Dwarves of Belegost

The Dwarves of Belegost were the race of Dwarves whose halls were at Belegost, the northernmost of the two great Dwarf-cities that stood in the Blue Mountains during the First Age. Home to the Dwarven House of Broadbeams, Belegost was founded by the Elder of their House sometime during the Years of the Trees.

They had a generally better relations with the Elves than their neighbors in Nogrod, and were behind the building of Menegroth. They first met the Noldor Elves near Mount Rerir and a great friendship began between the two peoples. They fought bravely beside eachother during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, where they lost their ruler Lord Azaghâl in battle to the dragon Glaurung. When the Dwarves of Nogrod assembled a great host of Dwarves to attack Doriath, the Broadbeams tried to dissuade them from war, but their brethren from Nogrod did not heed their advice. These dwarves went on to fight in the Battle of the Thousand Caves, and later met their demise the Battle of Sarn Athrad. After this tragedy the Dwarves of Belegost started leaving for Khazad-dûm, for fear of reprisal from the Elves. There was much loathing between Elf and Dwarf from there on. Belegost was later ruined in the War of Wrath, and most of the Broadbeams left for Khazad-dâm. Some stayed to build, or rebuild, new homes and mines, along with the remaining Firebeards of Nogrod. However, Belegost seems to have been mostly abandoned.

In smithing, the Dwarves of Belegost were second only to the Dwarves of Nogrod. They learned many secrets in smithing from the Elves, and Elves from the Dwarves. They created many weapons for the Elves when evil began to stir in Beleriand, and the smiths of Belegost were the first to create linked ring mail.