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Battle of Dale

2009-02-17T14:03:24Z

24.244.218.36: /* The Battle */

{{sources}}
{{battle
|name=Battle of Dale
|image=[[Image:Jan Pospisil - Dale units vs. Rhun.jpg|300px]]
|conflict=[[War of the Ring]]
|date=[[March 17]]th - [[March 25]]th, [[Third Age 3019|T.A. 3019]]
|place=Outside [[Dale]] and then the [[Lonely Mountain]]
|result=Easterlings were driven out of Dale after a long siege.
|side1=[[Men]] of Dale and [[Esgaroth]], [[Dwarves]] of Erebor and [[Iron Hills]]
|side2=[[Easterlings]]
|commanders1=* [[Brand]]†
* [[Dáin Ironfoot]]†
* [[Bard II]]
* [[Thorin III Stonehelm]]
|commanders2=* [[Sauron]]
* unknown Easterling commander
|forces1=Possibly 4-6,000 Dwarves from Erebor and maybe some from the Iron Hills, and an estimated 3-4000 Men of Dale and probably Men from Esgaroth as well.
|forces2=Estimated 12-50,000 Easterlings.
|casual1=[[Brand]] and [[Dáin Ironfoot]] and many Dwarves and Men
|casual2=Thousands, virtually entire force
}}

The '''Battle of Dale''' was a decisive victory for the [[Free Peoples]] of Middle-earth during the [[War of the Ring]], even though it cost the lives of Kings [[Dáin Ironfoot]] and [[Brand|Brand of Dale]].

== Prior to the Battle ==
The [[Dwarves]] of the [[Lonely Mountain]] and the [[Men]] of [[Dale]] refused to acknowledge the Overlordship and alliance of Sauron. While his southern armies menaced Gondor, he sent an army north to extend his dominion to prevent the armies of his enemies joining together under one banner, which could have proved disastrous for [[Mordor]].

== The Battle ==
On March 17th of the year 3019 in the [[Third Age]], [[Sauron]] sent a large contingent of [[Easterlings]] to attack Dale. The combined forces of the Men of Dale under King [[Brand]] and the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain under King [[Dáin II Ironfoot|Dáin Ironfoot]] marched out to meet the Easterlings in battle. Sauron's forces were probably more numerous, though the army of Dale would have possessed an advantage due to their superior Dwarven-made weaponry. After three days of heavy close-quarters fighting, they were forced to retreat to the Lonely Mountain.

A few sturdy warriors led by Brand and Dáin fought bravely before the [[Gate of Erebor]], which was not taken. In the end, Dáin was killed as he stood defending the body of his ally Brand. Meanwhile, the defenders of the Mountain were able to withstand the siege, until the Easterlings broke into Erebor, then the Dwarves and Men of Dale were overthrown.

However, to the misfortune of the southern Easterlings, the forces of [[Gondor]] and Rohan defeated the main power of Sauron in the Morannon theatre on March 25th, causing the northern army to lose hope. Seeing the morale of their foes being sapped by news of victory in the south, the Army of Dale under the new Kings — [[Bard II]] and [[Thorin III Stonehelm]] — managed to lift the siege on March 27th and drove the Easterlings out of Dale.

== Aftermath and Repercussions ==

The battle was incredibly important in the course of the [[War of the Ring]]: if Sauron's Easterling armies had beaten the Dwarves and Men of Dale, they would have been able to join up with Sauron's forces from [[Dol Guldur]] in their attacks on the [[Woodland Realm]] of [[Mirkwood]] and [[Lothlórien]], tipping the scales in favor of Mordor. This would have enabled the Mordor-armies to flank the forces of Gondor and Rohan from the North and rear. [[Gandalf]] himself commented that had the Battle of Dale been lost in this way, the forces of the West would have been crushed regardless of the victory at the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]].

{{wotr}}

[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[de:Schlacht von Thal]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:3a:guerres:bataille_de_dale]]
[[fi:Laakson taistelu]]

