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Battle of Five Armies

2012-03-31T19:56:27Z

81.158.52.57: /* Prelude */

{{Countdown}}
{{disambig-more|Battle of Five Armies|[[Battle of Five Armies (disambiguation)]]}}
{{battle
|image=[[File:Matt Stewart - The Battle Under the Mountain.jpg|300px]]|
name=Battle of Five Armies
|conflict=Battle of Five Armies
|date=[[23 November|November 23]], {{TA|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=[[Orcs|Goblins]], [[Wargs]], [[Bats]]
|commanders1=
*[[Gandalf]]
*[[Thranduil]]
*[[Bard|Bard the Bowman]]
*[[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin]]
*[[Thorin|Thorin]] †
*[[Gwaihir]]
|commanders2=
*[[Bolg]] †
|forces1=Over 1,000 Elf spearmen and archers, est. 2-300 Lake-Men, over 500 Dwarves from the Iron Hills,<ref name="Thief">{{H|Thief}}</ref> many Eagles, Thorin's 12 Dwarf companions, and [[Beorn]]
|forces2="innumberable" Goblins and Wargs; possibly 6-15,000 or more
|casual1=Many
|casual2=Annihilated, not one survived
}}
<center>{{quote|Kill the Men!<br>Kill the Elves!<br>Save the gold<br>For ourselves!|Dwarven warriors <ref name="RBH">''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]''</ref>}}</center>

The '''Battle of Five Armies''' was an important battle waged in [[Third Age 2941]].<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> The five warring parties were the [[Orcs|Goblins]] and the [[Wargs]] against [[Men]], [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]] on and near the [[Lonely Mountain]].

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

Thorin and Company, including the "master-thief" [[Bilbo Baggins]] trying to
recapture the heirloom of their fathers' (and possibly to kill Smaug, too, and thus to recapture the whole Kingdom) had camped without at [[Erebor]] for some weeks. Bilbo had already done some exploration of the old hallways using the [[Back Door]] and had stolen a golden cup from the treasure. By this deed and by Bilbo's bold speech Smaug's anger was kindled.

Erroneously believing, due to some remarks Bilbo had made during his conversation with Smaug,<ref name="Inside">{{H|Inside}}</ref> that some scheme of the Men of [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]] was the reason for the Dwarves' (and Bilbo's) presence, Smaug flew to Esgaroth to show them who is "the true [[King under the Mountain]]".<ref name="Inside">{{H|Inside}}</ref> Smaug's fires burned down the whole town, but the dragon was killed by [[Bard|Bard the Bowman]]. The [[Elves of Mirkwood]] soon learned that Smaug had been killed and thus set forth to claim the treasure, believing there was no one left, who had a claim on it. Having heard of the disaster that had struck the befriended men, the Elven host turned aside to offer any help that could be provided. Some day after the Elves had arrived at the [[Long Lake]] a united host of Men and Elves set forth towards Erebor, believing that the Dwarves had been among the first casualties of Smaug's wrath. To their surprise they found Thorin and Company quite alive, the gate to the halls beneath Erebor barred by a wall and themselves treated as foes, coming armed towards the gates.<ref name="Fire">{{H|Fire}}</ref>

For several reasons Bard, being heir of [[Girion]], Lord of [[Dale]], claimed one twelfth of the treasure: first, he was the dragonslayer and without him, the Dwarves could never have reclaimed their old home. Second, a great deal of Dale's treasure had been robbed by Smaug and thus belonged rightfully to Bard and not the Dwarves. Third, the men of Esgaroth had helped the Dwarves on their journey and now had suffered severely; their whole city burned to the ground and their stocks being destroyed by Smaug, whose anger in the end was only risen by the Dwarves alone. Therefore they demanded compensation and Bard intended to pay it from the part of the treasure he claimed.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref>

Yet Thorin had become proud and bewitch by the gold and rebuked these claims. He would not fulfill any of the conditions as long as an armoured Elven host camped near Erebor. For the Elves did not have any claims on the treasure and Thorin himself had been imprisoned by the Elves.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref>

