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{{disambig-more|Lonely Mountain|[[Lonely Mountain (disambiguation)]]}}
{{disambig-more|Lonely Mountain|[[Lonely Mountain (disambiguation)]]}}
{{kingdom
[[File:Jef Murray - The Lonely Mountain 2.jpg|thumb|[[Jef Murray]] - ''The Lonely Mountain'']]
| image=[[File:Jef Murray - The Lonely Mountain 2.jpg|250px]]
'''Lonely Mountain''', or '''Erebor''', was a mountain in the north-east of  [[Rhovanion]]. It was the source of the river [[River Running|Running]], and a major [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] [[Dwarf realms|stronghold]], the [[Kingdom under the Mountain]] at the end of the [[Third Age]] and well into the [[Fourth Age|Fourth]].
| name=Lonely Mountain
| meaning=
| type=Monarchy/Lordship
| hidep=yes
| headofstate=[[King under the Mountain]]/[[King of Durin's folk]]
| executive=
| legislative=
| judicial=
| capital=
| language=[[Westron]], [[Khuzdul]]
| location=North of [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]], west of the [[Iron Hills]]
| populace=[[Dwarves]]
| currency=
| religious=
| holiday=
| anthem=
| formed=Part of the exiled [[Dwarves of the Grey Mountains]] led by King [[Thrór]]
| established={{TA|1999}}
| reorganized=
| fragmented=
| dissolved={{TA|2770}}
| restored={{TA|2941}}
}}{{Pronounce|Erebor.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Lonely Mountain''', or '''Erebor''', was a mountain in the north-east of  [[Rhovanion]]. It was the source of the river [[River Running|Running]], and a major [[Dwarves|Dwarven]] [[Dwarf realms|stronghold]] at the end of the [[Third Age]] and well into the [[Fourth Age|Fourth]].


==History==
==History==
===Founding and early history===
[[File:Angus McBride - Dale.jpg|thumb|left|[[Angus McBride]] - ''Dale'']]
With the awakening of [[Durin's Bane]] in the capital of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]], Thráin the Old, with those who would follow him, established residence in the Lonely Mountain in {{TA|1999}}. Under Thráin's rule the [[Arkenstone]] was discovered, and many riches were mined from its depths; After Thráin's death and his son [[Thorin I]] had ruled for ten years, he abandoned the Mountain in {{TA|2210}} for the [[Grey Mountains]]; where his people were now gathering.
With the awakening of [[Durin's Bane]] in the capital of [[Moria|Khazad-dûm]], [[Thráin I]] led some Dwarves to Erebor. They dug its caves and halls forming an underground city, and established the [[Kingdom under the Mountain]] in {{TA|1999}}. During Thráin's rule many riches were mined from its depths, like the [[Arkenstone]]. The town of [[Dale]] was also built by [[Men of Dale|Men]] between its slopes.


The mountain is speculated to have remained an active colony during this abandonment, yet its status as capital city was transferred to the [[Ered Mithrin]]. However in the later years they were involved in the [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]], and the Ered Mithrin was sacked by a Cold Drake. [[Grór]], younger son of [[Dáin I]], established a kindgom in the Iron Hills. Splitting from his brother, in {{TA|2590}} the now king Thrór led a group back to the Lonely Mountain. Under Thrór's rule the Lonely Mountain once again became the capital of Durin's folk and they prospered.
Thráin's son [[Thorin I]] abandoned the Mountain in {{TA|2210}} for the [[Grey Mountains]]; but after the [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]], in {{TA|2590}}, King [[Thrór]] led a group back to the Lonely Mountain, re-establishing it as the capital of Durin's folk.
===[[Sack of Erebor]]===
[[File:John Howe - Smaug.jpg|thumb|[[John Howe]] - ''Smaug'']]
The great dragon [[Smaug]] had lust for the Dwarven riches and in {{TA|2770}} he descended on the mountain driving out the Dwarves and destroying the town of [[Dale]]. The Lonely Mountain was empty for almost two hundred years, save Smaug who slept in the innermost chamber on a great pile of wealth.


