Dwarves of Erebor

From Tolkien Gateway
Dwarves of Erebor
People
David T. Wenzel - Erebor trade.jpg
General Information
OriginsDurin's Folk
LocationsErebor, Khazad-Dûm, Glittering Caves
RivalriesOrcs, Smaug
LanguagesKhuzdul, Westron
MembersGimli, Thorin II Oakenshield
Physical Description
Lifespanc. 250 years
Average heightFive feet or less

The Dwarves of Erebor were those who dwelt in the halls of Erebor, beneath the Lonely Mountain.

History[edit | edit source]

Kingdom[edit | edit source]

Ted Nasmith - Heart of the Mountain

Thráin I established the Kingdom under the Mountain fleeing from Moria. During his time the Arkenstone was discovered, the most prized possession of the Kingdom. His son, Thorin I, later became King under the Mountain but after seeing the wealth of the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains, he abandoned Erebor.

When the Cold-drakes invaded the Grey Mountains, they drove most of the Dwarves out. Thrór, a descendant of Thorin I, took some of his people and flew the Grey Mountains for Erebor. His brother Grór continued east with a great following of Durin's folk to the Iron Hills while himself refounded the kingdom of Erebor in T.A. 2590.

Second Kingdom[edit | edit source]

The Dwarves gained the friendship of the Northmen along the Celduin and had much trade of goods, beautiful trinkets, and weapons with the town of Dale. The Dwarves of Erebor also had much traffic of ores with their kinsmen in the Iron Hills and the region had peace and prosperity for many years.

The Dwarves flee Erebor and Dale

The Dwarves were properous, and made great wealth for themselves until they were dispossessed of their immense wealth by Smaug the Dragon, who flew south from the Ered Mithrin and sacked their kingdom in T.A. 2770.

The Dwarves reclaimed their inheritance many years later under the leadership of Thorin II. But it was the descendants of Dáin II Ironfoot that ruled there ever after.

Third Kingdom[edit | edit source]

After the restoration thanks to Thorin and Company, the Dwarves became again rich and prosperous under Dáin's rule, as the Dwarves exceeded their ancestors in masonry and mining. Dale was rebuilt as a kingdom and they had close friendship with the Elves of Mirkwood.[1]

Balin and other Dwarves set out to reclaim Moria in T.A. 2989. Dáin did not give his blessing and could not dissuade them.[2] It was only later learned that the colony was destroyed after five years.[3]

War of the Ring[edit | edit source]

In T.A. 3018, a messenger came from Mordor, enquiring about "Baggins" from "Shire", promising the last three Dwarf-rings to Dáin. The King asked time to think and he sent Glóin and his son Gimli to Elrond for council, and to warn Bilbo.[2]

The War of the Ring reached the North; King Brand fighting the Easterlings retreated from the River Carnen and was given aid by Dwarves in the Battle of Dale. After three days of fighting Dwarves and Men were driven back, and Brand was slain, followed by Dáin.[4] Several days later the Easterlings learned that the War was lost. When the new King Thorin III Stonehelm, son of Dáin, and Brand's Bard II saw this they came out of the mountain and routed their enemies.[5]

Little is known of the reign of Thorin III, other than the Dwarves helped rebuild the cities of Minas Tirith and the fortress of Helm's Deep. Some of the Dwarves colonized the Glittering Caves.

Language and writing[edit | edit source]

The Dwarves of Erebor spoke Khuzdul but used the Language of Dale for their public names.[6]

Coming from Moria, the Dwarves brought with them the Angerthas Moria, which however was modified further. For some reason some runes of Angerthas Moria were reverted back to their Elvish values in Angerthas. The resulting variation was known as Angerthas Erebor.[7]

Members[edit | edit source]

Noted Dwarves from Erebor were:

References