[Mänwe]

“Also I would beg of you, if any of you are still young and strong of wing, that you would send messengers to our kin in the mountains of the North, both west from here and east, and tell them of our plight.” - (The Hobbit, Chapter 15, The Gathering of the Clouds.)

You are indeed most correct sir, the above quote, the one in which you refer too is indeed adequate evidence to suggest that there were Dwarves inhabiting other areas of Middle Earth.

In order to clear up my own ignorance on the subject and to perhaps help us all on where the dwarves resided, and I hope has included some of those references Kuruharan has in mind, I have scouted the appendices of the Lord of the Rings, and constructed a timeline, referring to the books where I can to provide accurate evidence and quotes.

After the awakening of the Fathers it is universally known that Durin settled in what was later to be known as Moria. Here we know the Dwarves gained great strength and wealth, however as was the Ring of power influence of those that wore it, meant that they were greedy for more wealth;

“…they delved too greedily and too deep, and disturbed that from which they fled, Durin's Bane.” – (Lord of the Rings, Chapter 4, Journey in the Dark)

Thus it was that Moria ceased to be a place habituated by the dwarves.

“1981 Third Age, Dwarves flee from Moria.” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

No doubt also catalysed by the renewal of ork attacks on their settlements.

“1300 Third Age Evil things begin to multiply again. Orcs increase in the Misty Mountains and attack the Dwarves.” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

However until now we know little of where else they resided, it is however clear from further quotes that obviously this was not the only great stronghold of the Dwarven people. For those that fled the Balrog, successfully travelled north.

“But Thorin I his son removed and went into the far North to the Grey Mountains, where most of Durin's folk were now gathering; for those mountains were rich and little explored.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

“2210 Third Age Thorin I leaves Erebor, and goes north to the Grey Mountains, where most of the remnants of Durin's Folk are now gathering.” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

Thus it is clear the Grey Mountains as goldfinger has pointed out were also a strong gathering of Dwarves.However the one disadvantage of a move there, a rather significant factor, was the presence of the drakes (one can only imagine how the estate agents wrangled that one!). Their presence obviously was not well hid, for the drakes began the plundering of their lands.

“But there were dragons in the wastes beyond; and after many years they became strong again and multiplied, and they made war on the Dwarves, and plundered their works. At last Dáin I, together with Frór his second son, was slain at the door of his hall by a great cold-drake.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

“2570 Third Age, About this time Dragons reappear in the far North and begin to afflict the Dwarves.” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

“2589 Third Age, Dáin I slain by a Dragon.” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

This is a reason I think that explains Meneltarmacil’s point that Dwarven numbers here were dramatically reduced, and though some Dwarves may have remained undiscovered I am sure most fled. Also a point that was raised that stood out for me was Kuruharan's point about Gundabad being a Dwarven hold post Goblin occupation. And Ghazi's thoughts about Durin awakening there. I could not find anything to support so, would you be able to elaborate?

“Not long after most of Durin's Folk abandoned the Grey Mountains. Grór, Dáin's son, went away with many followers to the Iron Hills; but Thrór, Dáin's heir, with Borin his father's brother and the remainder of the people returned to Erebor. To the Great Hall of Thráin, Thrór brought back the Arkenstone, and he and his folk prospered and became rich, and they had the friendship of all Men that dwelt near.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

“2590 Third Age, Thrór returns to Erebor. Grór his brother goes to the Iron Hills.” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)


It is at this time, that the main Dwarven stronghold has switched from Moria to Erebor helped, by the fleeing Dwarves from the Grey and Misty Mountains swelling their numbers. However do no loose sight of the fact that there are still remnant residing in the Misty Mountains, and the Grey Mountains.

It is the events following that show the greatest convergence of the Dwarven population which is illustrated as being very dispersed, for as we know, the burgeoning wealth of Erebor attracted the mightiest of Fire-drakes, Smaug to Erebor where he drove the inhabitants away.

“2770 Third Age, Smaug the Dragon descends on Erebor. Dale destroyed. Thrór escapes with Thráin II and Thorin II.” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

Dwarves fled hither and thither, following either of the three most “regal” dwarves. Thus again the main Dwarven stronghold shifts from Erebor to the Iron Hills.

“From the sack and the burning many of Thrór's kin escaped; and last of all from the halls by a secret door came Thrór himself and his son Thráin II. They went away south with their family into long and homeless wandering. With them went also a small company of their kinsmen and faithful followers.” - (Appendix A, Durin’s Folk.)

