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'''Belegost''' was one of two [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] cities in the [[Ered Luin]]. Its name in [[Westron]] was '''''Mickleburg'''''.
{{kingdom
| image=[[File:Mark Fisher - Belegost.gif|250px]]
| name=Belegost
| pronun=
| othernames=Gabilgathol
| location=[[Blue Mountains]], north-east of [[Dolmed|Mount Dolmed]]
| capital=
| towns=
| regions=
| population=[[Dwarves of Belegost]]
| language=[[Khuzdul]], [[Sindarin]]
| govern1=[[Lord of Belegost]]
| govern2=
| govern3=
| currency=
| holiday=
| precededby=
| event1=Founded
| event1date=[[Years of the Trees]]
| event2=Destroyed
| event2date={{FA|587}}
| event3=Abandoned
| event3date={{SA|40}}
| event4=
| event4date=
| event5=
| event5date=
| followedby=
}}
'''Belegost''' was one of two great [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] [[Dwarf realms|cities]] in the [[Ered Luin]].


Belegost lay in the southern part of the mountain range, and was home to the Dwarven House known as the ''[[Broadbeams]]''. Its name in [[Khuzdul]] was ''[[Gabilgathol]]'' of unknown meaning. ''Belegost'' translates as "Great Fortress". Its king until [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] was [[Azaghâl]].
==Description==


The Dwarves of Belegost were friends to the [[Sindar]] and later also the [[Ñoldor]] of [[Beleriand]]. They did not join the Dwarves of [[Nogrod]] in the Sack of [[Doriath]], and actually attempted to dissuade their friends from it.
Belegost lay in the north central part of the Ered Luin, north of [[Nogrod]] and northeast of [[Dolmed|Mount Dolmed]],<ref>{{S|Map}}</ref> guarding one of the only passes through the mountain range.<ref>{{VT|48a}}, p. 24 ("But the Dwarves had built some great Mansions in those mountains [the Ered Luin] (commanding the only passes)")</ref>


Unlike Nogrod to the north, Belegost may have partly survived after the [[War of Wrath]], although it was recorded as having been 'ruined' at that time: many Dwarves of Belegost joined [[Durin's folk]] in [[Khazad-dûm]] 60 years after the war, but the Ered Luin remained home to [[Dwarves]] until at least the early [[Fourth Age]], including some of [[Durin I|Durin]]'s folk.
==History==


[[Category:Cities]]
Belegost was home to the [[Dwarves of Belegost]]. During the mid [[First Age]] its king until [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]] was [[Azaghâl]].<ref>{{S|Fifth}}</ref>
[[Category:Locations]]
 
Belegost was probably founded sometime during the [[Years of the Trees]].<ref>{{VT|48a}}, p. 24 ("...which had certainly been founded long ago ... before the coming of the exiled Noldor, probably before the Eldar of the Great Journey ever reached Beleriand")</ref>
 
At the end of the First Age, Belegost was ruined in the [[War of Wrath]],<ref>{{App|Durin}}</ref> and around the [[Second Age 40|fortieth year]] of the [[Second Age]] the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains began to migrate to [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]], abandoning Nogrod and Belegost.<ref>{{App|SA}}</ref>  However, there always remained some Dwarves on the eastern side of the Blue Mountains in days afterward.<ref>{{UT|Concerning}} p. 235</ref>
 
Additionally, one of Tolkien's earlier maps, as shown by Christopher Tolkien in ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]'' (and also echoed in [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]]'s ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth|Atlas of Middle-earth]]'') still shows Belegost in the Ered Luin in the time of the [[Third Age]], indicating that Belegost may have survived the upheavals of the Second and early Third Ages, or that at least a more recognizable mansion had persisted therein than at Nogrod.
 
