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[[Image:John Howe - The Great Goblin.jpg|thumb|The Orcs of the Misty Mountains led Thorin and Company to the Great Goblin]]
[[File:John Howe - The Great Goblin.jpg|thumb|[[John Howe]] - ''The Great Goblin'']]
The '''Orcs of the [[Misty Mountains]]''' were a tribe of [[Orcs]] settled in the tunnels of the mountains.
The '''Orcs of the [[Misty Mountains]]''' were a tribe of [[Orcs]] settled in the tunnels of the mountains. They harassed the regions around them and eventually occupied [[Moria]].


Their origin, and when they settled those tunnels is not known. [[Sauron]] must have taken at least some control over them when he settled in [[Mordor]]. By the end of the [[Second Age]], [[Orcs of Mordor]] had come among them, and under their command the Orcs of the Mountains ambushed and killed [[Isildur]] at the [[Battle of the Gladden Fields]].
==History==
Their origin, and when they settled those tunnels is not known. By the [[Second Age]] Orcs who survived the [[War of Wrath]] [[Fall of Gundabad|attacked]] and drove out the [[Dwarves]] from [[Gundabad]].<ref>{{PM|Dwarves}}, p. 305</ref> [[Sauron]] must have taken at least some control over them when he settled in [[Mordor]]. [[Orcs of Mordor]] had come among them{{fact}}, and under their command they ambushed and killed [[Isildur]] at the [[Battle of the Gladden Fields]] in early [[Third Age]].<ref>{{UT|Gladden}}</ref>


After the fall of [[Moria]] in [[Third Age 1981]], Orcs of the Misty Mountains entered and occupied its ruins. In [[Third Age 2509]], on a trip to [[Lórien in Middle-earth|Lórien]] to visit her parents, [[Celebrian]] was waylaid by Orcs in the [[Redhorn Pass]]. She was captured and tormented, receiving a poisoned wound.  Her sons rescued her and she was healed by [[Elrond]]
In {{TA|1300}} the Orcs started increasing and harassing the [[Dwarves]].<ref name=B2/>


Long afterwards, Moria became the seat of an Orc-chieftain named [[Azog]] who slew King [[Thrór]] of the [[Longbeards]], and so started the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]. In [[Third Age 2793]] they attacked, assailing and/or sacking one by one all the Orc-holds they could from [[Mount Gundabad]] in the north, to the [[Gladden Fields]] in the south. Most of the war was fought underground, in the great mines. During the conflict many thousands of Orcs fleeing south through [[Rohan]], trying to claim a refuge in the [[White Mountains]] beyond, troubled the Rohirrim for two generations. The war ended with the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]] where Azog himself was slain.
The awakening of Durin's Bane, drove the Dwarves from their city. It also seems that some Dwarves either before or after the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, dwelt on the eastern side of the mountains near Goblin-town.


The Orcs of the Misty Mountains virtually disappeared as a threat for [[Eriador]] and [[Wilderland]]. Around [[Third Age 2747]] the Orcs became more bold, daring to invade [[Eriador]]. The [[Rangers of the North]] fought many battles trying to hold them back, but one party managed to reach the [[Shire]]. They were fought off by a party of brave Hobbits under [[Bandobras Took]], who killed their leader [[Golfimbul]] in the [[Battle of Greenfields]].
After the fall of [[Moria]] in {{TA|1981}}, Orcs of the Misty Mountains entered and occupied its ruins.<ref name=A>{{App|A}}</ref> Around {{TA|2480|n}} they Orcs begun to make secret strongholds in the Mountains so as to bar all the passes into [[Eriador]]<ref name=B2>{{App|B2}}</ref>. In {{TA|2509|n}}, on a trip to [[Lothlórien|Lórien]] to visit her parents, [[Celebrian]] was waylaid by Orcs in the [[Caradhras#The Redhorn Gate|Redhorn Pass]]. She was captured and tormented, receiving a poisoned wound until [[Elladan|her]] [[Elrohir|sons]] rescued her.<ref name=B2/>


