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Smaug

2010-01-18T01:08:58Z

Alexwg: /* History */

{{royalty infobox
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Smaug the Golden.jpg|300px]]
| name=Smaug
| othernames="the Golden", "the Dragon Dread"
| birth=Not long before the [[War of Wrath]]
| rule=[[Third Age 2770]]-[[Third Age 2941]]
| death=[[Third Age 2941]]
| age=Nearly 6,000 years
| realms=[[Lonely Mountain | The Lonely Mountain]]
| gender=Male
| race=[[Dragons|Dragon]]
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=Red-gold
|}}
{{quote|Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!|''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[Inside Information]]}}

'''Smaug the Golden''' was the greatest [[dragon]] of [[Middle-earth]] to survive into the [[Third Age]]. In the year 2770, he attacked the [[Lonely Mountain]] and drove the [[dwarves]] out, claiming their treasure as his own. Killing Smaug and reclaiming the treasure was the object of the quest in [[The Hobbit]].

== History ==
When Smaug attacked in 2770, he destroyed the town of [[Dale]] before entering the [[Lonely Mountain]] and slaying all the dwarves he encountered and burning all the towns with massive fires. After securing the mountain, he blocked all but two entrances: the main gate and a secret postern gate known only to the [[King under the Mountain|King Under the Mountain]] and his son [[Thrain II]]. Unknown to Smaug, the dwarf king [[Thrór]] and his son [[Thrain II]] had escaped through the secret postern gate, and others were not in the mountain when [[Smaug]] attacked. Following the attack, Thrór abdicated and gave the key to the postern gate to his son [[Thráin II]]. Smaug would remain in control of the Lonely Mountain for 170 years.

In [[Third Age 2850|T.A. 2850]], [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] -- while spying upon the [[Necromancer]] of [[Dol Guldur]] -- obtained the key and map to the secret postern gate from Thrain, who had become a prisoner there after being captured in [[Third Age 2845|2845]]. Having discovered that the Necromancer was actually [[Sauron]], Gandalf realized that Smaug would be a valuable ally to the Dark Lord. Gandalf therefore sought a way to destroy Smaug and re-establish the Kingdom Under the Mountain to reduce Sauron's power in the north.

Gandalf recruited Thráin's only living son and heir to his throne, [[Thorin Oakenshield]], to reclaim the mountain. In 2940, at the home of [[Bilbo Baggins]], he presented Thorin with the map and key, and accompanied them on part of their quest. The party reached the mountain in 2941, and they sent Bilbo in through the secret door to investigate. Bilbo stole a small but, heavy cup from the dragon's vast hoard of treasure which he used as a bed to sleep on, sending Smaug into a killing frenzy.

Smaug scoured the mountainside for the intruder, but was unable to find the secret door. Bilbo visited the dragon's lair again when Smaug returned and discovered Smaug's only vulnerability (a patch on his left breast unprotected by treasure that was otherwise embedded all over his underside) through riddling talk. Smaug left his lair again and smashed the mountainside with strikes of his tail, trapping [[Thorin and Company]] inside the secret passage, but not before the [[Thrushes|thrush]] that lived on the mountainside heard Bilbo describe Smaug's weakness.

Realizing that the men of [[Lake-town]] must have helped the intruders, Smaug flew there and attacked, setting the town aflame from the air. The dragon's scales were impervious to the arrows of the defenders, but the thrush also flew to the town and revealed the bare spot in Smaug's armor to [[Bard the Bowman]], who killed Smaug by firing the [[Black Arrow]] through the vulnerable spot. Smaug destroyed the town when he crashed onto it, then sank to the bottom of the [[Long Lake]].

==Smaug's Conceited Personality==
{{quote|My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!|Smaug, [[Inside Information]]}}

Smaug appeared to be very conceited, and believed in his own invulnerability. The very suggestion that the dwarves might seek revenge upon him sent him into a fit of hysterical laughter. It might be said that it was only his greed and laziness that kept him from continuing to plague the nearby lands. Like all dragons, he loved riddling talk, and revealed his own weakness because of his vanity.

== Treasure ==

Among the items in Smaug's possession were the [[Arkenstone]], a cup, and a [[mithril]] chain shirt, which was gifted to Bilbo by [[Thorin Oakenshield]], and was later to save [[Frodo Baggins]] life from the spear of a [[Goblins|Goblin]] Chieftain in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]].

== Aftermath ==

After Smaug's death, Thorin and Company claimed the treasure as theirs by birthright. This created a conflict with Bard and the Elven King [[Thranduil]] of Mirkwood, who each wanted a portion of the gold as reimbursement for all the damage Smaug had caused their kingdoms over the years. Thorin refused to share the treasure and declared war on both of them. The conflict eventually exploded because they heard news of approaching wargs and goblins. This became the [[Battle of Five Armies]].

== Etymology ==
The name ''Smaug'' is a translation of the "original Dalish" ''[[Trâgu]]'', and is related to the name [[Sméagol]]. According to [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]], the name Smaug is "the past tense of the primitive Germanic verb ''Smugan'', to squeeze through a hole" ([[Letter 31]]).

Note that the language of [[Dale]] is rendered with [[Norse]] terms.

Others have noted that Smaug has echoes of "smoke", "smog" and the Polish word for dragon, "[http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smok smok]", though it is pronounced with a long /au/.

==Inspiration==
{{quote|Fafnir in the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story is better; and Smaug and his conversation obviously is in debt there.|[[Letter 122]]}}

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Rankin-Bass' Smaug.jpg|thumb|225px|Smaug as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]]]
'''1977: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Smaug was voiced by [[Richard Boone]]. In this version, Smaug's face possesses more mammilian traits, resembling a mix between a cat and a bat. Also, his armor is never mentioned to be strengthened by lying on the treasure, but more resembles an extra padding of skin/scales, minus the bare patch.

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Smaug was voiced by [[James Horan]].

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Smaug|Images of Smaug]]

{{dragons}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Dragons]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]

Battle of Five Armies

2009-06-18T01:07:27Z

Alexwg: /* The Battle */

{{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 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. 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 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. 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.

Soon the Goblins 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 people's did not hold the advantage long. The second wave was even worse than the first, and 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. 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 a Goblin from above on the Mountain, and he was knocked out. With the support of the Giant Eagles, the battle turned back against the Goblins. Then [[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 himself. The Goblins eventually panicked and scattered, to be picked off by hunting forces from the victors later.

=== Aftermath ===

[[Thorin Oakenshield]] 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 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 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.

==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]]

Talk:Possible inconsistencies in the legendarium

2009-06-17T23:26:05Z

Alexwg:

Well, some of this borders fanwank. Also, I'm pretty sure Tolkien talked about most of it in ''Letters'' (the Ring of Thror comes to mind).

On another note: This page needs structure. Maybe a grouping of errors? "Character errors", "Scientific errors", "plot errors", or somesuch? -- {{User:Ederchil/sig}} 20:52, 15 June 2009 (UTC)
:They are too few for now to be categorized. [[User:Sage|Sage]] 13:24, 16 June 2009 (UTC)

* Character mistakes:
** Mouth of Sauron
**Gimli's Axe
**Possession of the Nine Rings
** Knowledge of the Palantír
* "Scientific"
** Distances
**Moon phases
* Plot errors
** Doors of Durin
**Eagles
**Shadow over Eregion
**Beater and Biter

::Looks good enough to me. -- {{User:Ederchil/sig}} 11:57, 17 June 2009 (UTC)

Possible inconsistencies in the legendarium

2009-06-17T23:24:45Z

Alexwg: /* Doors of Durin */

{{cleanup}}
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] paid a great deal of attention and detail in his [[Secondary world]] to preserve a realistic consistency.

However Tolkien's work has been admired, studied and analyzed by "[[Tolkienist]]s" over the years in various aspects and levels, and therefore some more or less obvious inconsistencies have been found to have slipped the author's attention. Most are revealed after more than one reading of the book and/or thorough study.

Fans of Tolkien usually accept that in any work there are usually plot holes. In a larger, far more detailed and realistic book we expect fewer (if any) plot holes, when in reality there is a far greater chance.

Still, at least some of the logical mistakes can be attributed to the characters themselves who said a contradicting phrase, since none of them is supposed to have the "omniscience" of the author.

==[[Mouth of Sauron]]==
[[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] mentions that the name "[[Sauron]]" (meaning "Abominable") is the name used by his enemies, and Sauron himself does not permit it to be pronounced.<ref>{{HM|TT}}, "[[The Departure of Boromir]]"</ref> Therefore it would be problematic, if not logically impossible for a servant of Sauron to have a title or name that includes the word "Sauron".

;Explanation: It could be that Aragorn was mistaken.

==[[Doors of Durin]]==
The name ''[[Moria]]'' means "Black Chasm" and was a derogatory description of the place which the [[Dwarves]] did not like much; it was given after [[Durin's Bane]] took over the city and it was overrun by [[Orcs]]. It is therefore a paradox why that name appears on the [[Doors of Durin]] (''Ennyn Durin Aran Moria''), made in the [[Second Age]], and with the consent of the Dwarves.

;Explanation: Possibly Moria was an older name than believed; also it is possible that the Dwarves could not read [[Tengwar]].
:Another "external" explanation is that since the translated [[Norse]] names [[Durin]] and [[Narvi]] are seen in the inscription, ''Moria'' may also be a "translated" name.

