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Timeline Event

Recolonization of Moria: Overview

Event Type: Cultural/Social

Age: 3rd Age - The Stewards

Years: 2989 ~ 2994

Description:

Balin brings Dwarves from Erebor to reinhabit Moria:

Table of Contents:
The Colonists
The Timeline
The Prelude
The Colonization
The Aftermath



The Colonists
Balin, formerly a member of Thorin Oakenshield's company in The Hobbit, takes a group of Dwarves from Erebor to reoccupy Khazad-dûm, the Mines of Moria. The Dwarves in the ill-fated group include Ori and Óin, also of Thorin's company, as well as Flói, Frár, Lóni, and Náli.

The Timeline
2989
Balin leaves Erebor and enters Moria.
[See: Balin recolonizes Moria]
[See: Balin becomes Lord of Moria]

2991
Éomer Éomund's son born in Rohan.

2994
Balin perishes, and the dwarf-colony is destroyed.
[See: Balin, Lord of Moria, slain by Orcs
[See: Orcs besiege the Dwarves of Moria
[See: Dwarves of Moria make a last stand in the Chamber of Mazarbul

The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years: The Third Age


The Prelude
'It is now many years ago,' said Glóin, 'that a shadow of disquiet fell upon our people.... Some spoke of Moria...; and they declared that now at last we had the power and numbers to return.'

Glóin sighed. 'Moria!.... Too deep we delved there, and woke the nameless fear.... [No] dwarf has dared to pass the doors of Khazad-dûm for many lives of kings, save Thrór only, and he perished. At last, however, Balin listened to the whispers, and resolved to go; and though Dáin did not give leave willingly, he took with him Ori and Óin and many of our folk, and they went away south.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 2, The Council of Elrond


The Colonization
According to the Book of Mazarbul, a record of the colony, the Dwarves wrested the control of many parts of the Mines of Moria from Orcs. They apparently mined gold successfully and also found mithril, but suffered repeated attacks by Orcs. Balin, their lord, was killed by an Orc, and the Orcs then besieged the Dwarves so straitly that they were forced to retreat to the Chamber of Mazarbul for a last stand. The last Dwarven colonists were slaughtered there.

Summary from The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 5, The Bridge of Khazad-dûm


The Aftermath
'That was nigh on thirty years ago. For a while we had news and it seemed good: messages reported that Moria had been entered and a great work begun there. Then there was silence, and no word has ever come from Moria since.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 2, The Council of Elrond

Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 11Jan12

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