Battle of Five Armies

2009-02-13T07:14:01Z

24.244.218.36: /* Other versions of the Legendarium */

{{sources}}
{{battle|
image=[[Image:Capucine Mazille - The Battle of Five Armies.jpg|300px]]|
name=Battle of Five Armies|
conflict=Battle of Five Armies|
date=[[November 23]], [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]] (speculative)<ref name="KWF99">[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' (second edition), page 99</ref>|
place=the slopes of Erebor, and the Valley and ruins of Dale|
result=Victory for the Elves, Men, and Dwarves|
side1=[[Elves]], [[Men]], [[Dwarves]], and [[Eagles]]|
side2=[[Goblins]], [[Wargs]], [[Bats]]|
commanders1=
*[[Gandalf]]
*[[Thranduil]]
*[[Bard the Bowman]]
*[[Dáin II Ironfoot|Dáin]]
*[[Thorin Oakenshield|Thorin]]†
*[[Gwaihir]]|
commanders2=
*[[Bolg]]†|
forces1=Over 1,000 Elf spearmen and archers, spec. 200 or so Lake-Men, over 500 grim, veteran Dwarves from the Iron Hills,<ref name="Thief">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[A Thief in the Night]]"</ref> many Eagles, Thorin's 12 Dwarf companions, and [[Beorn]]|
forces2="innumberable" Goblins and Wargs|
casual1=Many|
casual2=Complete destruction of force|
}}
<center>{{quote|Kill the Men! Kill the Elves! Save the gold For ourselves!|Dwarven warriors <ref name="RBH">''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]''</ref>}}</center>

The '''Battle of Five Armies''' was an important battle waged in [[Third Age 2941]]. The five warring parties were the [[Goblins]] and the [[Wargs]] against [[Men]], [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]] on and near the [[Lonely Mountain]], after [[Bard the Bowman]] killed the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]].<ref name="tCB">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[The Clouds Burst]]"</ref> Prior to the battle, the Men of the Lake and the [[Wood-elves]] had laid siege to the Dwarves in the Lonely Mountain, when [[Thorin and Company|thirteen dwarves]] in Erebor under [[Thorin Oakenshield]] refused to share any of the treasure they had recaptured from Smaug.<ref name="tGotC">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Hobbit]]'', "[[The Gathering of the Clouds]]"</ref>

==History==
=== Prelude ===

As a result of Thorin's refusal, [[Thorin and Company|the dwarves]] were trapped in a bloodless siege, with [[Thranduil]] and Bard hoping to wait him out. However, Thorin had sent messages of his plight to his relatives using as messengers talking [[Ravens]] that lived on the Lonely Mountain. These reached Dain II Ironfoot of the nearby Iron Hills, and he marched to Erebor with 500 heavily armed Dwarves, most of them skilled veterans of the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]]. When Dain's forces arrived, battle was almost joined between the two sides (now ''three'' armies were on the field) but at the last moment [[Gandalf]] intervened between the two and revealed that while they were bickering amongst themselves, the Orcs of the [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Grey Mountains]] under [[Bolg]] were using the opportunity to march against them. They had been incited by Gandalf's earlier slaying of the Great Goblin, but had now mobilized for a full-scale attack after hearing news of the death of the Dragon and the now relatively unguarded treasure hoard.

=== The Battle ===

The three commanders agreed that the Orcs were the enemies of all and previous grievances between them were put on hold in face of the greater threat. They arranged their forces on the two spurs of the Mountain that lined the valley leading to the now-sealed off great [[Gate of Erebor]]; the only entrance to the Mountain. The 500 Dwarves and 200 or so Lake-men formed up on one spur and over 1000 Elves on the other, while a light rear-guard lined across the mouth of the valley to lure the Orcs between the two, and thus destroy them. [[Bilbo Baggins]] tried to sit out the battle on the spur held by the Elves.

Soon the Orcs arrived (and now ''four'' armies were on the field), and at first the plan worked: they were lured into the chokepoint and took heavy losses. However, due to their superior numbers, the allied Free Folk did not hold the advantage long. The second wave was even worse than the first, and now many Orcs scaled the mountain from the opposite side, and began to attack the arrayed forces from above and behind, as the main wave pressed forward. The battle raged across the Mountain, and then a great noise was heard: Thorin and his 12 Dwarf companions inside the mountain had thrown down the stone wall they had erected across the mouth of the gates, killing many Orcs. Thorin and Company emerged, covered in the best armour and armed with the best weapons in Erebor. Then Thorin yelled, "''Rally to me my kinsfolk''," and charged down into the valley to join the battle with many Dwarves and many Men and Elves joining them. Thorin advanced through the Orcs' ranks all the way up to the gigantic Orcs that formed the Bodyguard of Bolg, but could not get past them. The battle degenerated into a chaotic close quarters melee, no quarter asked or given.

As the battle was turning fully against the Free Folk, a large army of Giant [[Eagles]] of the Misty Mountains arrived, led by [[Gwaihir]] the Windlord. Bilbo was the first to spot their entrance on the scene (now there were ''five'' full armies on the field of battle) and began shouting that "the Eagles are coming!", a shout that was then continued among the other troops of the Free Folk. At this point Bilbo was knocked in the head by a large stone thrown by an Orc from above on the Mountain, and he passed out. With the support of the Giant Eagles, the battle turned back against the Orcs. Then [[Beorn]] himself arrived at the battle, apparently having heard news that a large army of Orcs was on the move. This time he did not appear in his former shape of a giant Man, but in that of a gigantic Bear. Beorn drove through the Orc lines, but paused to carry the wounded Thorin out of the battle with his paw. Beorn then returned to the battle with even greater wrath and smashed the ranks of the Bodyguard of Bolg, ultimately killing Bolg himself. The Orcs eventually panicked and scattered, to be picked off by hunting forces from the victors later.