==[[Eagles]]==
One of the best-known alleged plot holes is why the Eagles came to carry Frodo and Sam back from [[Mount Doom]] but did not help them to fly the [[One Ring]] there. While there are many counter explanations, it is a logical gap why this idea was not proposed in the [[Council of Elrond]].
;Explanation: See [[Eagles#Flying_the_Ring_to_Mount_Doom|here]] for a more detailed discussion.
==[[Gimli]]'s Axe==
Upon arrival in [[Edoras]], Gimli mentions his axe has touched nothing but firewood since they left Moria. Yet he also claims he and [[Legolas]] killed several Orcs at [[Amon Hen]]. In the [[The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)|50th anniversary edition]], this was left unchanged; it would seem unlikely that Gimli would lament not killing any orcs for less than a week.
==Distances==
The distances of the Dwarves' travel to [[Rivendell]] in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' seem to have different proportions than those in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Tolkien tried to reconcile the ''Hobbit'' description with the scale of the ''LotR'' map but couldn't find an appropriate solution.<ref>{{HM|RS}} p. 204</ref>

While Frodo and his companions needed 28 days from [[Hobbiton]] to [[Rivendell]] (10.7 miles/day)<ref name="atlas">[[Atlas of Middle-earth]]</ref>, [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] calculated that Bilbo and [[Thorin and Company]] needed 38 days (17.5 miles/day)<ref name="atlas"/>. [[Andreas Moehn]] goes further and supposes that Thorin and Co. wanted two weeks from the [[Trollshaws]] till Rivendell (a distance which [[Glorfindel]] covered in two days), resulting in c. 48 days total.<ref>http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Durin%27s_Day.html</ref>.
;Explanation: The distances and days are not described in the narrative and can be measured only by references such as the moon phases and other fan calculations; therefore there can be a margin of miscalculation.
:In general, perhaps the Dwarves are by nature slower travelers than the Hobbits.

==Possession of the [[Nine Rings]]==
In ''[[The Council of Elrond]]'' [[Gandalf]] says that the [[Nazgûl]] kept their Rings by saying "The Nine the Nazgûl keep"<ref>{{HM|FR}}, [[The Council of Elrond]]</ref>. However in most other references, it is mentioned that Sauron had taken them.<ref>"the Nine [Sauron] has gathered to himself; the Seven also, or else they are destroyed." {{HM|FR}}, [[The Shadow of the Past]]</ref><ref>"You saw the Eye of him that holds the Seven and the Nine." {{HM|FR}}, [[The Mirror of Galadriel]]</ref> Furthermore, Frodo doesn't see any Rings on them on [[Weathertop]], and it is believed that if they did wore the Rings, they would have given them full [[Unseen|invisibility]] (the cloaks would be useless).

The line in the Council of Elrond represents Tolkien's earlier intention that the Nazgûl should still be wearing their Rings, but he later changed his mind and simply missed revising that sentence.

;Explanation: The phrase can be also interpreted as "The Nine keep the Nazgûl [in Sauron’s thralldom]"; or as the Nazgûl are Sauron's slaves, his owning the Rings may be equivalent to the Nazgûl keeping them.
:Additionally, perhaps Gandalf was mistaken.

==Moon phases==
Tolkien was particularly careful about the phases of the [[Moon]] in the ''LotR''. Yet some mistakes did elude him. See for example [[January 13]], [[January 16]], [[February 22]], [[September 22]].

In general, it is possible that Tolkien consulted a modern almanac to model the moon phases, and also possible that he confused the meanings of "New Moon": the astronomical (the moment when the moon is most dark) and the colloquial (appearance of the new crescent moon).<ref>http://shire-reckoning.com/moon.html</ref>

Another mistake appears in ''The Hobbit'': [[Bard I]] killed [[Smaug]] "at the rising of the moon"<ref>{{HM|H}}, [[The Gathering of the Clouds]]</ref> when "above the eastern shore ... the waxing moon rose higher and higher"<ref>{{HM|H}}, [[Fire and Water]]</ref>. However according to astronomy<ref>http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Durin%27s_Day.html</ref> a waxing moon rises only in the morning, after the sun.

;Explanation: The moon could have been setting in the ''west'' (not rising from the east), helping thus Bard kill Smaug.

==Shadow over Eregion==
While the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] traverses [[Hollin]], they see and feel a flying shadow over them, implied to be a [[Fell Beast]].<ref>{{HM|FR}}, [[The Ring Goes South]]</ref> However later we learn that Sauron did not permit the Nazgûl to traverse west of the [[Anduin]] after their accident at [[Bruinen]].

;Explanation: Possibly it was a "lost" or "disobeying" Nazgûl who despite orders found himself prematurely west of the Anduin, or simply something wholly unexplained and unrelated to the Fell Beasts.

==Knowledge of the Palantír==
After Gandalf learns that the crystal ball he has recovered is the [[palantír]] of [[Orthanc]], he tells [[Pippin]] the [[White Council]] didn't know any of the palantíri (presumably those of [[Gondor]]) survived disaster in Gondor (presumably the [[Kin-strife]]).<ref>"It was not known to us that any of the ''palantíri'' had escaped the ruin of Gondor." {{HM|TT}}, [[The Palantír]].</ref> However, after [[Denethor II|Denethor]] reveals his palantír, Gandalf claims to have known all along that the [[Stewards of Gondor|Stewards]] had it.<ref>"Though the Stewards deemed that it was a secret kept only by themselves, long have I known that here in the White Tower, as at Orthanc, one of the Seven Stones was preserved." {{HM|RK}}, [[The Pyre of Denethor]].</ref>
;Explanation: Gandalf could have learned about Denethor's Palantir by himself, after the last time the White Council was met.

==Beater and Biter==
The swords [[Glamdring]] and its "mate" [[Orcrist]] are found in a [[Troll]] hoard, said to belong to King [[Turgon]] of the [[First Age]]. They never appeared much in battle (Turgon fought only in the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]) and they were witnessed only by the Orcs of Beleriand.

After the fall of Gondolin, the swords somehow were carried from the ruin of [[Beleriand]] to [[Eriador]]. It is however questionable how the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] did recognize them by their names.

The Orcs don't seem to react similarly in the sight of Glamdring in ''LotR'', nor do they seem to recognise [[Narsil]]/[[Anduril]], which is much more "recent".

;Explanation: There can be several theories and explanations of how the swords and their fames are transported to Eriador. The only problem is the narrative of the ''[[Silmarillion]]'' which doesn't justify their significance to the extent of being remembered and recognized by the Goblins of the Third Age, even by tradition.

==Corrected mistakes==
{{stub}}
Several mistakes were simply remnants of earlier concepts of Tolkien, which later escaped his attention when revising the book. Some of them were corrected in the [[The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)|50th Anniversary Edition]].
===Bandobras' parentage===
The ''[[Prologue]]'' mentions that [[Bandobras Took]] was the son (not grandson) of [[Isengrim Took II]].
===Sam's birth===
In the second edition of ''LotR'', [[Sam Gamgee]]'s year of birth was added to ''[[The Tale of Years]]'' as [[Third Age 2963]]. This contradicts both a later entry in ''The Tale of Years'' and the [[Appendix C]] given as [[Third Age 2980]].<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]], page 716</ref>

{{references}}
[[category:debates]]

Possible inconsistencies in the legendarium

2009-06-17T23:18:53Z

Alexwg:

{{cleanup}}
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] paid a great deal of attention and detail in his [[Secondary world]] to preserve a realistic consistency.

However Tolkien's work has been admired, studied and analyzed by "[[Tolkienist]]s" over the years in various aspects and levels, and therefore some more or less obvious inconsistencies have been found to have slipped the author's attention. Most are revealed after more than one reading of the book and/or thorough study.

Fans of Tolkien usually accept that in any work there are usually plot holes. In a larger, far more detailed and realistic book we expect fewer (if any) plot holes, when in reality there is a far greater chance.

Still, at least some of the logical mistakes can be attributed to the characters themselves who said a contradicting phrase, since none of them is supposed to have the "omniscience" of the author.

==[[Mouth of Sauron]]==
[[Aragorn II|Aragorn]] mentions that the name "[[Sauron]]" (meaning "Abominable") is the name used by his enemies, and Sauron himself does not permit it to be pronounced.<ref>{{HM|TT}}, "[[The Departure of Boromir]]"</ref> Therefore it would be problematic, if not logically impossible for a servant of Sauron to have a title or name that includes the word "Sauron".

;Explanation: It could be that Aragorn was mistaken.

==[[Doors of Durin]]==
The name ''[[Moria]]'' means "Black Chasm" and was a derogatory description of the place which the [[Dwarves]] did not like much; it was given after the [[Durin's Bane]] took over the city and it was overrun by [[Orcs]]. It is therefore a paradox why that name appears on the [[Doors of Durin]] (''Ennyn Durin Aran Moria''), made in the [[Second Age]], and with the consent of the Dwarves.

