The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Founded III 1999; abandoned III 2210; refounded III 2590; sacked by Smaug III 2770; refounded once more III 2941
Location
To the northeast of Mirkwood, at the source of the River Running
Origins
Originally founded by Thráin I of Durin's Folk
Race
Division
Culture
Family
Ruled by the House of Durin
Source
The river Running rose within the Dwarf-kingdom and flowed out through its Front Gate
Important peaks
Other names

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About this entry:

  • Updated 5 November 2015
  • This entry is complete
Map of the Dwarf-kingdom of Erebor

A name that could in principle apply to any of the kingdoms of the Dwarves, but in practice was used to describe Erebor, the realm of the Kings under the Mountain. This was a kingdom with a long and troubled past, originally founded by Thráin I in III 1999, but abandoned by his successor Thorin I, who moved the royal seat into the Grey Mountains. After Thorin's departure, there was no Dwarf-kingdom under the Lonely Mountain for nearly four hundred years, until King Thrór returned there to rule. In his time the prosperity of Erebor became legendary, and its riches attracted the attention of the Dragon Smaug, who sacked the kingdom and drove out the few surviving Dwarves.

Smaug remained in the halls of the Dwarf-kings beneath the Lonely Mountain for more than one hundred and seventy years, until Thrór's grandson Thorin Oakenshield led a small company of Dwarves (and a certain famous Hobbit) back to the Lonely Mountain. Against all reasonable hope, the Dragon was defeated and the Dwarf-kingdom re-established, though Thorin was slain in the Battle of Five Armies before he could take up the Kingship. The title therefore fell on his heir Dáin Ironfoot, who founded the Kingdom of Dáin that would survive into the Fourth Age.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 5 November 2015
  • This entry is complete

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