Grey Mountains: Difference between revisions
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{{disambig-two|a mountain chain|[[Middle-earth Role Playing|MERP]] supplement|[[The Grey Mountains]]}} | {{disambig-two|a mountain chain|[[Middle-earth Role Playing|MERP]] supplement|[[The Grey Mountains]]}} | ||
{{location | {{location infobox | ||
| name=Grey Mountains | | name=Grey Mountains | ||
| | | image=[[File:Matěj Čadil - Ered Mithrin.jpg|250px]] | ||
| | | caption="Ered Mithrin" by Matěj Čadil | ||
| | | pronun= | ||
| location= | | othernames=''Ered Mithrin'' | ||
| inhabitants=[[Durin's Folk]], [[Dragons]], and [[Orcs]] | | location=North-west of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], north of [[Mirkwood]] | ||
| | | type=Mountain range; later a [[Dwarf realms|Dwarf kingdom]] | ||
| | | description=A rich mountain range of many ores | ||
| events= [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]], slaying of [[Scatha]] the Worm | | regions= | ||
| | | towns=[[Dáin's halls|Dáin's Halls]] | ||
| inhabitants=[[Dwarves of the Grey Mountains]]: [[Durin's Folk]], [[Dragons]], and [[Orcs]] | |||
The '''Grey Mountains''' (or '''Ered Mithrin''' in [[Sindarin]]) was a large mountain range to the north of [[ | | created= | ||
| destroyed= | |||
| events=[[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]], slaying of [[Scatha]] the Worm | |||
| gallery=the Grey Mountains | |||
}} | |||
The '''Grey Mountains''' (or '''Ered Mithrin''' in [[Sindarin]]) was a large mountain range to the north of [[Rhovanion]]. Their western end connected to the [[Misty Mountains]] at the site of [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]]. | |||
== | ==Geography== | ||
North of the Grey Mountains lay the [[Northern Waste]].<ref name="UTmap">{{UT|Map}}</ref> | North of the Grey Mountains lay the [[Northern Waste]].<ref name="UTmap">{{UT|Map}}</ref> In the west, where the Grey Mountains met with the [[Misty Mountains]] rose [[Gundabad|Mount Gundabad]], an ancient [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] holy site and later the capital for the [[Orcs]] of the north. The eastern end of the Grey Mountains was split into two chains, and in between lay the [[Withered Heath]], where [[Dragons]] bred. After that was a wide hilly plain, beyond which lay the [[Iron Hills]]. [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], the Lonely Mountain, lay south of the Grey Mountains.<ref name="UTmap"/> | ||
In the west, where the Grey Mountains met with the [[Misty Mountains]] rose [[Mount Gundabad]], an ancient [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] holy site and later the capital for the [[Orcs]] of the north. | |||
From east to west the mountains stretched some 350 Númenórean Miles, and the sources of the Great River [[Anduin]], the river [[Greylin]], and the [[Forest River]] of [[Mirkwood]] arose in this range.<ref name="UTmap"/> | From east to west the mountains stretched some 350 Númenórean Miles, and the sources of the Great River [[Anduin]], the river [[Greylin]], and the [[Forest River]] of [[Mirkwood]] arose in this range.<ref name="UTmap"/> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
=== | ===Early history=== | ||
In the First Age, the Longbeards established mansions in [[Moria]] and the [[Iron Hills]], and they considered the Grey Mountains, which lay between these mansions, to be within their territory.<ref name=relations>{{PM|Relations}}, pp. 302-303</ref> Also during the First Age, some men—mostly associated with the House of Hador—settled between the Grey Mountains and Mirkwood, and they allied with the Longbeards against Morgoth's Orcs.<ref name=relations /> This alliance ended in the Second Age after [[Sauron]] destroyed [[Eregion]], which prompted the Longbeards to seal Moria. During this time, Orcs took control of the Grey Mountains.<ref>{{PM|Relations}}, p. 305</ref> | |||
=== | ===Third Age=== | ||
In {{TA|1980}} a [[Balrog]] appeared in [[ | In {{TA|1980}} a [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] appeared in [[Moria]] and by the next year the Dwarves fled.<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> Durin's folk were scattered. [[Thráin I]] reestablished the [[Kingdom under the Mountain]] but [[Thorin I]] went to the Grey Mountains where most of the Dwarves gathered.<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref> Nearly six hundred years later, [[Dragons]] began afflicting the Dwarves. In {{TA|2589|n}} [[Dáin I]] was slain by a Dragon and the Grey Mountain strongholds were abandoned after the [[Wars of the Dwarves and Dragons]]. About {{TA|2480|n}} [[Orcs]] had begun to infest the [[Misty Mountains]]<ref name="TA"/> and spread to the Grey Mountains, such that by {{TA|2941|n}} [[Gandalf]] the Wizard could say that the range was "simply stiff with goblins, hobgoblins, and orcs of the worst description".<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref> However, after the [[Battle of Five Armies]] the number of Goblins in the Grey Mountains were greatly reduced (some three parts of them had perished).<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref> | ||