;Explanation: Possibly Moria was an older name than believed; also it is possible that the Dwarves could not read [[Tengwar]].
:Another "external" explanation is that since the translated [[Norse]] names [[Durin]] and [[Narvi]] are seen in the inscription, ''Moria'' may also be a "translated" name.
==[[Eagles]]==
One of the best-known alleged plot holes is why the Eagles came to carry Frodo and Sam back from [[Mount Doom]] but did not help them to fly the [[One Ring]] there. While there are many counter explanations, it is a logical gap why this idea was not proposed in the [[Council of Elrond]].
;Explanation: See [[Eagles#Flying_the_Ring_to_Mount_Doom|here]] for a more detailed discussion.
==[[Gimli]]'s Axe==
Upon arrival in [[Edoras]], Gimli mentions his axe has touched nothing but firewood since they left Moria. Yet he also claims he and [[Legolas]] killed several Orcs at [[Amon Hen]]. In the [[The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)|50th anniversary edition]], this was left unchanged; it would seem unlikely that Gimli would lament not killing any orcs for less than a week.
==Distances==
The distances of the Dwarves' travel to [[Rivendell]] in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' seem to have different proportions than those in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Tolkien tried to reconcile the ''Hobbit'' description with the scale of the ''LotR'' map but couldn't find an appropriate solution.<ref>{{HM|RS}} p. 204</ref>

While Frodo and his companions needed 28 days from [[Hobbiton]] to [[Rivendell]] (10.7 miles/day)<ref name="atlas">[[Atlas of Middle-earth]]</ref>, [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] calculated that Bilbo and [[Thorin and Company]] needed 38 days (17.5 miles/day)<ref name="atlas"/>. [[Andreas Moehn]] goes further and supposes that Thorin and Co. wanted two weeks from the [[Trollshaws]] till Rivendell (a distance which [[Glorfindel]] covered in two days), resulting in c. 48 days total.<ref>http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Durin%27s_Day.html</ref>.
;Explanation: The distances and days are not described in the narrative and can be measured only by references such as the moon phases and other fan calculations; therefore there can be a margin of miscalculation.
:In general, perhaps the Dwarves are by nature slower travelers than the Hobbits.

==Possession of the [[Nine Rings]]==
In ''[[The Council of Elrond]]'' [[Gandalf]] says that the [[Nazgûl]] kept their Rings by saying "The Nine the Nazgûl keep"<ref>{{HM|FR}}, [[The Council of Elrond]]</ref>. However in most other references, it is mentioned that Sauron had taken them.<ref>"the Nine [Sauron] has gathered to himself; the Seven also, or else they are destroyed." {{HM|FR}}, [[The Shadow of the Past]]</ref><ref>"You saw the Eye of him that holds the Seven and the Nine." {{HM|FR}}, [[The Mirror of Galadriel]]</ref> Furthermore, Frodo doesn't see any Rings on them on [[Weathertop]], and it is believed that if they did wore the Rings, they would have given them full [[Unseen|invisibility]] (the cloaks would be useless).

The line in the Council of Elrond represents Tolkien's earlier intention that the Nazgûl should still be wearing their Rings, but he later changed his mind and simply missed revising that sentence.

;Explanation: The phrase can be also interpreted as "The Nine keep the Nazgûl [in Sauron’s thralldom]"; or as the Nazgûl are Sauron's slaves, his owning the Rings may be equivalent to the Nazgûl keeping them.
:Additionally, perhaps Gandalf was mistaken.

==Moon phases==
Tolkien was particularly careful about the phases of the [[Moon]] in the ''LotR''. Yet some mistakes did elude him. See for example [[January 13]], [[January 16]], [[February 22]], [[September 22]].

In general, it is possible that Tolkien consulted a modern almanac to model the moon phases, and also possible that he confused the meanings of "New Moon": the astronomical (the moment when the moon is most dark) and the colloquial (appearance of the new crescent moon).<ref>http://shire-reckoning.com/moon.html</ref>

Another mistake appears in ''The Hobbit'': [[Bard I]] killed [[Smaug]] "at the rising of the moon"<ref>{{HM|H}}, [[The Gathering of the Clouds]]</ref> when "above the eastern shore ... the waxing moon rose higher and higher"<ref>{{HM|H}}, [[Fire and Water]]</ref>. However according to astronomy<ref>http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Durin%27s_Day.html</ref> a waxing moon rises only in the morning, after the sun.

;Explanation: The moon could have been setting in the ''west'' (not rising from the east), helping thus Bard kill Smaug.

==Shadow over Eregion==
While the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] traverses [[Hollin]], they see and feel a flying shadow over them, implied to be a [[Fell Beast]].<ref>{{HM|FR}}, [[The Ring Goes South]]</ref> However later we learn that Sauron did not permit the Nazgûl to traverse west of the [[Anduin]] after their accident at [[Bruinen]].

;Explanation: Possibly it was a "lost" or "disobeying" Nazgûl who despite orders found himself prematurely west of the Anduin, or simply something wholly unexplained and unrelated to the Fell Beasts.

==Knowledge of the Palantír==
After Gandalf learns that the crystal ball he has recovered is the [[palantír]] of [[Orthanc]], he tells [[Pippin]] the [[White Council]] didn't know any of the palantíri (presumably those of [[Gondor]]) survived disaster in Gondor (presumably the [[Kin-strife]]).<ref>"It was not known to us that any of the ''palantíri'' had escaped the ruin of Gondor." {{HM|TT}}, [[The Palantír]].</ref> However, after [[Denethor II|Denethor]] reveals his palantír, Gandalf claims to have known all along that the [[Stewards of Gondor|Stewards]] had it.<ref>"Though the Stewards deemed that it was a secret kept only by themselves, long have I known that here in the White Tower, as at Orthanc, one of the Seven Stones was preserved." {{HM|RK}}, [[The Pyre of Denethor]].</ref>
;Explanation: Gandalf could have learned about Denethor's Palantir by himself, after the last time the White Council was met.

==Beater and Biter==
The swords [[Glamdring]] and its "mate" [[Orcrist]] are found in a [[Troll]] hoard, said to belong to King [[Turgon]] of the [[First Age]]. They never appeared much in battle (Turgon fought only in the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]) and they were witnessed only by the Orcs of Beleriand.

After the fall of Gondolin, the swords somehow were carried from the ruin of [[Beleriand]] to [[Eriador]]. It is however questionable how the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] did recognize them by their names.

The Orcs don't seem to react similarly in the sight of Glamdring in ''LotR'', nor do they seem to recognise [[Narsil]]/[[Anduril]], which is much more "recent".

;Explanation: There can be several theories and explanations of how the swords and their fames are transported to Eriador. The only problem is the narrative of the ''[[Silmarillion]]'' which doesn't justify their significance to the extent of being remembered and recognized by the Goblins of the Third Age, even by tradition.

==Corrected mistakes==
{{stub}}
Several mistakes were simply remnants of earlier concepts of Tolkien, which later escaped his attention when revising the book. Some of them were corrected in the [[The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)|50th Anniversary Edition]].
===Bandobras' parentage===
The ''[[Prologue]]'' mentions that [[Bandobras Took]] was the son (not grandson) of [[Isengrim Took II]].
===Sam's birth===
In the second edition of ''LotR'', [[Sam Gamgee]]'s year of birth was added to ''[[The Tale of Years]]'' as [[Third Age 2963]]. This contradicts both a later entry in ''The Tale of Years'' and the [[Appendix C]] given as [[Third Age 2980]].<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]], page 716</ref>

{{references}}
[[category:debates]]

Battle of Five Armies

2009-05-28T21:05:39Z

Alexwg: /* The Battle */

{{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 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. 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 that remained unblocked. 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 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.

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 people's 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 a section of 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 a Goblin from above on the Mountain, and he was knocked 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 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 himself. The Goblins 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 with shield and body. 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 by [[Dain II 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.

==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]]

Battle of Five Armies

2009-05-28T20:55:58Z

Alexwg: /* Aftermath */

{{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 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. 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 that remained unblocked. 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 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.

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 people's 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 a section of 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 with shield and body. 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 by [[Dain II 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.

==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]]

Balin

2009-05-28T20:44:24Z

Alexwg: /* Expedition to Moria and His Death */

{{dwarves infobox
| image=[[Image:Visitbilbo.jpg|300px]]
| name=Balin
| othernames=[[Lord of Moria]]
| life=[[Third Age 2763|T.A. 2763]] - November 10, [[Third Age 2994|T.A. 2994]]
| realm=[[Thorin's Halls]], [[Erebor]], [[Khazad-dûm]]
| parentage=[[Fundin]]
| lineage=[[Durin's line]]
| hood=Red
| gender=Male
|}}
{{Pronounce|Balin.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Balin''' was a [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] leader, the son of [[Fundin]] and elder brother of [[Dwalin]]. Balin was among the [[Dwarves]] that travelled with [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Gandalf the Grey]] in ''[[The Hobbit]]''.

==Life==
===Early History===
Balin was born in T.A. 2763, presumably in Erebor, 7 years before the coming of [[Smaug]]. He managed to escape and lived for a while in [[Dunland]].
Balin fought in the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]], and survived the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]. He was with King [[Thráin II]] on his own journey to [[Erebor]], during which the King was captured while wandering away from camp by Orcs. And after searching for him, Balin and the Dwarves that were with Thráin gave up and headed back to the Ered Luin to [[Thorin II Oakenshield|Thorin Oakenshield]], believing that the king was lost.

===Quest of Erebor===
In the [[Quest of Erebor]], Balin was the second-eldest on the quest (behind Thorin), and so he spoke for the party when they were captured by the [[Thranduil|Elvenking]]. He is described as "always their look-out man": He spots [[Bilbo]] approaching the [[Green Dragon]] Inn at [[Bywater]], he spots the trolls' fire, and he's the first to spot the [[Elves]] in [[Mirkwood]].