The note includes a short passage, from which I have selected the most appropriate information for my point,

“It was afterwards learned that more of the Folk under the Mountain had escaped than was at first hoped; but most of these went to the Iron Hills.” - (Note, Appendix A, Durin’s Folk.)

Most save the few fled to the Iron Hills, and so illustrating my point that the Iron Hills was now home to the greatest concentration of Dwarves.

It is some years later that Thrór returns to Moria and is slain by Azog.

“From Dunland, where he was then dwelling, he went north with Nár, and they crossed the Redhorn Pass and came down into Azanulbizar.” - (Note, Appendix A, Durin’s Folk.)

So they have dispersed as far south as Dunland, bear this in mind. We now have perhaps remnants of Dwarves in the Misty Mountains (those fled from Moria), whom fled to Erebor and the Grey Mountains, then being rooted from there, (perhaps leaving remnants behind), fleeing to the Iron Hills and Dunland.

Now the slaying of Thrór, and the tale being told by Nár to Thráin started the War between Orcs and Dwarves;

“2793 Third Age, The War of the Dwarves and Orcs begins” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

An interesting point is that they are referred to Orcs here, yet Azog is the father of Bolg who in the Hobbit is a Goblin, anyway that is a different point.

“Thráin at once sent messengers bearing the tale, north, east, and west; but it was three years before the Dwarves had mustered their strength.” - (Note, Appendix A, Durin’s Folk.)

The reference to difference points of Middle Earth, suggesting that our proposed musings over remnant colonies are true; West to the Misty Mountains, north to the Grey Mountains and East to the Iron Hills, and so I think emphasising my point that this was a great convergence of its people.

“When all was ready they assailed and sacked one by one all the strongholds of the Orcs that they could from Gundabad to the Gladden. Both sides were pitiless, and there was death and cruel deeds by dark and by light. But the Dwarves had the victory through their strength, and their matchless weapons, and the fire of their anger, as they hunted for Azog in every den under mountain.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

Now that is a significant stretch of land, I am sure you will appreciate this by referring to a map, a good few leagues indeed, now perhaps I am not too presumptuous in suggesting that not all the Dwarves carried on in a fury, but some remained in the captured strongholds. Thus the Dwarven populace is again being dispersed, albeit in familiar settings. And so we come to the climax of the war, the battle to retake Moria.

“2799 Third Age Battle of Nanduhirion before the East-gate of Moria. Dáin Ironfoot returns to the Iron Hills. Thráin II and his son Thorin wander westwards.” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

The quote refers now to the moving of the greatest concentration of Dwarves returning to the Iron Hills, thus the Iron Hills remain the “greatest” Dwarves stronghold. Yet;

“So Thráin and Thorin with what remained of their following (among whom were Balin and Glóin) returned to Dunland, and soon afterwards they removed and wandered in Eriador, until at last they made a home in exile in the east of the Ered Luin beyond the Lune.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

And following them perhaps those surviving that came out of the west. We can date their settling there due to the presence of the following quote;

“2802 Third Age They settle in the South of Ered Luin beyond the Shire” - (Appendix B, The Tale of Years.)

They could not reside within Moria, for many of the Dwarves that took part in the battle it was not their “home”, the war was to avenge the death of one of its fathers not solely to retake Moria, with the added fact of the rather dangerous Balrog still squatting there!

We then have the death of Thráin, and the subsequent quest for Erebor led by Thorin and the eventual ‘Battle of Five Armies’.

After which;

“There now Dain son of Nain took up his abode, and he became King under the Mountain, and in time many other dwarves gathered to his throne in the ancient halls.” - (The Hobbit, Chapter 18, The Return Journey.)

Perhaps now, Erebor became the greatest Dwarven stronghold again, however it was probably closely followed by the Iron Hills. Therefore middle Third Age, 2941, we find that Dwarves now reside primarily here and in the Iron Hills.

Perhaps I might mention Balin’s quest to Moria, however the inhabitation is not successful as we all know. The only other reference I found concerning a move of Dwarves was after the War of the Ring.

“After the fall of Sauron, Gimli brought south a part of the Dwarf-folk of Erebor, and he became Lord of the Glittering Caves.” - (Appendix A Durin’s Folk.)

Now as conclusion, the pesky Dwarves seem to settle, obviously helped by the peace, into three locations, the Glittering Caves, Iron Hills, and Erebor.