Timeline Event
Battle of Dale and Erebor: Overview
Event Type: Military/Strategic
Age: 3rd Age - Ring War
Dates: March 17, 3019 ~ March 27, 3019
Description:
An event in the War of the Ring; see that entry for an overview:
Table of Contents:
The Summary
The Combatants
— Attacking Forces
— Defensive Forces
The Timeline
The Prelude
The Battle and Siege
The Aftermath
Notes
The Summary
The battle and siege of the Easterlings against the Men of Dale under Bard and the Dwarves of Erebor under Dáin Ironfoot.
The Combatants
The Combatants: Attacking Forces
[A] host of the allies of Sauron that had long threatened the borders of King Brand... the Easterlings had the victory.
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age
The Combatants: Defensive Forces
Brand [of Dale]... had the aid of the Dwarves of Erebor....
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years
The Timeline
[3017]
[See: Dáin II threatened by Sauron's messenger]
[See: Brand threatened by Sauron's messengers]
March [3019]
17
Battle of Dale. King Brand and King Dáin Ironfoot fall. Many Dwarves and Men take refuge in Erebor and are besieged. Shagrat brings Frodo's cloak, mail-shirt, and sword to Barad-dûr.
[See: Battle of Dale]
18
The Host of the West marches from Minas Tirith. Frodo... is overtaken by Orcs on the road from Durthang to Udûn.
19
The Host comes to Morgul Vale. Frodo and Samwise escape and begin their journey along the road to the Barad-dûr....
[See: King Brand slain]
[See: King Dáin II Ironfoot slain]
[See: Siege of Erebor begins]
[20]
[See: Siege of Erebor]
25
... Downfall of Barad-dûr and passing of Sauron.
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age
March 27. Bard II and Thorin III Stonehelm drive the enemy from Dale.
[See: Siege of Erebor ends]
28
Celeborn crosses Anduin; destruction of Dol Guldur begun.
[See: Bard II becomes King of Dale]
[See: Thorin III Stonehelm becomes King under the Mountain]
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Chief Days from the Fall of the Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age
The Prelude
In the late summer of... (2941) Gandalf had at last prevailed upon... the White Council to attack Dol Guldur, and Sauron retreated and went to Mordor.... So it was that when the War came at last the main assault was turned southwards....
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, Annals of the Kings and Rulers: Durin's Folk
[Said Glóin,] 'Then about a year [before the Council of Elrond] a messenger came to Dáin... from Mordor....
'"... Sauron asks this," he said: "that you should find [Bilbo],... and get from him, willing or no, a little ring... that once he stole.... Refuse, and things will not seem so well."....
'Twice the messenger has returned, and has gone unanswered. The third and last time, so he says, is soon to come....
'[Messengers] have come also to King Brand in Dale, and... he is afraid.... Already war is gathering on his eastern borders. If we make no answer, the Enemy may move Men of his rule to assail King Brand, and Dáin also.'
The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 2, The Council of Elrond
The Battle and Siege
In the North... there had been war and evil....
At the same time as the great armies besieged Minas Tirith a host of the allies of Sauron that had long threatened the borders of King Brand crossed the River Carnen, and Brand was driven back to Dale. There he had the aid of the Dwarves of Erebor; and there was a great battle at the Mountain's feet. It lasted three days, but in the end both King Brand and King Dáin Ironfoot were slain, and the Easterlings had the victory. But they could not take the Gate, and many, both Dwarves and Men, took refuge in Erebor, and there withstood a siege.
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age
After the fall of the Dark Tower and the passing of Sauron the Shadow was lifted from the hearts of all who opposed him, but fear and despair fell upon his servants and allies....
When news came of the great victories in the South, then Sauron's northern army was filled with dismay; and the besieged came forth and routed them....
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age
The Aftermath
[The] remnant fled into the East and troubled Dale no more. Then Bard II, Brand's son, became King in Dale, and Thorin III Stonehelm, Dáin's son, became King under the Mountain. They sent their ambassadors to the crowning of King Elessar; and their realms remained ever after... in friendship with Gondor; and they were under the crown and protection of the King of the West.
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age
Notes
The dates are set to include the Battle of Dale through the breaking of the Siege of Erebor.
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 23Jul04, 4Dec04, 18Mar07, 14Mar08