As a result of Thorin's refusal to share any of the treasure, [[Thorin and Company|the dwarves]] were trapped in a bloodless siege, with [[Thranduil]] and Bard hoping to wait him out.<ref name="Gathering">{{H|Gathering}}</ref> However, Thorin had sent messages of his plight to his relatives using as messengers talking [[Ravens]] that lived on the Lonely Mountain. These reached [[Dáin II|Dáin 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]]<ref name="Thief">{{H|Thief}}</ref>. 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.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

=== The Battle ===

The three commanders agreed that the Goblins 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 that remained unblocked (any others had been destroyed by Smaug long before). 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 Goblins between the two spurs of the mountain, and thus destroy them. [[Bilbo Baggins]] tried to sit out the battle on [[Raven Hill]] which was held by the Elves and were also Gandalf had withdrawn to.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

Soon the Goblins and Wargs arrived (and now the ''fourth'' and ''fifth'' army 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 people's did not hold the advantage long. The second wave was even worse than the first, and due to their sheer number now many Goblins 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 a section of the stone wall they had erected across the mouth of the gates, killing many Goblins. 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 Goblins' ranks all the way up to the gigantic Goblins that formed the Bodyguard of Bolg, but could not get past them. Also his battle-line was too short, the flanks unprotected and thus his attack soon crumbled, Thorin and many others were cut off and hard beset by Bolg's bodyguard. The battle degenerated into a chaotic close quarters melee, no quarter asked or given.<ref name=Burst>{{H|Burst}}</ref>

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 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 a Goblin from above on the Mountain, and he was knocked out.<ref name="Burst">{{H|Burst}}</ref> With the support of the Giant Eagles, the Goblins that had scaled Erebor were driven off. The tide was eventually turned, when [[Beorn]] himself arrived at the battle, apparently having heard news that a large army of Goblins 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 Goblin 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. The Goblins panicked and scattered, to be picked off by hunting forces from the victors later.<ref name="Return">{{H|Return}}</ref>

=== Aftermath ===

[[Thorin]] had been mortally wounded on the field, and his nephews [[Fíli]] and [[Kíli]] died defending him as he lay on the ground with shield and body. Thorin died soon after the battle, after he had met Bilbo one last time and had taken back the harsh words he had spoken before.

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 by [[Dáin Ironfoot]] but refused to take more than two small chests of gold and silver.

It is said that three quarters of the Goblin warriors of the North were killed on that day.<ref name="Return"/>

==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==
'''1966: ''[[The Hobbit (1966 film)]]'':'''
:The battle is completely omitted. Bilbo kills the dragon, and returns home.<ref name="Deitch">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=UBnVL1Y2src|articlename=The Hobbit.mp4|dated=5 January 2012|website=YouTube|accessed=10 January 2012}}</ref>

'''1977: ''[[The Hobbit (1977 film)]]'':'''
: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)]]'':'''
: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}}

[[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]]

Woodland Realm

2012-03-31T19:52:52Z

81.158.52.57:

{{sources}}
{{kingdom
| image = [[Image:Alan_Lee_-_%27%27Well%2C_here_is_Mirkwood%21%27%27_said_Gandalf.jpg|250px]]
| name = Woodland Realm
| meaning =
| type = Monarchy
| hidep=yes
| headofstate = King of the Silvan Elves
| executive =
| legislative =
| judicial =
| capital = [[Thranduil's halls]]
| language = [[Silvan Elvish]], [[Westron]]
| location = Northern Mirkwood, west of the [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]]
| populace= Nandor Elves
| currency =
| religious =
| holiday =
| anthem =
| formed = By part of the migrating Elves heading west toward [[Beleriand]]
| established = Years of the Trees
| reorganized =
| fragmented =
| dissolved =
| restored = Likely the [[Fourth Age]]
}}
The '''Woodland Realm''' was a kingdom of [[Silvan Elves]] in [[Mirkwood]], from [[Second Age]] onwards.