Conversely he did not notice burglar [[Bilbo Baggins]] (invisible by wearing [[One Ring|a magic ring]]) as look-out for the company after escaping the [[Goblins]] in the [[Misty Mountains]]. After this bit of trickery Bilbo gained respect from Balin for his abilities, unaware of the ring involved. He was the only Dwarf that volunteered to accompany [[Bilbo]] down the secret passage to Smaug. Of all the Dwarves in the quest, he is the only one known to have visited Bilbo afterwards at [[Bag End]].

===Expedition to Moria and His Death===
In [[Third Age 2989]] Balin left the [[Lonely Mountain]] and entered [[Moria]] with [[Flói]], [[Óin son of Gróin|Óin]], [[Ori]], [[Frár]], [[Lóni]], [[Náli]], and other Dwarves to start a colony. He was slain by an [[Orc]]-archer when he went to look alone in [[Mirrormere]] in the [[Dimrill Dale]] on the 10th of November of [[Third Age 2994|2994]]. Not long after Balin's death the entire expeditionary force was besieged and destroyed by Goblins.

The [[Fellowship of the Ring]] later discovered his [[Balin's Tomb|tomb]] in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]].

==Etymology==
Balin is a name that appears (among other sources and forms) in ''Le Morte Darthur''. The name's meaning is unclear but perhaps refers to bál which means 'fire'.
== Other versions of the Legendarium ==

In earlier versions Balin had a son named [[Burin]]. This Burin, was at the [[Council of Elrond]], and went with the Fellowship on their journey.
Burin was later scrapped and [[Gimli]] replaced him. He was also at one point the father of Balin, but Fundin replaced him here as well.

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | FAR | | | | | | |FAR=[[Farin]]}}
{{familytree| | | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree| | | FUN | | | | | | GRO | | |FUN=[[Fundin]]|GRO=[[Gróin]]}}
{{familytree| |,|-|^|-|.| | | |,|-|^|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| BAL | | DWA | | OIN | | GLO |BAL='''BALIN'''|DWA=[[Dwalin]]|OIN=[[Óin son of Gróin|Óin]]|GLO=[[Glóin son of Gróin|Glóin]]}}
{{familytree/end}}

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Balin|Images of Balin]]
{{sequence
|prev=[[Náin I]] 1,000 years ago
|next=[[Durin VII]] in the Fourth Age
|list=[[King of Khazad-dûm]] III 2989 - 2994
}}
{{Thorin and Company}}

[[Category:Dwarves]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]

[[de:Balin]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:nains:3a:balin]]
[[fi:Balin]]

Balin

2009-05-28T20:41:22Z

Alexwg: /* Expedition to Moria and His Death */

{{dwarves infobox
| image=[[Image:Visitbilbo.jpg|300px]]
| name=Balin
| othernames=[[Lord of Moria]]
| life=[[Third Age 2763|T.A. 2763]] - November 10, [[Third Age 2994|T.A. 2994]]
| realm=[[Thorin's Halls]], [[Erebor]], [[Khazad-dûm]]
| parentage=[[Fundin]]
| lineage=[[Durin's line]]
| hood=Red
| gender=Male
|}}
{{Pronounce|Balin.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Balin''' was a [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] leader, the son of [[Fundin]] and elder brother of [[Dwalin]]. Balin was among the [[Dwarves]] that travelled with [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Gandalf the Grey]] in ''[[The Hobbit]]''.

==Life==
===Early History===
Balin was born in T.A. 2763, presumably in Erebor, 7 years before the coming of [[Smaug]]. He managed to escape and lived for a while in [[Dunland]].
Balin fought in the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]], and survived the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]. He was with King [[Thráin II]] on his own journey to [[Erebor]], during which the King was captured while wandering away from camp by Orcs. And after searching for him, Balin and the Dwarves that were with Thráin gave up and headed back to the Ered Luin to [[Thorin II Oakenshield|Thorin Oakenshield]], believing that the king was lost.

===Quest of Erebor===
In the [[Quest of Erebor]], Balin was the second-eldest on the quest (behind Thorin), and so he spoke for the party when they were captured by the [[Thranduil|Elvenking]]. He is described as "always their look-out man": He spots [[Bilbo]] approaching the [[Green Dragon]] Inn at [[Bywater]], he spots the trolls' fire, and he's the first to spot the [[Elves]] in [[Mirkwood]].

Conversely he did not notice burglar [[Bilbo Baggins]] (invisible by wearing [[One Ring|a magic ring]]) as look-out for the company after escaping the [[Goblins]] in the [[Misty Mountains]]. After this bit of trickery Bilbo gained respect from Balin for his abilities, unaware of the ring involved. He was the only Dwarf that volunteered to accompany [[Bilbo]] down the secret passage to Smaug. Of all the Dwarves in the quest, he is the only one known to have visited Bilbo afterwards at [[Bag End]].

===Expedition to Moria and His Death===
In [[Third Age 2989]] Balin left the [[Lonely Mountain]] and entered [[Moria]] with [[Flói]], [[Óin son of Gróin|Óin]], [[Ori]], [[Frár]], [[Lóni]], [[Náli]], and other Dwarves to start a colony. He was slain by an [[Orc]]-archer when he went to look alone in [[Mirrormere]] in the [[Dimrill Dale]] on the 10th of November of [[Third Age 2994|2994]], not long before the entire expeditionary force was besieged and destroyed by Goblins.

The [[Fellowship of the Ring]] later discovered his [[Balin's Tomb|tomb]] in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]].

==Etymology==
Balin is a name that appears (among other sources and forms) in ''Le Morte Darthur''. The name's meaning is unclear but perhaps refers to bál which means 'fire'.
== Other versions of the Legendarium ==

In earlier versions Balin had a son named [[Burin]]. This Burin, was at the [[Council of Elrond]], and went with the Fellowship on their journey.
Burin was later scrapped and [[Gimli]] replaced him. He was also at one point the father of Balin, but Fundin replaced him here as well.

== Genealogy ==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | FAR | | | | | | |FAR=[[Farin]]}}
{{familytree| | | |,|-|-|-|^|-|-|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree| | | FUN | | | | | | GRO | | |FUN=[[Fundin]]|GRO=[[Gróin]]}}
{{familytree| |,|-|^|-|.| | | |,|-|^|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| BAL | | DWA | | OIN | | GLO |BAL='''BALIN'''|DWA=[[Dwalin]]|OIN=[[Óin son of Gróin|Óin]]|GLO=[[Glóin son of Gróin|Glóin]]}}
{{familytree/end}}

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Balin|Images of Balin]]
{{sequence
|prev=[[Náin I]] 1,000 years ago
|next=[[Durin VII]] in the Fourth Age
|list=[[King of Khazad-dûm]] III 2989 - 2994
}}
{{Thorin and Company}}

[[Category:Dwarves]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]

[[de:Balin]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:nains:3a:balin]]
[[fi:Balin]]

Orcs

2009-05-28T20:21:49Z

Alexwg: /* First Age */

{{race
| image=[[Image:John Howe - In Mordor.jpg|300px]]
| name= Orcs
| dominions=[[Mordor]], [[Angband]], [[Misty Mountains]], [[Mount Gundabad]], [[Angmar]], [[Utumno]]
| languages= [[Black Speech]]
| height= probably just above 5'
| length=
| skincolor= Sallow
| haircolor=
| feathers=
| distinctions= Short, sallow
| lifespan=
| members= [[Gothmog, Lieutenant of Morgul|Gothmog]], [[Othrond]], [[Azog]], [[Gorbag]]
|}}
'''Orcs''' were the footsoldiers of evil overlords - [[Sauron]], [[Morgoth]] and the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] - but also operated as a seperate faction throughout the Ages of [[Arda]].

==Appearance==

In Tolkien's writing, Orcs are described as humanoid, roughly human-sized, ugly and filthy. Although not dim-witted, they are portrayed as dull and miserable beings, who corrupt words (an insult to a philologist like Tolkien) and are only able to destroy, not to create. They have sour black blood.
Orcs are used as soldiers by both the greater and lesser villains of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' — [[Sauron]] and [[Saruman]].
In Tolkien's [[Sindarin]] language, "Orc" is ''orch'', plural ''yrch''. In his late, post-''Lord of the Rings'' writings (published in ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]])'', he preferred the spelling "Ork", evidently mainly to avoid the form ''Orcish'', which would be naturally pronounced with the c as /s/ instead of /k/. (In [[Languages|Tolkien's languages]] the letter ''c'' was always pronounced /k/.) It is also possible that the word is a Common Tongue Version of 'orch', the [[Sindarin]] word for Orc. The original sense of the word seems to be "bogey", "bogeyman", that is, something that provokes fear, as seen in the Quenya cognate ''urko'', pl. ''urqui''.

==History==
===Orgins and early Years===
The origin of Orcs is an open question. In Tolkien's writings, evil is not capable of independent creation, making it unlikely that the [[Valar|Vala]] [[Morgoth|Melkor]], who was obviously the first to produce them, could do that ''ex nihilo''.
In the ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' is mentioned that the Orcs were transformed from Elves — the purest form of life on [[Arda]] (the Earth) — by means of torture and mutilation; and this "theory" would then become the most popular.
There are hints in the ''[[The History of Middle-earth|History of Middle-earth]]'' series of books, (especially in ''[[Morgoth's Ring]]'' in the section "Myths Transformed"), that some Orc leaders, such as the First Age's [[Boldog]], or the [[Great Goblin]] encountered by [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and the Dwarves, may in fact have been fallen [[Maiar]] which had taken Orc form

Later under Morgoth's lieutenant, [[Sauron]], it has been suggested that Men were cross-bred with the Orcs. This process was later repeated during the [[War of the Ring]], creating the fierce Orcs known as [[Uruk-hai]].

