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Durin's Folk

2016-06-04T04:43:30Z

115.133.205.157: /* The Second Age */

{{people
| image=[[File:Warren Mahy - Longbeard king.jpg|250px]]
| name=The Longbeards
| dominions=[[Mount Gundabad]], [[Khazad-dûm]], [[Erebor]], [[Grey Mountains]], [[Iron Hills]], [[Blue Mountains]], [[Thorin's Halls]]
| languages=[[Khuzdul]], [[Westron]]
| height=
| length=
| skincolor=
| haircolor=
| feathers=
| distinctions=oldest of the Dwarven clans
| lifespan=
| members='''[[Durin]]''', [[Thorin]], [[Balin]], [[Dáin Ironfoot]], [[Gimli]]
}}
'''Durin's Folk''' were the '''Longbeards''' (''[[Sigin-tarâg]]'' in [[Khuzdul]]), one of the seven kindreds of [[Dwarves]] whose leaders were from the [[House of Durin]]. Their first king was named [[Durin]], who was one of the seven [[Fathers of the Dwarves]].<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref>

==History==
===The [[First Age]]===
In the deeps of time the Fathers of the Dwarves awoke. Durin, who had slept alone at Mount [[Gundabad]],<ref name="Dwarves">{{PM|Dwarves}}</ref> wandered south along the [[Misty Mountains]] until he came upon [[Azanulbizar]] and in the caves above [[Kheled-zâram]] he founded the city of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]], the home of Durin's Folk. Durin lived there so long he became known as Durin the Deathless, yet in the end he died before the end of the [[First Age]].<ref name="Durin"/>

When [[Men]] first migrated west into [[Rhovanion]] and [[Eriador]] they encountered Durin's Folk. The Longbeards were the wisest and most farseeing of the seven kindreds and began dealing with Men, establishing an economy in which Men chiefly provided food in exchange for Dwarven work in building, road-construction, mining, and the crafting of tools and weapons. During this period the Longbeards adopted the speech of Men, keeping their own language to themselves.<ref name="Dwarves"/>

===The [[Second Age]]===
At the end of the First Age during the [[War of Wrath]] and the breaking of [[Thangorodrim]] the ancient cities of [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]] in the [[Blue Mountains]] had been ruined. About the year {{SA|40|n}},<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref> many Dwarves, with their great knowledge of craft and lore, left the destruction behind and came to Khazad-dûm, greatly increasing its wealth and power.<ref name="Durin"/>

In {{SA|750|n}}, the [[Noldor]] established a new realm in [[Eregion]]. Being close to Khazad-dûm they established a friendship with Durin's Folk unlike any before between [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]]. Although both peoples were enriched, eventually the Elves succumbed to the seduction of [[Sauron]] and forged the [[Rings of Power]] (the forging of these Rings began about {{SA|1500|n}} and one was given to [[Durin III]] in Khazad-dûm<ref name="Durin"/>). In {{SA|1693|n}} the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] began. By {{SA|1697|n}}, Eregion was [[Sack of Eregion|destroyed]] and the Dwarves briefly fought the forces of Sauron outside their western gate. Leading to the gates of Khazad-dûm being shut.<ref name="SA"/>

During the Dark Years of Sauron's dominion Durin's Folk remained enclosed in Khazad-dûm, which was unassailable from without. Its wealth remained unravished but its people began to dwindle.<ref name="SA"/>

===The [[Third Age]]===
During the reign of [[Durin VI]] the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm delved deeper and deeper for ''[[mithril]]'', which had become increasingly harder to find. In {{TA|1980|n}} however, they accidentally awoke a hidden [[Balrogs|Balrog]] that had fled from the coming of the [[Host of the West]] in the First Age, and killed King [[Durin VI]]. Finally in {{TA|1981|n}} his son [[Náin I]] was also killed and all the people of Khazad-dûm were either destroyed or fled far away.<ref name="Durin"/>

Most of Durin's Folk escaped to the north where in {{TA|1999|n}}<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> [[Thráin I]] established a new capital within [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], becoming [[King under the Mountain]]. His son [[Thorin I]] left Erebor in {{TA|2210|n}}<ref name="TA"/> and travelled further north to settle in the [[Grey Mountains]] where most of Durin's Folk had gone. For a time they prospered there for the mountains were rich.<ref name="Durin"/>

Unfortunately there were [[Dragons|dragons]] in the wastes north of the Grey Mountains, and in {{TA|2570|n}} they began [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons|making war]] against the Longbeards. The conflict came to a climax in {{TA|2589|n}} when King [[Dáin I]]<ref name="TA"/> and his second son [[Frór]] were killed by a great [[Cold-drake|cold-drake]] outside [[Dáin's halls|his halls]].<ref name="Durin"/> Soon after, most of Durin's Folk left the Ered Mithrin with [[Grór]], Dáin's third son, leading many followers to the [[Iron Hills]] in {{TA|2590|n}}.<ref name="TA"/>

In the same year, Dáin's first son and heir, [[Thrór]], with his uncle [[Borin]] and the remainder of the departing Longbeards, returned to Erebor. There they prospered, winning the friendship of all Men nearby, and trafficking in ore with their kin in the Iron Hills.<ref name="Durin"/> News of the wealth of Erebor spread and reached the dragons, and in {{TA|2770|n}} [[Smaug]] suddenly descended upon the Mountain, and [[Sack of Erebor|sacked]] it.<ref name="TA"/> Although many Dwarves were killed, many escaped as well. Among them were King Thrór and his family who headed south into a long homeless wandering while most of the surviving Longbeards headed east to the Iron Hills.<ref name="Durin"/>

The followers of Thrór eventually settled in [[Dunland]]<ref name="Durin"/> where in {{TA|2790|n}} Thrór left "to see what I can find."<ref name="TA"/> With a companion, [[Nár]], he came to the east gate of Khazad-dûm and entered as a returning heir. For days Nár waited in hiding outside until Thrór’s body was tossed from the gates by the Orc-chieftain [[Azog]], who told Nár to go warn his kin never to return to Moria. Nár went back to [[Thráin]], Thrór's son to report what had happened. Now King and filled with anger, Thráin II sent word to all the houses of the Dwarves to prepare for war.<ref name="Durin"/>

By {{TA|2793|n}} the Dwarves had mustered a great host. Durin's Folk and large forces from the other Houses were ready to launch a [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs|war of vengeance]].<ref name="TA"/> For six years, From Gundabad to the [[Gladden River|Gladden]], they sacked and assaulted every Orc dwelling they could find. Defeating the [[Orcs]] through strength, matchless weapons, and burning anger.<ref name="Durin"/>

At last on a dark winter day in {{TA|2799|n}} the Dwarf-host came to Azanulbizar<ref name="TA"/> and found a great host of Orcs awaiting them. Undeterred, the Dwarves, led by Thráin II, made their assault, beginning the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]. This final battle too the Dwarves won, but at great cost. In the end Azog was beheaded and Thrór was avenged, but the Dwarves could not take Khazad-dûm, for within still dwelt Durin's Bane.

With the war over the Dwarves dispersed. [[Dáin Ironfoot]] led his contingent of Longbeards back to the Iron Hills. Thráin II, with [[Thorin]], [[Balin]], [[Glóin]], and others of their following returned to Dunland. Soon though they uprooted and wandered in Eriador until they established themselves in the northern [[Ered Luin]] beyond the [[Lhûn|Lune]]. There they prospered and their numbers slowly grew.<ref name="Durin"/>

Thráin II decided to return to Erebor in {{TA|2841|n}} but as he travelled, he and his companions were pursued by Sauron's servants. One day in {{TA|2845|n}} Thráin was captured and imprisoned in [[Dol Guldur]]. Eventually, in {{TA|2850|n}}, [[Gandalf]] found him and received the key to Erebor, but the last of the [[Seven Rings]] had been taken and Gandalf was unable to rescue the Dwarf.<ref name="TA"/>

King Thorin II Oakenshield and his people continued to labor and traffic in the Ered Luin until one day Thorin sought and found Gandalf to solicit his counsel and aid in dealing with Smaug. Gandalf devised a plan for burglary, employing the service of [[Bilbo Baggins]] of [[the Shire]]. The plan succeeded and Smaug was slain, but in the subsequent [[Battle of Five Armies]] Thorin was killed. However his cousin Dáin Ironfoot, who led a contingent of Dwarves in the battle, entered Erebor and restored the Kingdom under the Mountain as King Dáin II.<ref name="Durin"/>