== History ==
=== Second Age ===
The Woodland Realm was established by [[Oropher]], a [[Sindar|Sindarin]] lord of [[Doriath]], after the [[War of Wrath]]. Unlike most Sindar Oropher and his household declined the [[Valar|Valar's]] offer to depart [[Middle-earth]] for [[Valinor]]. Instead he migrated eastward and became the King of the [[Nandor]] of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]]. Oropher and his household quickly adopted the language and customs of the Wood-elves, wishing to return to a simple existence natural to the Elves before they had been disturbed by the Valar.

For the duration of the Second Age the Woodland Realm encompassed the entirety of Greenwood, with its capital at [[Amon Lanc]]. It maintained closed contact with the neighbouring Silvan realm of [[Lórinand]] and its king [[Amdír]], who was also a Sindar refugee.

In {{SA|3430}}, Oropher and Amdír led their combined forces against [[Sauron]] as part of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]. During the [[Battle of Dagorlad]] the Silvan contingent refused to obey the orders of the [[Noldor]]in king [[Gil-galad]], instead charging the enemy alone. They fought valiantly, but being ill-equipped and outnumbered most were slain, among them Oropher.

=== Third Age ===
[[Image:Anke Eissmann - Thranduil.jpg|thumb|200px|''Thranduil'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]|right]]
Oropher's son, [[Thranduil]], succeeded him as king of the Woodland Realm and ruled for the duration of the [[Third Age]]. At some point during the first millennium, perhaps due to depopulation following the Battle of Dagorlad, the capital at Amon Lanc and most of the forest south of the old Dwarf road was abandoned. From this time the Silvan elves dwelt mainly in the [[Emyn Duir]], or Dark Mountains.

Around {{TA|1050}} an evil entity known as the [[Necromancer]] (later identified as Sauron) inhabited the abandoned halls of [[Amon Lanc]], and Greenwood grew infested with [[Orcs]] and giant [[Spiders]]. The Wood-elves were pushed yet further north by this darkening, and many landmarks were renamed: Greenwood became [[Mirkwood]], the Emyn Duir the Mountains of Mirkwood or ''[[Emyn-nu-Fuin]]'', and Amon Lanc was known as [[Dol Guldur]], the Hill of Sorcery.

By the middle of the Third Age the Silvan Elves of Mirkwood were much reduced in number and confined to the lands north of the [[Forest River]], living mainly in [[Thranduil's halls]]. They also become increasingly withdrawn and wary of strangers, though they did trade with the neighbouring realms of [[Erebor]] and [[Dale]], and imported wine from [[Dorwinion]] via the [[River Running]]. The former traffic came to an end upon with the destruction of Erebor by the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]] in {{TA|2770}}, who also attacked the Woodland Realm itself, putting further pressure on the beleaguered elves.

==== Quest for Erebor ====
[[Image:D.W. Luebbert - Into Mirkwood.gif|thumb|200px|''Into Mirkwood'' by [[D.W. Luebbert]]|left]]
In {{TA|2941}} Thranduil's people came across a band of [[Dwarves]] while feasting in the forest. Perhaps still resentful over the Dwarves' role in attracting Smaug to their borders, or simply cautious, they imprisoned them for trespassing onto their lands. The Dwarves' leader, [[Thorin]], however, would not reveal the purpose of their journey from their halls far to the west in [[Eriador]]. And after a few days imprisonment the dwarves escaped with the help of their companion, the [[Hobbits|hobbit]] [[Bilbo Baggins]] who had avoided capture using a [[The One Ring|magic ring]].

Some time later the elves heard that Smaug, provoked by the escaped Dwarves, had left Erebor to attack [[Lake-town]] where he was slain by [[Bard|Bard the Bowman]]. Thranduil immediately assembled an army to claim part of the dragon's hoard in compensation for the destruction it had caused to the Woodland Realm. On the way they met messengers from Bard seeking aid for the people of destroyed Lake-town. Thranduil accepted, bring food and helping the people erect shelters for the winter. He and Bard then joined forces and marched north to claim the dragon's hoard and divide it between Bard, the people of Lake-town, and the Wood-elves.