After that, the Orcs lurked among the Misty Mountains, and in [[Third Age 2941]], a group of them led by the [[Great Goblin]], captured [[Thorin and Company]] in the [[High Pass]]. They escaped with [[Gandalf]]'s help, killing the Great Goblin in the process. Soon after, Azog's son, [[Bolg]] united the Orcs of the Misty Mountains and led them east to fight the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. That battle ended in defeat for the Orcs, and left the Misty Mountains free of them for many years afterwards.
Around {{TA|2740|n}} the Orcs became more bold, daring to invade Eriador. The [[Rangers of the North]] fought many battles with the sons of Elrond trying to hold them back, but one party managed to reach [[the Shire]] in {{TA|2747|n}}. They were fought off by a party of brave Hobbits under [[Bandobras Took]], who killed their leader [[Golfimbul]] in the [[Battle of Greenfields]].<ref>{{H|1}}</ref><ref name="Eriador">{{App|Eriador}}</ref>


By the time of the [[War of the Ring]], the Orcs of the Mountains reclaimed Moria but fell under the command of Sauron and [[Saruman]]. There were Orcs from the Misty Mountains, in the party that captured Merry and Pippin at [[Parth Galen]].  
[[File:Mikel Janin - Battle of Azanulbizar.jpeg|left|thumb|Mikel Janin - ''The Battle of Azanulbizar'']]
Long afterwards, Moria became the seat of an Orc-chieftain named [[Azog]] who slew King [[Thrór]] of the [[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]], beginning the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]. In {{TA|2793|n}} the Dwarves sought revenge, assailing and sacking one by one all the Orc-holds they could from [[Second Sacking of Gundabad|sacking]] [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] in the north, to the [[Gladden Fields]] in the south. Most of the war was fought underground, in the mines, halls, and other dwellings the Orcs had occupied or created. The war ended with the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]] where Azog himself was slain.<ref name=A/> Causing thousands of Orcs to flee south through [[Rohan]], who found refuge in the [[White Mountains]], troubling the Rohirrim for two generations.


Legend says that the [[Longbeards]] eventually succeeded in recapturing Moria, so the power of the Orcs in the Misty Mountains must have waned considerably after the Third Age if they survived at all.
The Orcs of the Misty Mountains virtually disappeared as a threat for [[Eriador]] and [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]] but the Dwarves were unable to reclaim Moria.
[[category:Orcs|Orcs]]
 
[[File:Capucine Mazille - The Battle of Five Armies.jpg|thumb|Capucine Mazille - ''The Battle of Five Armies'']]
After that, the Orcs lurked among the Misty Mountains, and in {{TA|2941|n}}, a group of them under the leadership of the [[Great Goblin]], captured [[Thorin and Company]] in the [[High Pass]]. They escaped with [[Gandalf]]'s help, killing the Great Goblin in the process.<ref>{{H|Hill}}</ref> Furious, the Orcs gathered at Mount [[Gundabad]] under the command of [[Bolg]] to seek revenge and secure domination of the North. The goblins were about to sweep southward when they learned of the death of Smaug and marched by night through the mountains and appeared unexpectedly at [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], almost immediately after the arrival of [[Dáin Ironfoot]], and participated the [[Battle of Five Armies]].<ref>{{H|Burst}}</ref> It ended in defeat for the Orcs (three fourths of their entire population killed), and left the Misty Mountains free of them for many years afterwards.<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref>
 
In {{TA|2989|n}} [[Balin]] left the [[Lonely Mountain]] and entered Moria with other Dwarves to start a [[Balin's Colony|colony]] and restore Khazad-dûm. The Orcs later counter-attacked, and in {{TA|2994|n}}, the entire expeditionary force was besieged and destroyed.<ref name=B2/><ref>{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>
 
By the time of the [[War of the Ring]], the Orcs of the Mountains though permanently depleted, reclaimed Moria but fell under the command of Sauron and [[Saruman]]. They were, for instance, amongst the party of Orcs that captured [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] at [[Parth Galen]].<ref>{{TT|Uruk}}</ref>
 
The [[Longbeards]] eventually succeeded in recapturing Moria, which suggests that the Orcs of the Misty Mountains diminished.
 