Durin's Folk grew strong in Erebor until during the [[War of the Ring]] their realm and that of the [[Kingdom of Dale]] were attacked by Sauron's northern forces. In the [[Battle of Dale]] in {{TA|3019|n}} King Dáin II fell and thereafter the Mountain was besieged. Upon the news of Sauron's downfall, however, the besieged routed the army of Sauron and Dáin's son, [[Thorin Stonehelm]] became the King under the Mountain as Thorin III.<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> Eventually his descendant, [[Durin VII]], would lead Durin's Folk back to Khazad-dûm .<ref>{{PM|Aiv}}</ref>

Also after the fall of Sauron, [[Gimli]], the son of Glóin, brought some of Durin's Folk from Erebor south to [[Aglarond]] and there established a new Dwarf-realm. Gimli served as the [[Lord of the Glittering Caves]].<ref name="Durin"/>

==Inspiration==
Historically "Longbeards" is the supposed original name of the [[Wikipedia:Lombards|Lombards]], but other than the name, there is no other significant similarities between the Lombards and the Durin's Folk.
{{References}}
{{dwarvenclans}}{{durinskings}}
[[Category:Dwarves]]
[[Category:Longbeards]]
[[de:Durins Volk]]
[[fr:encyclo/peuples/nains/peuple_de_durin]]
[[fi:Durinin heimo]]

Dwarves

2016-06-04T04:41:09Z

115.133.205.157: /* Second Age */

{{sources}}
{{race infobox
| name=Dwarves
| image=[[File:Alarie - A bunch of dwarves.jpg|250px]]
| caption="A bunch of dwarves" by [[:Category:Images by Alarie|Alarie]]
| pronun=
| othernames=''Naugrim'' ([[Sindarin|S]]), ''Nogothrim'' ([[Sindarin|S]]).''[[Khazâd]]'' ([[Khuzdul|K]]), ''[[Hadhod]]rim'' ([[Sindarin|S]]), ''[[Casar]]i'' ([[Quenya|Q]])
| origin=Created by [[Aulë]]
| location=[[Moria|Khazad-dûm]], [[Belegost]], [[Nogrod]], [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], [[Iron Hills]], [[Orocarni]], [[Glittering Caves]], [[Grey Mountains]], [[Blue Mountains]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=[[Elves]], [[Orcs]]
| language=[[Khuzdul]] ([[Dwarvish]]), [[Iglishmêk]] (sign language), [[Westron]]
| people='''Clans:''' [[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]], [[Firebeards]], [[Broadbeams]], [[Ironfists]], [[Stiffbeards]], [[Blacklocks]], [[Stonefoots]], [[Petty-dwarves]] '''Groups:''' [[Dwarves of Belegost|Belegost Dwarves]], [[Dwarves of Erebor|Erebor Dwarves]], [[Dwarves of Khazad-dûm|Khazad-dûm Dwarves]], [[Dwarves of Nogrod|Nogrod Dwarves]], [[Dwarves of the Blue Mountains|Blue Mountain Dwarves]], [[Dwarves of the Grey Mountains|Grey Mountain Dwarves]], [[Dwarves of the Iron Hills|Iron Hill Dwarves]]
| members=[[Durin]], [[Gimli]], [[Thorin]], [[Dáin Ironfoot]], [[Azaghâl]], [[Mîm]], [[Balin]]
| lifespan=c. 250 years
| distinctions=Stocky; bearded; never bald; especially hardy and loyal; notoriously stubborn
| height=
| hair=Blond, brown, black, blue, red, and (when older) grey or white
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=Often axes
}}
{{quote|Since they were to come in the days of the power of [[Morgoth|Melkor]], [[Aulë]] made the dwarves strong to endure. Therefore they are stone-hard, stubborn, fast in friendship and in enmity, and they suffer toil and hunger and hurt of body more hardily than all other speaking peoples; and they live long, far beyond the span of Men, yet not forever.|[[The Silmarillion]], "[[Of Aulë and Yavanna]]"}}
The '''Dwarves''', or '''''[[Khuzd|Khazâd]]''''' in their own tongue, were beings of short stature, often friendly with [[Hobbits]] although long suspicious of [[Elves]]. They were typically blacksmiths and stoneworkers by profession, unrivaled in some of their arts even by the Elves.

While there were several tribes (Houses) of the Dwarves, the most prominent was that of the [[Durin's Folk|Longbeards]].

==History==
===Origin===
Unlike Elves and [[Men]], the Dwarves are not counted among the [[Children of Ilúvatar]]. Their creator was [[Aulë#Names and etymology|Mahal]], known as [[Aulë]] the Smith. Aulë created the Seven [[Fathers of the Dwarves]], from whom all other Dwarves are descended, deep beneath an unknown mountain somewhere in [[Middle-earth]]. However, Aulë did not have the divine power to grant independent life to any creation, and the dwarves were bound to his will. [[Ilúvatar]] came and reprimanded Aulë, who confessed his desire to create more living things, but in repentance lifted his hammer to destroy the dwarves. Even as the blow was about to land, the dwarves cowered and begged for mercy, as Ilúvatar had taken pity and given true life to the creations of his child, including them in His plan for [[Arda]]. However, Ilúvatar did not wish them to wake before the [[Elves]], whom he intended to be the first-born. Ilúvatar granted the Dwarves life, and therefore they are known as the Adopted Children of Ilúvatar, but he bade Aulë lay them to sleep in their chamber deep beneath the mountain, and they were to awake after the [[Awakening of the Elves]].<ref name=S2>{{S|2}}</ref>

[[File:BFME2 - Dwarf 4.jpg|thumb||Dwarves as portrayed in [[The Battle for Middle-earth II]] game.]]
The Seven Fathers awoke in their places in pairs with their wives, though [[Durin|Durin I]] had awoken alone. The seven different groups of Dwarf-folk originated in the locations where the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves first awoke.<ref>{{PM|XNotes}}</ref><ref>{{PM|X}}</ref>

The seven clans of the Dwarves were:

* [[Longbeards]], Durin's Folk, originally from [[Gundabad]].
* [[Firebeards]] and [[Broadbeams]], originally from [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]].
* [[Ironfists]] and [[Stiffbeards]], originated in the [[Orocarni]] in the far East.
* [[Blacklocks]] and [[Stonefoots]], originated in the Orocarni.

Durin settled in the caves above [[Kheled-zâram]] which later became the greatest of Dwarf realms, [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]]. Therefore the halls of the Longbeards were not located near the halls of another Dwarf-kingdom.

There was also an eighth group of Dwarves that was not a separate member from these seven kindreds, but composed of exiles from each: the [[Petty-dwarves]], who were hunted like animals to the point of extinction by the [[Elves]] in the First Age.

===First Age===
The Dwarves for many years did not know any other folk, until Firebeards and Broadbeams had their first meeting with the [[Elves]] in [[Beleriand]] in the year {{YT|1250|n}} of the [[Years of the Trees]]. From that time on there was friendship between the [[Sindar]] and the Dwarves, and they began exchanging knowledge and creating ring-mails and many other works; the [[Dwarves of Nogrod]] were unmatched in Middle-earth in smithing. They delved the caves of [[Menegroth]], and adopted the [[cirth|writing]] of [[Daeron]]. It was the Dwarves who told the Sindar about [[Orcs]] attacking their Elven kin on the other side of the mountains, which prompted King [[Thingol]] to begin a build up of arms which the Dwarves made for him.

Later on a great army of Orcs attacked the Elves, but in the [[First Battle of Beleriand]] were defeated and fled. Those that got away ran south right into an army of Dwarves who issued from Mount Dolmed and destroyed them.

After the [[Return of the Noldor]], [[Finrod|Finrod Felagund]] desired to settle himself in the [[Caves of Narog]] and the Dwarves of the Ered Luin aided him and gave him the dwarven name ''Felak-gundu'' (''[[Felagund]]''). They eventually made for him the [[Nauglamír]]. This necklace without equal contained one of the [[Silmarils]], and sparked jealousy and conflicts over its true ownership. These initial conflicts receded by the beginning of the Second Age, but were rekindled to a new intensity by the discord sown by [[Sauron]]. They eventually created a rivalry and mistrust between Elves and Dwarves that endured to the end of the Third Age, when [[Gimli]] the Dwarf bridged the distance between the two races by developing a deep admiration for lady [[Galadriel]] and forming a strong friendship with [[Legolas]] the Elf.

Things finally came to a head between the forces of Morgoth and the Elves, Men, and Dwarves in the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]. The Dwarves fought for the [[Union of Maedhros]]

In early [[Second Age]] most of the [[Firebeards]] and [[Broadbeams]] houses migrated to [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] from their cities in the [[Blue Mountains]] which were ruined during the sinking of Beleriand.

