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{{War
{{War
| previous= [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]]
| previous=[[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]]
| next=[[War of the Ring]]
| next=[[War of the Ring]]
| name=War of the Dwarves and Orcs
| name=War of the Dwarves and Orcs
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| begin={{TA|2793}}
| begin={{TA|2793}}
| end={{TA|2799}}
| end={{TA|2799}}
| place=The northern [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Mount Gundabad]]
| place=Beneath the [[Misty Mountains]], from [[Gundabad]] southward to [[Moria]]
| result=Crippling defeat for Orcs, pyrrhic victory for Dwarves
| result=Victory for the [[Dwarves]]
| battles=[[Sacking of Mount Gundabad]],various battles in mines, strongholds, and colonies, [[Battle of Azanulbizar]].
*[[Durin's Folk]] settle the [[Ered Luin]]
|side1=Dwarves of all Seven Houses, [[Longbeards]], [[Firebeards]], [[Broadbeams]], [[Blacklocks]], [[Stonefoots]], [[Ironfists]], and [[Stiffbeards]].
*[[Orcs]] settle the [[White Mountains]] and trouble [[Rohan]] thereafter
| battles=[[Sacking of Mount Gundabad]], [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]
|side1=[[Durin's Folk]]<br>[[Dwarves]] of other Houses
|side2=[[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]]
|side2=[[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]]
|commanders1=King [[Thráin II]], [[Thorin]], [[Náin (son of Grór)|Náin]], various generals and/or kings or lords of the other houses
|commanders1=[[Thráin II]]<br>[[Thorin]]<br>[[Náin (son of Grór)|Náin]] †<br>[[Dáin Ironfoot]]
|commanders2=[[Azog]] and likely other Orc-chieftains
|commanders2=[[Azog]]
|}}
|}}
The '''War of the Dwarves and Orcs''' was a great war fought between the two races.


The '''War of the Dwarves and Orcs''' was a great war fought between the two races.
==Background==
In {{TA|2770}}, [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]] was [[Sack of Erebor|sacked]] by the [[Dragons|Dragon]] [[Smaug]].<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref>. Many of the [[Dwarves]] of [[Durin's Folk]] were rendered homeless and wandered through western [[Middle-earth]], trying to make as best a living as they could. After some years of wandering they settled down in [[Dunland]]. Among these Dwarves were [[Thrór]], formerly the [[King under the Mountain]], his son [[Thráin|Thráin II]], and his grandson [[Thorin II]].<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref><ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
=== Prelude ===
===Prelude===
After their home under [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]] had been [[Sack of Erebor|sacked]] by the [[dragon]] [[Smaug]], many of the [[Dwarves]] of [[Durin's Folk]] were homeless and wandered through western [[Middle-earth]], trying to make as best a living they could. After some years of wandering they settled down in [[Dunland]].<ref>{{App|A3}}</ref>
Thrór fell into despair after living many years in poverty, or perhaps the [[Rings of Power|Ring]] he wore was ultimately working evil upon its bearer.<ref name="Durin"/> Whatever the case, he decided to leave his people in {{TA|2790|n}}<ref name="TA"/> to seek out and look upon the ancestral halls of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]. Accompanied by his friend [[Nár]], they crossed the [[Redhorn Pass]] and came down to the [[Great Gates|East-gate of Moria]] where Thrór took it upon himself to enter alone, despite the warnings of Nár who stayed behind in the dale.  
Among these Dwarves were [[Thrór]], formerly the [[King under the Mountain]] now King of Durin's folk in exile, his son [[Thráin II]] and grandson [[Thorin II]] who became later known as Thorin Oakenshield.


Thrór fell into despair after living many years in poverty, or perhaps the [[Rings of Power|Ring]] he wore was ultimately working towards his bearers evil. Whatever the case, he decided to leave his people in {{TA|2790}} to seek out and look upon the ancestral halls of [[Khazad-dûm]]. Accompanied by his friend [[Nár (companion of Thrór)|Nár]], they crossed the [[Redhorn Pass]] and came down to the [[East-gate of Moria]] where the Thrór took it upon himself to enter alone, despite the warnings of Nár who stayed behind in the dale.  
Thrór was caught and slain by [[Azog]] the [[Orcs|Orc]]-chieftain of Moria, and after a few days Thrór's head was branded with Azog's name and the corpse was thrown out of the gate where it was found by Nár. He was left alive to serve as a messenger to the Dwarves that Azog now claimed to be the King of Moria, and to stay away.


