Sack of Erebor: Difference between revisions

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| image=
| image=
| conflict=Isolated event
| conflict=Isolated event
| date=[[Third Age 2770|2770]]
| date={{TA|2770}}
| place=[[Erebor]]
| place=[[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]]
| result=Destruction of the Kingdom under the Mountain
| result=Destruction of the Kingdom under the Mountain,<br/> slaughter of thousands of Dwarves
| side1=Dwarves, and Men
| side1=Dwarves, and Men
| side2=[[Smaug]] the Dragon
| side2=[[Smaug]] the Dragon
| commanders1=*King [[Thrór]]
| commanders1=*King [[Thrór]]
* King [[Girion]]
* King [[Girion]]
| commanders2=*Smaug
| commanders2=*Smaug
| forces1=Unknown est. 5-10,000 Dwarves, and Est. 1-3,000 [[Men of Dale]]  
| forces1=Unknown est. 5-10,000 Dwarves, and Est. 1-4,000 [[Men of Dale]]  
| forces2=Smaug the Dragon
| forces2=Smaug the Dragon
| casual1=Unknown but many, est. thousands of Dwarves, hundreds of Men including Girion
| casual1=Unknown but many, est. thousands of Dwarves (military and civilian), hundreds of Men including Girion
| casual2=None
| casual2=None
}}
}}
The '''Sack of Erebor''' was the event in which [[Smaug]] descended on the [[Lonely Mountain]] and drove the [[Dwarves]] from their kingdom.
The '''Sack of Erebor''' occurred when [[Smaug]] attacked the [[Lonely Mountain]] and drove the [[Dwarves of Erebor]] from their capital.
 
==Background==
After the slaying of King [[Dáin I]] outside his [[Dáin's halls|halls]] at the conclusion of the [[War of the Dwarves and Dragons]], the new King, Thrór, and his brother [[Grór]] abandoned the [[Grey Mountains]] for safer dwellings with most of their subjects. The king went to the Lonely Mountain (former seat of the Durin's throne), and Grór to the primary source of the Longbeards' iron supply, the [[Iron Hills]].
Over the years the [[Dwarves of Erebor]] gained great renown throughout Middle-earth for the splendor of their halls, craftsmanship, and great stores of wealth. Word eventually reached Smaug the dragon, one of the great fire drakes who now dwelled in the Grey Mountains, who in his lust for treasure desired to take the mountain.<ref name="Party">{{H|1}}</ref>


== The Battle ==
== The Battle ==
It began when Smaug the dragon, heard of the great wealth of the [[Dwarves of Erebor]].
One night in {{TA|2770}}, Smaug descended upon the mountain in flames, catching the Dwarves and [[Men of Dale]] off guard.  The warriors of the mountain came out of the [[Front Gate|great gate]] to engage the dragon, but all were killed.  Then Smaug attacked [[Dale]] whose warriors were all called to arms, and destroyed most of them.  He then returned to the mountain and routed the remaining Dwarves. Afterwards he piled up all the gold within the mountain and made it his dwelling, emerging only ever so often to eat maidens from Dale which eventually caused its abandonment.<ref name="Party"/>
One night in 2770 TA, Smaug descended on the mountain in flames, totally catching the Dwarves and [[Men of Dale]] off guard.  The warriors of the mountain came out of the great gate to engage the dragon, but they were all killed.  Then Smaug moved and attacked Dale whos warriors were all called to arms, which he destroyed most of them.  He then withdrew and routed the mountain of Dwarves.  
After the all these things he piled up all the gold and made his dwelling only ever so often to eat maidens from Dale which eventually was abandoned.
 


== Aftermath ==
== Aftermath ==
In the end the [[Kingdom under the Mountain]] was destroyed, and likely thousands of Dwarves and several hundred people (including their King [[Girion]] of Dale were killed.  King [[Thrór]] himself along with his son [[Thráin II]] barely escaped out of the secret entrance.  But many Dwarves escaped mostly fleeing to the [[Iron Hills]].   
In the end the [[Kingdom under the Mountain]] was destroyed, and likely thousands of Dwarves and several hundred people (including King [[Girion]]) of Dale were killed.  King [[Thrór]] himself along with his son [[Thráin II]] barely escaped out of the [[Back Door|secret entrance]]Most of the Dwarves who escaped fled to the [[Iron Hills]].   


With his family and a small company of follower, the King went into a homeless wandering southward but not before cursing Smaug.  It would be over two hundred years before Thrór's grandson [[Thorin Oakenshield]] would return to the mountain to reclaim his home and treasure.
With his family and a small company of followers, the King went into a homeless wandering southward but not before cursing Smaug.  It would be over two hundred years before Thrór's grandson [[Thorin]] would return to the mountain to reclaim his home and treasure.


== Portrayal in adaptations ==
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':
:The Sack of Erebor appeared in the prologue of the film, with the events narrated by [[Bilbo Baggins]] as he wrote his book, ''[[There and Back Again]]''.
{{references}}
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]

Revision as of 20:11, 30 December 2014

Sack of Erebor
Conflict: Isolated event
Date: T.A. 2770
Place: Erebor
Outcome: Destruction of the Kingdom under the Mountain,
slaughter of thousands of Dwarves
Combatants

Dwarves, and Men

Smaug the Dragon

Commanders
  • Smaug
Strength

Unknown est. 5-10,000 Dwarves, and Est. 1-4,000 Men of Dale

Smaug the Dragon

Casualties

Unknown but many, est. thousands of Dwarves (military and civilian), hundreds of Men including Girion

None

The Sack of Erebor occurred when Smaug attacked the Lonely Mountain and drove the Dwarves of Erebor from their capital.

Background

After the slaying of King Dáin I outside his halls at the conclusion of the War of the Dwarves and Dragons, the new King, Thrór, and his brother Grór abandoned the Grey Mountains for safer dwellings with most of their subjects. The king went to the Lonely Mountain (former seat of the Durin's throne), and Grór to the primary source of the Longbeards' iron supply, the Iron Hills. Over the years the Dwarves of Erebor gained great renown throughout Middle-earth for the splendor of their halls, craftsmanship, and great stores of wealth. Word eventually reached Smaug the dragon, one of the great fire drakes who now dwelled in the Grey Mountains, who in his lust for treasure desired to take the mountain.[1]

The Battle

One night in T.A. 2770, Smaug descended upon the mountain in flames, catching the Dwarves and Men of Dale off guard. The warriors of the mountain came out of the great gate to engage the dragon, but all were killed. Then Smaug attacked Dale whose warriors were all called to arms, and destroyed most of them. He then returned to the mountain and routed the remaining Dwarves. Afterwards he piled up all the gold within the mountain and made it his dwelling, emerging only ever so often to eat maidens from Dale which eventually caused its abandonment.[1]

Aftermath

In the end the Kingdom under the Mountain was destroyed, and likely thousands of Dwarves and several hundred people (including King Girion) of Dale were killed. King Thrór himself along with his son Thráin II barely escaped out of the secret entrance. Most of the Dwarves who escaped fled to the Iron Hills.

With his family and a small company of followers, the King went into a homeless wandering southward but not before cursing Smaug. It would be over two hundred years before Thrór's grandson Thorin would return to the mountain to reclaim his home and treasure.

Portrayal in adaptations

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

The Sack of Erebor appeared in the prologue of the film, with the events narrated by Bilbo Baggins as he wrote his book, There and Back Again.

References