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


The Battle of the Five Armies was a five way battle between the five Armies: the Dwarves of Erebor, Elves of Mirkwood, Men of Dale (along with the Wizard Gandalf, the Hobbit Bilbo, the skin-changer Beorn and the Eagles of Manwë) versus the two Orc armies of Dol Guldur and Gundabad.
'''1977: [[The Hobbit (1977 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1977 film)]]:'''
The battle was the first conflict in the War of the Ring.
:The "Five Armies" are the Elves, the Men, the Dwarves, the Goblins (and [[Wargs]]) 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 seven, but only Thorin and [[Bombur]] are named among the dead. Only [[Glóin]] is shown as having survived the battle.
==Prelude==
==Quest of Erebor==
In TA 2940, Gandalf intercepted a message promising payment for the head of Thorin Oakenshield. This aroused his suspicion of rising darkness and he intercepted the Dwarf exilarch and hatched the idea of the Quest of Erebor.
The wizard claimed to Thorin that such darker minds could turn towards Erebor, possibly sway the dragon, who took it from Thorin's people, to their side and maybe use the location and riches of the Mountain itself to their advantage.
Unable to muster a great enough army without the support of all seven Dwarf kingdoms, Thorin assembled twelve of his compatriots to undergo a quest to retrieve the Arkenstone from the dragon. With it, he could command all seven armies against the dragon Smaug. Gandalf suggested Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit, as a burglar to sneak past Smaug and take the stone and the Quest was under way.


Unknown to Gandalf, a Necromancer had settled in Dol Guldur. This sorcerer was in league with Azog (who set the price on Thorin's head) and with Smaug, and intended to stop the quest at all costs, sending Azog to hunt the company. Gandalf later uncovered the Necromancer as a returned Sauron, but not before the Dark Lord sent out his secret army under Azog to secure the Mountain. It was his intention to use Smaug in the War of the  Ring, as well as to use the Mountain to secure the Lands of Angmar and use them to harass the Northern kingdoms of Middle Earth.
'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]:'''
:The battle takes up most of the last chapter. Because Bilbo is the main character, his role in the battle is much expanded. After leaving Thranduil, he has to fight his way to Balin, [[Lianna]], [[Corwin]], Gandalf, Beorn, and ultimately Bolg.


Meanwhile, the company awoke Smaug and failed to slay him in the forges. The dragon, mistaking Bilbo for a man of Lake-town, went out to burn the city in revenge.
'''2014: [[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies|''The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies'']]:'''
==Destruction of Lake-town==
:The battle comprises the majority of the film. The five armies are described as Elves, Men, Dwarves, and two armies of Orcs - one from Dol Guldur and the other from [[Gundabad]].<ref>[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (extended edition)]] Appendices</ref> [[Azog]] acts as commander, rather than [[Bolg]], and set up a signal post on [[Raven Hill]] to coordinate the battle.
As he burnt the city, Smaug was confronted by Bard, a descendant of Dale (itself conflagerated by the dragon) wielding the Black Arrow which would penetrate the dragon's weak-spot.
Smaug was slain, but the town of Lake-town was burnt and the survivors led by Bard had to resettle, choosing the ruins of Dale.  
==Siege of Erebor==
The company was reunited, but Thorin's grief and failure led him to spiral into madness. Blinded by greed and consumed by the dragon's curse, he refused to share his treasure with the Lake-town refugees to help alleviate their hardships. Instead, the Elvenking Thranduil came to their support, seeking to reclaim his own heirlooms: The White Gems of Lasgalen from Thorin's hoard.
Seeing that Thorin is beyond reason, the Elves and Men assembled an army to besiege the Dwarves inside Erebor until Thorin relinquishes some of his gold. The Dwarf, however, sent Roac the Raven to call upon Dain Ironfoot from the nearby Iron Hills. Thranduil was so bent on reclaiming the gems that he ignored Gandalf's warnings of the approaching of the Dol Guldur army. Unbeknownst to any of them, Azog's army was marching in secret through Rhun using tunnels dug by Wereworms, while Bolg mustered yet another army from Gundabad.


As the siege was underway, Dain arrived at the head of a Dwarven army, and the warring parties came to blows just as the Dol Guldur Army arrived.
:During the battle, Thorin decides to kill Azog in [[Ravenhill]] and is followed by Dwalin, Fili and Kili. Fili is then captured, impaled by Azog and thrown off a tower. Bolg finds [[Tauriel]] and injures her but before he can finish her, Kili arrives to save her but is impaled by Bolg's mace and dies. Thorin confronts Azog in a fight to avenge Fili; ultimately, Azog stabs Thorin in the chest, whilst Thorin plunges Orcrist through Azog's chest and stabs him into the ice, killing the Orc. Thorin later apologises to, and makes peace with, Bilbo before dying.
==The Battle==
==Skirmish at the Gates of Erebor==
Thranduil relented and sent his Elven soldiers to join the fight against the Orcs
Azog's army engaged the Dwarves, but not before Thranduil relented to assist them. Azog then deployed Trolls, before Thranduil's volley killed some, allowing the Dwarven chariots to cut through the Orc lines. Ogres were then used to rush the chariots.


