Erebor

Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, stands as the central pillar of Dwarf-history in the Third Age, a realm of immense wealth and craftsmanship that was twice destroyed and twice rebuilt, and whose fate was inextricably linked with the War of the Ring. Its story is one of exile, dragon-fire, and a final, desperate stand against the forces of Mordor.

Geography and Early History

Erebor is a solitary peak rising from the eastern edge of Wilderland, near the source of the River Running and not far from the great forest of Mirkwood. At its foot lay the town of Dale, a human settlement that shared in the Mountain's prosperity. The Dwarf-kingdom under the Mountain was founded by Thráin I, who came to Erebor after the fall of Moria and discovered the great jewel called the Arkenstone. His son Thorin I later led most of Durin's Folk north to the Grey Mountains, but after a long period of dragon-wars there, Thrór, the heir of Dáin I, returned to Erebor with the Arkenstone and restored the kingdom to great wealth and power. The Dwarves of Erebor forged weapons and armour of great worth, and they enjoyed the friendship of the Men of Dale and the Northmen who lived between the River Running and the Redwater. The realm grew so rich that the rumour of its treasure spread abroad and reached the ears of the dragon Smaug the Golden, who descended on the Mountain in flames, destroyed the kingdom, and lay upon a bed of gold in the Great Hall for nearly two hundred years.

The Quest of Erebor and the Battle of Five Armies

Thrór and his son Thráin II escaped the sack and wandered homeless for many years. Thrór was later slain by the Orc Azog in Moria, sparking the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. After that war, Thráin II and his son Thorin Oakenshield settled in exile in the Ered Luin, west of the Shire. It was there that a chance meeting between Thorin and the Wizard Gandalf led to the quest that would change the fortunes of the House of Durin. Gandalf, troubled by the perilous state of the North and fearing that Sauron might use the dragon Smaug in his plans, devised a plan to send Thorin and a company of Dwarves, accompanied by the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, to reclaim Erebor. The quest succeeded: the dragon was slain by Bard of Esgaroth, and the Dwarves returned to the Mountain. But Orcs, led by Bolg son of Azog, descended upon Erebor, and the Battle of Five Armies was fought. Thorin Oakenshield was mortally wounded and died, but his cousin Dáin Ironfoot, who had come from the Iron Hills to his aid, became King Dáin II, and the Kingdom under the Mountain was restored.

Erebor in the War of the Ring

Dáin proved a great and wise king, and the Dwarves prospered again. When the War of the Ring began, Sauron sent messengers to Dáin, demanding news of Bilbo Baggins and the 'little ring' he had stolen, and offering in return the return of three of the Seven Dwarf-rings and the realm of Moria. Dáin refused, and when the war came, he and King Brand of Dale led their armies against the forces of Sauron that invaded from the East. In the Battle of Dale, both King Brand and King Dáin Ironfoot were slain, fighting at the Gate of Erebor. The Easterlings had the victory, but they could not take the Gate, and many Dwarves and Men took refuge in Erebor and withstood a siege. When news of the great victories in the South reached them, Sauron's northern army was filled with dismay, and the besieged came forth and routed them. Bard II, Brand's son, became King in Dale, and Thorin III Stonehelm, Dáin's son, became King under the Mountain. Their realms remained ever after in friendship with Gondor, under the crown and protection of the King of the West.

Narrative Significance

Erebor is a symbol of the resilience and enduring power of Durin's Folk. Its history mirrors the larger struggle of the Free Peoples against the forces of darkness: a golden age, a catastrophic fall, a long exile, a heroic return, and a final, costly victory. The quest for Erebor, as recounted in The Hobbit, was the catalyst that brought the Ring to light and set the events of the War of the Ring in motion. Gandalf himself reflected that the chance meeting with Thorin Oakenshield in Bree was a pivotal moment, averting a far worse outcome in the North. The stand of Dáin and Brand at the Mountain's Gate was a crucial diversion, preventing Sauron from launching a full-scale assault on Rivendell and the North, and ensuring that the victory in the South was not followed by ruin and ash in the North. The Dwarves of Erebor, through their valour and sacrifice, played an essential part in the final defeat of Sauron.