It wasn't long before the great dragon [[Smaug]] heard of their great wealth, and one day decided to take their treasure for himself. In the year {{TA|2770}} Smaug descended on the mountain in a ball of fire. He killed a large amount of the Dwarves living in the mountain. Most of the survivors fled to the Iron Hills, others went with the royal family into exile, and some may have simply went their own way.
In the year {{TA|2941}} with Gandalf's council, king [[Thorin II]] and a small company of friends and family actually made it to the Lonely Mountain. After the Dragon Smaug had realized that the Dwarves had been helped by the [[Lake-men]] he went to their town of [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]] intent on destroying them, only to be killed by a man named [[Bard]].
===Return of the Longbeards===
With the help of a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] named [[Bilbo Baggins]] Thorin and company were able to retake the city and the treasure, therefore allowing Thorin to proclaim himself [[King under the Mountain]]. But after refusing to give any of the treasure to the Men of Esgaroth, and the [[Elves of Mirkwood]], the mountain and the Dwarves and Hobbit in it were put under a bloodless siege.
[[File:Matt Stewart - The Battle Under the Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|[[Matt Stewart]] - ''The Battle Under the Mountain'']]
Things nearly came to blows when Thorin's cousin [[Dáin Ironfoot]] (Grór's grandson) arrived as aid to his kinsman and nearly went to battle against the besiegers. But Gandalf interceded and warned them all of a great host of [[Orcs]] and [[Wargs]] coming to take the mountain. So the Elves, Men, and Dwarves made an alliance, and fought a [[Battle of Five Armies|bloody battle]] against their foes in the valley before the gate. In the end the defenders were victorious against the Orcs and Wargs. Thorin was mortally wounded during the battle, but finally, after so many years of longing, Dáin returned the Longbeards to the Lonely Mountain.


The Lonely Mountain was empty for almost two hundred years, save the ever vigilant Smaug who slept in the inner most chamber on a great pile of wealth. But while Durin's folk wandered from the mountain to [[Dunland]] to the northern [[Blue Mountains]], they ever longed for the halls of the Lonely Mountain.
Many years later, during the [[War of the Ring]], conflict broke out between Dale and the [[East]] and eventually Men and Dwarves retreated into the mountain. King [[Brand]] and King Dáin were killed at its very gates. The Dwarves and Men held out for several days until word reached the ears of the Easterlings that the great hosts of Sauron in the south had been defeated in the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. With this news fear fell on the besiegers. When the besieged saw this they came forth from the Lonely Mountain, and attacked their enemy driving them from Dale across the Running.


===The Quest of Erebor and restoration===
Erebor and Dale continued to prosper into the [[Fourth Age]].
[[File:Brian Durfee - Returned Exiles.jpg|thumb|left|''Returned Exiles'' by Brian Durfee]]
It wasn't until Thrór's grandson [[Thorin|Thorin II Oakenshield]] met the Wizard [[Gandalf]] that the hopes of retaking the Lonely Mountain seemed possible. Indeed in the year {{TA|2941}} with Gandalf's council, king Thorin and a small company of friends and family actually made it to the Lonely Mountain. After the Dragon Smaug had realized that the Dwarves had been helped by the [[Men of Lake-town]] he went to their town of [[Lake-town|Esgaroth]] intent on destroying them, only to be killed by a man named [[Bard]]. With the help of a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] named [[Bilbo Baggins]] Thorin and company were able to retake the city and the treasure, therefore allowing Thorin to proclaim himself King under the Mountain. But after refusing to give any of the treasure to the Men of Esgaroth, and the [[Elves of Mirkwood]], the mountain and the Dwarves and Hobbit in it were put under a bloodless siege.
 
Things nearly came to blows when Thorin's cousin [[Dáin Ironfoot]] (Grór's grandson) arrived as aid to his kinsman and nearly went to battle against the besiegers. But Gandalf interceded and warned them all of a great host of [[Orcs]] and [[Wargs]] coming to take the mountain. So the Elves, Men, and Dwarves made an alliance, and fought a [[Battle of Five Armies|bloody battle]] against their foes in the valley before the gate. In the end the defenders were victorious against the Orcs and Wargs, but king Thorin was mortally wounded and his nephews were both killed in the battle. After Thorin's death Dáin was made king of Durin's folk and of the mountain. Finally, after so many years of longing, the Longbeards could return to the Lonely Mountain.
 
===Prosperity and the [[War of the Ring]]===
Under Dáin's rule the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain became very rich and prosperous and the Lonely Mountain was restored to its original greatness.
 
