Middle-earth

Culture

Bardings

Also known as Men of Dale, Men of the Lonely Mountain

The people of Dale by the Lonely Mountain, led in legend by Bard the Bowman who slew Smaug, and restored to prosperity beside the dwarves of Erebor.

Tolkien’s textsSupported by the narratives published in Tolkien’s lifetime.
Category
Culture
Language
A northern Mannish speech akin to that of the Rohirrim, with Westron in trade.
Bardings

What this is

In brief

A culture of Men, not a kingdom. Dale is the town and lordship they built; the Bardings are the people, related to the Northmen of Rhovanion and distinct from the Rohirrim though both descend from northern Mannish stock.

Origins

The Bardings were the Men of Dale and the surrounding lands, akin to the Northmen of Rhovanion and to the Éothéod. Their town of Dale grew rich on trade with Erebor until Smaug destroyed both. Girion was their last lord before the dragon came.

Culture

A trading and valley culture of merchants, archers and craftsmen, friendly with the Dwarves of the Mountain. The Barding people prized the bow, the forge and free dealings, and rebuilt a prosperous town under the shadow of Erebor.

Language

A northern Mannish speech akin to that of the Rohirrim, with Westron in trade.

History

Girion’s Dale fell to Smaug. Generations later Bard the Bowman, heir of Girion, slew the dragon during the attack on Lake-town, and after the Battle of Five Armies he became King of restored Dale. His descendants, including Brand, ruled there in the War of the Ring, when the Men of Dale and the Dwarves of Erebor stood together against Sauron’s northern armies.

Leaders

  • Girion

  • Bard The Bowman

  • Brand

Settlements

  • dale
  • lake-town
  • esgaroth

Alliances

  • dwarves
  • durins-folk
  • elves
  • the-fellowship-of-the-ring

Conflicts

  • battle-of-five-armies
  • battle-of-dale

Sources

  • The Hobbit · 1937

    Published in Tolkien’s lifetime. The primary narrative of Bilbo’s journey.

  • The Lord of the Rings · 1954–55

    Three volumes: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King.

  • Unfinished Tales · 1980

    Expanded and alternative accounts of the First, Second and Third Ages.

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