Yet other Orcs may have begun as animals of vaguely humanoid shapes, empowered by the will of the Dark Lord (first [[Morgoth]], later Sauron): this may explain the references to their "beaks and feathers" in Tolkien's writings.

: ''The Orcs were beasts of humanized shape (…).'' ('Morgoth's Ring', "Myths transformed", text VIII')

It is certain all Orcs were dependent on the Dark Lord in various ways: after their leader was defeated, the Orcs were confused and dismayed, and easily scattered by their enemies. In the millennia after Morgoth's defeat and banishment from Arda, they were without a leader they degenerated to small, quarrelsome tribes hiding in the [[Misty Mountains]]. Only when Sauron returned to power did they begin to reclaim some of their old power. The same happened after Sauron's defeat by the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]]: only when Sauron returned as the Necromancer of [[Mirkwood]] did the Orcs become a real danger for Middle-earth again.

It is interesting to note that to an extent, Tolkien did not regard Orcs as evil in their own right, but only as tools of Melkor and Sauron.
He wrote once that "we were all orcs in the [[World War I|Great War]]", indicating perhaps that an orc for him was not an inherent build-up of personality, but rather a state of mind bound upon destruction.

[[Image:Warren Mahy-Orc Archer.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Orc by [[Warren Mahy]]]]
After their cration during the [[War for Sake of the Elves]], Orcs were used in every battle fought agains Morgoth. Orcs were the primary force of [[Morgoth]] in the [[Siege of Utumno]]. Although most of them were killed, some survived and entered the lands of [[Beleriand]] during Morgoth's imprisonment in [[Valinor]].
When [[Morgoth]] returned to [[Angband]] he created new hordes of Orcs and invaded [[Beleriand]], where the [[First Battle of Beleriand]] took place. Orcs fought also in [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]].

===First Age===
Orcs appear in the [[First Age]] as the core force of [[Morgoth]]. Hundreds of thousands of Orcs were bred in [[Angband]] to participate in the [[Battles of Beleriand]], which lasted 587 years.

Orcs first appear in the [[First Age]] in the [[Battle of the Lammoth]], where they were defeated by [[Fingolfin]] and his [[Noldor]]. Orcs participated in battles such as the [[Dagor Aglareb]], [[Dagor Bragollach]], [[Nírnaeth Arnoediad]], [[Fall of the Falas]], and finally in the [[War of Wrath]], were they were almost extinguished.

===Second Age===
Orcs do not play a major role in the [[Second Age]], as [[Sauron]] dominated over [[Middle-earth]] for short periods. Even though, Orcs participated in the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]], in [[Second Age 1700|S.A.1700]]. Moreover, the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] started a war agains the [[Dwarves]], resulting in the [[First Sack of Gundabad]] ind its occupation by the Orcs. Finally, Orcs were the core force of [[Sauron]] during the [[War of the Last Alliance]], and fougth in great battles such as the [[Battle of Dagorlad]] and the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]].

===Third Age===
During the [[Third Age]], Orcs were the standard troops of the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] and [[Sauron]] (both in [[Mordor]] and in [[Dol Guldur]]).

In [[Angmar]], Orcs fought in the [[Angmar War]]. Years Later, they invaded [[Eriador]] under the leadership of the [[Necromancer]].

The [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]], one of the few independent Orcish societies, and their leader [[Azog]] started out the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]], and after their defeat they retreated in their caves. They appeared again in [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]], when the [[Battle of Five Armies]] took place.

The [[Orcs of Mordor]] fought in major battles during the [[War of the Ring]], such as the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], but the entire [[Mordor]] force was destroyed in the [[Battle of the Morannon]].

The Orcs in [[Dol Guldur]] remaind in [[Mirkwood]] until the [[Fall of Dol Guldur]], one of the lsat battles of the War of the Ring.

===Fourth Age and beyond===
Although the entire force of [[Sauron]] was destroyed after the [[War of the Ring]], it is assumed that many Orcs continiued to live beneath the [[Misty Mountains]] and cause little trouble.

==Kinds of Orcs==

Tolkien loosely implies that there are actually several different breeds of Orcs, not simply in the wide variety in clans, but strains of Orc that were specifically bred for certain tasks.
:The Fellowship usually encounters the large soldier-Orcs bred for war, and sometimes the "snaga" variety which were more geared towards being laborers. However, a strong hint at the variety of Orc breeds is when Frodo and Sam are in Mordor, and realize that they are being followed by two Orcs, then hide to observe them. One of the Orcs is a normal soldier-Orc, but the other is described as a "Snuffler", a breed specifically geared towards being a tracker. This tracker-Orc was, compared to the soldier-Orc, physically unimposing, but had vastly overdeveloped sensory organs, particularly a single giant nostril. While physically weak compared to the soldier-Orc, the "snuffler" was able to skillfully kill the soldier-orc when they got into a disagreement.
*[[Snaga]]
*[[Orcs of Mordor]]
*[[Half-Orcs]]
*[[Uruk-hai]]
*[[Hobgoblins]] (perhaps same as Uruk-hai)

==Controversery==
Tolkien's Orcs have been a subject of criticism of [[racism]] as they are described as ''less-handsome Mongolians...'', black-skinned and monkey-resembling. Another possible offensive theme present in orcs (though not necessarily racist), is the fact that when the orcs talk, they often use the same phrases and accents that the English working-class is known to use.

==Other Versions==
===Orgin===
According to the oldest "theory" proposed by Tolkien, Orcs were made of stone and slime through the sorcery of Morgoth. But, Tolkien later changed the legendarium so that Morgoth could no longer produce life on his own.

While Tolkien originally saw all Orcs as descended from tortured Elves, later comments of his indicate, according to [[Christopher Tolkien]] in ''Morgoth's Ring'' ("Myths Transformed, text X"), that he began to feel uncomfortable with the theory that orcs were descending from Elves. However, Tolkien died before he could complete his upheaval of the cosmology, and in the published version of ''The Silmarillion'', the Elf origin of Orcs was adopted.

===Orcs and goblins===
[[Image:Roger Thomasson - Orc.jpg|thumb|''Orc'' by [[Roger Thomasson]].]]
In ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Tolkien used the word "[[Goblins|goblin]]" for Orcs, because he had not yet identified the world of ''The Hobbit'' with Middle-earth (which predated ''The Hobbit'' by several decades, in early writings which would later become ''The Silmarillion''). Fortunately Tolkien did include some references to his mythology in the ''Hobbit'', which later allowed him to identify the lands of the Hobbit with his Middle-earth.
In ''The Lord of the Rings'', "Orc" is used predominantly, and "goblin" mostly in the [[Hobbits]]' speech.
This change can be seen either as a part of the shift towards the use of Elvish words that occurred during the period between the writing of ''The Hobbit'' and the writing of ''The Lord of the Rings'', or a translation of the Hobbits' more colloquial manner (if we "accept" the books' authenticity and regard Tolkien merely as a translator). So essentially the race is correctly named "Orc", and "Goblin" is a colloquial "slang term" for Orcs used by Hobbits and sometimes picked up by Men and Elves. It is possible that "goblin" refers to the those of the orcish race who are not under the control of Sauron (or Morgoth), whereas using "orc" directly would refer to servants of (whichever) Dark Lord. Tolkien did mention several times that orcs were not inherently evil, something this theory would partly emphasize.

The original edition of the Hobbit and early drafts of ''The Lord of the Rings'' first used 'goblin' everywhere and used '[[Hobgoblins|hobgoblin]]' for larger, more evil goblins: when goblins were replaced with Orcs Tolkien invented the term [[Uruk-hai]] for his more evil Orcs.
==See Also==
*[[:Category:Images of Orcs|Images of Orcs]]
*[[Lifespan of Orcs]]
*[[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]]
[[de:Orks]]
[[Category:Races]]
[[Category:Orcs]]

War of the Dwarves and Orcs

2009-04-18T01:20:06Z

Alexwg: /* Noteable Veterans */

{{War
| previous= [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]]
| next=[[War of the Ring]]
| name=War of the Dwarves and Orcs
| image=[[Image:Mikel Janin - Battle of Azanulbizar.jpeg|300px]]
| begin=[[Third Age 2763 | 2763]] TA
| end=[[Third Age 2799 | 2799]] TA
| place=The northern [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Mount Gundabad]]
| result=Dwarves virtually wipe out the Orcs of the Misty Mountains, but suffer heavy casualites themselves in the final battle.
| battles=[[Second Sacking of Gundabad]], various battles in mines, strongholds, and colonies, [[Battle of Azanulbizar]].
|side1=Dwarves of all Seven Houses, Longbeards, Firebeards, Broadbeams, Blacklocks, Stonefoots, Ironfists, and Stiffbeards.
|side2=Orcs from all over the Misty Mountains, possibly some Trolls.
|commanders1=King [[Thráin II]], [[Thorin Oakenshield]], [[Náin son of Grór]], various generals and/or kings or lords of the other houses.
|commanders2=[[Azog]] and possibly various other Orc-chieftains.
|}}

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

== Backround ==

The War began when the elderly exiled [[dwarven]] King [[Thrór]], [[King Under the Mountain]], after living many years in poverty [[Thrór]], wandered alone except for his friend [[Nár]] into [[Moria]] and was murdered by [[Azog]] the [[Goblin]] chieftain of [[Moria]] [[Third Age 2790]]. But [[Thrór]]'s friend [[Nár]] let go by Azog to tell his people never to come to Moria returned to the [[Blue Mountain]]'s.

