It is a location known by the dwarves since the very first of their race.
While it would be a place of great importance for their kind, it would often be held by
the orcs.
And there would be many battles between these races for control of the mountain.
Today, on Nerd of the Rings, we cover the history of Gundabad.
The mountain of Gundabad lies at the far north of the Misty Mountains, where the Ered Mithrin
(or Grey Mountains) meet the Hithaeglir.
After the dwarves are created by Aule, and given true life by Iluvatar, they are set
to lie in sleep until after the awakening of the elves.
Two of the fathers are placed in the Blue Mountains, four are placed in the East, and
one is placed in Mount Gundabad.
Sometime around the Years of the Trees 1150, Durin wakes from his slumber.
However, he would not remain in Gundabad.
Rather, he travels south along the Misty Mountains where no mortal had yet traveled, naming the
nameless hills and dells, drinking from yet untasted wells.
Durin would establish the great dwarven realm of Khazad-dum, many miles south of Gundabad.
However, the northern mountain would remain a place of great importance for the dwarves.
In the Peoples of Middle-earth, we learn that while the Firebeards and Broadbeams in the
Blue Mountains and the Ironfists and Stiffbeards, and Blacklocks and Stonefoots in the East
are quite far from the Longbeards (that is Durin’s Folk), all seven kindreds were in
communication with one another.
And in the early ages, they would often hold assemblies of delegates at none other than
Mount Gundabad.
And in times of great need, even the most distant dwarf clans would send help to their
kinsmen, as we will see in the later War of Dwarves and Orcs.
While this would remain a location of great reverence among the dwarves, there is no mention
within Tolkien’s writings of this being a place of permanent residence for their kind.
Gundabad is next mentioned about mid-way through the Second Age.
After Sauron conquers Eregion in 1697 SA, his attempt at destroying Elrond’s host
is thwarted when the dwarves attack his rear flank, allowing Elrond to escape and establish
Imladris in the north.
Sauron’s forces drive the dwarves back, but once the Doors of Durin are closed, Khazad-dum
is impenetrable.
Sauron, enraged at this development in the war, commands his orcs to attack the dwarves
wherever they could be found.
While much about the coming days focuses on the Siege of Imladris and Sauron’s advances
toward Gil-galad in Lindon, the orcs would also carry out their orders from the setback
at Khazad-dum.
Thus comes the First Sacking of Gundabad, where the orcs invade the Mountain, driving
off any dwarves and infesting not only Gundabad itself, but the Grey Mountains as well.
Not only does this mean Gundabad is now under enemy control, but their invasion of the Grey
Mountains cuts off any communication between Khazad-dum and their settlement in the Iron
Hills in the East.
As for Gundabad, this holy site for the dwarves would become a stronghold of the orcs for
well over 4000 years.
For many long years, these orcs would not trouble the elves and men of the north, for
they had a great fear of the elves in particular and would flee from elves and dared not approach
the dwellings of men.
In The Nature of Middle-earth, we are told that when the greater part of the strength
of Elves and Men is drawn away south to the war with Mordor - that is the War of the Last
Alliance - the orcs become more bold.
Their scattered tribes band together and dig a deep stronghold beneath Gundabad and slowly
begin creeping southward.
Soon enough, these very orcs would be put to use by one of Sauron’s servants…
3000 years after the orcs first took Gundabad, the Lord of the Nazgul comes to the North
of Middle-earth, establishing a new realm to rival the mannish kingdom of Arnor.
Thus the kingdom of Angmar rises.
While the battles of Angmar would take place on the western side of the Misty Mountains,
its lands stretch to the eastern side as well.
In the West, the Witch-king establishes the fortress and capital of Carn Dûm, balancing
the eastern fortress of Gundabad.
During a period of nearly 700 years, the Witch-king would wage war against the men of Arnor, leading
to its division and ultimately, its downfall.
While the Witch-king would succeed in destroying the northern kingdom, Angmar itself is destroyed
in 1975 TA at the hands of Arnor’s allies - Gondor and Rivendell.
It would, however, take a further two years (1977 TA) for the final remnants to be driven
out of the eastern portion of Angmar.
Just four years later, the balrog would be awoken in Khazad-dum, leading the dwarves
to be exiled from their home.
Despite the downfall of Angmar and the Witch-king fleeing to the south, Gundabad would remain
under orcish control.
But 800 years later, the dwarves would return in a fight for Gundabad.
By 2770 TA, the dwarves have been exiled yet again - this time from Erebor by the dragon
Smaug.
Under King Thror, the grandfather of Thorin Oakenshield, they would settle in Dunland,
where they would attempt to make a home for the next 20 years.
However, Thror longs to see the ancient home of his people, leaving with a single companion
and coming to the East Gate of Khazad-dum.
There, he is famously killed by the orcs of Moria, his body thrown down the steps, with
his severed head branded with the name of their chieftain - AZOG.
Enraged by the death of their king, the dwarves of Durin’s Folk swear vengeance.
Once again, dwarves of all seven clans would band together and take the fight to the orcs.
Three years after Thror’s death, the dwarven host is assembled and prepared for war.
They would begin not by attacking the orcs in Moria, but in Gundabad.
This second sacking of Mount Gundabad results in the dwarves destroying all orcs they could
find in the sacred mountain.
Over the following six years, the dwarves would make their way south - attacking and
sacking one by one every orc stronghold they could find.
The war would wage almost entirely underground beneath the Misty Mountains all the way to
Khazad-dum.
The dwarves would ultimately be victorious, with Dain Ironfoot killing and beheading Azog,
avenging their fallen king.
However, with the continued presence of the balrog, Khazad-dum could not be resettled.
As for Gundabad, while it was rid of orcs at the beginning of this six year war, the
dwarves' march through the Misty Mountains meant it would lie abandoned.
Either during the war, or after it’s end in 2799 TA, the orcs of the Misty Mountains
would return, once again making it their chief fortress and stronghold.
This very civilization of orcs would come into play once again against the dwarves.
In 2941, the company of Thorin Oakenshield enters the Misty Mountains after leaving Rivendell.
During their escape from captivity, Gandalf kills the Great Goblin - the chieftain of
the orcs of Goblin-town.
It’s possible that the Great Goblin was actually the leader of all the orcs of the
Misty Mountains.
As such, the orcs are enraged at the death of their chief, and they gather at Mount Gundabad
seeking revenge.
They are led by Bolg, the son of Azog.
After hearing of the death of Smaug, Bolg and his army marches upon the Lonely Mountain.
While they would take the bickering dwarves, elves, and men by surprise, the orcs would
ultimately be decimated in the Battle of Five Armies.
All told, it is said that three quarters of the Goblin warriors of the North were killed
in the battle.
Gundabad would continue to be an orcish realm, however, due to the battle of five armies,
it and the orcs of the misty mountains as a whole, would be greatly diminished throughout
the remainder of the Third Age.
After this, we are told nothing else of Mount Gundabad.
We know that, over time, the dwarves of Erebor would expand.
Gimli founds the Glittering Caves at Helm’s Deep and eventually, they would even reclaim
their great ancestral home of Khazad-dum.
Whether Gundabad would ever return to dwarven control, we can only guess.
This sacred awakening place of Durin the Deathless would be remembered as one of locations fought
over by the dwarves and their underground enemies, the orcs.
Today, my question for you is, what other realms, characters, or topics would you like
to see me cover?
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