Dale (Kingdom): Difference between revisions

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Latest revision as of 06:46, 17 May 2021

This article is about the Kingdom of Dale. For the the city, see Dale.
Kingdom of Dale
John Howe - Icon Dale.png
General information
LocationBetween Erebor and Carnen; later extended far south and east of Lake-town[1][2]
CapitalDale
Major townsLake-town (later)[1][2]
People
PopulationBardings, Lake-men
LanguageLanguage of Dale, Westron
GovernanceKing of Dale
History
Preceded byDale (Lordship)
EstablishedT.A. 2944

Dale was refounded as a great kingdom[note 1] of the Northmen in Rhovanion in the late Third Age by Bard the Bowman.

Geography[edit | edit source]

When it was founded, the kingdom consisted of the city of Dale and the valley of the River Running before the gates of the Lonely Mountain.[3] By the time of the War of the Ring, its boundaries extended far south and east of Lake-town, all the way to the River Carnen.[2][1]

Background[edit | edit source]

The town of Dale was formed as a lordship by the Northmen soon after the year T.A. 2590 when Thrór brought his people back to Erebor and prospered with the Kingdom under the Mountain.[4][5]

In 2770, during the reign of the last Lord of Dale, Girion,[6] Smaug attacked and occupied the Lonely Mountain[4] and afterwards came ravaged the city eating its inhabitants; soon Dale was deserted and fell into ruin.[5] Bard the Bowman, a descendant of Girion, slew Smaug in T.A. 2941.

History[edit | edit source]

After the Battle of Five Armies, in 2944, Bard the Bowman re-established Dale as a kingdom; he was crowned as Bard I, the first King of Dale.[4]

The kingdom benefited by the simultaneous refounding of the Kingdom under the Mountain. After King Bard died in 2977, his son King Bain reigned and in 3007 he was succeeded by King Brand.[4] As the War of the Ring approached, the growing realm extended far to the south and east of Lake-town.[1]

In 3017, a messenger from Mordor came to both the Dwarves of Erebor and the kingdom of Dale.[7] Despite words offering Sauron's friendship, the Dark Lord's forces began gathering beyond the Carnen. About the same time that Minas Tirith was attacked (on 15 March 3019), a host of Sauron's allies crossed the river and drove Brand back into Dale. On 17 March, the Battle of Dale began. King Brand and King Dáin II Ironfoot were both killed and the Men of Dale and the Dwarves were driven into the Mountain. The enemy could not take the gates and a siege began. However, when news of the fall of Sauron came the enemy forces lost heart, and on 27 March the new King of Dale, Bard II, and the new King under the Mountain, Thorin III Stonehelm, burst forth and drove the enemy away and the Easterlings troubled the kingdom of Dale no more.[2]

King Bard II sent an ambassador to the crowning of King Elessar. The kingdom of Dale remained independent but in friendship with Gondor and under the protection and crown of the King of the West.[2]

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes

  1. Although never officially called the "Kingdom of Dale" within Tolkien's works, the former lordship of Dale gained political status as a kingdom upon the ascension of Bard I as the first King of Dale in T.A. 2944. Proof of its status as a "kingdom" can also be seen in the realm's expansion to incorporate Lake-town and the lands south and east of Esgaroth.

References