When Nár returned to the king's son [[Thráin II]], he told him of his father's murder. Thráin sat for seven days without eating or sleeping, until he stood and said "This cannot be borne!". Thus began the war.

From 2790 to [[Third Age 2793|2793]] the ''Longbeards'' that were [[Durin's folk]] responded to this tragedy by gathering their forces, and calling on all the other Houses of the Dwarves for war, but it took them three years to fully gather their strength.

== Beginning ==
In 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.

Little is known about the war, but we do know most of the war was fought underground, in the great mines and tunnels of the Misty Mountains, where Dwarves excel in combat.

== The Final Battle ==
The war climaxed in 2799, when the final battle was fought in the valley outside the eastern gates of [[Moria]], the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]. The Dwarves finally won this notoriously bloody encounter when reinforcements arrived late on the scene from the [[Iron Hills]].

After the battle, King [[Thráin II ]] wanted to enter Moria and reclaim it, but the Dwarves not of Durin's folk refused, saying that the city was not their Fathers' House, and they had honoured Thrór's memory by fighting, and this was enough. [[Dáin II Ironfoot]] also warned Thráin that [[Durin's Bane]] still dwelt within [[Khazad-dûm]].

== Aftermath and Repercussions ==
The war was very costly for the Dwarves. Half of those involved in Nanduhirion were killed and possibly a couple thousand more were killed throughout the rest of the war. [[Náin son of Grór]], [[Frerin]] second son of [[Thráin II]], and [[Fundin]] the father of [[Balin]] were among the more noted casualties. Thráin II himself lost an eye, and Thorin was wounded when his shield broke and he had to use an oak branch to defend himself. This led to his later name [[Thorin Oakenshield]].

During the conflict many many thousands of Orcs fleeing south through [[Rohan]], trying to claim a refuge in the [[White Mountains]] beyond, troubled the Rohirrim for two generations.

Other effects of the war were that the Orcs of the Misty Mountains virtually disappeared as a threat for [[Eriador]] and [[Wilderland]].
150 years later the Orcs of the North were beginning to recover, but their population was further reduced during the [[Battle of Five Armies]] in 2941, where [[Bolg]] son of Azog tried to avenge his father, and in the process destroying three fourths of the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]].

It is probable that without the War the later [[War of the Ring]] would have been lost in the north, and the [[Ring-bearer]] might never have made it south to [[Mordor]].

== Noteable Veterans ==
*Thráin II King of Durin's folk
*Thorin Oakenshield, and Frerin
*Fundin, [[Balin]], and possibly [[Dwalin]]
*[[Glóin son of Gróin|Glóin]], and possibly [[Óin]], and [[Gróin]]
*Náin, and Dáin II Ironfoot

== See Also ==
*[[Battle of Azanulbizar]]
*[[Second Sacking of Gundabad]]

== Sources ==
*''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]
*''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]''
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]

War of the Dwarves and Orcs

2009-04-18T01:17:23Z

Alexwg: /* The Final Battle */

{{War
| previous= [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]]
| next=[[War of the Ring]]
| name=War of the Dwarves and Orcs
| image=[[Image:Mikel Janin - Battle of Azanulbizar.jpeg|300px]]
| begin=[[Third Age 2763 | 2763]] TA
| end=[[Third Age 2799 | 2799]] TA
| place=The northern [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Mount Gundabad]]
| result=Dwarves virtually wipe out the Orcs of the Misty Mountains, but suffer heavy casualites themselves in the final battle.
| battles=[[Second Sacking of Gundabad]], various battles in mines, strongholds, and colonies, [[Battle of Azanulbizar]].
|side1=Dwarves of all Seven Houses, Longbeards, Firebeards, Broadbeams, Blacklocks, Stonefoots, Ironfists, and Stiffbeards.
|side2=Orcs from all over the Misty Mountains, possibly some Trolls.
|commanders1=King [[Thráin II]], [[Thorin Oakenshield]], [[Náin son of Grór]], various generals and/or kings or lords of the other houses.
|commanders2=[[Azog]] and possibly various other Orc-chieftains.
|}}

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

== Backround ==

The War began when the elderly exiled [[dwarven]] King [[Thrór]], [[King Under the Mountain]], after living many years in poverty [[Thrór]], wandered alone except for his friend [[Nár]] into [[Moria]] and was murdered by [[Azog]] the [[Goblin]] chieftain of [[Moria]] [[Third Age 2790]]. But [[Thrór]]'s friend [[Nár]] let go by Azog to tell his people never to come to Moria returned to the [[Blue Mountain]]'s.

When Nár returned to the king's son [[Thráin II]], he told him of his father's murder. Thráin sat for seven days without eating or sleeping, until he stood and said "This cannot be borne!". Thus began the war.

From 2790 to [[Third Age 2793|2793]] the ''Longbeards'' that were [[Durin's folk]] responded to this tragedy by gathering their forces, and calling on all the other Houses of the Dwarves for war, but it took them three years to fully gather their strength.

== Beginning ==
In 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.

Little is known about the war, but we do know most of the war was fought underground, in the great mines and tunnels of the Misty Mountains, where Dwarves excel in combat.

== The Final Battle ==
The war climaxed in 2799, when the final battle was fought in the valley outside the eastern gates of [[Moria]], the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]. The Dwarves finally won this notoriously bloody encounter when reinforcements arrived late on the scene from the [[Iron Hills]].

After the battle, King [[Thráin II ]] wanted to enter Moria and reclaim it, but the Dwarves not of Durin's folk refused, saying that the city was not their Fathers' House, and they had honoured Thrór's memory by fighting, and this was enough. [[Dáin II Ironfoot]] also warned Thráin that [[Durin's Bane]] still dwelt within [[Khazad-dûm]].

== Aftermath and Repercussions ==
The war was very costly for the Dwarves. Half of those involved in Nanduhirion were killed and possibly a couple thousand more were killed throughout the rest of the war. [[Náin son of Grór]], [[Frerin]] second son of [[Thráin II]], and [[Fundin]] the father of [[Balin]] were among the more noted casualties. Thráin II himself lost an eye, and Thorin was wounded when his shield broke and he had to use an oak branch to defend himself. This led to his later name [[Thorin Oakenshield]].

During the conflict many many thousands of Orcs fleeing south through [[Rohan]], trying to claim a refuge in the [[White Mountains]] beyond, troubled the Rohirrim for two generations.

Other effects of the war were that the Orcs of the Misty Mountains virtually disappeared as a threat for [[Eriador]] and [[Wilderland]].
150 years later the Orcs of the North were beginning to recover, but their population was further reduced during the [[Battle of Five Armies]] in 2941, where [[Bolg]] son of Azog tried to avenge his father, and in the process destroying three fourths of the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]].

It is probable that without the War the later [[War of the Ring]] would have been lost in the north, and the [[Ring-bearer]] might never have made it south to [[Mordor]].

== Noteable Veterans ==
*Thráin II
*Thorin Oakenshield, and Frerin
*Fundin, [[Balin]], and possibly [[Dwalin]]
*[[Glóin son of Gróin|Glóin]], and possibly [[Óin]], and [[Gróin]]
*Náin, and Dáin II Ironfoot

== See Also ==
*[[Battle of Azanulbizar]]
*[[Second Sacking of Gundabad]]

== Sources ==
*''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]
*''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]''
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]

War of the Dwarves and Orcs

2009-04-18T01:06:32Z

Alexwg: /* Backround */

{{War
| previous= [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]]
| next=[[War of the Ring]]
| name=War of the Dwarves and Orcs
| image=[[Image:Mikel Janin - Battle of Azanulbizar.jpeg|300px]]
| begin=[[Third Age 2763 | 2763]] TA
| end=[[Third Age 2799 | 2799]] TA
| place=The northern [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Mount Gundabad]]
| result=Dwarves virtually wipe out the Orcs of the Misty Mountains, but suffer heavy casualites themselves in the final battle.
| battles=[[Second Sacking of Gundabad]], various battles in mines, strongholds, and colonies, [[Battle of Azanulbizar]].
|side1=Dwarves of all Seven Houses, Longbeards, Firebeards, Broadbeams, Blacklocks, Stonefoots, Ironfists, and Stiffbeards.
|side2=Orcs from all over the Misty Mountains, possibly some Trolls.
|commanders1=King [[Thráin II]], [[Thorin Oakenshield]], [[Náin son of Grór]], various generals and/or kings or lords of the other houses.
|commanders2=[[Azog]] and possibly various other Orc-chieftains.
|}}

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

== Backround ==

The War began when the elderly exiled [[dwarven]] King [[Thrór]], [[King Under the Mountain]], after living many years in poverty [[Thrór]], wandered alone except for his friend [[Nár]] into [[Moria]] and was murdered by [[Azog]] the [[Goblin]] chieftain of [[Moria]] [[Third Age 2790]]. But [[Thrór]]'s friend [[Nár]] let go by Azog to tell his people never to come to Moria returned to the [[Blue Mountain]]'s.

