Dale & Lake-town: A History | Tolkien Explained

[@Shirebaggins.]

finally dale, now the next iron hills.

[@CraigCourt]

Life of Bard next!

[@Rodero2443]

Mirkwood too

[@Americandragonrider333.]

The Iron Hills! That would be cool to hear about its history! I’m all for this!

[@STMukr]

Blue mountains after

[@dragonsized]

Second

[@FiachnaOCadhain]

I love how Brand and Dain stand side by side one last time Against the Easterlings.

[@imraduin]

Dain* bro

[@FiachnaOCadhain]

Sorry ​@@imraduin

[@teeheeteeheeish]

Ultimate Bro moment. Knowing he was dead, he was like... I will die right here next to my friend. Legendary stuff.

[@jamesplunkett8912]

Dain was close to King Bard's family. He is even close friends with King Bain and King Brand. I'm glad Dain is kind enough to defend Brand's body from so many enemies. He was such a good friend as he stood his ground and fought to the bitter end, refusing to back down. A true dwarf, brave, strong, everlasting might still excisting in his old age for a dwarf to long a good long life, making something grand and noble of himself in the end.

[@lateshagallman5778]

12:00

[@EmblemParade]

The intervention of the thrush might be a hint that Radagast the Brown was working behind the scenes to help Dale and thus the Lonely Mountain quest.

[@khizzkazul7450]

Interesting theory. I never thought about that. 👍

[@thomasrichardson7543]

I would watch an entire trilogy just focused on the War in the North. So many amazing battles and adventures.

[@VGGPTA]

Same I would so watch that as cool as the Lord of the rings is I love that in the hobbit, you got to see men, elves and dwarves fight together, and with their own special kind of fighting styles in a truly defensive way that I just I could not get enough of it was so amazing to see a fortress city that is Erebor being besieged, and dale defending itself at a new peak of power it would just be so cool to see, and the elves will be defending their woodland realm that would be amazing as well. I hope they do make more movies set in J.R.R. Tolkien‘s world as cool as the power of the rings the series is it just can’t compare to the giant movies in my mind but I mean just think about it they could make a few movies on the reclaiming of Maurya, take a create three movies based on defeating moregoth so many movie possibilities and they’re always so well received I think they should totally do it but at the same time I don’t think Peter Jackson will do it again I don’t know if I want someone else touching it but they got to do it sooner than later, because who knows some of the actors might not want to do it, or some of them might even die I mean guy that plays Lord Elrond he’s going into his 60s I’m worried for Ian Malcolm the guy who plays Gandolf though I don’t know if he’d be in a lot of movies as the character wasn’t at any of those battles but yeah

[@myriadmediamusings]

Woot, been waiting for this one ever since the Rohan vids to complete the "big three" as I see the major realms of Men during the 3rd Age. For such an important place in the Hobbit, always felt that they were left out or forgotten compared to Gondor and Rohan, so it was neat that Tolkien included the story bit on how Dale and Erebor fielded their own major battle during ROTK.

[@valentinkambushev4968]

That's because they were "on the side" because it weren't close to Mordor. Gondor and Rohan are right on Mordor's doorstep, and Sauron and Saruman's attempts to conquer them were a big part of the story.

[@TheGreatUnwashedThing]

I find it so sweet that Dale's toy shop is one of its wonders - it always reminds me that the Hobbit was written as a children's story and yet it somehow fits perfectly into the type of story that is Lord of the Rings. Tolkien at his best.

[@mtgemperor]

Stellar work, friend. I hate to admit that one of my favorite locations within the Hobbit trilogy was Lake-town as it showed another location of non-Numenorean Men. I won't lie that I often think of the parallels of Lake-town with the crannogs of the British Isles, though the crannogs were Neolithic rather than medieval.

[@annecarter5181]

I just love these place-focused videos!

[@Spartan-Of-Truth]

Makes for wonderful history. Tolkien is a gift to us all. The nerd, too.

[@Abritishdinosaur]

I found your channel in 2021 and at that point i had only been into tolkiens works for 1 year and i have to say without a doubt your one of the reasons i love this universe so much

[@NerdoftheRings]

That’s amazing! Thanks so much for sharing. It always warms my heart to hear these videos help people connect with Tolkien. 😊

[@alpalcn891]

⁠@@NerdoftheRings​​⁠ Great video as always! Can you please share a link for the Beleriand map used in your videos? 🙏🏻​​⁠​​⁠

[@DarkSoulja3323]

So happy you did Dale and Lake Town.

