Arcane Topic Warning: Part the Fourth

[Raynor]

Concerning your question:

Unfortunately, as far as I know, that is the only time that Tolkien mentioned this type of warfare (although, if somebody could point me to something I’ve missed/forgotten/blatantly overlooked I’d appreciate it).

there is this passage that springs to mind concerning the battle of the last alliance:

Originally Posted by Of the rings of power and the third age, Silmarillion

From Imladris they crossed the Misty Mountains by many passes and marched down the River Anduin, and so came at last upon the host of Sauron on Dagorlad, the Battle Plain, which lies before the gate of the Black Land. All living things were divided in that day, and some of every kind, even of beasts and birds, were found in either host, save the Elves only.

[Kuruharan]

True, that does appear to be a relevant passage (in fact, probably is a relevant passage...), but I have a slightly different take on that situation. In short, I think that the dwarves who fought with Sauron at the Last Alliance were basically hired as mercenaries. I went into a bit more detail on my own humble view on that situation earlier.

[Rumil]

Hi Kuru!

I think that in later ages of the sun many inter-dwarven conflicts may have been sparked off by the seven rings. It is said that the dwarf lords failed to fade to wraiths as Sauron had hoped, but the rings, as well as facilitating the gathering of lucre, engendered an overmastering love of riches of which much evil later came. This probably refers to the Balrog of Moria, but could be taken more generally.

Could one imagine a Dwarven civil war within or between the seven houses, with one of the rings as the prize, with all the motivation of Boromir on a bad day, added to gold-lust and natural dwarven stubborness and grudge-holding? Perhaps helps to explain why Thrain et al were so cagey about possession of the ring of Durin.

I'm sure Sauron and his agents would have done all they could to sublty stir things up and cause friction, remember that he could still appear disguised in 'fair form' during the Second Age.

Another possibility for conflict must involve mining and settlement rights. Sure it would have been very difficult for the Western Dwarves to invade the home territory of the Eastern Dwarves or vice versa, but what about valuable mineral deposits about half way in beteeen? One candidate for such a place could be the Iron Hills maybe.