another dumb question - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 07-23-2002, 09:47 PM

Hello Steve (That's a fine, Hobbit name!)

Lake-Town (or Esgaroth) was a town founded by Men after their earlier town of Dale was destroyed by the dragon Smaug. Tyler in "The Tolkien Companion" calls it a "city-state", but I think she is being kind.

It seems these Men had no country, per se, but had settled in the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which included the Lonely Mountain and the surrounding countryside. (They were self governed though, not ruled by the dwarves.) I suppose you could consider the Kingdom of Erebor to be a part of the Wilderland, though the map I have is kinda vague.

To make matters more confusing, after the events in The Hobbit, The town of Dale was rebuilt and Bard and his heirs became the "Kings of Dale." I never thought that a Town could be considered a Kingdom, but there it is.

07-23-2002, 09:47 PM	#3
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Hello Steve (That's a fine, Hobbit name!) Lake-Town (or Esgaroth) was a town founded by Men after their earlier town of Dale was destroyed by the dragon Smaug. Tyler in "The Tolkien Companion" calls it a "city-state", but I think she is being kind. It seems these Men had no country, per se, but had settled in the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which included the Lonely Mountain and the surrounding countryside. (They were self governed though, not ruled by the dwarves.) I suppose you could consider the Kingdom of Erebor to be a part of the Wilderland, though the map I have is kinda vague. To make matters more confusing, after the events in The Hobbit, The town of Dale was rebuilt and Bard and his heirs became the "Kings of Dale." I never thought that a Town could be considered a Kingdom, but there it is.