey}}</ref> At the end of their third day in Moria the Fellowship took refuge in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]]—the site of [[Balin's Tomb]]—and learnt of his failure from the [[Book of Mazarbul]]. Immediately afterwards they heard the sounds of drums and horn blasts. Gandalf was able to ascertain that a band of [[Orcs]], including several black [[Uruk-hai|Uruks]] of Mordor, and at least one [[Cave-trolls|Cave-troll]] were approaching one of the chamber's two doors.<ref name=Bridge>{{FR|II5}}</ref>


[[Legolas]] shoots two orcs through the throat. [[Gimli]] hews the legs from under one. [[Aragorn]] and [[Boromir]] slay "many" (no exact number is given). During the fight, [[Sam]] is receives a small head injury but kills an orc himself. When the Fellowship has killed 13 orcs, the rest of the orcs flee shrieking. But just as the Fellowship is about to leave the chamber, a large orc-chieftain jumps in and pins Frodo to the wall with a spear. Thinking him dead, the Fellowship carries Frodo away, after Aragorn kills the orc. It is later revealed that Frodo receives a mere bruise, having been protected by his shirt of [[mithril]] mail.
=== Battle ===
Deep war drums reverberated throughout the chamber and shook the walls as the orcs approached. Gandalf attempted to frighten them, but was met with laughter in the dark. Shining a light outside the door, he briefly glimpsed them in the corridor, narrowly avoiding a volley of arrows in kind and deducing it impossible to escape via the western passage. Gandalf blamed himself aloud for the company falling into the orcs' trap.  


Gandalf remains in the chamber while the rest of the Fellowship flee and faces the [[Balrog of Moria]] for the first time. Gandalf sets a shutting spell on the chamber door but cannot hold it. The spell is broken and Gandalf follows the Fellowship out of the chamber, down the [[Stairs of Khazad-dûm]].
The Fellowship intended to make an escape through the east door, which was to their knowledge clear of enemies; however, since the other door opened inwards and could not be locked or barred they were forced to hold their ground until they could put off pursuit. Boromir attempted to wedge the door with broken swords before the orcs arrived; however, a large cave-troll was able to break through with its foot. Boromir swung with all his might at the troll's arm, but his sword rang and glanced off, clattering to the ground with a notch in the blade. [[Frodo Baggins]] managed to force the troll to withdraw temporarily by stabbing its foot with [[Sting]], but the orcs were able to breach what remained of the doors and flooded in.


===References===
In the ensuing melee [[Gimli]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] killed one orc each, [[Legolas]] two with his bow, while [[Aragorn]] and [[Boromir]] slew "many". Though the attack was vicious and the fighting sharp, the orcs had not been prepared for such fierce defence; thirteen orcs were slain in all, and Samwise suffered a cut to his scalp. The orcs briefly retreated, and Gandalf judged the time right to make an escape. However before the Fellowship could reach the door, a huge orc chieftain, nearly man-high and clad in black mail, leapt into the chamber alone. He bashed Boromir aside and threw him to the ground, swept past Aragorn with the speed of a snake, and stabbed at Frodo with a great spear, pinning him to the wall. Sam cut the shaft of the spear, and as the chieftain drew a scimitar, Aragorn struck him from behind and cleaved his skull, slaying him and routing the rest of the orcs.
[[The Lord of the Rings]]: [[The Fellowship of the Ring]] Book II: Chapter 5: [[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]].


==The Films==
As Aragorn picked up Frodo's body, Gandalf stayed behind to hold the door while the rest of the Fellowship fled down a dark and narrow stairway. As they reached its foot they saw a bright white light from the doorway and Gandalf swiftly descended the stairs to join them; he told them he had "met [[Durin's Bane|my match]], and nearly been destroyed" and then urged the company forward.<ref name=Bridge/>


===Appearances===
=== Aftermath ===
* [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]], [[Scene 35: Balin's Tomb]] and [[Scene 36: The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]].
While they were running, Frodo was discovered to be alive to the astonishment of his companions, as Aragorn had thought him to be dead.<ref name=Bridge/> As they would discover later outside Moria, his ''[[mithril]]'' shirt had saved him from serious injury, though he was left bruised.<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}</ref> After a brief rest, where Gandalf discussed his encounter with what the Fellowship would later discover to be a [[Balrogs|balrog]], they continued their retreat towards the [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm]], along the way being occasionally fired upon by orc archers.  