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Orcs]]

Revision as of 16:07, 6 July 2015

John Howe - The Great Goblin

The Orcs of the Misty Mountains were a tribe of Orcs settled in the tunnels of the mountains. They harassed the regions around them and eventually occupied Moria.

History

Their origin, and when they settled those tunnels is not known. By the Second Age Orcs who survived the War of Wrath attacked and drove out the Dwarves from Gundabad.[1] Sauron must have taken at least some control over them when he settled in Mordor. Orcs of Mordor had come among them[source?], and under their command they ambushed and killed Isildur at the Battle of the Gladden Fields in early Third Age.[2]

In T.A. 1300 the Orcs started increasing and harassing the Dwarves.[3]

The awakening of Durin's Bane, drove the Dwarves from their city. It also seems that some Dwarves either before or after the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, dwelt on the eastern side of the mountains near Goblin-town.

After the fall of Moria in T.A. 1981, Orcs of the Misty Mountains entered and occupied its ruins.[4] Around 2480 they Orcs begun to make secret strongholds in the Mountains so as to bar all the passes into Eriador[3]. In 2509, on a trip to Lórien to visit her parents, Celebrian was waylaid by Orcs in the Redhorn Pass. She was captured and tormented, receiving a poisoned wound until her sons rescued her.[3]

Around 2740 the Orcs became more bold, daring to invade Eriador. The Rangers of the North fought many battles with the sons of Elrond trying to hold them back, but one party managed to reach the Shire in 2747. They were fought off by a party of brave Hobbits under Bandobras Took, who killed their leader Golfimbul in the Battle of Greenfields.[5][6]

Mikel Janin - The Battle of Azanulbizar

Long afterwards, Moria became the seat of an Orc-chieftain named Azog who slew King Thrór of the Longbeards, beginning the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. In 2793 the Dwarves sought revenge, assailing and sacking one by one all the Orc-holds they could from sacking Mount Gundabad in the north, to the Gladden Fields in the south. Most of the war was fought underground, in the mines, halls, and other dwellings the Orcs had occupied or created. The war ended with the Battle of Azanulbizar where Azog himself was slain.[4] Causing thousands of Orcs to flee south through Rohan, who found refuge in the White Mountains, troubling the Rohirrim for two generations.

The Orcs of the Misty Mountains virtually disappeared as a threat for Eriador and Wilderland but the Dwarves were unable to reclaim Moria.

Capucine Mazille - The Battle of Five Armies

After that, the Orcs lurked among the Misty Mountains, and in 2941, a group of them under the leadership of the Great Goblin, captured Thorin and Company in the High Pass. They escaped with Gandalf's help, killing the Great Goblin in the process.[7] Furious, the Orcs gathered at Mount Gundabad under the command of Bolg to seek revenge and secure domination of the North. The goblins were about to sweep southward when they learned of the death of Smaug and marched by night through the mountains and appeared unexpectedly at Erebor, almost immediately after the arrival of Dáin Ironfoot, and participated the Battle of Five Armies.[8] It ended in defeat for the Orcs (three fourths of their entire population killed), and left the Misty Mountains free of them for many years afterwards.[9]

In 2989 Balin left the Lonely Mountain and entered Moria with other Dwarves to start a colony and restore Khazad-dûm. The Orcs later counter-attacked, and in 2994, the entire expeditionary force was besieged and destroyed.[3][10]

By the time of the War of the Ring, the Orcs of the Mountains though permanently depleted, reclaimed Moria but fell under the command of Sauron and Saruman. They were, for instance, amongst the party of Orcs that captured Merry and Pippin at Parth Galen.[11]

The Longbeards eventually succeeded in recapturing Moria, which suggests that the Orcs of the Misty Mountains diminished.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men", p. 305
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Disaster of the Gladden Fields"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A: Annals of the Kings and Rulers
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Over Hill and Under Hill"
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Clouds Burst"
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
  10. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
  11. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Uruk-hai"
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