Many years later, during the [[War of the Ring]], conflict broke out between Dale and the East and eventually Men and Dwarves retreated into the mountain. King [[Brand]] and King Dáin were killed at its very gates. The Dwarves and Men held out for several days until word reached the ears of the Easterlings that the great hosts of Sauron in the south had been defeated in the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. With this news fear fell on the besiegers. When the besieged saw this they came forth from the Lonely Mountain, and attacked their enemy driving them from Dale across the Running.
 
Little is known of the reign of [[Thorin Stonehelm|Thorin III Stonehelm]], other than his people helping rebuild the cities of [[Gondor]] and the fortress of [[Helm's Deep]], and part of his people moving to the [[Glittering Caves]].


==Description==
==Description==
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Inside, the mountain was dug with passages and tunnels leading to cellars and halls and mansions such as the great chamber of Thrór near the Front Gate. A secret tunnel led to the "bottommost cellar"
Inside, the mountain was dug with passages and tunnels leading to cellars and halls and mansions such as the great chamber of Thrór near the Front Gate. A secret tunnel led to the "bottommost cellar"


The main entrance into the mountain was the [[Gate of Erebor]] on the south side, opening onto a valley between two great spurs of the mountain. At the end of the southwestern spur was [[Ravenhill]], where there was a lookout post. The [[River Running]] sprang from beneath the mountain and issued from the [[Front Gate]], forming a waterfall that fell into the valley below.
The main entrance into the mountain was the [[Front Gate|Gate of Erebor]] on the south side, opening onto a valley between two great spurs of the mountain. At the end of the southwestern spur was [[Ravenhill]], where there was a lookout post. The [[River Running]] sprang from beneath the mountain and issued from the [[Front Gate]], forming a waterfall that fell into the valley below.


Inside the gate was a broad paved road that went alongside the river in a wide curve leading into the mountain. Not very far from the entrance was the [[Great Chamber of Thrór]] where feasts and councils were held.
Inside the gate was a broad paved road that went alongside the river in a wide curve leading into the mountain. Not very far from the entrance was the [[Great Chamber of Thrór]] where feasts and councils were held.


In the Lower Halls, there was a vast chamber called the [[Great Hall of Thráin]] at the root of the mountain. From there a secret passageway led to a hidden door in the western side of the mountain. The [[Back Door]] was invisible from the outside except on Durin's Day, when the light of the setting sun would reveal the keyhole.  
In the Lower Halls, there was a vast chamber called the [[Great Hall of Thráin]] at the root of the mountain. From there a secret passageway led to a hidden door in the western side of the mountain. The [[Back Door]] was invisible from the outside except on Durin's Day, when the light of the setting sun would reveal the keyhole.


==Etymology==
{{Pronounce|Erebor.mp3|Ardamir}}
Erebor is the [[Sindarin]] translation of "Lonely Mountain" and can be analyzed as ''[[ereb]]'' + ''[[orod|or(od)]]''.
{{references}}
{{references}}
<small>
{{companyroute}}
::* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Hobbit]]'', passim.
::* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Many Meetings]]
::* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Council of Elrond]]
::* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Return of the King]]'', passim.
::* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]]: III Durin's Folk
::* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', [[The Quest of Erebor]]
::* [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Christopher Tolkien]] (ed.), ''[[The Peoples of Middle-earth]]''
</small>
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages]]
[[Category:Dwarven realms]]
[[Category:Dwarven realms]]

Revision as of 18:49, 1 September 2015

"I shan't call it the end, till we've cleared up the mess." — Sam
This article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality.
The name Lonely Mountain refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Lonely Mountain (disambiguation).
Jef Murray - The Lonely Mountain

Lonely Mountain, or Erebor, was a mountain in the north-east of Rhovanion. It was the source of the river Running, and a major Dwarven stronghold, the Kingdom under the Mountain at the end of the Third Age and well into the Fourth.

History

With the awakening of Durin's Bane in the capital of Khazad-dûm, Thráin I led some Dwarves to Erebor. They dug its caves and halls forming an underground city, and established the Kingdom under the Mountain in T.A. 1999. During Thráin's rule many riches were mined from its depths, like the Arkenstone. The town of Dale was also built by Men between its slopes.