When Nár returned to the king's son [[Thráin II]], he told him of his father's murder. Thráin sat for seven days without eating or sleeping, until he stood and said "This cannot be borne!". Thus began the war.

From 2790 to [[Third Age 2793|2793]] the ''Longbeards'' that were [[Durin's folk]] responded to this tragedy by gathering their forces, and calling on all the other Houses of the Dwarves for war, but it took them three years to fully gather their strength.

== Beginning ==
In 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.

Little is known about the war, but we do know most of the war was fought underground, in the great mines and tunnels of the Misty Mountains, where Dwarves excel in combat.

== The Final Battle ==
The war climaxed in 2799, when the final battle was fought in the valley outside the eastern gates of Moria, the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]. The Dwarves finally won this notoriously bloody encounter when reinforcements arrived late on the scene from the [[Iron Hills]].

After the battle, King [[Thráin]] wanted to enter Moria and reclaim it, but the Dwarves not of Durin's folk refused, saying that the city was not their Fathers' House, and they had honoured Thrór's memory by fighting, and this was enough. [[Dáin II Ironfoot]] also warned Thráin that [[Durin's Bane]] still dwelt within Khazad-dûm, and that forces beyond the Dwarves would have to defeat it before they could reenter the city.

== Aftermath and Repercussions ==
The war was very costly for the Dwarves. Half of those involved in Nanduhirion were killed and possibly a couple thousand more were killed throughout the rest of the war. [[Náin son of Grór]], [[Frerin]] second son of [[Thráin II]], and [[Fundin]] the father of [[Balin]] were among the more noted casualties. Thráin II himself lost an eye, and Thorin was wounded when his shield broke and he had to use an oak branch to defend himself. This led to his later name [[Thorin Oakenshield]].

During the conflict many many thousands of Orcs fleeing south through [[Rohan]], trying to claim a refuge in the [[White Mountains]] beyond, troubled the Rohirrim for two generations.

Other effects of the war were that the Orcs of the Misty Mountains virtually disappeared as a threat for [[Eriador]] and [[Wilderland]].
150 years later the Orcs of the North were beginning to recover, but their population was further reduced during the [[Battle of Five Armies]] in 2941, where [[Bolg]] son of Azog tried to avenge his father, and in the process destroying three fourths of the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]].

It is probable that without the War the later [[War of the Ring]] would have been lost in the north, and the [[Ring-bearer]] might never have made it south to [[Mordor]].

== Noteable Veterans ==
*Thráin II
*Thorin Oakenshield, and Frerin
*Fundin, [[Balin]], and possibly [[Dwalin]]
*[[Glóin son of Gróin|Glóin]], and possibly [[Óin]], and [[Gróin]]
*Náin, and Dáin II Ironfoot

== See Also ==
*[[Battle of Azanulbizar]]
*[[Second Sacking of Gundabad]]

== Sources ==
*''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]
*''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]''
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]

Raven Hill

2009-02-27T00:36:40Z

Alexwg: New page: An old hill that used to be a watch tower of the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain.

An old hill that used to be a watch tower of the dwarves of the Lonely Mountain.

Battle of Five Armies

2009-02-27T00:29:54Z

Alexwg: /* Aftermath */

{{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 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. 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 that remained unblocked. 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 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.

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 people's 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 a section of 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 with shield and body. 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 by [[Dain Ironfoot]] but refused to take more than two small chests of gold and silver.

It is said that three-fourths of the Goblin warriors of the North were killed on that day.

==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]]

Battle of Five Armies

2009-02-27T00:23:37Z

Alexwg: /* The Battle */

{{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 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. 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 that remained unblocked. 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 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.

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 people's 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 a section of 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]]

Battle of Five Armies

2009-02-27T00:14:01Z

Alexwg: /* Prelude */

{{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 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. 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]]

Smaug

2009-02-27T00:08:30Z

Alexwg: /* Treasure */

{{royalty infobox
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Smaug the Golden.jpg|300px]]
| name=Smaug
| othernames="the Golden", "the Dragon Dread"
| birth=Not long before the [[War of Wrath]]
| rule=[[Third Age 2770]]-[[Third Age 2941]]
| death=[[Third Age 2941]]
| age=Nearly 6,000 years
| realms=[[Lonely Mountain | The Lonely Mountain]]
| gender=Male
| race=[[Dragons|Dragon]]
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=Red-gold
|}}
{{quote|Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!|''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[Inside Information]]}}

'''Smaug the Golden''' was the greatest [[dragon]] of [[Middle-earth]] to survive into the [[Third Age]]. In the year 2770, he attacked the [[Lonely Mountain]] and drove the [[dwarves]] out, claiming their treasure as his own. Killing Smaug and reclaiming the treasure was the object of the quest in [[The Hobbit]].

== History ==
When Smaug attacked in 2770, he destroyed the town of [[Dale]] before entering the [[Lonely Mountain]] and slaying all the dwarves he encountered and burning all the towns with massive fires. After securing the mountain, he blocked all but two entrances: the main gate and a secret postern gate known only to the [[King under the Mountain|King Under the Mountain]]. Unknown to Smaug, the dwarf king [[Thrór]] and his son [[Thrain II]] had escaped through the secret postern gate, and others were not in the mountain when [[Smaug]] attacked. Following the attack, Thrór abdicated and gave the key to the postern gate to his son [[Thráin II]]. Smaug would remain in control of the Lonely Mountain for 170 years.

In [[Third Age 2850|T.A. 2850]], [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] -- while spying upon the [[Necromancer]] of [[Dol Guldur]] -- obtained the key and map to the secret postern gate from Thrain, who had become a prisoner there after being captured in [[Third Age 2845|2845]]. Having discovered that the Necromancer was actually [[Sauron]], Gandalf realized that Smaug would be a valuable ally to the Dark Lord. Gandalf therefore sought a way to destroy Smaug and re-establish the Kingdom Under the Mountain to reduce Sauron's power in the north.

Gandalf recruited Thráin's only liveing son and heir to his thrown throne, [[Thorin Oakenshield]], to reclaim the mountain. In 2940, at the home of [[Bilbo Baggins]], he presented Thorin with the map and key, and accompanied them on part of their quest. The party reached the mountain in 2941, and they sent Bilbo in through the secret door to investigate. Bilbo stole a small but, hevey cup from the dragon's vast hoard of treasure which he used as bed to sleep on, sending Smaug into a killing frenzy.

Smaug scoured the mountainside for the intruder, but was unable to find the secret door. Bilbo visited the dragon's lair again when Smaug returned and discovered Smaug's only vulnerability through riddling talk. Smaug left his lair again and smashed the mountainside with strikes of his tail, trapping [[Thorin and Company]] inside the secret passage, but not before the [[Thrushes|thrush]] that lived on the mountainside heard Bilbo describe Smaug's weakness.

Realizing that the men of [[Lake-town]] must have helped the intruders, Smaug flew there and attacked, setting the town aflame from the air. The dragon's scales were impervious to the arrows of the defenders, but the thrush also flew to the town and revealed the bare spot in Smaug's armor to [[Bard the Bowman]], who killed Smaug by firing the [[Black Arrow]] through the vulnerable spot. Smaug destroyed the town when he crashed onto it, then sank to the bottom of the [[Long Lake]].

==Smaug's Conceited Personality==
{{quote|My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!|Smaug, [[Inside Information]]}}

Smaug appeared to be very conceited, and believed in his own invulnerability. The very suggestion that the dwarves might seek revenge upon him sent him into a fit of hysterical laughter. It might be said that it was only his greed and laziness that kept him from continuing to plague the nearby lands. Like all dragons, he loved riddling talk, and revealed his own weakness because of his vanity.

== Treasure ==

Among the items in Smaug's possession were the [[Arkenstone]], a cup, and a [[mithril]] chain shirt, which was gifted to Bilbo by [[Thorin Oakenshield]], and was later to save [[Frodo Baggins]] life from the spear of a [[Goblins|Goblin]] Chieftain in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]].

== Aftermath ==

After Smaug's death, Thorin and Company claimed the treasure as theirs by birthright. This created a conflict with Bard and the Elven King [[Thranduil]] of Mirkwood, who each wanted a portion of the gold as reimbursement for all the damage Smaug had caused their kingdoms over the years. Thorin refused to share the treasure and declared war on both of them. The conflict eventually exploded because they heard news of approaching wargs and goblins. This became the [[Battle of Five Armies]].

== Etymology ==
The name Smaug is a translation of the "original Dalish" '''''Trâgu''''', and is related to the name ''[[Trahald]]'' ([[Sméagol]], also known as [[Gollum]]). According to [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]], the name Smaug is "the past tense of the primitive Germanic verb Smugan, to squeeze through a hole" ([[Letter 31]]).

This reflects his custom to render the language of [[Dale]] with Norse terms.

Others have noted that Smaug has echoes of "smoke" and "smog", though it is pronounced with a long /au/.

==Inspiration==
{{quote|Fafnir in the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story is better; and Smaug and his conversation obviously is in debt there.|[[Letter 122]]}}

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Rankin-Bass' Smaug.jpg|thumb|225px|Smaug as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]]]
'''1977: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Smaug was voiced by [[Richard Boone]]. In this version, Smaug's face possesses more mammilian traits, resembling a mix between a cat and a bat. Also, his armor is never mentioned to be strengthened by lying on the treasure, but more resembles an extra padding of skin/scales, minus the bare patch.