Dáin was pushed back to the side of the Mountain with heavy loses. Meanwhile, Thorin - who refused to join the fight - was confronted by Dwalin and eventually snapped out of his dragon sickness. He led the company out of the Mountain and rallied the Dwarven army to an assault which broke through Azog's lines.
Thorin decided to lead an assault towards Azog's command tower in Ravenhill. Dwalin, Balin, Fíli and Kíli commandeered a Dwarven war chariot, following Thorin through the frozen channel of the River Running. Azog, intending the entire battle as a trap for Thorin, tried to stop his friends from reaching him, sending ogres, a Troll and Wargs after them. Bofur, astride a Troll, managed to help them against the Troll, but the Wargs forced Dwalin, Fili and Kili to take the mounts and leave Balin behind to fend off his foes while they went to Ravenhill.
Meanwhile, the ax in Bifur's head was struck to the head of one of his Orc foes. Bofur and Bombur helped throw the Orc off, dislodging the ax from Bifur's head, which instantly mended his speech problems.
==Siege of Dale==
To force his adversaries to split forces, Azog had Dale attacked, forcing Bard to draw his forces into the city to defend the women and children. Gandalf and Bilbo went to fight with him, leaving the Elves and Dwarves to fight in the field.
Bard saved his children and ordered them to evacuate the women, children and wounded to the Great Hall. However, Hilda Bianca rallied the women to rejoin the battle. They took up weapons and decided that if they live with their men, then they'll die with them. Hilda discovered that Alfrid was hiding with them and called him a coward and a weasel before the women left to fight with their men.
Thranduil led his forces into the city, but his mount was slain. He would later order a retreat after seeing most of his fallen brothers. However he has confronted by his son Legolas and by Tauriel.
Dale's siege ended with the men victorious.
==Skirmish at Ravenhill==
Thorin, Fili, Kili and Dwalin arrived at Ravenhill just as Tauriel and Legolas broke news to Gandalf of the approach of the Gundabad Army. Bilbo used the Ring to go and warn the Dwarves off of the trap, and Tauriel went with Legolas, after Thranduil was unmoved to go help them.
Azog feigned a retreat, which drew Fili and Kili into the ruins of Ravenhill. When Bilbo arrived, Thorin realized the trap but before Dwalin could fetch back Fili and Kili, the former was caught by Azog and executed before his brother and uncle. Kili chased Azog and Thorin went after him. Dwalin also started to give chase before he went back, helping Bilbo fend off the Gundabad berserkers led by Bolg.
Legolas and Tauriel arrived, with Legolas latching unto the Bats of Dol Guldur brought from Gundabad, and dispatching a force going up Ravenhill to corner the Dwarves. He then settled on a sentry over the frozen waterfall.
Thorin engaged Azog before the pale Orc retreated again, and had the Berserkers menace Thorin, pushing him to the edge of the frozen waterfall and breaking his sword. Legolas aided him with his bow.
Meanwhile, Tauriel was menaced by Bolg as she looked for Kili. The dwarf came to save her, but was killed by Bolg. Enraged, the elf lunged at the Orc and threw herself with him over the precipice to the slopes besides the waterfall. The Orc was not killed, however, and Legolas had to tip a tower across the gorge to get to Bolg and fend him off.
Overhead, Thorin threw one of the Berserkers, which loosened Bolg's balance. To return the favor, Legolas threw Orcrist, which plunged into an Orc about to deliver a killing blow to Thorin. With his sword returned to him Legolas then dispatched Bolg with his knives.
Thorin engaged Azog with his returned sword, letting the Orc use his flail to crack the ice all about them. Distracted by the arrival of the Eagles and Beorn, who dispatched the approaching Gundabad Army, Azog didn't notice that he was now standing on a circle of ice. As Thorin stepped off, the ice tipped and the Orc slipped and fell under.
He burst from the ice however, not before stabbing Thorin in the foot, and standing over the Dwarf he drew his blade arm towards him. Thorin released Orcrist, allowing Azog to deal him a mortal wound, but giving himself the leverage to thrust back at Azog, killing him. Below, he witnessed the Dol Guldur army dispersed and routed before the Dwarf expired.
==Aftermath==
With their commanders dead, their back-up forces gone and Allied reinforcements closing in, the Guldur-Gundabad forces were now trapped in the Erebor valley between three armies with no way out. The allied armies pressed home their advantage and commenced a terrible slaughter of Sauron's forces that lasted for countless hours while only a bare few managed to escape back into the tunnels from whence they came. They left behind tens of thousands of corpses and left the battered but victorious Allied forces in complete control of Erebor and Dale. Helpless to interfere, Sauron abandoned his conquest of Erebor and retreated into himself within Mordor to bide his time.
The Allied victory had however come with a terrible price; the Allied forces had suffered heavy losses including the loss of the Dwarven king Thorin Oakenshield.
In the wake of the battle, a funeral was held for Thorin Oakenshield, Fíli and Kíli, with members of Thorin and Company, Beorn and Radagast in attendance while those in the city of Dale honored those who had fallen in Battle. The mountain was garrisoned by the Dwarves of the Iron Hills and portions of its wealth were distributed to various parties like the Men of the Lake, who set up permanent residence in Dale and elected Bard as the new Lord of Dale.
The Elves of Mirkwood stayed just a short time to receive their share of the treasure before returning to their forest homeland. With Thorin and his immediate family members dead, Dain succeeded him as King under the Mountain. His job done, Bilbo Baggins parted ways with the Company and returned home to the Shire with Gandalf with his secret magic ring always close at hand.
Repopulated with Dwarvish colonists from each of the seven Dwarf kingdoms, Erebor was soon restored to its former glory and flourished once more, as did its neighbor-city Dale. In time, Erebor retook its place as the most powerful Dwarf kingdom in Middle-earth.
However the people of Dale, Erebor and Mirkwood banded together in the late Third Age during the War of the Ring
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Revision as of 13:21, 8 November 2021

