War on the Dwarves

During the late Third Age, the dragons of the Grey Mountains "made war on the Dwarves" between the years 2570 to 2589.

History

Background

The defeat of Morgoth in the War of Wrath left only few dragons, who dispersed and hid mostly in the Forodwaith of Middle-earth. But, over millennia, they multiplied again, mostly in the Grey Mountains. Centuries before the beginning of the war, one dragon Scatha had stolen treasure from the Dwarves and kept it in his hoard; Scatha was slain by Fram of the Éothéod, who kept the treasure for himself.

Conflict

In TA 2570, dragons began to attack the Dwarves of the Grey Mountains, sacking and plundering their halls and mines. The war lasted for almost twenty years, but in TA 2589 the dragons attacked the halls of King Dáin I, and outside the city a great Cold-drake killed the king and his second son Frór.

After this defeat, most of Durin's Folk abandoned the Grey Mountains. King Thrór and some of his followers went back to the former Dwarven dwelling of the Lonely Mountain, while his younger brother Grór led others to the Iron Hills.

Aftermath

The Dwarves of the Iron Hills, as well as the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain, managed to prosper for the following couple of centuries. However the threat of dragons would return one last time: in TA 2770, Smaug flew south and attacked the wealthy Dwarven kingdom of Erebor.

Translations

References