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Smaug was voiced by [[James Horan]].

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Smaug|Images of Smaug]]

{{dragons}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Dragons]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]

Smaug

2009-02-27T00:00:59Z

Alexwg: /* History */

{{royalty infobox
| image=[[Image:John Howe - Smaug the Golden.jpg|300px]]
| name=Smaug
| othernames="the Golden", "the Dragon Dread"
| birth=Not long before the [[War of Wrath]]
| rule=[[Third Age 2770]]-[[Third Age 2941]]
| death=[[Third Age 2941]]
| age=Nearly 6,000 years
| realms=[[Lonely Mountain | The Lonely Mountain]]
| gender=Male
| race=[[Dragons|Dragon]]
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=Red-gold
|}}
{{quote|Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!|''[[The Hobbit]]'', [[Inside Information]]}}

'''Smaug the Golden''' was the greatest [[dragon]] of [[Middle-earth]] to survive into the [[Third Age]]. In the year 2770, he attacked the [[Lonely Mountain]] and drove the [[dwarves]] out, claiming their treasure as his own. Killing Smaug and reclaiming the treasure was the object of the quest in [[The Hobbit]].

== History ==
When Smaug attacked in 2770, he destroyed the town of [[Dale]] before entering the [[Lonely Mountain]] and slaying all the dwarves he encountered and burning all the towns with massive fires. After securing the mountain, he blocked all but two entrances: the main gate and a secret postern gate known only to the [[King under the Mountain|King Under the Mountain]]. Unknown to Smaug, the dwarf king [[Thrór]] and his son [[Thrain II]] had escaped through the secret postern gate, and others were not in the mountain when [[Smaug]] attacked. Following the attack, Thrór abdicated and gave the key to the postern gate to his son [[Thráin II]]. Smaug would remain in control of the Lonely Mountain for 170 years.

In [[Third Age 2850|T.A. 2850]], [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] -- while spying upon the [[Necromancer]] of [[Dol Guldur]] -- obtained the key and map to the secret postern gate from Thrain, who had become a prisoner there after being captured in [[Third Age 2845|2845]]. Having discovered that the Necromancer was actually [[Sauron]], Gandalf realized that Smaug would be a valuable ally to the Dark Lord. Gandalf therefore sought a way to destroy Smaug and re-establish the Kingdom Under the Mountain to reduce Sauron's power in the north.

Gandalf recruited Thráin's only liveing son and heir to his thrown throne, [[Thorin Oakenshield]], to reclaim the mountain. In 2940, at the home of [[Bilbo Baggins]], he presented Thorin with the map and key, and accompanied them on part of their quest. The party reached the mountain in 2941, and they sent Bilbo in through the secret door to investigate. Bilbo stole a small but, hevey cup from the dragon's vast hoard of treasure which he used as bed to sleep on, sending Smaug into a killing frenzy.

Smaug scoured the mountainside for the intruder, but was unable to find the secret door. Bilbo visited the dragon's lair again when Smaug returned and discovered Smaug's only vulnerability through riddling talk. Smaug left his lair again and smashed the mountainside with strikes of his tail, trapping [[Thorin and Company]] inside the secret passage, but not before the [[Thrushes|thrush]] that lived on the mountainside heard Bilbo describe Smaug's weakness.

Realizing that the men of [[Lake-town]] must have helped the intruders, Smaug flew there and attacked, setting the town aflame from the air. The dragon's scales were impervious to the arrows of the defenders, but the thrush also flew to the town and revealed the bare spot in Smaug's armor to [[Bard the Bowman]], who killed Smaug by firing the [[Black Arrow]] through the vulnerable spot. Smaug destroyed the town when he crashed onto it, then sank to the bottom of the [[Long Lake]].

==Smaug's Conceited Personality==
{{quote|My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!|Smaug, [[Inside Information]]}}

Smaug appeared to be very conceited, and believed in his own invulnerability. The very suggestion that the dwarves might seek revenge upon him sent him into a fit of hysterical laughter. It might be said that it was only his greed and laziness that kept him from continuing to plague the nearby lands. Like all dragons, he loved riddling talk, and revealed his own weakness because of his vanity.

== Treasure ==

Among the items in his possession were the [[Arkenstone]], a cup, and a number of [[mithril]] chain shirts, one of which was gifted to Bilbo by [[Thorin Oakenshield]], and was later to save [[Frodo Baggins]] from the spear of a [[Goblins|Goblin]] captain in [[Moria]].

== Aftermath ==

After Smaug's death, Thorin and Company claimed the treasure as theirs by birthright. This created a conflict with Bard and the Elven King [[Thranduil]] of Mirkwood, who each wanted a portion of the gold as reimbursement for all the damage Smaug had caused their kingdoms over the years. Thorin refused to share the treasure and declared war on both of them. The conflict eventually exploded because they heard news of approaching wargs and goblins. This became the [[Battle of Five Armies]].

== Etymology ==
The name Smaug is a translation of the "original Dalish" '''''Trâgu''''', and is related to the name ''[[Trahald]]'' ([[Sméagol]], also known as [[Gollum]]). According to [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]], the name Smaug is "the past tense of the primitive Germanic verb Smugan, to squeeze through a hole" ([[Letter 31]]).

This reflects his custom to render the language of [[Dale]] with Norse terms.

Others have noted that Smaug has echoes of "smoke" and "smog", though it is pronounced with a long /au/.

==Inspiration==
{{quote|Fafnir in the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story is better; and Smaug and his conversation obviously is in debt there.|[[Letter 122]]}}

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
[[Image:Rankin-Bass' Smaug.jpg|thumb|225px|Smaug as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]]]
'''1977: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Smaug was voiced by [[Richard Boone]]. In this version, Smaug's face possesses more mammilian traits, resembling a mix between a cat and a bat. Also, his armor is never mentioned to be strengthened by lying on the treasure, but more resembles an extra padding of skin/scales, minus the bare patch.

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Smaug was voiced by [[James Horan]].

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Smaug|Images of Smaug]]

{{dragons}}

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Dragons]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]

Fornost Erain

2009-02-26T22:23:10Z

Alexwg: /* Fall */

{{location
| image=[[Image:Fornost rotwk.JPG|250px]]
| name=Fornost Erain
| othernames=Deadman's Dike, Norbury of the Kings
| etymology="Northern Fortress (of the) Kings"
| type=City/Fortress
| location=[[North Downs]]
| inhabitants=[[Dúnedain]]
| realms=[[Arnor]] [[Arthedain]] [[Reunited Kingdom]]
| description=
| events=[[Fall of Fornost]]
| references=
|}}

<center>{{quote|Deadman's Dike, you say. So it has been called for long years; but its right name, [[Barliman Butterbur|Barliman]], is '''Fornost Erain''', Norbury of the Kings.|[[Gandalf]], ''[[Homeward Bound]]''}}</center>
'''Fornost Erain''' was the capital of [[Arthedain]]. It was located at the south end of the North Downs, about 100 [[Númenórean]] miles north of [[Bree]].

==Early history==
It is not known when Fornost was founded or when the kings of [[Arnor]] moved there from [[Annúminas]], but it is known that the kings moved to Fornost some time before [[Third Age 861|T.A. 861]], when King [[Eärendur]] died, and Arnor was divided into three kingdoms with Fornost the capital of the greatest kingdom, Arthedain.

==Fall==
:''Main article: [[Fall of Fornost]]
In [[Third Age 1974|T.A. 1974]], Arthedain was overrun by the forces of [[Angmar]]. Fornost was captured, and King [[Arvedui]] fled into the northern wastes and was lost in the [[Icebay of Forochel]] with the two palantirs he had saved from the forces of [[Angmar]]. In the following year, a fleet of ships from [[Gondor]], led by [[Eärnur]], landed at [[Mithlond]]. The Elves of [[Lindon]] led by [[Cirdan]] joined the forces of [[Gondor]] and the remaining [[Dunedain]] of the North also came and so did a few archers from the Shire. Eärnur fought the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] in the plains west of Fornost and defeated the armies of Angmar, but the Witch-king himself escaped.

==Deadman's Dike==
After Fornost Erain was abandoned, the inhabitants of the nearest settlement, [[Bree]], referred to it as '''Deadman's Dike''', and did not come there. Only [[Dúnedain of the North|Rangers]] came there from time to time, but no-one knew what they did there.

After [[Aragorn II|King Elessar]] reunited [[Reunited Kingdom|the kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor]], he had the city rebuilt and made a great city where Men dwelt once again.

==Etymology==
Fornost Erain is [[Sindarin]]. It means "Northern Fortress (of the) Kings"; from ''forn'' "north" and ''[[ost]]'' "fortress", and ''erain'' is the plural of ''[[aran]]''. It was called "Norbury of the Kings" in [[Westron]], a fitting translation.

==References==
* ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Many Meetings]]
* ''[[The Return of the King]]'', [[Homeward Bound]]
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]
* ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix B]]

[[Category:Cities in Eriador]]
[[Category:Arnor]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[de:Fornost]]
[[fi:Fornost Erain]]

User talk:Alexwg

2009-02-26T21:35:59Z

Alexwg: Adding welcome message to new user's talk page