Thráin's son Thorin I abandoned the Mountain in T.A. 2210 for the Grey Mountains; but after the War of the Dwarves and Dragons, in T.A. 2590, King Thrór led a group back to the Lonely Mountain, re-establishing it as the capital of Durin's folk.

Sack of Erebor

John Howe - Smaug

The great dragon Smaug had lust for the Dwarven riches and in T.A. 2770 he descended on the mountain driving out the Dwarves and destroying the town of Dale. The Lonely Mountain was empty for almost two hundred years, save Smaug who slept in the innermost chamber on a great pile of wealth.

In the year T.A. 2941 with Gandalf's council, king Thorin II and a small company of friends and family actually made it to the Lonely Mountain. After the Dragon Smaug had realized that the Dwarves had been helped by the Lake-men he went to their town of Esgaroth intent on destroying them, only to be killed by a man named Bard.

Return of the Longbeards

With the help of a Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins Thorin and company were able to retake the city and the treasure, therefore allowing Thorin to proclaim himself King under the Mountain. But after refusing to give any of the treasure to the Men of Esgaroth, and the Elves of Mirkwood, the mountain and the Dwarves and Hobbit in it were put under a bloodless siege.

Matt Stewart - The Battle Under the Mountain

Things nearly came to blows when Thorin's cousin Dáin Ironfoot (Grór's grandson) arrived as aid to his kinsman and nearly went to battle against the besiegers. But Gandalf interceded and warned them all of a great host of Orcs and Wargs coming to take the mountain. So the Elves, Men, and Dwarves made an alliance, and fought a bloody battle against their foes in the valley before the gate. In the end the defenders were victorious against the Orcs and Wargs. Thorin was mortally wounded during the battle, but finally, after so many years of longing, Dáin returned the Longbeards to the Lonely Mountain.

Many years later, during the War of the Ring, conflict broke out between Dale and the East and eventually Men and Dwarves retreated into the mountain. King Brand and King Dáin were killed at its very gates. The Dwarves and Men held out for several days until word reached the ears of the Easterlings that the great hosts of Sauron in the south had been defeated in the Battle of the Morannon. With this news fear fell on the besiegers. When the besieged saw this they came forth from the Lonely Mountain, and attacked their enemy driving them from Dale across the Running.

Erebor and Dale continued to prosper into the Fourth Age.

Description

The Lonely Mountain was possibly 3,500 feet tall, as it was snowcapped at spring. Geologically, it was rich in metals and jewels.[1]

The mountain was star-shaped with six ridges radiating as spurs from the peak.

The south-western spur contained Ravenhill housing a Dwarven guard-post. Between the two western spurs was a narrow vale which was the exit of the Back Door, behind an overhanging cliff. Rough steps ascended to the top of the southern ridge along a narrow ledge turning east behind a boulder into a steep bay.

Inside, the mountain was dug with passages and tunnels leading to cellars and halls and mansions such as the great chamber of Thrór near the Front Gate. A secret tunnel led to the "bottommost cellar"

The main entrance into the mountain was the Gate of Erebor on the south side, opening onto a valley between two great spurs of the mountain. At the end of the southwestern spur was Ravenhill, where there was a lookout post. The River Running sprang from beneath the mountain and issued from the Front Gate, forming a waterfall that fell into the valley below.

Inside the gate was a broad paved road that went alongside the river in a wide curve leading into the mountain. Not very far from the entrance was the Great Chamber of Thrór where feasts and councils were held.

In the Lower Halls, there was a vast chamber called the Great Hall of Thráin at the root of the mountain. From there a secret passageway led to a hidden door in the western side of the mountain. The Back Door was invisible from the outside except on Durin's Day, when the light of the setting sun would reveal the keyhole.

Etymology

Erebor is the Sindarin translation of "Lonely Mountain" and can be analyzed as ereb + or(od).

References

Route of Thorin and Company
Bag End · Green Dragon · The Shire · Lone-lands · Last Bridge · Trollshaws · Trolls' cave · Rivendell · High Pass · Front Porch · Goblin-town · Goblin-gate · Eagle's Eyrie · Carrock · Beorn's Hall · Wilderland · Forest Gate · Elf-path · Mirkwood · Elvenking's Halls · Forest River · Lake-town · Long Lake · River Running · Desolation of the Dragon · Ravenhill · Back Door · Lonely Mountain · Great Hall of Thráin

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