===Second Age===
The Dwarves had little participation in most of the important events involving the other races. However their friendship with the Elves perhaps became more close than ever; the Dwarves of [[Moria]] maintained close connections to the [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]] of [[Eregion]]; the [[Doors of Durin]] of Moria were built to facilitate the communication between the two people, and was constructed jointly by both races.

When Eregion was sacked by [[Sauron]]'s forces, the Dwarves assailed them from behind however it was too late to stop him from conquering all [[Eriador]].<ref name="UTGalad">{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref>
[[File:Liz Danforth - Annatar and the Seven Rings.png|thumb|[[Liz Danforth]] - ''Annatar and the seven rings'']]
When "[[Annatar]]" distributed the Rings of Power, he gave [[seven Rings|seven]] to Dwarf Lords in order to subdue and control them. However, they did not have the same effect as they did over Men. Dwarves did not shift into the [[wraith-world]] and in fact resisted domination. The Rings only augmented their greed and ability to create riches.

===Third Age===

[[File:Angus McBride - Dwarves.jpg|thumb|left|[[Angus McBride]] - ''The Dwarves are upon You!'']]
In [[Third Age 1980]], after centuries of greedy digging for ''[[mithril]]'' and other minerals, the Dwarves woke a [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] that was sleeping in the deeps of the Misty Mountains since the First Age. The Dwarves fled Khazad-dum, which from then on was called ''Moria'', which means "Black pit".

Most of Durin's folk left for the [[Grey Mountains]] in the North, while some followed the new king, [[Thráin I]], who briefly went to [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]] in {{TA|1999}}. For more than 300 years the [[Dwarves of the Grey Mountains]] prospered until the Dragons in the far North started to gain strength. Some fled to the [[Iron Hills]], while most followed the the new king [[Thrór]] to Erebor to start a new [[Kingdom under the Mountain]]. There, they prospered for over 200 years until the dragon [[Smaug]] descended in {{TA|2770}}. The King and his company went in exile South, while most of the survivors went to the Iron Hills.

Durin's folk settled in [[Dunland]], and in {{TA|2790}} King Thrór traveled North to Moria where he was killed by the [[Orcs|Goblin]] king [[Azog]]. Thrór's son [[Thráin|Thráin II]] (who had received the Last of the Seven Rings from his father before his departure) summoned all the Houses of Dwarves to war. Thus began the [[War of Dwarves and Orcs]], in which the Dwarves destroyed all the Goblin strongholds in the [[Misty Mountains]] culminating to the great [[Battle of Azanulbizar]] where all the dwarven clans united. The Goblin hosts issuing from Moria were strong and relentless until the arrival of fresh [[Dwarves of the Iron Hills]]. The Battle ended with the victory of Dwarves, but at great cost. The Dwarven clans however were unwilling to repopulate Moria. Thráin therefore came to the [[Blue Mountains]] and established his realm there.

[[File:Angelo Montanini - Dori.jpg|thumb|[[Angelo Montanini]] - ''Dori'']]
The Wizard [[Gandalf]] was instrumental into helping Thráin's son Thorin in reclaiming the Kingdom of Erebor. Thorin gathered around him [[Thorin and Company|twelve dwarves]], mostly from his own line, and was joined by [[Gandalf]] and [[Bilbo Baggins]]. The [[Quest of Erebor]] ended with the death of [[Smaug]]. After a quarrel with the Men and Elves over the unguarded hoard, the Dwarves - assisted by those from the [[Iron Hills]] - united with the Men and Elves to fight the attacking Goblins and Wargs, in what was called the [[Battle of Five Armies]], where Thorin was killed.

[[Gimli]] son of Glóin joined the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] as a representative of the Dwarves and befriended [[Legolas]] during the [[War of the Ring]].

===Fourth Age===
Not much is known about the Dwarves in the [[Fourth Age]]. After the [[War of the Ring]], [[Gimli]] brought a part of Durin's Folk from Erebor to the Glittering Caves behind Helm's Deep and founded a colony there. Subsequently, Gimli went on many travels with his friend Legolas, and History lost track of their fate. Through their friendship and influence, the feud between the two races that had lasted for millennia finally ended, shortly before the departure of the last Elves from Middle-earth. It is rumored that Gimli and Legolas eventually boarded a ship that sailed down the river Anduin, out to sea and across to Valinor in the year {{FoA|120}}. Gimli would thus have become the only Dwarf to ever be permitted to cross to the Undying Lands.

[[Durin VII]] (the Last), retook Moria and brought Khazad-dûm back to its original splendor, and the Longbeards lived there till the "world grew old and the days of Durin's race ended".

==Nature==
The Dwarves were created by Aulë to be strong, resistant to fire and the evils of Morgoth. They were hardier than any other race, secretive, stubborn, and steadfast in enmity or loyalty.

Dwarves generally lived far from the sea and avoided getting on boats, as they disliked the sound of the ocean and were afraid of it.<ref name=S10>{{S|10}}</ref>

The lifespan of Dwarves was varied depending on their ancestry. The Longbeards were particularly long-lived, but by the Third Age their lifespan was diminished and they lived, on average, 250 years. Until they were around 30 years of age, Dwarves were considered too young for heavy labor or war (hence the slaying of Azog by [[Dain Ironfoot]] at age 32 was a great feat). By the age of 40, Dwarves were hardened into the appearance that they would keep for most of their lives. Between the approximate ages of 40 and 240, most Dwarves were equally hale and able to work and fight with vigor. They took on the appearance of age only about ten years before their death, wrinkling and greying rapidly, but never going bald. Occasionally they would live up to 300 years of age, and [[Dwalin]] reached the rare lifespan of 340 years (comparable to a Man living to 100). <ref name=PMAiv>{{PM|Aiv}}</ref>

Sickness was almost unknown to the Dwarves, as they were immune to human diseases. Corpulence, however, could affect them. In prosperous circumstances, many grew fat by the age of 200 and became physically inept.<ref name=PMAiv>{{PM|Aiv}}</ref>

Despite being 4.5 - 5 feet (1.35 - 1.52 m) tall, they were known for their strength and endurance in battle, as well as their fury, particularly when avenging their fallen kin, and for being some of the greatest warriors in all of Middle-earth. They fought valiantly in many wars and battles over the Ages holding axes. In appearance their more distinctive characteristic was their beard which they have from the beginning of their lives, male and females alike; and which they shave only in shame.<ref>{{WJ|13}}</ref>

As creations of Aulë, they were attracted to the substances of Arda and crafts. They mined and worked precious metals throughout the mountains of Middle-earth, but had a tendency toward gold lust, and committed their share of rash and greedy acts. Among these was the dispute over the [[Nauglamír]], which led to the slaying of Elu [[Thingol]] and stirred up the initial suspicion between Elves and Dwarves to open hatred.<ref name=rings>

Dwarves are fiercely devoted to their children. In their desire for their children to grow up hardy and enduring, they may treat them harshly, but they will protect them at all costs. Dwarves resent injuries to their children and to their parents more than injuries to themselves.<ref name=PMAiv/>

The Dwarves' numbers, although they sometimes flourished, often faced periods of decline, especially in periods of war. The slow increase of their population was due to the rarity of [[Dwarf-women]], who made up only about a third of the total population. Dwarves seldom wedded before the age of ninety or more, and rarely had so many as four children. They took only one husband or wife in their lifetime, and were jealous, as in all matters of their rights. The number of Dwarf-men that married was actually less than a third, for not all the Dwarf-women took husbands; some desired none, some wanted one they could not have and would have no other. Many Dwarf-men did not desire marriage because they were absorbed in their work.<ref name=AppA3>{{App|A3}}</ref><ref name=PMAiv/>

Dwarf-women seldom walked abroad, and that only in great need. When they did travel, they were so alike Dwarf-men in voice, appearance, and garb that it was hard for other races to tell them apart. They were likewise seldom named in genealogies, joining their husbands' families. The only Dwarf-woman named in Tolkien's legendarium is [[Dís]], sister of Thorin Oakenshield, who was given a place in the records because of the gallant deaths of her sons, Fíli and Kíli. The scarcity of women, their rare mention, and their identical looks with the males, coupled with the Dwarves' secretive culture, led many to mistakenly believe that Dwarves were born out of stone, and upon death they returned to that stone.<ref name=AppA3/><ref name=PMAiv/>

They were generally less corruptible than Men. When Sauron attempted to enslave the Free Folk of Middle-earth using the [[Rings of Power]], the Elves completely resisted his power (indeed, his hand had never sullied the [[Three Rings]]), while the [[Nine Rings]] utterly corrupted the Men who bore them into the [[Ringwraiths]]. In contrast, the Dwarves were sturdy and resistant enough that Sauron was not able to dominate them using the [[Seven Rings]]. At most, the Seven Rings sowed strife among the Dwarves and filled their wearers with an insatiable greed for gold, but they did not turn them into wraiths subservient to the Dark Lord, and he considered his plan to have failed. Sauron was furious at the Dwarves' resistance, spurring his drive to recapture the Seven Rings from them.