[@snoozieq4584]

I've been a fan of the animated version of "The Hobbit" since childhood. I know every single song, verse and riddle by heart. I remember the animated version better than the book "The Hobbit". Granted I received the 33 1/3 record and illustrated version between the two record jackets as a birthday present in 1978 as well as the book, I will never forget the music, sound effects or character idiosyncrasies that brought them to life for me. When Peter, Phillipa and Fran brought The Lord of The Rings to life on the big screen, I was overjoyed and not a bit bothered by what was left out. When it came time to release The Hobbit in theaters, I loved his choices in actors, except Thorin. I expected him to be older because of the animated version. None the less, I love all three movies. Seeing the battle against Smaug inside the Lonely Mountain was wonderful to behold. Thank you for bringing me back to my childhood again. ALL of these memories are PRECIOUS to ME!

[@Dr_Cole]

Whereas I believe I knew all of the parts detailed in the video, having it put together in a single story was great. It helps one appreciate the long history and derivation of the peoples of these areas more and even cheer for their successes.

[@zelot113]

Erebor and Dale are some of the coolest side histories

[@colinleat8309]

I love that in the Fourth age, there is an unprecedented era of peace in Arda. Boy do they deserve it!! 🖖😁🤘🇨🇦🕊️

[@lww3226]

I never would have guessed the history behind dale.👌🏼

[@valentinkambushev4968]

- shows up out of nowhere. - kills the dragon. - leads his people through the Battle of Five Armies - becomes the king of Dale Who is this chad?

[@Ilikefinalfantasy795]

Bard grandson of Girion.

[@BlahKDubstep]

A Dark Knight.

[@Eowyn3Pride]

BARD BARD BARD BARD!!! "I've had enough of this lippy lakeman!" "Bard! His name is Bard." 😂😂❤🍻

[@12classics39]

Literally, when you read the book for the first time, he comes out of absolutely NOWHERE and solves the biggest problem. One of Tolkien’s boldest choices, IMO.

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

Reinstalls the new kingdom of Dale. 💪

[@zere825]

Love all the videos you do about the history and lore behind Tolkiens works, absolutely love it. Its so interesting to hear about all the ages of Middle Earth. Keep doing what you do, you are a true gem my friend!

[@nerdwatch1017]

Dwarves are my 3rd favorite race under elves and men. Though there my favorite in one way!! How they build there massive kingdoms inside mountains!! Seeing Moria when it still had dwarfs living there was amazing!!

[@jacobmoak1670]

Love what you do man! Keep it up! Because of you I always can flex my lotr lore to my friends

[@Eowyn3Pride]

🍻😁Same! All creds to Matt!

[@michaelnewsham1412]

From the middle 1800s (our time😊😊) villages built on stilts on the shores of lakes were first discovered in Switzerland, and then all across central Europe. They dated back to perhistoric times, and excited great interest. I would think Tolkien would have them in mind when conceiving of Laketown.

[@GafatasiFuimaono-y3m]

I have been waiting for this for a long time

[@mjm2271]

The artists showcased in this video are phenomenal!

[@nicholasmaddocks7545]

Though not as big as Gondor, I'm glad Dale is receiving recognition.

[@alexfishkind1848]

Amazing! Please consider doing the iron hills and blue mountains next

[@dxpower1158]

I really enjoyed this one keep up with this videos.

[@nigeldepledge3790]

". . . the men of Dale would be survived by their ancestors, living in Lake Town . . ." That's a clever trick if you can pull it off!

[@Nokyyyyy]

Gave me chills in the lotr events. The bros fighting to their death, together ❤

[@axelStorymode]

A battle of Dale movie would go hard

[@valkloki]

The Master bears a striking resemblance to Stephen Fry ;-)

[@jcook6602]

I was about to post this.

[@yrlo6308]

No way?!? Just guess what his role was in the hobbit trilogy for a second…

[@quinnimon]

should we tell im?

[@istari0]

I don't see how Lake Town's construction was intended to deter Smaug. Being made of wood, it would have been even more vulnerable to fire and being on a lake would be no obstacle to a winged dragon.

[@Darkgeran7]

I feel bad for the men of dale they are the first race of men we encounter but they are left to have mentions in subsequent works

[@davesing]

Most excellent. Great job as usual.

[@Mikebrowski]

Amazing lore video, think we can get something about the northeren waste? I still am confused about that area

[@valentinkambushev4968]

It's the same as our northern waste - ice, snow, and people who, for some reason, live there.

[@carlambroson8872]

My favorite tale of lasting and unbreakable friendships is the story of King Dain defending the dead body of his dear friend, and fellow king, King Brand. Until he too his killed!!

[@teresaandrobplaxton2418]

You should make a video of Eledan & Elrohir

[@kraziejedi1111]

i loved the music for Dale and Laketown in movies

[@dalepride8671]

Such a great and educational video. Thank you for your amazing work!

[@TJPactronix]

Superb episode

[@Jmac1962]

Great video, love all you do. Thanks! At 3:58 you mean descendants rather than ancestors?

[@nickbalwit3302]

please make a video about the forest of fangorn and other notable forests of middle earth.