===Portrayal===
Upon reaching the bridge, the Fellowship turned to see the pursuing orcs behind them being blocked by a flaming fissure in the floor, as the Fellowship had entered the hall that led to the bridge through another direction. Trolls brought large slabs of stone to cross the flames, but before the orcs could surge forward, the balrog stepped forth and the orcs drew back as if they feared it themselves. The balrog leapt over the fissure and the orcs poured across the makeshift gangways. As the balrog closed in on them and they realised its nature, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf were all physically distraught at the realisation. Boromir blew his [[Horn of Gondor|horn]] in challenge, echoing so loudly in the cavern that the orcs briefly quailed and the balrog halted; yet the echoes died suddenly as a flame blown out by a cold wind, and the enemy advanced again. Gandalf regained his composure and ordered the rest of the Fellowship to cross the bridge while he held the rear.  
* The Battle of the Chamber of Mazarbul is expanded a great deal in the films, to aid the movie's dramatic flow and pacing, and to make the battle something more meaningful for the Fellowship on screen. The entire Fellowship takes part in the skirmish.
The battle begins when a large group of Moria orcs breaks through the chamber door. A furious, fairly prolonged battle ensues. The cave-troll enters the scene early on, breaking into the chamber and nearly killing Sam, who ducks under the troll's legs just in time. The fighting continues, with Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli killing many orcs. Sam is able to kill (or at least knock out) a few with one of his iron pans and kills at least one with his sword. Frodo, Merry and Pippin seem to be participating in the fight as well. Peter Jackson likely wanted to involve the entire Fellowship in the battle to make it something meaningful to each member, as well as to the group as a whole, it being the Fellowship's first real battle together (in the book, the Fellowship doesn't really fight together like this).
* It is source of common debate as to whether or not the "black Uruks of Mordor" described by Tolkien are present in the film.
There are a few orcs that physically look slightly different from the rest, though they wear the same armor. Some have argued that perhaps the Mordor Uruks sent to Moria by Sauron had taken up the Moria orcs' way of life, adopting their armor and weaponry and, thus, have a similar appearance (see [[Moria orcs]]).
* In the film, it is the Cave-troll that chases after Frodo and hits him with a spear, rather than an orc-chieftain.
Jackson likely wanted to bring the Cave-troll into the center of the action, adding greater interest to the battle.


Following a momentary victory, when most of the orcs have been killed or fled the chamber, the Fellowship hears the sound of more orcs approaching and flees through a break in the eastern wall of the chamber, running back thru the Twenty-first Hall (see [[Chamber of Mazarbul]] for notes on geographical changes). The action is extended further in the film, as the Fellowship are soon surrounded by hundreds of Moria orcs, before the Balrog enters the hall.
In order to secure the Fellowship's retreat, Gandalf confronted the balrog, breaking its flaming sword with his own Elven sword [[Glamdring]]. Aragorn and Boromir ran back onto the bridge to aid him, but at that moment Gandalf cried aloud and struck the bridge with his staff, sending up a sheet of white flame. The staff broke and fell from his hand, and the stone in front of him cracked and broke as well, sending the balrog falling into the chasm beneath. He too fell, however, as the balrog's whip caught his legs. The remaining members of the Fellowship assumed he perished in the fall and upon escaping Moria appointed Aragorn their new leader.<ref name=Bridge/> In actuality both Gandalf and the Balrog survived the fall and continued their duel amongst the many caverns and tunnels underneath the mountain, eventually culminating in the [[Battle of the Peak]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref>
* Gandalf never has his encounter with the Balrog in the Mazarbul chamber in the movie.
Jackson likely wanted to reserve the revelation of the Balrog for a more dramatic moment on film.


In the [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring Special Extended Edition|extended cut]] of the film, an important character moment is added to the fight, in which Aragorn saves Boromir from an attacking Moria orc. This further develops the relationship between the two men.
== Portrayal in adaptations ==


===Behind the Scenes===
'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)]]'':'''
Coming soon....
: Like the book, the [[cave-troll]] is only glimpsed when it tries to open the door, and Frodo drives it away when he stabs its foot. Then a large group of orcs break through the Chamber door. The fighting is short but sharp, though the orc-chieftain's attack on Frodo is in slow-motion.