==Religion==
The Dwarves loved and revered the Vala Aulë.<ref name=S10/><ref name=S2>{{S|2}}</ref>

Of old the Elves believed that the Dwarves would have no future in [[Arda Unmarred]], but the Dwarves themselves held to a promise that Ilúvatar would hallow them and adopt them as his Children. They maintained that after death Aulë (Mahal) cared for them, gathering them to the [[Halls of Mandos]] with the other Children of Ilúvatar, though in halls set apart. It is said that after the Last Battle they will work alongside Aulë in the remaking of Arda.<ref name=S2/>

==Language==
The Dwarven language was created by Aulë, and was called [[Khuzdul]]. It was a strange language to Elves and Men, and few non-Dwarves learned it, because it was difficult, and the Dwarves kept it secret, preferring to communicate in the languages of their neighbors. Only one Khuzdul phrase was well known to outsiders: the ancient battle cry, going back to at least the First Age: "''Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!''", which means "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!". The Dwarves taught Khuzdul carefully to their children, as a learned language, not a cradle-tongue, and thus the language changed very little over the ages, unlike those of other races.
The Dwarves also devised a secret language of gestures to communicate between themselves in silence, the ''[[iglishmêk]]''.<ref>{{WJ|Quendi}}, p. 395</ref>

==Names==
The Dwarves called themselves the ''[[Khazâd]]'', the name Aulë gave them; this is adapted as '''''[[Hadhod]]'''rim'' in [[Sindarin]], and '''''[[Casar]]'''i'' in [[Quenya]]. Casari was the common word for Dwarves among the [[Noldor]], but the [[Sindar]] usually called them ''Naugrim'' or ''Nogothrim'', the Stunted People.<ref>{{App|F2}}</ref>

An epithet for the Dwarves in [[Quenya]] was ''Auleonnar'', meaning "offspring of Aule".<ref>{{HM|PM}}, p. 391</ref>

In their dealings with people of other races, the Dwarves did not reveal their true names, rather adopting new names in other languages (the [[petty-dwarves]] were an exception). During the Third Age, the Longbeards used [[northern Mannish]] names in public.

==Inspiration==
Almost all the names of the Dwarves of Middle-earth are taken from the Old Norse [[Völuspá]].

According to Tolkien, the "real 'historical'" plural of ''dwarf'' is ''dwarrows'' or ''dwerrows''. He once referred to ''dwarves'' as "a piece of private bad grammar" (''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien|Letters]]'', 17), but in Appendix F to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' he explains that if we still spoke of ''dwarves'' regularly, English might have retained a special plural for the word ''dwarf'' as with ''man''. The form ''dwarrow'' only appears in the word ''Dwarrowdelf'', a name for [[Moria]]. Tolkien used ''Dwarves'', instead, which corresponds with ''Elf'' and ''Elves'', making its meaning more apparent. The use of a different term also serves to set Tolkien's Dwarves apart from the similarly-named creatures in mythology and fairy-tales.

The enduring popularity of Tolkien's books, especially ''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]],'' has led to the popular use of the term ''dwarves'' to describe this race in fantasy literature. Before Tolkien, the term ''dwarfs'' (with a different spelling) was used, as seen in ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs''. In fact, the latter spelling was so common that the original editor of ''The Lord of the Rings'' "corrected" Tolkien's ''dwarves'' to ''dwarfs'' (''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', 138).

==Other versions of the Legendarium==
In the earliest versions of Tolkien's Middle-earth mythology (see: ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'') the dwarves were evil beings created by [[Morgoth|Melkor]].

In an earlier version of the legendarium it is hinted that the Dwarves do not know about Ilúvatar, or that they disbelieve his existence, but later writings contradict that suggestion.<ref name="#">{{LT2|IV}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Dwarves|Images of Dwarves]]

==External links==

*"[http://lingwe.blogspot.se/2013/02/did-tolkien-coin-plural-dwarves.html Did Tolkien coin the plural “dwarves”?]" by [[Jason Fisher]]

{{references}}

{{Dwarvenclans}}

[[Category:Dwarves| ]]
[[Category:Races]]

[[de:Zwerge]]
[[fa:دورف]]
[[fr:encyclo/peuples/nains/nains]]
[[fi:Kääpiöt]]

Moria

2016-06-04T04:40:20Z

115.133.205.157: /* Second Age */

{{sources}}
{{disambig-more|Moria|[[Moria (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|The Mines of Moria|[[The Mines of Moria (disambiguation)]]}}
{{kingdom
| image=[[File:The Lord of the Rings - The Motion Picture Trilogy - Moria.jpg|250px]]
| name=Moria
| pronun=
| othernames=Khazad-dûm ([[Khuzdul|K]]), Hadhodrond ([[Sindarin|S]]), Dwarrowdelf
| location=Middle of the [[Misty Mountains]], beneath [[Celebdil]], [[Caradhras]] and [[Fanuidhol]]
| capital=
| towns=
| regions=
| population=[[Durin's Folk]]
| language=[[Khuzdul]], [[Sindarin]], [[Westron]]
| govern1=[[King of Khazad-dûm]] (to {{TA|1981}})
| govern2=[[Lord of Moria]] ({{TA|2989}}-{{TA|2994|n}})
| govern3=
| currency=
| holiday=
| precededby=
| event1=Founded by [[Durin]]
| event1date=[[First Age]]
| event2=Abandoned
| event2date={{TA|1981}}
| event3=Reclaimed by [[Balin]]
| event3date={{TA|2989}}
| event4=Defeated
| event4date={{TA|2994}}
| event5=Restored by [[Durin VII]]
| event5date=[[Fourth Age]]
| followedby=[[Lonely Mountain]]
}}
{{quote|Greatest of all the mansions of the Dwarves was Khazad-dûm, the Dwarrowdelf, Hadhodrond in the Elvish tongue, that was afterwards in the days of its darkness called Moria.|[[Of the Sindar]]}}
'''Khazad-dûm''' (also known as ''[[Khazad-dûm#Names|Hadhodrond]]'', ''[[Khazad-dûm#Names|Casarrondo]]'' and ''[[Khazad-dûm#Names|Phurunargian]]'', which translate as ''[[Khazad-dûm#Names|Dwarrowdelf]]''), latterly known as '''Moria''' (''The Black Chasm'', ''The Black Pit''), was the grandest and most famous of the mansions of the [[Dwarves]]. There, for many thousands of years, a thriving [[Dwarf realms|Dwarvish community]] created the greatest city ever known.

It lay in the central parts of the [[Misty Mountains]], tunnelled and carved through the living rock of the mountains themselves. By the [[Second Age]] a traveler could pass through it from the west of the range to the east.
== History ==
===Foundation===
It was founded in very ancient days by [[Durin]], who awoke at [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] in the [[Misty Mountains]]. He came upon the valley [[Azanulbizar]] beneath the mountains. He looked into a shimmering lake and saw a [[Durin's Crown|crown of stars]] reflected in its waters. He named that lake [[Kheled-zâram]], the [[Mirrormere]] and it remained a revered place among Dwarves of all houses ever afterwards, and the [[Durin's Stone]] was erected on the location of that event.<ref>{{FR|Lothlorien}}</ref>

There, in the caves above, Durin and [[Longbeards|his people]] started the delving and building of the [[Great Gates]] of Khazad-dûm, and the [[First Hall]] leading to a [[Bridge of Khazad-dûm|bridge over a chasm]]. From there began the expansion, both to ''Levels'' above and to ''Deeps'' below, and mines expanding out from the inhabited areas of the city proper.

===First Age===
Durin the Deathless thus became King Durin I of Khazad-dûm and ruled for many years until he was named "Durin the Deathless" until he died during the [[First Age]]. Afterwards, other rulers of Khazad-dûm were sometimes named Durin, as they were considered to be his reincarnations, who the dwarves believed came to live again among his people.<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref>

As the centuries passed, the descendants of Durin sat upon the throne of Khazad-dûm, and their cavernous city, that was the greatest of all their mansions, and became famous even to the distant west; the [[Elves]] of [[Beleriand]], heard its rumour from the [[Dwarves of the Blue Mountains|Dwarves]] of the [[Blue Mountains]] on their borders.<ref>{{s|10}}</ref>

===Second Age===
{{quote|After the end of the [[First Age]] the power and wealth of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]] was much increased; for it was enriched by many people and much lore and craft. . .|[[Appendix A]]}}
[[Image:J.R.R. Tolkien - Doors of Durin.jpg|thumb|right|Doors of Durin]]

In c. 40 of the Second Age after Beleriand was destroyed by the [[War of Wrath]], most of the Dwarves of [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]] began leaving en masse from their now ruined cities for Khazad-dûm. The city was enriched not just in numbers, but in the western Houses' skills in smithing, crafting and masonry. All these factors created a renaissance for Khazad-dûm, and brought its prosperity to its zenith.

