Dale

The valley of Dale lay between the south-western and south-eastern arms of the Lonely Mountain. The River Running sprang from beneath the mountain and issued from the Front Gate of the Dwarven Kingdom under the Mountain in the mountain wall, forming a waterfall that fell into the valley below. The river flowed briefly south and then made a great eastward loop. After almost completing its loop, the river flowed west for a while and then continued to flow south to the Long Lake. The town of Dale was located near the southern end of the valley nestled within the eastward loop of the river on its western side.

An old road ran from the Front Gate of the Lonely Mountain along the eastern bank of the River Running down into the valley and then led to the east towards the Iron Hills. A road branched off to the west to a bridge at the beginning of the eastward bend of the river where it crossed over the River Running. From the western end of the bridge, one road ran east to the town of Dale and another road ran in the direction of Ravenhill.

Dale was known as a merry town that traded, mainly in food-supplies, for the skills and craft-pieces of the Dwarves. Fathers from Dale paid handsome amounts to the Dwarves to take their sons as apprentices, and the town of Dale became famous for wonderful and magical toys. Trade flowed up and down the River Running to and from Lake-town on the Long Lake and beyond. The town was also renowned for its bells.

Foundation

There is no record of when Men first settled in the valley of Dale. It is implied that Men were already living in or near Dale and were joined by refugees of the Northmen after the latter were defeated by the Wainriders in the Battle of the Plains in Third Age 1856.

In Third Age 2590, King Thrór reestablished the Kingdom under the Mountain in the Lonely Mountain. The Dwarven kingdom prospered and in those days, Men living to the south gradually spread up the River Running as far as the valley and built the town of Dale. 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.

Destruction

In Third Age 2770, the dragon Smaug attacked the Kingdom under the Mountain and the town of Dale. 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 town fell into ruins. Among the survivors of the ruin of Dale were Girion's wife and child who escaped down the River Running.

Re-establishment

In Third Age 2941 Bilbo Baggins, a member of Thorin and Company sneaked into the Lonely Mountain causing the angered dragon to attack and destroy Lake-town in the Long Lake. During the defence of Lake-town Bard, a descendant of Girion, managed to kill Smaug with the black arrow from his yew bow.

Three years after the killing of Smaug, Bard rebuilt Dale and became the King of Dale. Dale soon again enjoyed prosperity. Men from the Long Lake, the South, and the West came to Dale and the whole valley became tilled again. Lake-town was rebuilt and grew wealthy from trade up and down the River Running. The people of Dale became known as the Bardings, after their new ruler.

Bard was succeeded by his son, Bain in Third Age 2977.

Later history

In Third Age 3007 Brand, the son of Bain, became the King of Dale. During his reign his realm extended far south and east of Lake-town. The eastern border of his realm is not recorded, but it may have been as far east as the river Carnen.

In Third Age 3017, a messenger from Mordor came to the Dwarves of Erebor and they found out that messengers from Mordor had also come to King Brand in Dale. Despite words offering Sauron's friendship, the Dark Lord's forces began gathering on the eastern borders of the realm of King Brand. About the same time that Minas Tirith was attacked (on 15 March Third Age 3019), a host of Sauron's allies, including Easterlings, which had been a threat to the borders of the realm of Dale for a long time, crossed the river Carnen and drove Brand back to Dale. On 17 March, the Battle of Dale began. King Brand and King Dáin II Ironfoot were both killed and the Men of Dale and the Dwarves were driven into the Mountain. The enemy could not take the gates and a siege began. However, when news of the fall of Sauron came the enemy forces lost heart, and on 27 March the besieged Dwarves and Men burst forth from the mountain and the new King of Dale, Bard II, and the new King under the Mountain, Thorin III Stonehelm, drove the enemy away and the Easterlings troubled the kingdom of Dale no more.

King Bard II sent an ambassador to the crowning of King Elessar. The kingdom of Dale remained independent but in friendship with Gondor and under the protection and crown of the King of the West.

It is possible that Dale received its name, because of its location in a valley. The word dale from Old English dael means "valley".

A late draft of what would later become the chapter "Many Meetings" mentions that the realm of Brand "included Esgaroth, and much land to the south of the great falls".

In two plot notes for The Hobbit, Girion is referred to as "king of Dale". In earlier versions of what would later become the chapters "Inside Information" and "Fire and Water", Girion is already referred to as "lord of Dale".

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:

The city appears briefly in the prologue of the film, when the dragon Smaug attacks Erebor.

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:

After the death of Smaug, the villagers of Lake-town seek refuge in the ruined city. During the Battle of Five Armies, they hide inside Dale while the Lake-men combat the enemy forces. When the Orc army attacks the ruined city, Bard and the Lake-towners run to defend it, leaving the Dwarves and the Elves to protect the gates of Erebor. The Elves later come to join the Men in defending the city.

2014: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Dale was originally introduced as a standalone instance taking place during the Battle of Dale. Several years later, a proper explorable version of the city and the surrounding lands were added as part of the "Strongholds of the North" update. Still rebuilding after the recent battle, Dale is now ruled by King Bard II and his mother, Queen Regent Erna. A large statue of Bard the Bowman stands at the northern entrance of the city.

1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 25/05/2026.