===References===
:Following the victory, the Fellowship retreats towards the bridge with the orcs in pursuit. At the bridge the orcs halt, and Aragorn tells them to come no closer but then the Balrog appears. There is no flaming fissure and no other trolls.
Coming soon....
[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Sam and cave-troll.jpg|thumb|The Battle of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm as depicted in ''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'']]
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:The battle begins when a large group of orcs break through the Chamber door. The [[cave-troll]] enters early on, breaking into the Chamber and nearly killing [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]]. The fighting continues, with [[Legolas]], [[Aragorn]], [[Boromir]] and [[Gimli]] killing many orcs. At one point during the fight, Legolas climbs up onto the Cave-troll's shoulders and shoots its head with an arrow, but to no avail. While swinging madly around the chamber, the Cave-troll smashes [[Balin's Tomb]]. Despite Aragorn's attempt to protect the hobbit, the Cave-troll (rather than an orc-chieftain) hits Frodo with a spear.


==Related Links==
:Following the victory, when most of the orcs have been killed or fled the Chamber, the Fellowship hears the sound of more orcs approaching and flees through a break in the eastern wall of the chamber, running back through the [[Twenty-first Hall]]. The action is extended further in the film, as the Fellowship are soon surrounded by hundreds of Moria orcs, before the Balrog enters the hall. There is no flaming fissure and no other trolls.
Site of Battle: [[Khazad-dûm]] | [[North End]] | [[Seventh Level]] | [[Twenty-first Hall]] | [[Chamber of Mazarbul]]


*[[Balin's Tomb]]
'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)]]'':'''
:The beginning of the battle is shown in a cutscene, but is abruptly skipped just as the Orcs are seen swarming into the chamber.
 
== See also ==
* [[Last stand of Balin's folk]]
* [[Battle of the Peak]]
 
{{References}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the War of the Ring]]

Latest revision as of 20:20, 4 April 2023

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.
Battle of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm
John Howe - Under His Blow.jpg
Conflict: War of the Ring
Date: 15 January, T.A. 3019
Place: Chamber of Mazarbul and the Bridge of Khazad-dûm in Moria
Outcome: Victory for the Fellowship
Combatants

Fellowship of the Ring

Orcs of the Mountains
Cave-trolls
Durin's Bane

Commanders

Gandalf

Unknown †

Strength

Gandalf
Aragorn
Boromir
Gimli
Legolas
Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Peregrin Took

Unknown, except for at least one cave-troll and a Balrog

Casualties

Samwise Gamgee, Boromir, and Frodo lightly wounded

14 Orcs killed

The Battle of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm[1] was a skirmish between the Fellowship of the Ring and the Orcs of the Misty Mountains which took place on 15 January T.A. 3019. It was a significant event in the Quest of the Ring, resulting in the separation of Gandalf and the rest of the Fellowship.

History[edit | edit source]

Prelude[edit | edit source]

After being turned back by a snowstorm at the Redhorn Pass and unwilling to risk the Gap of Rohan for fear of capture by Isengard, the Fellowship attempted to cross the Misty Mountains through the abandoned dwarven city of Moria. Gimli hoped to encounter, or at least discover the fate of, Balin's expedition to re-establish Khazad-dûm with which the Dwarves had lost contact.[2] At the end of their third day in Moria the Fellowship took refuge in the Chamber of Mazarbul—the site of Balin's Tomb—and learnt of his failure from the Book of Mazarbul. Immediately afterwards they heard the sounds of drums and horn blasts. Gandalf was able to ascertain that a band of Orcs, including several black Uruks of Mordor, and at least one Cave-troll were approaching one of the chamber's two doors.[3]

Battle[edit | edit source]

Deep war drums reverberated throughout the chamber and shook the walls as the orcs approached. Gandalf attempted to frighten them, but was met with laughter in the dark. Shining a light outside the door, he briefly glimpsed them in the corridor, narrowly avoiding a volley of arrows in kind and deducing it impossible to escape via the western passage. Gandalf blamed himself aloud for the company falling into the orcs' trap.

The Fellowship intended to make an escape through the east door, which was to their knowledge clear of enemies; however, since the other door opened inwards and could not be locked or barred they were forced to hold their ground until they could put off pursuit. Boromir attempted to wedge the door with broken swords before the orcs arrived; however, a large cave-troll was able to break through with its foot. Boromir swung with all his might at the troll's arm, but his sword rang and glanced off, clattering to the ground with a notch in the blade. Frodo Baggins managed to force the troll to withdraw temporarily by stabbing its foot with Sting, but the orcs were able to breach what remained of the doors and flooded in.