Also fleeing the destruction, the [[Noldor]] founded a country of their own by the western gate of Khazad-dûm, [[Eregion]]. A rare friendship sprang up between the Dwarves and the Elves of this new land. By that time, Khazad-dûm had expanded so much that it completely traversed the Mountains from east to west, ending to the western rocky cliffs at their base, the [[Walls of Moria]].<ref>{{FR|II4}}</ref> [[Narvi]] with Eregion's ruler, [[Celebrimbor]], constructed the magical [[Doors of Durin|West-gate of Moria]], and indeed Celebrimbor went so far as to present King [[Durin III]] with an Elven [[Rings of Power|Ring of Power]].<ref name="Durin"/>

The friendship of Khazad-dûm and Eregion came to a sudden end, however, in {{SA|1697}}. [[Sauron]] [[Sack of Eregion|overran]] the country of the Elves, and despite the best efforts of the Dwarves to help them, he succeeded in destroying Eregion and driving away the survivors. Durin sent a great force of Dwarves to protect the Doors of Durin, but with the the Elves dead or fleeing far away his warriors withdrew and the gates to the city were shut against Sauron, also secluding the kingdom off from the outside world.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref>

It was also during this time that the Orcs reinvaded the mountains and made war on the Dwarves, [[First Sacking of Gundabad|taking]] [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]] from the Kingdom of Durin.

===Third Age===

During this time Khazad-dûm further expanded its treasures, but despite this its numbers began to dwindle. Most of its great wealth was based on the ''[[Mithril]]'' that was found in its mines, and as the centuries passed, the Dwarves mined deeper and deeper for the precious metal. In the year {{TA|1980}}, they dug too deep, and unleashed a nameless terror from the depths beneath the city. The creature wreaked dreadful destruction, and in slaying the King, [[Durin VI]], became known as [[Durin's Bane]]. In the following year, Durin's son, [[Náin I]], was also lost, and the Dwarves fled their ancient home.

After millennia as one of the richest cities in [[Middle-earth]], Khazad-dûm stood dark and empty, but for the brooding menace the Dwarves had released. In that time it was given a new name, [[Moria]], the '''Black Pit'''.

The monster - a Balrog of [[Morgoth]], as was later known - lurked alone in Moria for nearly five hundred years. After that time, the old city of Khazad-dûm began to be peopled again, but not by Dwarves. Orcs from the North began to enter the abandoned city to raid its treasuries, and occupy it. They also began to worship the Balrog as their deity. Soon afterwards, Sauron directed his creatures there, and Moria began to fill with Orcs and Trolls from [[Mordor]]. Though the orcs' numbers were greatly reduced in the [[Battle of Azanulbizar|Battle of Nanduhirion]], fought in the valley beneath Moria's [[Great Gates|East-gate]] in {{TA|2799|n}}, the Balrog could not be bested, and Khazad-dûm remained a place of darkness.

At some point between {{TA|2845|n}} and {{TA|2950|n}} the [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] entered the city looking for King Thráin II who had disappeared on journey to Erebor.<ref name=journey>{{FR|Journey}}</ref>

====Balin's expedition====
In {{TA|2989|n}}, there was an attempt by the Longbeards to reclaim their ancient home. The [[Balin's Colony|expedition]] was led by [[Balin]], who had accompanied [[Bilbo Baggins]] on the [[Quest of Erebor]]. He led a [[Balin's Colony|colony]] of Dwarves there from [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]]. The Colony was successful at first, killing a considerable number of Orcs, taking many of the Eastern halls and finding many lost treasures such as [[Durin's Axe]]. They were however defeated and slain by the Orcs in {{TA|2994|n}}.

Possibly at some point after this [[Aragorn]] Chieftain of the Dúnedain entered Moria for some unknown purpose.

====The Fellowship's passage====
When [[Frodo Baggins]] set out from [[Rivendell]] with the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]], they at first planned to travel over the Misty Mountains. When they were stopped by heavy snow on [[Caradhras|Mount Caradhras]], they found themselves pursued by wolves and Orcs, and fled into Moria, so as to go under the mountains. There, they found Balin's journal in the [[Book of Mazarbul]] and learned the fate of his expedition. They were then set upon by a host of [[Trolls]] and Orcs, and they discovered that the terror was, in fact, a [[Balrogs|Balrog]] of [[Morgoth]]. Gandalf fought the Balrog on a narrow bridge and succeeded in destroying a section of bridge to make the Balrog fall. As it fell, the Balrog snagged Gandalf's leg with its whip of thongs and pulled him after it, sending them both plunging into the abyss spanned by the bridge. The rest of the Fellowship managed to escape Moria and reach [[Lothlórien|Lórien]] mostly unharmed.

Unknown to the Fellowship, both Gandalf and the Balrog survived the fall and fought a ferocious battle from the depths of Moria to the mountains above, demolishing the top of the legendary [[Endless Stair]] and a part of the surrounding mountain peak in the process. Gandalf cast down the Balrog upon the mountainside and lived just long enough to see it die, but his story was not yet ended.

While Gandalf had felled the Balrog, Moria remained a place of evil creatures until the Fourth Age.<ref>{{SD|XI2}}, p. 122</ref>

====Retaking and Reign of Durin VII====
Though little information is given, the retaking of Khazad-dûm by [[Durin VII]] seems to have occurred during the [[Fourth Age]]. He became [[Kings of Durin's Folk|King of Durin's Folk]], and led a final return to the city. He was successful, and long after the War of the Ring, the Dwarves of Durin's line reclaimed their inheritance, and the hammers rang again in their great halls beneath the Misty Mountains until the race of Dwarves ended.

==Layout==
Khazad-dûm was a huge array of chambers, passages, mines, halls, stores and pits. In general, areas were either classed as ''mines'' or ''city''. The mines were working sections of Khazad-dûm whilst the city was the area of habitation.

The city areas of Khazad-dûm were clustered primarily to the east; these were the oldest parts of the kingdom and had access to the [[Great Gates]]. They were structured into seven Levels and seven Deeps. The Levels stretched above the gate whilst the Deeps were set deeper within the mountain below the level of the East-gate. It is possible that the First Level (on which the Great Gates were set) and the First Deep were highly intertwined.

The eastern section of the city spaces had also been delved in such a manner as to have light shafts to illuminate their chambers. One example of this is the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]] which was located on the eastern edge of the [[Seventh Level]].

The mine areas of Khazad-dûm were interlaced with the city spaces, but spread also westward toward the [[Doors of Durin]]. The mines ran deeper and further than any other tunnels within Khazad-dûm, and it is possible that more of the lower Deeps were given over to mining, although this is only conjecture.

The defined change between ''mines'' and ''city'' can be seen when the [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] pass through Moria - there is a marked difference between the early passages and chambers and those of the city structures illuminated by Gandalf.

Far below Moria, there are abysses, spaces and tunnels not known even by the Dwarves, but known by the Balrog. [[Nameless Things|Unknown beings]] gnaw the earth and make them, far from the knowledge of any lore.

==Etymology==

The name ''Moria'' is composed of the [[Sindarin]] elements ''[[mor]]'' "black, dark" and ''[[iâ]]'' "void, abyss".<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entries ''mor'' and ''iâ''</ref><ref>{{L|297}}, pp. 382-3</ref> Khazad-dûm was so called in [[Sindarin]] by the [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]], as for them it was but a "Dark Chasm". Although the Dwarves considered it a derogatory name, [[Celebrimbor]] went as far as to write the name "Moria" on the [[West-gate of Moria|West-gate]].{{fact}}

==Names==

The name ''Khazad-dûm'' in [[Khuzdul]] means "Dwarves' Mansion(s)". ''Khazâd'' being the plural of ''[[khuzd]]'' "Dwarves" while ''[[dûm]]'' (or possibly rather ''tûm'') a word for "excavation(s), hall(s), mansion(s)" (it is not clear if the second word is in singular or plural form).

