Dale: Difference between revisions

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The word ''dale'' means "valley", as it was built in the [[River Running|Celduin]] valley between two arms of Erebor.
The word ''dale'' means "valley", as it was built in the [[River Running|Celduin]] valley between two arms of Erebor.


==Appearances in Adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:Dale-BFME2.jpg|thumb|Dale in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II|''BFME'' II]]]]
[[File:Dale-BFME2.jpg|thumb|Dale in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II|''BFME'' II]]]]
'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:The City of Dale appears in the ''Erebor'' map, just southeast of the mountain itself. It appears to contain several houses, taverns and bridges, as well as a statue of a [[Men|man]]. The city is built around the mountain's river.
:The City of Dale appears in the ''Erebor'' map, just southeast of the mountain itself. It appears to contain several houses, taverns and bridges, as well as a statue of a [[Men|man]]. The city is built around the mountain's river.
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
:Glimpses of the [[sack of Erebor]] and the destruction of Dale were shown in the opening prologue sequence.


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 22:49, 21 March 2013

This article is about the City of Dale. For the the Kingdom, see Kingdom of Dale.
Dale
City state
Matěj Čadil - Dale.jpg
General Information
LocationNorthern Wilderland, between the southwest and southeast arms of Erebor
TypeCity state
DescriptionCapital city of the Northmen
RegionsKingdom of Dale
People and History
InhabitantsNorthmen
EventsSack of Erebor, Battle of Five Armies, Battle of Dale
GalleryImages of Dale

Dale was a city of the Northmen, destroyed by the dragon Smaug and rebuilt after his demise.

Description

Dale was situated in the valley between the southwestern and southeastern arms of the Lonely Mountain, nestled in a sharp U-shaped bend of the River Running.[1] It was known as a merry town that traded, mainly in food-supplies, for the skills and craft-pieces of the Dwarves. Dale's toy market was the wonder of the North[2] and the town was renowned for its bells.[3]

History

In T.A. 2590 King Thrór reestablished the Kingdom Under the Mountain.[4] The realm prospered and Northmen living to the south came up the River Running and built Dale.[2] The town shared in the prosperity of the Dwarves and it was governed by the Lord of Dale, of whom the last was named Girion.[5]

In 2770 Smaug descended upon the Dwarf-kingdom.[4] Although Dale fielded warriors against the monster they could not prevent him from killing or scattering the Dwarves and then occupying the Lonely Mountain. After the attack the dragon would crawl out of the Front Gate of the Mountain by night and carry away people (especially maidens) from Dale to eat. The remaining population soon fled and the deserted city fell into ruins.[2]

The death of Smaug and the Battle of Five Armies occurred in 2941. Three years after the battle, Dale was rebuilt by Bard the Bowman,[4] who had killed the dragon and was the descendant of Girion. Dale soon again enjoyed prosperity: Bard founded the Kingdom of Dale and it gathered men from the Long Lake, the South, and the West. Lake-town was rebuilt and grew wealthy from traffic with Dale.[6]

TheBattle of Dale

During the reign of King Brand, the grandson of Bard the Bowman, Dale served as the capital for the lands he ruled, which extended far south and east of Lake-town.[7] However, as Glóin revealed at the Council of Elrond, in 3017 a messenger from Mordor came to ask King Dáin Ironfoot at the gate to the Lonely Mountain for news of Hobbits and to ask for Bilbo's ring. Messengers had also come to King Brand and there were enemies gathering upon the Kingdom of Dale's eastern borders.[8]

During the War of the Ring, the Easterlings crossed the border and moved to attack the city. On 17 March 3019 the Battle of Dale began. Not able to hold back the Easterlings the Men of Dale and their allies, the Dwarves of Erebor, retreated into the the Lonely Mountain, but lost Kings Brand and Dáin Ironfoot who were both slain at the Gate of Erebor. For seven days the Men and Dwarves barricaded themselves in Erebor until news came from the south of the defeat of Sauron. The new kings of Dale and Erebor (Bard II and Thorin III Stonehelm), broke the siege and chased the Easterlings out of Dale. After the siege, the Men of Dale rebuilt Dale, with the help of the Dwarves. Bard also sent an emissary to the coronation of King Elessar.[9]

Etymology

The word dale means "valley", as it was built in the Celduin valley between two arms of Erebor.

Portrayal in adaptations

Dale in BFME II

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II:

The City of Dale appears in the Erebor map, just southeast of the mountain itself. It appears to contain several houses, taverns and bridges, as well as a statue of a man. The city is built around the mountain's river.

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

Glimpses of the sack of Erebor and the destruction of Dale were shown in the opening prologue sequence.

See also

References