Thrór was found and slain by [[Azog]] the [[Orc]]-chieftain who had ruled in Moria, and after a few days Thrór's head had been branded with Azog's name and the corpse was thrown out of the gate where it was found by Nár. He was left alive to serve as a messenger to the Dwarves that Azog now claimed to be the King of Moria, and to stay away.
When Nár returned to the king's son Thráin, he told him of his father's murder and the Orc's warning. For seven days without eating or sleeping the new king sat, until he stood and cried "This cannot be borne!"<ref name="Durin"/>


When Nár returned to the king's son Thráin, he told him of his father's murder and the Orc's warning. For seven days without eating or sleeping the new king sat, until he stood and cried "This cannot be borne!"<ref>{{App|A3}}</ref>
From 2790 to {{TA|2793|n}},<ref name="TA"/> the [[Longbeards]] responded to this tragedy by gathering an army, and calling on the other Houses of the Dwarves for war.


From 2790 to {{TA|2793|n}} the [[Longbeards]] responded to this tragedy by gathering an army, and calling on all the other six Houses of the Dwarves for war.
===Early Conflicts===
In 2793, the Dwarven host was ready, and departed for war; assailing and sacking all the Orc-holds they could find from [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] in the north, to the [[Gladden River|Gladden]] in the south one by one.  


=== Early Stages===
Little is actually known about the six year-long war; however, it is known that most of it was fought underground, in the great mines and tunnels of the Misty Mountains, where Dwarves excelled in combat.<ref name="Durin"/>
In 2793 the Dwarf host was ready, and set departed for war; assailing and sacking one by one all the Orc-holds they could find from [[Mount Gundabad]] in the north, to the [[Gladden]] in the south.  


Little is actually known about what happened during six year-long war, however it is know that most of the it was fought underground, in the great mines and tunnels of the Misty Mountains, where Dwarves excelled in combat.
===Battle of Azanulbizar===
{{main|Battle of Azanulbizar}}
The war came to its climax in {{TA|2799|n}}<ref name="TA"/> when the final battle was fought in the Dimrill Dale below the East-gate of [[Moria]], the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]], the same gate the Fellowship of the Ring would exit 220 years later. The Dwarves gained victory in this notoriously bloody encounter when reinforcements arrived late on the scene from the [[Iron Hills]]. Azog was slain by [[Dáin Ironfoot]].


=== The Final Battle ===
In its aftermath, King Thráin wanted to enter reclaim the city, but the Dwarves not of Durin's folk refused, saying that the city was not their Fathers' House; they had honored Thrór's memory by fighting and that was enough. [[Dáin Ironfoot]] also warned the king that [[Durin's Bane]] still dwelt within Khazad-dûm.<ref name="Durin"/>.
The war came to a climax {{TA|2799|n}} (Probably the January or February), when the final battle was fought in the Dimrill Dale below the East-gate of [[Moria]], the [[Battle of Azanulbizar|Battle of Azanûlbizar]]. The Dwarves gained victory in this notoriously bloody encounter when reinforcements arrived late on the scene from the [[Iron Hills]]. Azog was slain by [[Dáin Ironfoot]].<ref>{{App|A3}}</ref>


In its aftermath, King Thráin wanted to enter reclaim the city, but the Dwarves not of Durin's folk refused, saying that the city was not their Fathers' House; they had honored Thrór's memory by fighting and that was enough. [[Dáin Ironfoot]] also warned the king that [[Durin's Bane]] still dwelt within Khazad-dûm.
===Aftermath===
The war was very costly for the Dwarves and Orcs: nearly half of those involved in the final battle were killed. [[Náin (son of Grór)|Náin]], [[Frerin]], and [[Fundin]] were among the more notable casualties. Thráin II himself lost an eye and gained a limp, and Thorin was wounded when his shield broke and he had to use an oak branch to defend himself-hence the epithet "[[Oakenshield]]".<ref name="Durin"/>


===Aftermath===
The Orcs suffered irreparable damage to their numbers by war's end; ten thousand alone were killed in the Dimrill Dale.
The war was very costly for the Dwarves. near half of those involved in the final battle were killed and with a possibility of a couple thousand more being killed throughout the rest of the war.
Those that survived the final battle fled south, seeking refuge in the [[White Mountains]], where they troubled the [[Rohirrim]] for two generations.<ref>{{App|Stewards}}</ref> In {{TA|2851}}<ref name="TA"/> King [[Walda]] was slain with all his companions by Orcs near [[Dunharrow]].  His son [[Folca]] hunted down and eliminated the last Orc-hold in the White Mountains.<ref>{{App|Mark}}, ''Second Line''</ref>
[[Náin (son of Grór)|Náin]], [[Frerin]], and [[Fundin]] were among the more notable casualties. Thráin II himself lost an eye and gained a limp, and Thorin was wounded when his shield broke and he had to use an oak branch to defend himself-hence the epithet "Oakenshield".