The Elves translated it as '''''Casarrondo''''' ([[Quenya]], name given by the [[Noldor]])<ref>{{WJ|AB}}, p. 389,</ref> or '''''Hadhodrond''''' ([[Sindarin]]). The word ''Hadhodrond'' is composed of the elements ''[[hadhod]]'' (an attempt by the Elves to render ''[[Khazâd]]'', (the Dwarves' name for their own kind, into Elvish sounds) + ''[[rond]]'' ("cavern").{{fact}}

'''''Phurunargian''''' meaning "'''Dwarrowdelf'''" or "Dwarf-delving" was the [[Westron]] name for Khazad-dûm.<ref name=AppF2>{{App|F2}}</ref><ref name=PEPhurunargian/> The word derives from the [[Sundocarme|root]] PHUR ("to delve") and ''[[narak|narg-]]'' ("dwarf").<ref name=PEPhurunargian>{{PE|17}}, pp. 35, 137</ref> [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] noted that the form ''Phurunargian'' was "archaic" Westron although he did not mention the elements that make it archaic (over a possible vernacular form).<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 769</ref><ref name=AppF2/>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Moria is portrayed prominently in the Theatrical Edition, while Extended Edition gives it even more attention - notably, Mithril is introduced to the audience properly.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:During the Moria levels the player for the most part controls Gandalf, only once is focus switched to Frodo instead.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:The entire journey through Moria takes place in one level, which can be completed in several minutes. The iconic location are portrayed immediately next to each other and in the end, Gandalf defeats the Balrog and continues journey with the Fellowship.

'''2008: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria]]'':'''
[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Moria map.jpg|thumb|Map of Moria from ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''.]]
:''Mines of Moria'' was the first major expansion of the game, released in November 2008. Almost the entirety of Moria is present in the game, with players able to freely journey from the West Gate to the East Gate and from the Cliffs of Zirakzigil to the very Foundations of Stone where nameless things dwell.

:Moria is divided into several major sub-areas, depicted on the map to the right. '''The Great Delving''' lies directly next to the West Gate and links ancient Dwarven mines to palaces, academies and foundries founded during Khazad-dum's glory days. '''Durin's Way''' is the area, where, according to legend, Durin himself first braved the mines before bringing his folk in there. '''Zelem-Melek''' is home to both numerous [[Orcs|Orc]] encampments and the famed [[Twenty-first Hall]]. '''Silvertine Lodes''' refers to the mining area located directly under [[Celebdil|Silvertine]], much like the '''Redhorn Lodes''' are the mining area under the peaks of [[Caradhras#The Redhorn Gate|Redhorn]]. '''The Water-Works''' hosts both a large underground lake and ancient Dwarven gears, wheels and devices that delivered the fresh water throughout the whole kingdom once. '''The Flaming Deeps''' is an area that reeks with fire and where few could survive for long - it appears that [[Durin's Bane]] resided there following his reawakening. '''Nud-Melek''' mostly consists of the [[Second Hall]] and the [[First Hall]]. The '''Foundations of Stone''' are located below the deepest delving of the Dwarves; no light has ever shined there and, as Gandalf recounted, nameless creatures older than the world gnaw at the roots of the mountains.

:Surprisingly for those seeing it for the first time, Moria in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'' is very much inhabited. In an original storyline by Turbine, Dwarves from the [[Iron Hills]] sent by [[Dáin Ironfoot]] arrive in Moria shortly after the Fellowship to learn the fate of [[Balin]]'s expedition. With Durin's Bane recently gone, the Orcs and Goblins of Moria are in great disarray, which allows the Dwarves to move in and establish encampments at all major crossroads. Fresh supplies are coming from both East and West gates, preventing the Iron Hill Garrison from being cut off like Balin was. However, the developers noted that they aware that Moria wasn't re-colonized until the [[Fourth Age]] in [[canon]], meaning that at some point in the future of the game the Iron Garrison may be forced to leave the mines.

'''2009: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Conquest]]'':'''
:Several levels of both good and evil campaigns take place in Moria.

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

{{references}}
{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{durinskings}}
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[Category:Moria]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
[[de:Khazad-dûm]]
[[fi:Moria]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/villes_tours_et_forteresses/monts_brumeux/khazad-dum]]

Siege of Barad-dûr

2016-06-04T04:39:02Z

115.133.205.157:

{{battle
| image=[[File:Abe Papakhian - I Behold (colour).jpg|300px]]
| name= Siege of Barad-dûr
| conflict= [[War of the Last Alliance]]
| date= {{SA|3434}} - {{SA|3441}}
| result=Last Alliance victory, disembodiment of [[Sauron]]
| place= [[Barad-dûr]], [[Mount Doom]], [[Mordor]]
| side1=[[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance forces]]
| side2=Forces of [[Sauron]]
| commanders1=
{{Gil-galad blazon|died}}
* [[Elendil]]†
* [[Isildur]]
* [[Anárion]]†
* [[Thranduil]]
| commanders2= {{Sauron blazon}}
| forces1=Over 100,000 [[Elves]] and [[Númenóreans|Men]]
| forces2=10,000-20,000 [[Orcs]], [[Haradrim|Southrons]], [[Easterlings]]
| casual1=Severe
| casual2=Entire force slain or captured
|}}

The '''Siege of Barad-dûr''' was the armed conflict that would end the [[War of the Last Alliance]] and the [[Second Age]]. It was the direct result of the [[Battle of Dagorlad]], where passage into [[Mordor]] was won by the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] at heavy cost.

== History ==
===The Siege===
In {{SA|3434}} the Last Alliance entered [[Mordor]]. The Orcs that survived the slaughter at Dagorlad were surrounded in Barad-dûr, Sauron's dark stronghold. There, the forces of [[Gil-galad]], [[Elendil]] and [[Thranduil]] laid siege to the tower, but could not breach its gates.

Sauron put together a strong defence with a seemingly unexhaustible supply of projectile and sorties throughout seven years, during which the Allies suffered heavy casualties. In {{SA|3440}}, Anárion's helmet was crushed by a thrown rock resulting in his death.

[[Second Age 3441|A year later]], however, Sauron went out with a sortie himself, and broke the leaguer. He came to [[Mount Doom]], where the two kings, Gil-galad and Elendil, fought with him in single combat. Sauron struck down Elendil, and his sword [[Narsil]] broke in two beneath him as he fell. [[Gil-galad]]'s face was scorched by the heat of Sauron's hand, killing him. Nonetheless Sauron was wounded in the fight with the two kings, and as he let his guard down, Isildur took up the broken hilt of his father's blade and hewed off Sauron's ring finger, defeating him.

=== Aftermath ===
The battle marked the (temporary) passing of Sauron, and the beginning of the [[Third Age]]. Gil-galad's heralds [[Círdan]] and [[Elrond]] advised Isildur to destroy the Ring by throwing it in the fires of Mount Doom. But instead Isildur replied: ''This I will have as weregild for my father's death, and my brother's. Was it not I who dealt the Enemy his death-blow?''<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref>

Gondor prospered, and built fortresses on all the entrances to Mordor: the [[Morannon]], [[Durthang]] and the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]]. Isildur wrote an account of the battle, describing his father and Gil-galad's duel with Sauron in detail and the lengthy siege itself.

With the death of Gil-galad, the [[Noldor]] were without a King as he left no heir. Elrond and Círdan returned to [[Lindon]]. Relations between Elves and Men worsened due to the deaths of Gil-galad and Elendil, and also Isildur's taking of the ring. The Last Alliance as it came to be known, would be the last time Elves would go to open war in Middle-earth ever again. The relationship between Men and Elves wouldn't be as close as they were in the first and second ages and never wholly repaired because the Elves were leaving Middle-earth for Aman.

Isildur remained in [[Minas Tirith]] some time<ref>{{FR|II2}}</ref>. When he did return North, he and his sons were [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields|ambushed]]. The Ring was lost in the tumult.<ref>{{UT|Disaster}}</ref>

Since the Ring was not unmade, Sauron was not completely destroyed: his spirit was able to live on. In the Third Age, he reassumed physical shape, and regained most of his old realm and allies. Ever after Sauron hunted for the Ring, dispatching his servants across Middle-earth to locate it. The Ring would come to be known as [[Isildur's Bane]], as its corruption afflicted him. Ultimately Sauron's Orcs ambushed Isildur years later at the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], in which Isildur and his retinue were slain and the Ring was lost.