In the ensuing melee Gimli and Samwise Gamgee killed one orc each, Legolas two with his bow, while Aragorn and Boromir slew "many". Though the attack was vicious and the fighting sharp, the orcs had not been prepared for such fierce defence; thirteen orcs were slain in all, and Samwise suffered a cut to his scalp. The orcs briefly retreated, and Gandalf judged the time right to make an escape. However before the Fellowship could reach the door, a huge orc chieftain, nearly man-high and clad in black mail, leapt into the chamber alone. He bashed Boromir aside and threw him to the ground, swept past Aragorn with the speed of a snake, and stabbed at Frodo with a great spear, pinning him to the wall. Sam cut the shaft of the spear, and as the chieftain drew a scimitar, Aragorn struck him from behind and cleaved his skull, slaying him and routing the rest of the orcs.

As Aragorn picked up Frodo's body, Gandalf stayed behind to hold the door while the rest of the Fellowship fled down a dark and narrow stairway. As they reached its foot they saw a bright white light from the doorway and Gandalf swiftly descended the stairs to join them; he told them he had "met my match, and nearly been destroyed" and then urged the company forward.[3]

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

While they were running, Frodo was discovered to be alive to the astonishment of his companions, as Aragorn had thought him to be dead.[3] As they would discover later outside Moria, his mithril shirt had saved him from serious injury, though he was left bruised.[4] After a brief rest, where Gandalf discussed his encounter with what the Fellowship would later discover to be a balrog, they continued their retreat towards the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, along the way being occasionally fired upon by orc archers.

Upon reaching the bridge, the Fellowship turned to see the pursuing orcs behind them being blocked by a flaming fissure in the floor, as the Fellowship had entered the hall that led to the bridge through another direction. Trolls brought large slabs of stone to cross the flames, but before the orcs could surge forward, the balrog stepped forth and the orcs drew back as if they feared it themselves. The balrog leapt over the fissure and the orcs poured across the makeshift gangways. As the balrog closed in on them and they realised its nature, Legolas, Gimli and Gandalf were all physically distraught at the realisation. Boromir blew his horn in challenge, echoing so loudly in the cavern that the orcs briefly quailed and the balrog halted; yet the echoes died suddenly as a flame blown out by a cold wind, and the enemy advanced again. Gandalf regained his composure and ordered the rest of the Fellowship to cross the bridge while he held the rear.

In order to secure the Fellowship's retreat, Gandalf confronted the balrog, breaking its flaming sword with his own Elven sword Glamdring. Aragorn and Boromir ran back onto the bridge to aid him, but at that moment Gandalf cried aloud and struck the bridge with his staff, sending up a sheet of white flame. The staff broke and fell from his hand, and the stone in front of him cracked and broke as well, sending the balrog falling into the chasm beneath. He too fell, however, as the balrog's whip caught his legs. The remaining members of the Fellowship assumed he perished in the fall and upon escaping Moria appointed Aragorn their new leader.[3] In actuality both Gandalf and the Balrog survived the fall and continued their duel amongst the many caverns and tunnels underneath the mountain, eventually culminating in the Battle of the Peak.[5]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

Like the book, the cave-troll is only glimpsed when it tries to open the door, and Frodo drives it away when he stabs its foot. Then a large group of orcs break through the Chamber door. The fighting is short but sharp, though the orc-chieftain's attack on Frodo is in slow-motion.
Following the victory, the Fellowship retreats towards the bridge with the orcs in pursuit. At the bridge the orcs halt, and Aragorn tells them to come no closer but then the Balrog appears. There is no flaming fissure and no other trolls.
The Battle of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm as depicted in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

The battle begins when a large group of orcs break through the Chamber door. The cave-troll enters early on, breaking into the Chamber and nearly killing Sam. The fighting continues, with Legolas, Aragorn, Boromir and Gimli killing many orcs. At one point during the fight, Legolas climbs up onto the Cave-troll's shoulders and shoots its head with an arrow, but to no avail. While swinging madly around the chamber, the Cave-troll smashes Balin's Tomb. Despite Aragorn's attempt to protect the hobbit, the Cave-troll (rather than an orc-chieftain) hits Frodo with a spear.
Following the victory, when most of the orcs have been killed or fled the Chamber, the Fellowship hears the sound of more orcs approaching and flees through a break in the eastern wall of the chamber, running back through the Twenty-first Hall. The action is extended further in the film, as the Fellowship are soon surrounded by hundreds of Moria orcs, before the Balrog enters the hall. There is no flaming fissure and no other trolls.

2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):

The beginning of the battle is shown in a cutscene, but is abruptly skipped just as the Orcs are seen swarming into the chamber.

See also[edit | edit source]

References