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The name Battle of Five Armies refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Battle of Five Armies (disambiguation).
Battle of Five Armies
Matt Stewart - The Battle Under the Mountain.jpg
Date: "the last week of autumn" in T.A. 2941[1]
Place: The valley of Dale and the slopes of Erebor
Outcome: Victory for the Elves, Men, and Dwarves
Combatants

Elves of Mirkwood
Lake-men
Dwarves of the Iron Hills
Thorin and Company
Eagles

Orcs of the Mountains
Wargs
Bats

Commanders

Gandalf
Thranduil
Bard the Bowman
Thorin II Oakenshield
Dáin Ironfoot
Gwaihir

Bolg

Strength

Unknown, except for:

Unknown, except for "A vast host"

Casualties

Unknown

Heavy: "three parts of the goblin warriors of the North perished"[4]

The Battle of Five Armies was an important battle waged in T.A. 2941.[5] The five warring parties were the Goblins and the Wargs against Men, Elves and Dwarves on and near the Lonely Mountain.

History

Prelude

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

Erroneously believing, due to some remarks Bilbo had made during his conversation with Smaug,[6] that some scheme of the Men of Esgaroth was the reason for the Dwarves' (and Bilbo's) presence, Smaug flew to Esgaroth to show them who is "the true King under the Mountain".[6] Smaug's fires burned down the whole town, but the dragon was killed by Bard the Bowman. The Elves of Mirkwood soon learned that Smaug had been killed and thus set forth to claim the treasure, believing there was no one left who had a claim on it. Having heard of the disaster that had struck the befriended men, the Elven host turned aside to offer any help that could be provided. Some day after the Elves had arrived at the Long Lake a united host of Men and Elves set forth towards Erebor, believing that the Dwarves had been among the first casualties of Smaug's wrath. To their surprise they found Thorin and Company quite alive, the gate to the halls beneath Erebor barred by a wall and themselves treated as foes, coming armed towards the gates.[7]

For several reasons Bard, being heir of Girion, Lord of Dale, claimed one twelfth of the treasure: first, he was the dragonslayer and without him, the Dwarves could never have reclaimed their old home. Second, a great deal of Dale's treasure had been robbed by Smaug and thus belonged rightfully to Bard and not the Dwarves. Third, the men of Esgaroth had helped the Dwarves on their journey and now had suffered severely; their whole city burned to the ground and their stocks being destroyed by Smaug, whose anger in the end was only risen by the Dwarves alone. Therefore they demanded compensation and Bard intended to pay it from the part of the treasure he claimed.[8]

Yet Thorin rebuked these claims. He would not fulfill any of the conditions as long as an armoured Elven host camped near Erebor. For the Elves did not have any claims on the treasure and Thorin himself had been imprisoned by the Elves.[8]