{{references}}

[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[Category:Sieges]]

[[de:Belagerung von Barad-dûr]]

Battle of Dagorlad

2016-06-04T04:37:41Z

115.133.205.157:

{{disambig-more|Battle of Dagorlad|[[Battle of Dagorlad (disambiguation)]]}}
{{battle
|image=
|name=Battle of Dagorlad
|conflict=[[War of the Last Alliance]]
|date={{SA|3434}}
|place=The plains of Dagorlad outside Mordor
|result=Decisive victory for the Allies
|side1=Men and Elves
|side2=Orcs, Easterlings, Southrons, Trolls, and other creatures and servants of Sauron
|commanders1=
{{Gil-galad blazon}}
*[[Elendil]]
*[[Elrond]]
*[[Oropher]] †
*[[Amdír]] †
|commanders2= {{Sauron blazon}}
|forces1=Hundreds of thousands of Men and Elves
|forces2=Hundreds of thousands of Orcs, Fallen Men, and other evil creatures
|casual1=Many thousands
|casual2=Vast numbers, more than the allies|
}}
{{quote|It was a great battle. Tall Men with long swords, and terrible Elves, and Orcses shrieking. They fought on the plain for days and months at the Black Gates.|[[Gollum]]<ref name=Passage/>}}
The '''Battle of Dagorlad''' occurred in the year {{SA|3434|n}} of the [[Second Age]]. It was fought between the army of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] under [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] and an army of [[Orcs]] and other creatures loyal to [[Sauron]]. The battle took place on the great, treeless, open plain between the [[Dead Marshes]] and [[Cirith Gorgor]].

== History ==
===Prelude===
{{main|War of the Last Alliance}}
The united host of Elves and Men crossed the [[Misty Mountains]] and marched south through the vale of [[Anduin]], where they were joined by the [[Silvan Elves]] led by [[Amdír]] and [[Oropher]].

The Alliance entered the vast plain near the [[Black Gate]], where they were joined by Anárion's forces from the south, and confronted at last the black legions of Mordor.

The Silvan Elves had little sympathy for the [[Sindar]] and [[Noldor]] that were led by Gil-galad. As a result they were indisposed to place themselves under the supreme command of the [[High King of the Noldor]].
===The Battle===
During preliminary skirmishing, the Silvan Elves defying Gil-galad's command, rashly charged against the numerous host of Mordor, before the King had given the order. The Silvans were valiant and doughty, but ill-equipped compared to their nobler kin. [[Oropher]] perished in the first onslaught while [[Amdír]] and his troops were cut off and driven into the marshes where half of his host perished.<ref name="Silvan Princes"/> This area became known afterwards as the [[Dead Marshes]], because of the thousands of bodies buried there. This battle raged for months.<ref name=Passage>{{TT|IV2}}</ref>

Elendil and Gil-galad eventually gained the upper hand. Thus Elves and Númenóreans finally pushed the enemy hordes back towards the [[Black Gate]] and broke through [[Cirith Gorgor]].<ref name="Rings"/>

===Aftermath===
A great part of Sauron's soldiers was slain in this battle. The Alliance was able to enter Mordor, establish a camp upon the [[Plateau of Gorgoroth]] and lay the [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] itself. Nevertheless Sauron still had enough supplies to defend the fortress for seven more years, until the siege was so pressing that he himself came forth, which led to the battle on the slopes of Orodruin in which Sauron was defeated and [[the One Ring]] taken from him.<ref name="Rings"/>

Oropher's son [[Thranduil]] survived the war and established his reign over the Silvan Elves in the [[Woodland Realm]].

The slain were buried and their graves eventually were engulfed by the [[Dead Marshes]].<ref name=Passage/>

In the [[Third Age]], the Dagorlad was the site of several battles between [[Gondor]] and various [[Easterlings|Easterling]] armies, and the climatic [[Battle of the Morannon]].

{{references|notes}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[de:Schlacht auf der Dagorlad]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:2a:guerres:bataille_de_dagorlad]]
[[fi:Dagorladin taistelu]]

Last Alliance of Elves and Men

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'''The Last Alliance of Elves and Men''' was formed in {{SA|3430|n}} of the [[Second Age]] in response to the threat of conquest by the Dark Lord [[Sauron]].<ref name=SA>{{App|SA}}</ref>

==History==
Sauron had been contending with the [[Elves]] for mastery of Middle-earth for over 1200 years. Fearing the establishment of the powerful kingdoms in exile — [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]] — by his hated enemies, the [[Dúnedain]], Sauron launched a pre-emptive attack on Gondor in {{SA|3429}}.<ref name=SA/>

In response, [[Elendil]], High King of the Dúnedain, formed an alliance with [[Gil-galad]], the [[High King of the Noldor]], to repel Sauron's assault. [[Durin's Folk]] also aided Elendil and Gil-galad. It is said that Elendil bound the Alliance with an oath and invoked the name of [[Eru]] to witness it.<ref name=Cirion>{{UT|Cirion}}</ref> Eru's name was very rarely invoked in oaths, and among the [[Númenóreans]] it was held that only the King could call upon Him. This would happen again only thousands of years later during the [[Oath of Cirion]].<ref name=Cirion/>

The hosts of Gil-galad and Elendil met at [[Weathertop|Amon Sûl]] and marched towards Imladris where they camped for three years, forging armour and making plans whilst [[Anárion]], Elendil's younger son, defended [[Osgiliath]] against the hosts of [[Mordor]].

The armies crossed the [[Misty Mountains]] at various locations and their forces were strengthened in the vale of [[Anduin]] by Elves from [[Lothlórien]], [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] and [[Woodland Realm]] under the command of [[Oropher]] and [[Amdír]].

In {{SA|3434}} they defeated Sauron's army in the [[Battle of Dagorlad]], breached the [[Morannon]] into [[Mordor]], and besieged the Dark Lord's fortress of [[Barad-dûr]]. The siege lasted for seven years, during which [[Anárion]] was slain. It culminated in Sauron leaving his fortress and engaging in direct combat. There were three objectives to this war; to unmake [[the One Ring]], to destroy [[Sauron]], and to destroy the foundation of the [[Barad-dûr|Dark Tower]].<ref name=SA/>

Sauron was felled by Gil-galad and Elendil, who both perished in the assault themselves. Elendil broke his sword [[Narsil]] as he fell. Using the hilt-shard of the sword, Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron's finger.<ref>{{FR|II2}}</ref> Bereft of the power of the One Ring, Sauron's spirit dissipated and would not take form again in Middle-earth for a thousand years.

With the victory over Sauron, and the death of Gil-galad and Elendil, the Last Alliance was dissolved. The remaining Númenóreans resettled their kingdoms.
{{references}}
[[Category:Armies]]

==See also==
* '''[[War of the Last Alliance]]''' (Military information)

[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[de:Letztes Bündnis]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:2a:derniere_alliance_des_elfes_et_des_hommes]]
[[fi:Haltioiden ja Ihmisten Viimeinen Liitto]]

War of the Last Alliance

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115.133.205.157:

{{war
| previous=[[War of the Elves and Sauron]]
| next= [[Angmar War]]
| image=[[File:Matt DeMino - Sauron - War of the Last Alliance.png|275px]]
| name= War of the Last Alliance
| place= Mordor and lower Anduin region
| result= Victory for the Last Alliance, fall of Sauron, loss of the One Ring
| battles= [[Fall of Minas Ithil]], [[Anárion's defense of Osgiliath]], [[Battle of Dagorlad]], [[Siege of Barad-dûr]]
| begin= {{SA|3429}}
| end= {{SA|3441}}
| side1= Greatest host since the [[War of Wrath]], Men from [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]], Elves from [[Lindon]], [[Rivendell]], [[Mirkwood]], [[Woodland Realm]] and [[Lothlórien]]
| side2= Greater host than the Alliance, myriads of [[Orcs]], [[Easterlings]] and other creatures of Sauron|
|casual1=Thousands, innumerable|
|casual2=Nearly all Orcs, Men, and other creatures were killed|
| commanders1=
{{Gil-galad blazon|died}}
* [[Elrond]]
* [[Oropher]] †
* [[Amdír]] †
* [[Elendil]] †
* [[Isildur]]
* [[Anárion]] †
| commanders2=
{{Sauron blazon}}
}}

The '''War of the Last Alliance''' was the war late in the [[Second Age]] in which the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] marched against the fortress of [[Sauron]], [[Barad-dûr]] in [[Mordor]]. Against all hope, they were victorious, but when [[the One Ring]] was not destroyed, [[Sauron]] rose again during the long years of the [[Third Age]].

== History ==
===Prelude===
Ever since his defeat in the [[Battle of the Gwathló]] Sauron nursed a special hatred against the [[Númenóreans]] and longed to take revenge on them.<ref>{{UT|Galadriel}}</ref> In {{SA|3261|n}}, Sauron dared to wage war against Númenor and the last [[King of Númenor]] [[Ar-Pharazôn]] had gathered a massive army to counter this threat. Perceiving the might and splendour of the Númenóreans Sauron's servants deserted him, and Sauron was filled with fear and humbled himself. He was brought as hostage to Númenor and finally succeeded in taking his revenge by playing a vital role in the events that led to the Downfall. Yet of all Númenóreans he hated Elendil most, and his wrath was great that he and his sons had escaped.