[[Image:Capucine Mazille - The Battle of Five Armies.jpg|thumb|200px|''The Battle of Five Armies'' by [[Capucine Mazille]]]]
On arriving however they found Thorin and his company alive, and he refused to relinquish his claim on any of the treasure and had secured Erebor against an assault. Thranduil and Bard then lay siege to the Dwarves, who awaited aid from their relatives in the [[Iron Hills]] to the east. Hoping to avert battle, the hobbit Bilbo Baggins earned the respect of Thranduil and was named '[[Elf-friend]]' by delivering the [[Arkenstone]] to the Wood-elves and Men so they could use it to bargain with Thorin. Negotiations were cut short however by the arrival of a host of Orcs and [[Wargs]] from the [[Misty Mountains]]. In the ensuing [[Battle of Five Armies]] many Wood-elves were slain, as was Thorin Oakenshield, but afterwards an agreement was reached as to the division of the dragon hoard.

In the same year the [[White Council]] led by [[Gandalf]] drove the Necromancer from Dol Guldur. The lifting of this shadow and the death of Smaug gave the Wood-elves the first period of peace they had experienced in two millennia. Though some animosity between them and the Dwarves of Erebor lingered.

==== War of the Ring ====
[[Image:Michael Kaluta - Legolas Draws the Bow of Galadriel.jpg|thumb|200px|''Legolas Draws the Bow of Galadriel'' by [[Michael Kaluta]]|left]]
This peace was broken by the outbreak of the [[War of the Ring]] in {{TA|3018}}. Sauron, now revealed as the evil presence which had abandoned (not, as it had been thought at the time, driven out of) Dol Guldur in 2941, from his rebuilt stronghold in [[Mordor]] sent a [[Nazgûl]] to reoccupy Dol Guldur. On [[Third Age 3018#June|20 June]] a force of orcs attacked the Woodland Realm from this base, the purpose of this raid being to provide a distraction and facilitate the escape of [[Gollum]] who had been entrusted to Thranduil's care by the [[Rangers of the North|Ranger]] [[Aragorn]].

In the wake of this Thranduil sent his son, [[Legolas|Legolas Greenleaf]], to deliver news of Gollum's escape to Aragorn and [[Elrond]] in [[Rivendell]]. Upon arriving Legolas participated in the [[Council of Elrond]] where the full details of Sauron's resurgence were revealed. Legolas was chosen to represent the Elves in the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], and journeyed with the [[Ringbearer]] [[Frodo Baggins]] towards Mordor. After the [[Breaking of the Fellowship]] Legolas continued to accompany Aragorn, fighting in the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]] and the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. Legolas also developed a close friendship with the dwarf [[Gimli]], son of one of Thorin's companions: [[Gloin]]. This friendship did much to improve relations between the two peoples.

Meanwhile, Sauron attacked the Woodland Realm in force, resulting in the bloody [[Battle Under Trees]]. Thranduil led his forces to victory, however, and then set about a campaign to clear Mirkwood of orcs and other evil beings. On [[Elven New Year]] he met [[Celeborn]], the king of [[Lothlórien]], and the two agreed to rename the forest [[Eryn Lasgalen]]. It was the divided: Thranduil was to rule north of the mountains, the forest south of the [[Narrows]] become [[East Lórien]] and the rest was given to the [[Beornings]].

=== Fourth Age ===
During the Fourth Age the Woodland Realm prospered, free of enemies. A group of Wood-elves led by Legolas helped rebuild [[Minas Tirith]] and settled for a time in [[Ithilien]].

The eventual fate of the Woodland Realm is unknown. Legolas, having seen the sea during the War of the Ring, eventually sailed west to Valinor, reputedly with Gimli at his side. Like all Elves the people of the Woodland Realm were destined to either leave [[Middle-earth]] for Valinor or to 'fade' and become rustic woodland spirits. Given Oropher and Thranduil's refusal to leave Middle-earth at the end of the [[First Age]] was rooted in a desire to 'live naturally' as Elves had before being contacted by the Valar it seems likely that the latter was the fate of Thranduil and most of his people.

[[Category:Elven Realms]]
[[Category:Forests]]
[[Category:Rhovanion]]