The Orcs suffered irreparable damage to their numbers by war's end. 10,000 alone were killed in the Dimrill Dale, and It seem highly likely that at least that many were killed throughout the previous five years of the war.
As a result of such losses, the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] virtually disappeared as a threat to [[Eriador]] and [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]]. One and a half centuries later the Orcs of the North were recovering, but their numbers were permanently depleted to severely low levels in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Five Armies]] in {{TA|2941|n}}.<ref name="TA"/> It was here that [[Bolg]] son of Azog tried to avenge his father and the [[Great Goblin]], but in his failure, three fourths of his people were killed.<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref>
Those that survived the final battle (as many as 10,000 or so) fled south through [[Rohan]], seeking refuge in the [[White Mountains]] beyond, where they troubled the [[Rohirrim]] for two generations.
As a result of such losses, the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] virtually disappeared as a threat for [[Eriador]] and [[Wilderland]]. One and a half centuries later the Orcs of the North were recovering, but their numbers were permanently depleted to severely low levels in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Five Armies]] in {{TA|2941|n}}. It was here that [[Bolg]] son of Azog tried to avenge his father and the [[Great Goblin]], but in his failure three fourths of his people were killed.


The repercussions of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs likely even had an impact on the very outcome of the [[War of the Ring]].
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2020: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The conflict is referred to as the "''Sixth'' War of Dwarves and Orcs". A "Fifth War of the Dwarves and Orcs" is mentioned as having been triggered by the slaying of King [[Thorin I]] by Orcs in the [[Grey Mountains]]. The alliance of multiple Houses is known as the "Gabil'akkâ, the Unified Army of Dwarves", and the host assembled by Thráin in particular as the "Haban'akkâ".


== Noteable Veterans ==
:The Battle of Azanulbizar is portrayed in an extended flashback sequence in which the player assumes the role of "Hermáth Stormhammer", a close friend of [[Dáin Ironfoot]] who composed a detailed account of the war on the King's request. All seven of the Dwarven Houses, including their kings, participate in the conflict, despite some coming from very far to the East and not having any contact with the Longbeards since the fall of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]].
*[[Thráin II]]
*[[Thorin]]
*[[Frerin]]
*[[Fundin]]
*[[Náin (son of Grór)|Náin]]
*[[Dáin Ironfoot]]
*[[Balin]]
*[[Glóin]]


== See Also ==
:A potential seventh war, known at the time as the "War of Three Peaks", begins after the downfall of [[Sauron]] in [[Third Age 3019]], when King [[Thorin Stonehelm]]'s son Prince Durin assembles a dwarven host to reclaim [[Gundabad]].
*[[Battle of Azanulbizar]]
*[[Second Sacking of Gundabad]]


{{references}}<small>
== See also ==
::*''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]], Durin's Folk
*[[Sack of Erebor]]
::*''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]''
::* The Lord of the Rings, Return of the King, Appendix A, (2nd edition 1966), p. 356.  It mentions that the balance of the Orcs at Azanulbizar fled.
</small>


{{references}}
{{seq-start}}
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Latest revision as of 07:16, 30 January 2024

Previous war: War of the Dwarves and Dragons
Next war: War of the Ring
War of the Dwarves and Orcs
Mikel Janin - Battle of Azanulbizar.jpeg
Beginning: T.A. 2793End: T.A. 2799
Place: Beneath the Misty Mountains, from Gundabad southward to Moria
Outcome: Victory for the Dwarves
Major battles: Sacking of Mount Gundabad, Battle of Azanulbizar
Combatants

Durin's Folk
Dwarves of other Houses

Orcs of the Misty Mountains

Commanders

Thráin II
Thorin
Náin
Dáin Ironfoot

Azog

The War of the Dwarves and Orcs was a great war fought between the two races.

Background[edit | edit source]

In T.A. 2770, Erebor was sacked by the Dragon Smaug.[1]. Many of the Dwarves of Durin's Folk were rendered homeless and wandered through western Middle-earth, trying to make as best a living as they could. After some years of wandering they settled down in Dunland. Among these Dwarves were Thrór, formerly the King under the Mountain, his son Thráin II, and his grandson Thorin II.[2][3]

History[edit | edit source]

Prelude[edit | edit source]

Thrór fell into despair after living many years in poverty, or perhaps the Ring he wore was ultimately working evil upon its bearer.[3] Whatever the case, he decided to leave his people in 2790[1] to seek out and look upon the ancestral halls of Khazad-dûm. Accompanied by his friend Nár, they crossed the Redhorn Pass and came down to the East-gate of Moria where Thrór took it upon himself to enter alone, despite the warnings of Nár who stayed behind in the dale.

