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Mountain · Dale and Erebor

Erebor

Lonely Mountain

The Lonely Mountain, kingdom of Durin's folk, taken by Smaug and won back in TA 2941

View on map Dale and Erebor
Appears in
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Appendices
Region
Dale and Erebor
Journeys passing through
1
Erebor on the map of Middle-earth

Erebor rises by itself out of the plain, which is where it gets the name Lonely Mountain. Look for it in the northeast of the map: Mirkwood to the west, the Iron Hills far to the east, the Grey Mountains to the northwest, and the Long Lake and Lake-town to the south. The River Running springs from the mountain's southern side and flows down past Dale.

Thrain I came here in TA 1999 after the flight from Moria and found the Arkenstone, the great white gem cut by his people, taking the title King under the Mountain. His successors mostly moved north to the Grey Mountains, but Thror brought the kingdom back in TA 2590, and it grew rich on Dwarf-craft traded with the Men of Dale.

That wealth drew Smaug. The dragon came out of the north in TA 2770, burned Dale, took the mountain and slept on the hoard for nearly two centuries. Thror and Thrain escaped through a secret side door in the western spur, the same door whose key and map Gandalf later gave Thorin.

In TA 2941 Thorin's company reached the doorstep and Bilbo found the keyhole on Durin's Day. Bilbo went down the passage twice, spoke with Smaug in riddles, and saw the bare patch on the dragon's left breast. Smaug flew to destroy Lake-town and was shot there by Bard. The hoard then brought Elves, Lake-men, and Dain's dwarves from the Iron Hills to the mountain's gates, and only a goblin army arriving at once turned the quarrel into the Battle of Five Armies.

Dain II Ironfoot ruled afterward as King under the Mountain, and the mountain became a strong ally of Dale. In March TA 3019 an army from the east attacked, Dain and King Brand fell before the gate in the Battle of Dale, and the dwarves and men held out inside the mountain until news came that Sauron had fallen.

Events at this place

  1. TA 1999 · Appendices

    The Kingdom under the Mountain is founded

    Thrain I settled in Erebor and found the Arkenstone, beginning the line of Kings under the Mountain.

  2. TA 2770 · Appendices

    Smaug takes Erebor

    The dragon came from the north, destroyed Dale, drove out Thror's people and took the mountain and its treasure.

  3. TA 2941 · The Hobbit

    The secret door opens

    On Durin's Day the last light of the setting sun showed the keyhole, and Thorin's key opened the western side door.

  4. TA 2941 · The Hobbit

    Bilbo meets Smaug

    Bilbo went down the passage unseen, traded riddling names with the dragon, and noticed the uncovered patch in Smaug's armor.

  5. TA 2941 · The Hobbit

    The Battle of Five Armies

    Dwarves, Elves and Lake-men set aside their dispute over the hoard to fight goblins and Wargs before the mountain's gate.

  6. TA 3019 · Appendices

    The Battle of Dale

    Easterling forces attacked Dale and Erebor. Brand and Dain were killed, and the defenders were besieged inside the mountain until Sauron fell.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Lonely Mountain on the Middle-earth map?

In the northeast, standing alone east of Mirkwood and north of the Long Lake, with Dale at its southern feet and the Iron Hills further east.

Why is it called the Lonely Mountain?

It stands by itself on open ground, separate from the Grey Mountains to the northwest and the Iron Hills to the east.

Who ruled Erebor after Thorin?

Dain II Ironfoot of the Iron Hills, who became King under the Mountain after the Battle of Five Armies and died defending Dale in TA 3019.