Dale

**Dale** is one of the men civilizations in Middle-earth. The current ruler is Bard II, grandson of Bard I and son of Bain. They are also trade partners with Erebor and Mirkwood before the destruction of Dale, which was re-established after the Battle of Five Armies.

## Description

Dale was situated in the Long Valley (from which it takes its name) between the south-western arm (hosting Ravenhill) and south-eastern arm of the Lonely Mountain, nestled in a sharp U-shaped bend of the River Running. It was built on two raised mounds across the Celduin and over a patch of farmland and vineyards. Alongside trading with Dwarven goods (including but not limited to toys) from the nearby Kingdom Under the Mountain, this was the city's source of prosperity

## History

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

### 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.

### Battle of Five Armies

Smaug was killed in T.A. 2941, but not before conflagerating 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 Men of Lake-town took refuge in Dale after Esgaroth's destruction.The Elves of Mirkwood would join the people of Lake-town.Dale would become a stronghold for the people of Lake-town.Bard and the Men of Lake-town who settled in Dale demanded remunerations.The Men and Elves nearly came to blows with Dain.The Dol Guldur Army lays siege to Dale.The Guldur War Trolls come to Dale.
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.

### 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. 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. During the War of the Ring, the Easterlings crossed the border and moved to attack the city. On 17 March of T. A. 3002 the Battle of Dale began. Not able to hold back the Easterlings the Bardings and their allies, the Dwarves of Erebor, retreated into the Lonely Mountain, but lost Kings Brand and Dáin 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 chased the Easterlings out of Dale. After the siege, the Bardings rebuilt Dale, with the help of the Dwarves.

Bard also sent an emissary to the coronation of King Elessar.

## References

1. ↑ *The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies*