The Hobbit: Unveiling the Legendary Five Armies

The Battle of the Five Armies occurred in the year 2941 of the Third Age, in the vicinity of the Lonely Mountain. It played a significant role in diminishing the strength of the northern Orcs and halting the expansion of Sauron's influence. Tragically, Thorin II Oakenshield, along with his brave nephews Fíli and Kíli, lost their lives defending their cause during this very battle.

In the earlier concept of the battle, the Dwarves were not involved. However, this was later altered in the final version. The depiction of the Battle of the Five Armies slightly varied between the book and the film adaptation of The Hobbit.

Who Were the Five Armies?

J.R.R. Tolkien described the Battle of the Five Armies as a clash between the Goblins and Wild Wolves on one side, and the Elves, Men, and Dwarves on the other. However, it is important to note that Tolkien used the terms 'Orcs' and 'Goblins' interchangeably, despite depicting them as distinct races in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. The battle involved more than 1000 Silvan Elves from Mirkwood, 500 Dwarves from the Iron Hills, and 200-300 Lake-men, facing off against countless Orcs and Wargs from the Misty Mountains and Grey Mountains. In contrast, the film adaptation of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies portrayed the battle as occurring between the Elves of Mirkwood, the Dwarves of Erebor, the Lake-men, and the Orcs of Gundabad and Don Guldur, omitting the Wargs.

Both Tolkien and Peter Jackson overlooked the involvement of the Eagles in their descriptions of the battle, despite the fact that several hundred of them eventually joined the fight against the Orcs. Additionally, Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins, and the skin-changer Beorn all played a role in the battle, even though they were not officially listed as part of the five armies.

Why Were the Five Armies Fighting?

When Thorin and his companions reached the Lonely Mountain in their quest to reclaim their stolen treasure from the fearsome dragon Smaug, Bilbo was mistaken for a man of Lake-town and Smaug sought revenge by attacking Esgaroth. Despite the destruction caused by the dragon, Bard the Bowman managed to defeat him with a well-aimed Black Arrow.

Upon hearing of Smaug's demise, the Wood-elves, led by their king Thranduil, journeyed to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim their own precious heirlooms, the White Gems of Lasgalen. They paused when they reached Long Lake and witnessed the devastation that had befallen Lake-town, offering their assistance. Bard, as the descendant of Girion, the Lord of Dale, believed he deserved a portion of the treasure, especially since he had slain Smaug and the dragon had plundered his homeland as well. Furthermore, the Dwarves were responsible for provoking Smaug to attack, making them accountable for the rebuilding of Lake-men's homes. In response, a united force of Elves and Men marched towards Erebor, only to find that Thorin, plagued by his obsession with the treasure, refused to share any of it.

As tensions escalated, the Elves and Men mustered an army and laid siege to Erebor, determined to claim their rightful share of the gold. However, Thorin sent a message to Dáin Ironfoot of the Iron Hills through the raven Röac, and soon Dáin arrived at Erebor with 500 heavily armed Dwarves.

Unknown to the three armies, the Necromancer in Dol Guldur had dispatched an army led by the Orc leader Bolg (later replaced with Azog the Defiler in the film) with the intention of halting the Quest of Erebor. Their objective was to secure the Lonely Mountain and seize control of Angmar, thereby expanding their influence across the northern kingdoms of Middle-earth. Upon Gandalf's long-awaited arrival to sound the alarm about the impending full-scale assault by Orcs and Wargs, the Dwarves, Elves, and Men wisely recognized that Sauron's forces presented a more significant threat. Consequently, they resolved to join forces and confront the common enemy.

Who Won the Battle of the Five Armies?

The forces of the Dwarves and Lake-men united on one side of the Mountain, while the Elves gathered on the opposite side. A small group positioned themselves at the entrance of the valley, strategically aiming to entice the enemy to pass between the two spurs. Bilbo, rendered invisible by the power of the Ring, accompanied Gandalf as they discreetly retreated to Ravenhill.

The Orcs and Wargs swarmed in like locusts, falling into the trap as planned. Despite suffering heavy losses, Sauron's army still outnumbered the allied forces, causing them to lose their initial advantage. Many Orcs attacked the mountain from the opposite side, but Thorin and Company demolished the stone wall barricade they had constructed in front of the gates of Erebor, resulting in a significant number of casualties. Triumphantly, they emerged adorned with the finest armor and weapons they could find amidst the treasure hoard, leading their army into the valley for battle. However, they were unable to break through Bolg's bodyguard, and the tide turned against them once more. Just as the battle seemed lost, the Giant Eagles swooped in, led by the Great Eagle, helping to repel the enemy forces that had scaled Erebor. Beorn, in the form of a colossal bear, also joined the fray, ultimately dealing the fatal blow to Bolg. This caused the Orcs and Wargs to panic and flee. The victors pursued and hunted them down, with the surviving Orcs eventually perishing in the depths of Mirkwood Forest.