==Etymology==
''Belegost'' ([[beleg]] + [[ost]]) was a [[Sindarin]] translation of the original [[Dwarvish]] name '''''Gabilgathol''''' and both mean "Great City".  Unlike other names of the ''Silmarillion'', the text also gives us an English rendering, which was possibly from [[Westron]]: '''''Mickleburg'''''.<ref name="Sindar">{{S|Sindar}}</ref> ''Mickle'' is a root meaning "big"; see also [[Michel Delving]].
 
The city's [[Khuzdul]] name '''''Gabilgathol''''' contains the elements ''[[gabil]]'' "great" and ''[[gathol]]'' "fortress".
 
'''''Túrosto''''' was the name in [[Quenya]] for Belegost.<ref>{{WJ|AB}}, p. 389</ref>
 
==In adaptations==
In ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'' the fortress is incorrectly called '''Gabilgathod'''.<ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', Beleriand and the Lands to the North, Map</ref>
 
{{references}}
[[Category:Beleriand]]
[[Category:Beleriand]]
[[Category:Eriador]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
[[Category:Dwarven realms]]
[[de:Belegost]]
[[fi:Belegost]]
[[fr:encyclo:geographie:villes_tours_et_forteresses:beleriand:belegost]]

Revision as of 19:29, 19 May 2018

Belegost
Mark Fisher - Belegost.gif
General information
Other namesGabilgathol
LocationBlue Mountains, north-east of Mount Dolmed
People
PopulationDwarves of Belegost
LanguageKhuzdul, Sindarin
GovernanceLord of Belegost
History
FoundedYears of the Trees
DestroyedF.A. 587
AbandonedS.A. 40

Belegost was one of two great Dwarven cities in the Ered Luin.

Description

Belegost lay in the north central part of the Ered Luin, north of Nogrod and northeast of Mount Dolmed,[1] guarding one of the only passes through the mountain range.[2]

History

Belegost was home to the Dwarves of Belegost. During the mid First Age its king until Nirnaeth Arnoediad was Azaghâl.[3]

Belegost was probably founded sometime during the Years of the Trees.[4]

At the end of the First Age, Belegost was ruined in the War of Wrath,[5] and around the fortieth year of the Second Age the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains began to migrate to Khazad-dûm, abandoning Nogrod and Belegost.[6] However, there always remained some Dwarves on the eastern side of the Blue Mountains in days afterward.[7]

Additionally, one of Tolkien's earlier maps, as shown by Christopher Tolkien in The Treason of Isengard (and also echoed in Karen Wynn Fonstad's Atlas of Middle-earth) still shows Belegost in the Ered Luin in the time of the Third Age, indicating that Belegost may have survived the upheavals of the Second and early Third Ages, or that at least a more recognizable mansion had persisted therein than at Nogrod.

Etymology

Belegost (beleg + ost) was a Sindarin translation of the original Dwarvish name Gabilgathol and both mean "Great City". Unlike other names of the Silmarillion, the text also gives us an English rendering, which was possibly from Westron: Mickleburg.[8] Mickle is a root meaning "big"; see also Michel Delving.

The city's Khuzdul name Gabilgathol contains the elements gabil "great" and gathol "fortress".

Túrosto was the name in Quenya for Belegost.[9]

In adaptations

In The Atlas of Middle-earth the fortress is incorrectly called Gabilgathod.[10]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings — Part Two" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 48, December 2005, p. 24 ("But the Dwarves had built some great Mansions in those mountains [the Ered Luin] (commanding the only passes)")
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Eldarin Hands, Fingers & Numerals and Related Writings — Part Two" (edited by Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 48, December 2005, p. 24 ("...which had certainly been founded long ago ... before the coming of the exiled Noldor, probably before the Eldar of the Great Journey ever reached Beleriand")
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn" p. 235
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "Part Four. Quendi and Eldar: Appendix B. Elvish names for the Dwarves", p. 389
  10. Karen Wynn Fonstad, The Atlas of Middle-earth, Beleriand and the Lands to the North, Map