Dale

From Tolkien Gateway
This article is about the City of Dale. For the Kingdom, see Kingdom of Dale.
Dale
City
Matěj Čadil - Dale.jpg
"Dale" by Matěj Čadil
General Information
LocationNorthern Rhovanion on the banks of River Running, between the south-west and south-east arms of Lonely Mountain
TypeCity
People and History
InhabitantsMen of Dale
Createdc. T.A. 2590
See below
DestroyedT.A. 2770
RebuiltT.A. 2944
EventsSack of Erebor, Battle of Five Armies, Battle of Dale
GalleryImages of Dale

Dale was a great city of the Northmen which destroyed by Smaug and rebuilt as the capital of a great kingdom after his demise.

Description

Dale was situated in the valley between the south-western and south-eastern arms of the Lonely Mountain, nestled in a sharp U-shaped bend of the River Running.[1]

It was known as a merry town that traded, mainly in food-supplies, for the skills and craft-pieces of the Dwarves. Dale's toy market was the wonder of the North[2] and the town was renowned for its bells.[3]

History

Foundation

In T.A. 2590, King Thrór re-established the Kingdom under the Mountain.[4] The realm prospered and about this time, the Northmen living to the south came up the River Running and built Dale.[2] The town shared in the prosperity of the Dwarves and it was initially governed by the Lord of Dale, of whom the last was named Girion.[5]


Destruction

In 2770, Smaug descended upon the Dwarf-kingdom.[4] Although the Men of Dale fielded warriors against the monster they could not prevent him from killing or scattering the Dwarves and then occupying the Lonely Mountain. After the attack the dragon would crawl out of the Front Gate of the Mountain by night and carry away people (especially maidens) from Dale to eat. The remaining population soon fled and the deserted city fell into ruins.[2]

Re-establishment

The death of Smaug and the Battle of Five Armies occurred in 2941. Three years after the battle, Dale was rebuilt by Bard the Bowman,[4] who had killed the dragon and was the descendant of Girion. Dale soon again enjoyed prosperity: Bard founded the Kingdom of Dale and it gathered men from the Long Lake, the South, and the West. Lake-town was rebuilt and grew wealthy from traffic with Dale.[6] Its people became more commonly known as Bardings, after their new ruler.

War of the Ring

Jan Pospisil - The Battle of Dale

During the reign of King Brand, the grandson of Bard the Bowman, Dale served as the capital for the lands he ruled, which extended far south and east of Lake-town.[7] However, as Glóin revealed at the Council of Elrond, in 3017 a messenger from Mordor came to ask King Dáin Ironfoot at the gate to the Lonely Mountain for news of Hobbits and to ask for Bilbo's ring. Messengers had also come to King Brand and there were enemies gathering upon the Kingdom of Dale's eastern borders.[8]


Battle of Dale

During the War of the Ring, the Easterlings crossed the border and moved to attack the city. On 17 March 3019 the Battle of Dale began. Not able to hold back the Easterlings the Bardings and the Dwarves of Erebor, retreated into the Lonely Mountain, but lost Kings Brand and Dáin II Ironfoot who were both slain at the Gate of Erebor. For seven days, the Men and Dwarves barricaded themselves in Erebor until news came from the south of the defeat of Sauron. The new Kings of Dale and Erebor (Bard II and Thorin III Stonehelm), broke the siege and drove the Easterlings out of Dale. Bard later sent an emissary to the coronation of King Aragorn II Elessar and his realm was ever after in perpetual friendship and under the protection of the King of the West.[9]

Etymology

The word dale means "valley", as it was built in the Celduin valley between two arms of Erebor.

Other versions of the legendarium

Foundation

According to The Hobbit, Thorin tells Bilbo that the Northmen built “the merry town of Dale” during the time when his grandfather Thror was King under the Mountain, soon after T.A. 2590. This is the only definitive statement of Dale's foundation. However, in the Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-earth, in the section titled “Cirion and Eorl,” the following comment is found (after the defeat of King Narmacil II of Gondor in T.A. 1856):

As for the Northmen, a few, it is said, fled over the Celduin (River Running) and were merged with the folk of Dale under Erebor (with whom they were akin), some took refuge in Gondor, and others were gathered by Marhwini son of Marhari (who fell in the rearguard action after the Battle of the Plains).
J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan"

It is possible to reconcile the texts if T.A. 1856 is seen as the latest year of the foundation of the first, primitive Northmen settlements in the area with the years after T.A. 2590 as the foundation of the city with the coming of the Dwarves; the canonicity of this, however, is unknown.

Portrayal in adaptations

Dale in BFME II

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II:

The City of Dale appears in the Erebor map, just south-east of the mountain itself. It appears to contain several houses, taverns and bridges, as well as a statue of a man. The city is built around the mountain's river.

2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

Fall of Dale

In TA 2770 Smaug descended upon the Dwarf-kingdom. Although the Men of Dale fielded warriors against the monster they could not prevent him from killing or scattering the Dwarves and then occupying the Lonely Mountain. After the attack the dragon would crawl out of the Front Gate of the Mountain by night and carry away people (especially maidens) from Dale to eat. The remaining population soon fled and the deserted city fell into ruins. 2013: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

The ruined city of Dale appears briefly when Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves are heading for Erebor.

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

Battle of Five Armies

Smaug was killed in T.A. 2941, but not before conflagrating Lake-town. The surviving refugees sought shelter in the ruins of Dale, and were bolstered by the arrival of Thranduil, who brought provisions alongside his army. Together, the Men of Dale (led by Girion's descendant, Bard) and Elves of Mirkwood besieged Erebor, where Thorin refused to share his treasure with them, and fought the Iron Hill army before Orcs under Azog intervened. After the Destruction of Lake-town, the men and women of Lake-town took refuge in Dale, where Thranduil would join their forces. Bard wanted to resolve the conflict without going to wear; however, when he sight for it by Thorin, he refused to give them their share due to being consumed by the gold sickness that once plagued his grandfather. Returning to the city, Bard told Thranduil what had happened and that going to war was the only option. During the night, Bilbo Baggins gave them the Arkenstone to ransom to Thorin in exchange for their promised treasure. During the Battle of the Five Armies, the Siege of Dale took place, where both Elves and Men fought Azog's forces. Despite Dol Guldur's greater strength, the army was defeated. Those who survived the battle gathered and honored those who had fallen. The fighting spilled into the streets of Dale, forcing Bard to retreat to defend the women and the children who remained among its ruins. The great hall ontop of the hill served as a refugee for most of the elderly, the women and the children during the fighting, although many of them chose to stand and fight. With Thorin leading a charge that pushed the Orcs back in the Long Valley, the defenders were able to get the upper hand before Thorin went to Ravenhill to confront Azog. A second army by Bolg arrived, but was thwarted by Beorn.

Aftermath

Dale was a city-state, and a Lordship until it was re-established by Bard, becoming a Kingdom. It was rebuilt with Bilbo's share of the treasure he refused to have and gave to the people. Alliances between Dale, the Mountain and Mirkwood was restored, and Girion's descendants ruled for a long time.

See also

References