Thrór was caught and slain by Azog the Orc-chieftain of Moria, and after a few days Thrór's head was branded with Azog's name and the corpse was thrown out of the gate where it was found by Nár. He was left alive to serve as a messenger to the Dwarves that Azog now claimed to be the King of Moria, and to stay away.

When Nár returned to the king's son Thráin, he told him of his father's murder and the Orc's warning. For seven days without eating or sleeping the new king sat, until he stood and cried "This cannot be borne!"[3]

From 2790 to 2793,[1] the Longbeards responded to this tragedy by gathering an army, and calling on the other Houses of the Dwarves for war.

Early Conflicts[edit | edit source]

In 2793, the Dwarven host was ready, and departed for war; assailing and sacking all the Orc-holds they could find from Mount Gundabad in the north, to the Gladden in the south one by one.

Little is actually known about the six year-long war; however, it is known that most of it was fought underground, in the great mines and tunnels of the Misty Mountains, where Dwarves excelled in combat.[3]

Battle of Azanulbizar[edit | edit source]

Main article: Battle of Azanulbizar

The war came to its climax in 2799[1] when the final battle was fought in the Dimrill Dale below the East-gate of Moria, the Battle of Azanulbizar, the same gate the Fellowship of the Ring would exit 220 years later. The Dwarves gained victory in this notoriously bloody encounter when reinforcements arrived late on the scene from the Iron Hills. Azog was slain by Dáin Ironfoot.

In its aftermath, King Thráin wanted to enter reclaim the city, but the Dwarves not of Durin's folk refused, saying that the city was not their Fathers' House; they had honored Thrór's memory by fighting and that was enough. Dáin Ironfoot also warned the king that Durin's Bane still dwelt within Khazad-dûm.[3].

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

The war was very costly for the Dwarves and Orcs: nearly half of those involved in the final battle were killed. Náin, Frerin, and Fundin were among the more notable casualties. Thráin II himself lost an eye and gained a limp, and Thorin was wounded when his shield broke and he had to use an oak branch to defend himself-hence the epithet "Oakenshield".[3]

The Orcs suffered irreparable damage to their numbers by war's end; ten thousand alone were killed in the Dimrill Dale. Those that survived the final battle fled south, seeking refuge in the White Mountains, where they troubled the Rohirrim for two generations.[4] In T.A. 2851[1] King Walda was slain with all his companions by Orcs near Dunharrow. His son Folca hunted down and eliminated the last Orc-hold in the White Mountains.[5]

As a result of such losses, the Orcs of the Misty Mountains virtually disappeared as a threat to Eriador and Wilderland. One and a half centuries later the Orcs of the North were recovering, but their numbers were permanently depleted to severely low levels in the aftermath of the Battle of Five Armies in 2941.[1] It was here that Bolg son of Azog tried to avenge his father and the Great Goblin, but in his failure, three fourths of his people were killed.[6]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2020: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The conflict is referred to as the "Sixth War of Dwarves and Orcs". A "Fifth War of the Dwarves and Orcs" is mentioned as having been triggered by the slaying of King Thorin I by Orcs in the Grey Mountains. The alliance of multiple Houses is known as the "Gabil'akkâ, the Unified Army of Dwarves", and the host assembled by Thráin in particular as the "Haban'akkâ".
The Battle of Azanulbizar is portrayed in an extended flashback sequence in which the player assumes the role of "Hermáth Stormhammer", a close friend of Dáin Ironfoot who composed a detailed account of the war on the King's request. All seven of the Dwarven Houses, including their kings, participate in the conflict, despite some coming from very far to the East and not having any contact with the Longbeards since the fall of Khazad-dûm.
A potential seventh war, known at the time as the "War of Three Peaks", begins after the downfall of Sauron in Third Age 3019, when King Thorin Stonehelm's son Prince Durin assembles a dwarven host to reclaim Gundabad.

See also[edit | edit source]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion", "The Stewards"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl", "The Kings of the Mark", Second Line
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
Preceded by:
Long Winter
Major events of Middle-earth
T.A. 2793 - T.A. 2799
Followed by:
Fell Winter