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The '''Iron Hills''' were a range of hills in the northeast of the known parts of [[Middle-earth]], border-lining [[Rhûn]]. There was also a Dwarf-realm located in the hills.  The Hills were some of the remnants of the [[Iron Mountains]] where [[Morgoth]] dwelt, and had a heavy iron deposit, from which they get their name
{{location
| image=
| name=Iron Hills
| othernames=
| etymology=
| type=Hill range
| location=East of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], north-west of [[Rhûn]]
| inhabitants=[[Durin's Folk]]
| realms=The Kingdom of Durin's folk
| description=
| events=
}}
The '''Iron Hills''' were a range of great hills in the north-east of [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]]. The Hills were the source of the river [[Carnen]] and rich in iron.<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref><ref name="Third">{{PM|Third}}</ref>It was also home to a [[Dwarf realms|Dwarf-realm]] of the [[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]].<ref>{{H|Gathering}}</ref>


The Hills were mined for thousands of years by by the Dwarves, but officially became a Dwarf-realm in [[Third Age 2590|T.A. 2590]], when [[Grór]] son of King [[Dáin I]] was exiled from the [[Grey Mountains]] by the [[Dragons]].  Over hundreds of years it became a great realm, especially after the destruction of [[Erebor]]. Before the death of [[Smaug]], the Iron Hills was the main dwelling of [[Durin's folk]] in the East, and was also the strongest realm militarily in [[Wilderland]].  
The Iron Hills were rich in iron<ref name=Relations/>, but probably not in [[gold]]; the [[Dwarves of the Iron Hills]], although prosperous, were not as wealthy as their other cousins.<ref name=Foster/>
==History==
===Early History===
The Iron Hills were perhaps a part or a remnant of the mountain chain [[Ered Engrin]] that formed the [[Iron Mountains]] of the [[First Age]].<ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' p. 78</ref>


The Hills were mined for thousands of years by the Longbeards, being their primary source for iron above all the rest of their territories.<ref name=Relations>{{PM|Relations}}, p. 302</ref> The [[Old Forest Road|Dwarf-road of Mirkwood]] ran north-east to the Hills for the dwarf-traders and merchants between [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] and the Hills.<ref>{{PM|XNotes}}, p. 323 (note 30)</ref>
===Third Age===
In {{TA|1981}} the last of the Dwarves living in Khazad-dûm fled from the [[Balrogs|Balrog]] who had slain kings [[Durin VI]] and [[Náin I]].<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> Some of those who escaped wandered as far as the Iron Hills and resettled there.<ref name="Third"/>
In {{TA|2570|n}} dragons began [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons|afflicting the dwarves in the north]] and in {{TA|2589|n}} King [[Dáin I]] was slain by a [[Cold-drakes|cold-drake]] outside [[Dáin's halls|his halls]] in the [[Grey Mountains]].<ref name="TA"/> Due to these depredations, in {{TA|2590|n}} [[Grór]] son of Dáin left the Grey Mountains and established a Lordship in the Iron Hills.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> 
Over the next few centuries Grór and his people built the hills from a just an ancient mining colony to a great realm, especially after the [[Sack of Erebor|destruction]] of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]] in {{TA|2770|n}}<ref name="TA"/> when the Dragon [[Smaug]] scattered the Longbeards who dwelt there. Most of the survivors subsequently went to their kinsmen in the Iron Hills, swelling its numbers.
Before the death of [[Smaug]] in {{TA|2941}},<ref name="TA"/> the dwarven realm in the Iron Hills was the only force in the north-east of  [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]] capable of offering a large and strong enough resistance to the forces of evil.<ref>{{UT|Erebor}}</ref>
In {{TA|2799|n}}<ref name="TA"/> the final battle of the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]] [[Battle of Azanulbizar|occurred in the Dimrill Dale]]. When reinforcements, led by [[Náin (son of Grór)|Náin]], arrived from the Iron Hills the battle turned in the favour of the dwarves. With the war over, Dáin led his people home where, after the death of Grór, he became the new [[Lord of the Iron Hills]].<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref>
In {{TA|2941|n}} Lord [[Dáin Ironfoot]] led his warriors in the [[Battle of Five Armies]] near Erebor. The battle won but Thorin slain and Dáin became the new [[King under the Mountain]] and [[Kings of Durin's Folk|King of the Longbeards]] as Dáin II.<ref name="TA"/><ref name="Durin"/> He relocated to Erebor with many of his people, and re-established it as Durin's folk's greatest and strongest dwelling in the north.
The Iron Hills pass out of history after this relocation, but probably were not wholly deserted.<ref name=Foster>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'', p. 212</ref>
==See also==
*[[Dwarves of the Iron Hills]]
*[[Lord of the Iron Hills]]
{{references}}
[[Category:Hills]]
[[Category:Hills]]
[[Category:Dwarven Kingdoms]]
[[Category:Rhovanion]]
[[Category:Rhovanion]]
[[Category:Mountain ranges]]
[[Category:Dwarven realms]]

Revision as of 17:06, 18 August 2014

Iron Hills
Hill range
General Information
LocationEast of Erebor, north-west of Rhûn
TypeHill range
RegionsThe Kingdom of Durin's folk
InhabitantsDurin's Folk

The Iron Hills were a range of great hills in the north-east of Wilderland. The Hills were the source of the river Carnen and rich in iron.[1][2]It was also home to a Dwarf-realm of the Longbeards.[3]

The Iron Hills were rich in iron[4], but probably not in gold; the Dwarves of the Iron Hills, although prosperous, were not as wealthy as their other cousins.[5]

History

Early History

The Iron Hills were perhaps a part or a remnant of the mountain chain Ered Engrin that formed the Iron Mountains of the First Age.[6]

The Hills were mined for thousands of years by the Longbeards, being their primary source for iron above all the rest of their territories.[4] The Dwarf-road of Mirkwood ran north-east to the Hills for the dwarf-traders and merchants between Khazad-dûm and the Hills.[7]

Third Age

In T.A. 1981 the last of the Dwarves living in Khazad-dûm fled from the Balrog who had slain kings Durin VI and Náin I.[8] Some of those who escaped wandered as far as the Iron Hills and resettled there.[2]

In 2570 dragons began afflicting the dwarves in the north and in 2589 King Dáin I was slain by a cold-drake outside his halls in the Grey Mountains.[8] Due to these depredations, in 2590 Grór son of Dáin left the Grey Mountains and established a Lordship in the Iron Hills.[8]

Over the next few centuries Grór and his people built the hills from a just an ancient mining colony to a great realm, especially after the destruction of Erebor in 2770[8] when the Dragon Smaug scattered the Longbeards who dwelt there. Most of the survivors subsequently went to their kinsmen in the Iron Hills, swelling its numbers.

Before the death of Smaug in T.A. 2941,[8] the dwarven realm in the Iron Hills was the only force in the north-east of Wilderland capable of offering a large and strong enough resistance to the forces of evil.[9]

In 2799[8] the final battle of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs occurred in the Dimrill Dale. When reinforcements, led by Náin, arrived from the Iron Hills the battle turned in the favour of the dwarves. With the war over, Dáin led his people home where, after the death of Grór, he became the new Lord of the Iron Hills.[10]

In 2941 Lord Dáin Ironfoot led his warriors in the Battle of Five Armies near Erebor. The battle won but Thorin slain and Dáin became the new King under the Mountain and King of the Longbeards as Dáin II.[8][10] He relocated to Erebor with many of his people, and re-established it as Durin's folk's greatest and strongest dwelling in the north.

The Iron Hills pass out of history after this relocation, but probably were not wholly deserted.[5]

See also

References