After the [[Downfall of Númenor]] in {{SA|3319}} the remaining [[Faithful]] led by [[Elendil]] and his sons [[Isildur]] and [[Anarion]] etablished the [[Realms in Exile]] in [[Middle-earth]]. Elendil ruled [[Arnor]] in the north, Isildur and Anarion jointly ruled the southern realm of [[Gondor]]. [[Sauron]] however perished physically, by drowning; being caught in the Fall of Númenor which he had cleverly schemed to bring about. Yet nevertheless, even though he truly was drowned, Sauron's spirit endured; he returned to his fortress [[Barad-dûr]] in [[Mordor]] and was able in time to take shape again. However, it should be noted that hereafter Sauron could no longer take on a deceptively fair and greatly pleasing form, as Sauron had done so long before, in order to deceive the Elves and then again much later, the [[Númenóreans]] too, whilst he was held a willing captive.<ref name="Rings">{{S|Rings}}</ref>

===Opening Stages===
Perceiving that his enemies of old had escaped the downfall, Sauron's wrath was great and in {{SA|3429|n}} he launched an attack upon Isildur's fortress, Minas Ithil. Believing that Sauron had perished in the [[Downfall of Númenor]], they were completely taken by surprise, [[Minas Ithil]] was taken, and the [[White Tree of Gondor]] that Isildur had planted there was burned. Nevertheless Isildur, his wife and children escaped, saving a seedling of the tree, too, and sailing down [[Anduin]] journeyed to Elendil's realm in Arnor. There Elendil and [[Gil-galad]], [[High King of the Noldor]] forged the [[Last Alliance|Last Alliance of Elves and Men]] in {{SA|3430|n}}, to defeat Sauron ultimately. Meanwhile Anárion held out in Gondor, defending [[Osgiliath]] and [[Minas Anor]]<ref name="Rings"/>.

In {{SA|3431}} the [[Elves of Lindon]] led by Gil-galad and [[Círdan]] marched eastward and where awaited by Elendil at [[Amon Sûl]]. The combined host marched towards [[Rivendell|Imladris]], where they joined with [[Elrond|Lord Elrond]], who was Gil-galad's herald, and acted as his second-in-command in the coming campaign.

Elves from [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]] and [[Woodland Realm]] led by [[Oropher]] and his son [[Thranduil]], and Lothlórien Elves under [[Amdír]]<ref name="Rings"/><ref name="Silvan Princes">{{UT|6b}}</ref>. At the southern eaves of [[Eryn Galen]] the host turned south-east and marched through desolate areas that had once been the [[Entwives]]' gardens. They, and probably the Entwives themselves, had been destroyed by [[Sauron]] to deprive the Alliance's forces of supplies<ref>{{TT|Treebeard}}</ref>.

The Alliance entered the vast plain outside Mordor where they were joined by Anárion's forces. There Sauron's host awaited them from the north-west.

=== The [[Battle of Dagorlad]] ===
During preliminary skirmishing, [[Oropher]] and his Elves, being scantily equipped, rashly charged forward into the numerous Orc forces before Gil-galad had given the command, and suffered heavy casualties, including Oropher himself. Amdír and his forces also were cut off from the main battle and driven into the marshes just to the south, where he also fell along with half of his troops<ref name="Silvan Princes"/>. This area became known afterwards as the [[Dead Marshes]], because of the thousands of bodies buried there.

This battle raged for days and nights continuously. But the Elves were still mighty in these times and the Númenóreans were tall and strong and terrible. And none could withstand [[Aeglos (spear)|Aeglos]] and [[Narsil]], Gil-galad's spear and Elendil's sword which filled the orcs and wicked men with fear. Slowly Elves and Númenóreans whittled down the vast numbers of Orcs and pushed them back towards the [[Black Gate]]<ref name="Rings"/>.
No account is given how the Alliance managed to break through this mighty fortification though.

=== The [[Siege of Barad-dûr]] ===

The forces of the Last Alliance had forced their way through the Black Gate into Mordor itself. Victory seemed close, but no power short of the [[Valar]] could breach the [[Dark Tower]] by force. Though a great part of Sauron's forces was destroyed at the Dagorlad his host was still numerous and Sauron ordered many a sortie. The siege went on year after year, from {{SA|3434}} to {{SA|3441|n}}<ref name="Rings"/>. Isildur's sons, [[Aratan]] and [[Ciryon]], were detached and sent to Minas Ithil to guard against a breakout to the southwest, but his oldest son, Elendur served by his side till the end<ref name="Gladden">{{UT|Gladden}}</ref>. [[Anárion]] was killed in {{SA|3440|n}} by a projectile thrown from the tower.<ref>{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>

In the seventh year of the siege, it became so pressing that [[Sauron]] himself came forth. His onslaught was terrible and the siege was almost broken as Sauron and his host advanced to the slopes of [[Mount Doom]]. There he was encountered by the captains of the Alliance, Gil-galad and Elendil and to their side stood Elrond, Círdan and Isildur. Sauron fought with Gil-galad and Elendil, and both were slain. As Elendil fell, his sword was broken beneath him. Yet Sauron was thrown down, too, and Isildur seized the hilt of his father's sword and cut off the finger on which Sauron wore the One Ring. Being bereft of its power, Sauron was no longer able to hold a physical form and perished<ref name="Rings"/>.

===Aftermath===

The Alliance pursued the Orcs, who were then in disarray, and killed them all. The Barad-dûr was leveled but its foundations remained behind, since they were built with the power of [[the One Ring]] which was not destroyed. The thousands of dead Men and Elves were taken out of Mordor and buried in the Dagorlad Plain.

While he had captured [[the One Ring]], Isildur refused Elrond and Círdan's entreaties that he destroy it by casting it into the [[Crack of Doom]], claiming it as a weregild for his father's and brother's death<ref name="Rings"/>. The result of this was that while [[Sauron]] was defeated and cast down, his spirit was not destroyed. He hid himself in the dark lands east of Mordor, and slowly rebuilt his power. The Nine ([[Nazgûl]]) also bided their time for the day when he would rise again.

While the Orc armies of Sauron had been well nigh destroyed in the War, scattered groups of them survived. In the Last Alliance, the casualties had been heavy. [[Elendil]] and [[Anárion]] were gone, and [[Gil-galad]], last [[High King of the Noldor]], was no more. [[Arnor]] took grievous losses, and suffered from a decline in population. It never really recovered as a major power, and broke into three pieces some centuries later. [[Gondor]] suffered less heavily and became a powerful nation. [[Isildur]], the new [[Kings of Arnor|High King of Arnor]], perished only two years later in the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], along with his three older sons. They were ambushed by an Orc task force operating near the River Anduin. In the course of Isildur's death, the Ring was lost in the depths of [[Anduin]]<ref name="Gladden"/>. Much was lost, but [[Sauron]] was suppressed-- for a while.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The [[War of the Last Alliance|entire venture]] of the [[Last Alliance of Elves and Men|Last Alliance]] was combined into a short silhouette play, in which [[Isildur]] cut the [[The One Ring|Ring]] off [[Sauron]]'s hand in battle - not when Sauron was already conquered.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:This film also compresses the [[Battle of Dagorlad]], the Siege, and the final duel into one, and places them all at [[Mount Doom]], in a prologue similar to that of the 1978 film. The main perspective of the entire prologue - ''One Ring to rule them All'' - lies with [[Elrond]]. The death of [[Gil-galad]] is not mentioned, [[Anárion]] is cut completely, and the deaths of [[Elendil]] and Sauron are rewritten: after coming forth, Sauron wreaks havoc among the [[Elves]] and [[Men]], and a blow from his mace throws Elendil against the mountainside, killing him. Isildur tries to take up [[Narsil]], but it breaks as Sauron steps on it. In a desperate strike, Isildur slashes the Ring, and four fingers, from Sauron's hand. Sauron's body sends a shockwave over the land and dissolves into nothingness.

:In a later scene, named ''[[The Fate of the Ring]]'', Elrond tells [[Gandalf]] of the final debate with Isildur, inside Mount Doom. [[Círdan]] is not present, and Isildur refuses by simply saying "No".

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (video game)]]'':''''
:The war serves as the setting for the tutorial. The player controls Isildur making his way through Mordor.

{{References}}

[[Category:Second Age]]
[[Category:Conflicts of the Second Age]]
[[Category:Sieges]]
[[Category:Wars]]

[[fr:encyclo/evenements/2a/guerres/guerre_de_la_derniere_alliance]]