As a result, Thorin and Company were trapped in a bloodless siege, with Thranduil and Bard hoping to wait him out.[8] However, Thorin had sent messages of his plight to his relatives using as messengers talking Ravens that lived on the Lonely Mountain. These reached Dáin Ironfoot of the nearby Iron Hills, and he marched to Erebor with 500 heavily armed Dwarves of the Iron Hills, most of them skilled veterans of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs[3]. 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 Goblins 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.[9]

The Battle

The three commanders agreed that the Goblins and Wargs were the enemies of all and previous grievances between them were put on hold in face of the greater threat. They arranged their forces on the two spurs of the Mountain that lined the valley leading to the now-sealed off great Gate of Erebor; the only entrance to the Mountain that remained unblocked (any others had been destroyed by Smaug long before). The 500 Dwarves and 200 or so Lake-men formed up on one spur and over 1000 Elves on the other, while a light rear-guard lined across the mouth of the valley to lure the Goblins between the two spurs of the mountain, and thus destroy them. Bilbo Baggins tried to sit out the battle on Ravenhill which was held by the Elves and where also Gandalf had withdrawn to.[9]

Battle of Five Armies: Men of Esgaroth by Joona Kujanen.

Soon the Goblins and Wargs arrived, 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 peoples did not hold the advantage long. The second wave was even worse than the first, and due to their sheer number now many Goblins scaled the mountain from the opposite side, and began to attack the arrayed forces from above and behind, as the main wave pressed forward. The battle raged across the Mountain, and then a great noise was heard: Thorin and his 12 Dwarf companions inside the mountain had thrown down a section of the stone wall they had erected across the mouth of the gates, killing many Goblins. Thorin and Company emerged, covered in the best armour and armed with the best weapons in Erebor. Then Thorin cried, "Rally to me my kinsfolk," and charged down into the valley to join the battle with many Dwarves and many Men and Elves joining them. Thorin advanced through the Goblins' ranks all the way up to the gigantic Goblins that formed the Bodyguard of Bolg, but could not get past them. Also his battle-line was too short, the flanks unprotected and thus his attack soon crumbled, Thorin and many others were cut off and hard beset by Bolg's bodyguard. The battle degenerated into a chaotic close quarters melee, no quarter asked or given.[9]

As the battle was turning fully against the Free Folk, a large army of Giant Eagles of the Misty Mountains arrived, led by the Great Eagle. Bilbo was the first to spot their entrance on the scene and began shouting that "the Eagles are coming!", a shout that was then continued among the other troops of the Free Folk. At this point Bilbo was knocked in the head by a large stone thrown by a Goblin from above on the Mountain, and he was knocked out.[9] With the support of the Giant Eagles, the Goblins that had scaled Erebor were driven off. The tide was eventually turned, when Beorn himself arrived at the battle, apparently having heard news that a large army of Goblins were 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 bodyguard of Bolg, ultimately killing Bolg. The Goblins panicked and scattered, to be picked off by hunting forces from the victors later.[10]

Aftermath

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

After defeating the Goblins and Wargs, the victors divided the treasure. Bard took Bilbo'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. The Goblins of the Misty Mountains and the Dwarves both were significantly spent after the battle, and until the War of the Ring, the North remained quiet on both sides.[10]

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 Medwed leading a troop of bears.[11]

Portrayal in adaptations

1966: The Hobbit (1966 film):

The battle is completely omitted. Bilbo kills the dragon, and returns home.[12]

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):

The "Five Armies" are the Elves, the Men, the Dwarves, the Goblins (and Wargs) 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 seven, but only Thorin and Bombur are named among the dead. Only Glóin is shown as having survived the battle.

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

The battle takes up most of the last chapter. Because Bilbo is the main character, his role in the battle is much expanded. After leaving Thranduil, he has to fight his way to Balin, Lianna, Corwin, Gandalf, Beorn, and ultimately Bolg.

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

The battle comprises the majority of the film. The five armies are described as Elves, Men, Dwarves, and two armies of Orcs - one from Dol Guldur and the other from Gundabad.[13] Azog acts as commander, rather than Bolg, and set up a signal post on Raven Hill to coordinate the battle.
During the battle, Thorin decides to kill Azog in Ravenhill and is followed by Dwalin, Fili and Kili. Fili is then captured, impaled by Azog and thrown off a tower. Bolg finds Tauriel and injures her but before he can finish her, Kili arrives to save her but is impaled by Bolg's mace and dies. Thorin confronts Azog in a fight to avenge Fili; ultimately, Azog stabs Thorin in the chest, whilst Thorin plunges Orcrist through Azog's chest and stabs him into the ice, killing the Orc. Thorin later apologises to, and makes peace with, Bilbo before dying.

References