The Iron Hills

The Iron Hills are a mountainous region in the far northeast of Wilderland, beyond the Lonely Mountain and the desolation left by the dragon Smaug. They are the homeland of a numerous and warlike branch of Durin's folk, ruled by Dain, a kinsman of Thorin Oakenshield. In the narrative of The Hobbit, the Iron Hills function as a distant but decisive source of military power, a place of refuge and reinforcement that ultimately determines the outcome of the siege of the Mountain and the Battle of Five Armies.

Geography and Strategic Position

The Iron Hills lie to the northeast of the Lonely Mountain, separated from it by a stretch of broken and desolate land. When Thorin and his company first see the Lonely Mountain from a distance, Balin explains that it is not the Misty Mountains but the goal of their quest, and that beyond it, far to the east, lies the Lonely Mountain itself. The Iron Hills are not directly visible from the western approach, but their location is understood as being in the same general eastern direction, beyond the great forest of Mirkwood and the Long Lake. The region is described as a place where Dain's people possess the secret of making a fine and flexible metal mesh for leg-armor, indicating a high level of metallurgical skill and a culture deeply engaged in mining and smith-work. The dwarves of the Iron Hills are noted for their strength, even by dwarvish standards, and their equipment—heavy two-handed mattocks, short broad swords, round shields, and steel mail hauberks—reflects a society organized for war.

Role in the Quest and the Siege

Thorin, after learning from the raven Roäc that Smaug is dead and that a host of Elves and Lake-men is approaching the Mountain, immediately sends messengers to his cousin Dain in the Iron Hills, bidding him to hasten with as many well-armed warriors as he can gather. This act reveals the Iron Hills as the only potential source of military aid for Thorin's beleaguered company. The distance is significant: Roäc reports that Dain and more than five hundred dwarves are within about two days' march of Dale, coming from the northeast. This timing is critical, as it gives Thorin hope that he can hold out against the besieging forces until reinforcements arrive. The Iron Hills dwarves are not merely a theoretical reserve; they are a practical, armed force that can be summoned across the wilderness. When Dain's host finally appears, it is described as a grim and formidable sight, with each warrior clad in steel mail and carrying heavy weapons, their beards forked and plaited and thrust into their belts, their faces grim. They march with great speed, having hurried on through the night, and they carry huge packs of supplies, indicating they are prepared for a prolonged siege.

The Battle of Five Armies and Aftermath

The arrival of Dain's force from the Iron Hills precipitates the final crisis. The dwarves advance up the valley, intending to push through to the Mountain, but they are barred by the combined army of Elves and Men. The standoff nearly erupts into open battle between the dwarves and the other free peoples, but the sudden appearance of a vast goblin army from the north forces a change of alliances. In the Battle of Five Armies, the dwarves of the Iron Hills fight alongside the Elves and Men against the common foe. They charge into the goblin ranks with cries of "Moria!" and "Dain, Dain!" wielding their mattocks with devastating effect. Their intervention is crucial in stemming the goblin tide. After the battle, Dain takes up his abode as the new King under the Mountain, and many other dwarves gather to his throne in the ancient halls. The treasure of Thror is divided, with a fourteenth share given to Bard, and Dain honors the agreement made by the dead Thorin. The Iron Hills thus cease to be a separate, distant homeland and become the source of the new dynasty that re-establishes the Kingdom under the Mountain, bringing a lasting peace and prosperity to the region.