There still was a remnant of the Dwarves in the Ered Mithrin after the core of the population left, but were probably few; working whatever mines they could hold from the Orcs and Dragons. It is likely that the Dwarves reclaimed all their old halls and mines sometime during the [[Fourth Age]], if not after [[Dáin II Ironfoot]] became king of Durin's folk in the late Third Age. | |||
== Other | == Other versions of the legendarium == | ||
Another line of "[[Grey Mountains (ancient)|Grey Mountains]]" in Middle-earth are seen on the [[Ambarkanta]] map.<ref>{{SM|Ambar}}</ref> | Another line of "[[Grey Mountains (ancient)|Grey Mountains]]" in Middle-earth are seen on the [[Ambarkanta]] map.<ref>{{SM|Ambar}}</ref> | ||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
[[Category:Rhovanion]] | [[Category:Rhovanion]] | ||
[[Category:Mountain ranges]] | [[Category:Mountain ranges]] |
Revision as of 21:36, 25 May 2018
Grey Mountains | |
---|---|
Mountain range; later a Dwarf kingdom | |
"Ered Mithrin" by Matěj Čadil | |
General Information | |
Other names | Ered Mithrin |
Location | North-west of Erebor, north of Mirkwood |
Type | Mountain range; later a Dwarf kingdom |
Description | A rich mountain range of many ores |
People and History | |
Inhabitants | Dwarves of the Grey Mountains: Durin's Folk, Dragons, and Orcs |
Events | War of the Dwarves and Dragons, slaying of Scatha the Worm |
Gallery | Images of the Grey Mountains |
The Grey Mountains (or Ered Mithrin in Sindarin) was a large mountain range to the north of Rhovanion. Their western end connected to the Misty Mountains at the site of Mount Gundabad.
Geography
North of the Grey Mountains lay the Northern Waste.[1] In the west, where the Grey Mountains met with the Misty Mountains rose Mount Gundabad, an ancient Dwarven holy site and later the capital for the Orcs of the north. The eastern end of the Grey Mountains was split into two chains, and in between lay the Withered Heath, where Dragons bred. After that was a wide hilly plain, beyond which lay the Iron Hills. Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, lay south of the Grey Mountains.[1]
From east to west the mountains stretched some 350 Númenórean Miles, and the sources of the Great River Anduin, the river Greylin, and the Forest River of Mirkwood arose in this range.[1]
History
Early history
In the First Age, the Longbeards established mansions in Moria and the Iron Hills, and they considered the Grey Mountains, which lay between these mansions, to be within their territory.[2] Also during the First Age, some men—mostly associated with the House of Hador—settled between the Grey Mountains and Mirkwood, and they allied with the Longbeards against Morgoth's Orcs.[2] This alliance ended in the Second Age after Sauron destroyed Eregion, which prompted the Longbeards to seal Moria. During this time, Orcs took control of the Grey Mountains.[3]
Third Age
In T.A. 1980 a Balrog appeared in Moria and by the next year the Dwarves fled.[4] Durin's folk were scattered. Thráin I reestablished the Kingdom under the Mountain but Thorin I went to the Grey Mountains where most of the Dwarves gathered.[5] Nearly six hundred years later, Dragons began afflicting the Dwarves. In 2589 Dáin I was slain by a Dragon and the Grey Mountain strongholds were abandoned after the Wars of the Dwarves and Dragons. About 2480 Orcs had begun to infest the Misty Mountains[4] and spread to the Grey Mountains, such that by 2941 Gandalf the Wizard could say that the range was "simply stiff with goblins, hobgoblins, and orcs of the worst description".[6] However, after the Battle of Five Armies the number of Goblins in the Grey Mountains were greatly reduced (some three parts of them had perished).[7]
There still was a remnant of the Dwarves in the Ered Mithrin after the core of the population left, but were probably few; working whatever mines they could hold from the Orcs and Dragons. It is likely that the Dwarves reclaimed all their old halls and mines sometime during the Fourth Age, if not after Dáin II Ironfoot became king of Durin's folk in the late Third Age.
Other versions of the legendarium
Another line of "Grey Mountains" in Middle-earth are seen on the Ambarkanta map.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Relations of the Longbeard Dwarves and Men", pp. 302-303
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Relations of the Longbeard Dwarves and Men", p. 305
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Queer Lodgings"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "V. The Ambarkanta"