Post by Eohdrithen on Oct 6, 2006 16:45:42 GMT
War fought in the Misty Mountains between 2793 and 2799. The Dwarves led by Thrain II declared war on the Orcs of the Misty Mountains in 2790 after the Orc-leader Azog killed Thrain's father Thror at the gates of Moria. For three years, Dwarves from different houses and different parts of Middle-earth gathered to form a great army. In 2793, they launched an attack against the Orcs.
Many battles were fought in the caves and tunnels beneath the Misty Mountains. The Dwarves sacked the Orc stronghold under Mount Gundabad as well as a number of others. The Dwarves had superior weapons and strength, and they were driven by their desire to find and punish Azog. After six years of fighting, the Orcs of the Misty Mountains had retreated to Moria.
The Battle of Azanulbizar:
In 2799, the final battle of the war was fought outside the East-gate of Moria in the valley the Dwarves called Azanulbizar, also known as the Dimrill Dale. The Dwarves came into the valley on a dark winter day and found that they were outnumbered by an army of Orcs positioned on the mountain slopes, with more coming from the East-gate.
Thrain led the first assault, but his troops were driven into the woods around Mirrormere. Many Dwarves were killed including Fundin and Thrain's youngest son Frerin. Thrain was wounded, as was his eldest son Thorin, who lost his shield and used an oak branch in its place, earning him the nickname Oakenshield.
Later in the day, a troop of fresh warriors arrived from the Iron Hills led by Nain. They advanced all the way to the East-gate, where Nain challenged Azog to come out. Azog responded, and he fought with Nain on the doorstep. Nain was tired and angry, and as he struck out at Azog, the Orc kicked him in the leg, causing him to stumble, and then broke his neck. Nain's son Dain Ironfoot avenged his father by beheading Azog.
The tide of battle had turned in favor of the Dwarves. Many Orcs were slain, and the rest fled southward. The Dwarves were victorious, but they too had lost many. Half their army had been gravely wounded or killed. They could not build stone tombs as was their custom for so many dead, so they were forced to burn the bodies. Afterwards the fallen of the Battle of Azanulbizar were proudly referred to as "burned Dwarves."
Most of the trees in the valley were cut down to make the pyres and they did not grow back. The weapons of the dead were taken away to prevent Orcs from finding them.
After the battle, Thrain wanted to reclaim Moria, but the other Dwarves refused. They were too weak to hold Moria against the return of the Orcs, and Dain warned Thrain that the Balrog still lurked within. The Dwarves returned to their homes, and Thrain's people - who had been driven from the Lonely Mountain years before - relocated to the Blue Mountains.
Some Orcs fled to the White Mountains, where they troubled Rohan, but others returned to their tunnels beneath the Misty Mountains and rebuilt their strength. The Orcs were later led to another defeat in the Battle of the Five Armies by Azog's son Bolg, but the Misty Mountains and Moria remained infested with Orcs until after Sauron's defeat at the end of the Third Age.
Names & Etymology:
The Battle of Azanulbizar was named for the valley where it was fought. Azanulbizar was the name of the Dimrill Dale in the language of the Dwarves. It probably means "Vale of Dim Streams" from zn meaning "dark, dim," ûl meaning "streams," and bizar meaning "dale, valley."
Many battles were fought in the caves and tunnels beneath the Misty Mountains. The Dwarves sacked the Orc stronghold under Mount Gundabad as well as a number of others. The Dwarves had superior weapons and strength, and they were driven by their desire to find and punish Azog. After six years of fighting, the Orcs of the Misty Mountains had retreated to Moria.
The Battle of Azanulbizar:
In 2799, the final battle of the war was fought outside the East-gate of Moria in the valley the Dwarves called Azanulbizar, also known as the Dimrill Dale. The Dwarves came into the valley on a dark winter day and found that they were outnumbered by an army of Orcs positioned on the mountain slopes, with more coming from the East-gate.
Thrain led the first assault, but his troops were driven into the woods around Mirrormere. Many Dwarves were killed including Fundin and Thrain's youngest son Frerin. Thrain was wounded, as was his eldest son Thorin, who lost his shield and used an oak branch in its place, earning him the nickname Oakenshield.
Later in the day, a troop of fresh warriors arrived from the Iron Hills led by Nain. They advanced all the way to the East-gate, where Nain challenged Azog to come out. Azog responded, and he fought with Nain on the doorstep. Nain was tired and angry, and as he struck out at Azog, the Orc kicked him in the leg, causing him to stumble, and then broke his neck. Nain's son Dain Ironfoot avenged his father by beheading Azog.
The tide of battle had turned in favor of the Dwarves. Many Orcs were slain, and the rest fled southward. The Dwarves were victorious, but they too had lost many. Half their army had been gravely wounded or killed. They could not build stone tombs as was their custom for so many dead, so they were forced to burn the bodies. Afterwards the fallen of the Battle of Azanulbizar were proudly referred to as "burned Dwarves."
Most of the trees in the valley were cut down to make the pyres and they did not grow back. The weapons of the dead were taken away to prevent Orcs from finding them.
After the battle, Thrain wanted to reclaim Moria, but the other Dwarves refused. They were too weak to hold Moria against the return of the Orcs, and Dain warned Thrain that the Balrog still lurked within. The Dwarves returned to their homes, and Thrain's people - who had been driven from the Lonely Mountain years before - relocated to the Blue Mountains.
Some Orcs fled to the White Mountains, where they troubled Rohan, but others returned to their tunnels beneath the Misty Mountains and rebuilt their strength. The Orcs were later led to another defeat in the Battle of the Five Armies by Azog's son Bolg, but the Misty Mountains and Moria remained infested with Orcs until after Sauron's defeat at the end of the Third Age.
Names & Etymology:
The Battle of Azanulbizar was named for the valley where it was fought. Azanulbizar was the name of the Dimrill Dale in the language of the Dwarves. It probably means "Vale of Dim Streams" from zn meaning "dark, dim," ûl meaning "streams," and bizar meaning "dale, valley."