=== Aftermath ===

Thorin II Oakenshield had been mortally wounded on the field, and his nephews [[Fíli]] and [[Kíli]] died defending him as he lay on the ground. Thorin died soon after the battle, after meeting Bilbo one last time.

After defeating the Goblins and Wargs, the victors divided the treasure. Bard took [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]]'s fourteenth share of the gold and silver in return for the [[Arkenstone]], whereupon he shared his reward with the [[Master of Lake-town]] and gave the Elvenking [[Thranduil]] the emeralds of [[Girion]]. Bilbo, despite having forfeited his share, was offered a rich reward but refused to take more than two small chests of gold and silver.

It is said that three-fourths of the Goblin population was killed in the battle.

==Other versions of the Legendarium==
In its first versions, the conflict around Erebor ended after the Siege. While Bard and the Elvenking laid siege, Gandalf would arrive and negotiate a peace treaty. The actual Battle, dubbed by [[John D. Rateliff]] the "Battle of Anduin Vale", would be on the return journey, in what would later be known as the [[Vales of Anduin]]. There, Goblins and Wargs would waylay Bilbo. The Five armies in this incarnation were the Goblins, the Wargs, the Woodelves, the Woodmen, and [[Beorn|Beorn Medwed]] leading a troop of bears.<ref name=TBo5A">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], [[John D. Rateliff]] (ed.), ''[[The History of The Hobbit|The History of The Hobbit: Return to Bag-End]]'', pages 713-4</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1977: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]'':'''
:The "Five Armies" are the Elves, the Men, the Dwarves, the Orcs (and Wolves) and the Eagles. Bilbo estimates the force of the Men and Elves on 10,000, but this may not be an accurate estimate. The number of dwarves of Thorin and Company to have died is eight, but only Bombur and Thorin are named among the dead. Only Óin and Glóin are shown as having survived the battle.<ref name="RBH"/>

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit]]'':'''
:The battle takes up most of the last chapter. Because Bilbo is the main character, his role in the battle is much expanded. After leaving Thranduil, he has to fight his way to Balin, [[Lianna]], [[Corwin]], Gandalf, Beorn, and ultimately Bolg.
== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[de:Schlacht der Fünf Heere]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:3a:guerres:bataille_des_cinq_armees]]
[[fi:Viiden Armeijan Taistelu]]

Azaghâl

2009-02-04T12:45:22Z

24.244.218.36: /* Nirnaeth Arnoediad */

{{dwarves infobox
| image=
| name=Azaghâl
| othernames=Lord of Belegost
| life= ? - [[First Age 472|F.A. 472]]
| realm=[[Belegost]]
| parentage=unknown
| lineage=[[Broadbeams|Broadbeam]]
| hood=
| gender=Male
|}}

'''Azaghâl''' was the lord of the [[Broadbeam]] [[Dwarves of Belegost]] during the [[First Age]]. It is speculated that Azaghâl's father or grandfather may have been the original Father of the House of the Broadbeams, which he first awoke in the early [[Years of the Trees]].

==Dragon-helm==
The [[Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin]] was originally made for Azaghâl by [[Telchar]], but gave the helm to [[Maedhros]] for saving his life and treasure. Azaghâl was on the Dwarf road in [[East Beleriand]] when he was waylaid by [[Orcs]], and Maedhros came to his rescue.

==Nirnaeth Arnoediad==
During the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] ("Battle of Unnumbered Tears") the [[Dwarves of Belegost]] covered the retreat of the [[Sons of Fëanor]] by surrounding the Dragon [[Glaurung]]. They hewed at him with their axes, for his scales were not strong enough to shield the blows of Dwarf axes. And in his rage Glaurung struck down Azaghâl, and crawled over him. With his last breath Azaghâl drove a knife into his belly, and so wounded him that he fled the field with many of the dismayed Beasts of Angband following. The Dwarves raised up the body of their lord and bore him away; and with slow steps they walked behind singing a dirge in deep voices, as it were a funeral pomp in their country, and gave no heed to their foes; and none dared attack them.

==Etymology==
'''Azaghâl''' is one of the few [[Khuzdul]] names known. It is not determined whether this was his birthname or an epithet. Tolkien never gave a meaning, but it has been argued that it is connected to the [[Adûnaic]] verb ''azgara'', "to wage war". ''Azaghâl'' would then mean "warrior".

[[Category:Dwarves]]
[[Category:Broadbeams]]
[[de:Azaghâl]]
[[fi:Azaghâl]]