Well then, the Battle of the Five Armies, one of Tolkien's most detailed battles which still, naturally, poses many questions.
First, a quick introduction. Bard's Lakemen and Thranduil's Wood Elves were besieging Erebor (the Lonely Mountain) where Thorin's band of Dwarves were holed up. Dain had come to support Thorin, but just as he was launching his attack on the besiegers, Bolg's armies of orcs (Goblins) and wolves (Wargs) appeared. The Elves, Dwarves and men then allied to fight off the orcish hordes.
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So began a battle that none had expected; and it was called the Battle of Five Armies and it was very terrible.
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I'll start with the terrain, move on to the forces and their dispositions and summarise the course of the battle, finishing with some unanswered questions.
The terrain was a V shaped broad valley, open to the south but narrowing to the north where Thorin had dammed the river running and fortified the gates of Erebor. The river (I'd guess quite shallow so not too much of an obstacle) wound across the valley past the ruined town of Dale. On either side were the spurs of the mountains, the south-westerly one ending at an eminence called Ravenshill where there was a small lookout tower. The ground was devoid of vegetation, being the 'waste of Smaug' but full of rocks and the rubble of Dale. This would hinder an army fighting in close shoulder to shoulder ranks, so more open formations must have been necessary.
What do we know, and what can we guess, of the five armies that day?
The elves were led by their King, Thranduil and undoubtedly the nobles of his land (including Legolas?), with Gandalf and Bilbo (who was sensibly invisible). They led elven spearmen and archers. 1000 spearmen were present, it would be strange if there were not a similar or greater number of the famous elven bowmen. I'd imagine that there was a King's bodyguard unit as well. Potentially these could be cavalry as Thranduil often rode out hunting, but in the difficult terrain they would surely have dismounted. To speculate on numbers, I'd reckon around 1000 spearmen, 1200 bowmen and 300 guards, with the guards and probably the spearmen being armoured in chainmail. Their banner was green.
The dwarves of the Iron Hills were led by Dain Ironfoot, they were experienced veteran fighters, heavily armoured in chainmail, with armoured legs and feet. They carried heavy war mattocks (a type of digging tool, but presumably effective), short swords and shields. They also included some bowmen. (Crossbows are never mentioned, but if anyone had them it would surely be the mechanically minded dwarves?). There were more than 500 of them, so I'd think 500 heavy infantry and 100 bowmen. Their warcry was 'Moria', perhaps they had recognised Bolg son of Azog?
Bard's Lakemen included spearmen, archers (longbowmen if Bard is anything to go by) and swordsmen. They also sent out a small force of skirmishers. To speculate, I'd think about 1000 spearmen and swordsmen, 500 bowmen and 200 skirmishers (armed with bows?). Their banner was blue.
On the side of the good guys we can also add Thorin, the Eagles and Beorn. Thorin and his 12 Dwarven companions were magnificently armoured (possibly in mithril?) and had the pick of Erebor's weapon store ('magic' weapons maybe?). They had bows and Thorin carried an axe (he had lost Orcrist to the elves). The eagles were a powerful addition, they were led by the 'Lord of the Eagles' (presumably Gwaihir, perhaps with his buddies Landroval and Meneldor, but see a recent thread for this). Numbers are difficult to imagine, Bilbo described 'line after line' of eagles, I'd have to say at least 30, probably more, but they were individually very powerful creatures.
Lastly, there was Beorn (there are many, many threads on him if you wish to debate his nature and origin). He appeared in the form of a great bear (he was a man but a shapechanger and, no doubt, something of a magician - according to JRRT). He was extremely powerful, nearly invulnerable and very dangerous (perhaps similar in power to an ent??).
The orcs were led by Bolg and they greatly outnumbered the three allied armies. They comprised at least three quarters of the orcs of the North. They came from many lairs in the Misty Mountains and their capitol at Mount Gundabad. (Maybe they had reinforcements from Moria, the Grey Mountains and the old fortresses of Angmar, Carn Dum and Mount Gram?). Bolg brought his bodyguard too, orcs of great size (perhaps Uruk-Hai?). I'd imagine at least 10,000 orcs were present. They carried spears scimitars, hammers, axes and shields and some at least were armoured. They fought under red and black banners.
The fifth army was the army of Wargs (or great wolves), some were ridden by orcs. Again, its difficult to suggest a number (though there were 'hundreds and hundreds' at the previous rendezvous). I'd think a few thousand with perhaps some hundreds of wolfriders.
Lastly, and strangely most crucially for the evil armies, were the bats. They formed a dark cloud over the orcs which enabled them to fight in daylight (though the weather was overcast and stormy, not bright).
Thranduil's wood elves were placed on the south-western spur of hills, Dain's dwarves and Bard's lakemen were placed on the south-eastern spur. In the valley there were some brave skirmishers (in later days called a 'Forlorn Hope') who were to hold up and bunch the orcs so that the main forces could charge down from either flank.
Bolgs armies wre led by the wolfriders with the mass of orcs following on, backed up by Bolg's bodyguard and the Wargs. He also detatched a force of orcs to climb the mountain and attack the rear of the allies' lines.
To summarise the battle -
- Wolfriders repulse the skirmishers, orcs advance into valley
- Orcs are charged by the elves, supported by their bowmen
- Dwarves and men charge in on the other flank
- A general melee ensues, but the good guys are in trouble when the orc detatchment attacks from the mountainside
- Twilight! - Bolg commits his reserves, his Bodyguard and the Wargs
- Thorin and the 12 dwarves attack from the gates of Erebor, dwarves, elves and men charge again to support him.
- Bolg's bodyguard stands firm, the charge dissipates, Thorin is surrounded, the allies are pushed back to their hills.
- The Eagles are coming! They dislodge orcs from the mountainside but the battle in the valley continues
- Beorn appears and charges the orcs' rear, he rescues the mortally wounded Thorin and returns to devastate Bolg's bodyguard and kill Bolg himself
- With their leader down and their finest unit broken, the orcs and wolves flee the field
- The three armies pursue them with great execution
Well, there you have it! We're still left with some questions though. What were the likely numbers on either side? Was Legolas involved? How effective in combat were the eagles, the wolves, Beorn and Gandalf for example? Would the orcs have fought without their 'batcloud', and where did they all come from anyway. What do you think of the tactics on either side?
[ July 20, 2003: Message edited by: Rumil ]