[@biglawngnome]

Oh man that was a banger🎉

[@thomasbrown8468]

Much respect for your hard work

[@HowellingRoots]

Yesssss :) Thank you for this one! I hope your New Zealand trip was amazing. You deserve it. Much obliged for all the content! #NerdOfTheRings #MenOfTheWest #Tolkien -JRoot

[@Eowyn3Pride]

Well done Matt! Now THAT would make a great series! Post BotFA but before LotR! Yes! A NEW series, in Anime...The Alliance of Erabor and Dale.

[@arthurok327]

Howdy, I really enjoyed the six movies Peter Jackson made, they were action packed, and stories well told, it's just, he changed so many facts, and some " in my opinion " drastically, Thank you for pointing these out, it is appreciated, and makes much more sense to me, Stay safe, God Bless, Peace

[@thomasbrown8468]

Really love your videos and your knowledge of the best world ever created to my knowledge. Ahhh. Love ❤it

[@VGGPTA]

I would so watch a movie on the war in the north as cool as the Lord of the rings is I love that in the hobbit, you got to see men, elves and dwarves fight together, and with their own special kind of fighting styles in a truly defensive way that I just I could not get enough of it was so amazing to see a fortress city that is Erebor being besieged, and dale defending itself at a new peak of power it would just be so cool to see, and the elves will be defending their woodland realm that would be amazing as well. I hope they do make more movies set in J.R.R. Tolkien‘s world as cool as the power of the rings the series is it just can’t compare to the giant movies in my mind but I mean just think about it they could make a few movies on the reclaiming of Maurya, take a create three movies based on defeating moregoth so many movie possibilities and they’re always so well received I think they should totally do it but at the same time I don’t think Peter Jackson will do it again I don’t know if I want someone else touching it but they got to do it sooner than later, because who knows some of the actors might not want to do it, or some of them might even die I mean guy that plays Lord Elrond he’s going into his 60s I’m worried for Ian Malcolm the guy who plays Gandolf though I don’t know if he’d be in a lot of movies as the character wasn’t at any of those battles but yeah

[@jacobsedlack1173]

A particularly sad change from books to film was that Bilbo's age catches up to him before he can cross the Misty Mountains and see Dale and Erebor again. I get why, the needs of the plot means events need to keep pace but still.

[@fred20097]

Whoever enjoyed jacksons the hobbit series must also get really excited sitting in front of a wall watching paint dry for hours on end. The greatest tolkien adaptation ive seen to date is amazons rings of power. Cant wait for the next series. And i challenge anyone who disagrees to explain why.

[@johnhendrickse9731]

Iron hills next please

[@aphizzukamara6328]

I don't know what to say.. Thank you thank you thanks

[@joshpinho]

So you're telling me, if the enterprises that own LOTR wanted to do a film or Two-part film about the events after the end of Battle of Five Armies focusing on Dale and Dain during the events of War of the ring and what happens to them after the ring is destroyed... They could do it? Of course the bonus would be to give references of Smaug, Return of the King/Destroying the ring. P.S That thrush telling Bard about Smaug's mark of the black arrow might've been nice if it was included in the film.

[@thedragondemands5186]

Dale men are to Rohan as Old Norse are to Old English / Anglo-Saxon

[@onangarodney7746]

I love everything you do

[@jayare6804]

excellent!

[@chrisryan2313]

Good work boss man

[@BlahKDubstep]

Ah yes just in time for lunch! Got me some meat ripe off the bone, lembas bread, and malt bear!

[@jaelwyn]

That must be one _seriously_ drunk bear…

[@jayrenteria605]

For the next video even if it's a short one I'd like to know the fate/whatever became of the Seven Dwarf Rings. Ps: As always I enjoy this material you give us.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

In Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy, the clear Eastern design and culture of Lake-town and its inhabitants (including, the military and political leaders) are primarily derived from medieval Russian influences - i.e., the early Rus' states of Kievan Rus' and its successors. Indeed, Lake-town is reminiscent of the old northern Rus' trading city of Novgorod - itself, like Lake-town, also situated on a lake. Further, as presented in the movies, per the complex nature of Russian ethno-cultural history, Lake-town itself and its people are thereby infused with East Slavic, Finnic, Baltic, Scandinavian and Turkic influences. In the movies, Peter Jackson clearly defines the culture of Lake-town and Dale as a part of the East.

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

Undoubtedly! They also have influenced with the eotheod (rohan) in the earlier days prior to dale's founding.

[@elektro096]

N ever been this early to a video. Looks to be a great one!

[@NikoZ-w3q]

The day TomDaBombadil falls off, is the day I no longer know when I reach the end of your videos. Sometimes I get distracted at work and when I hear that, I know the video is over lol

[@i_DONT_get_IT]

Next video idea: “What if Frodo had left the ring in Rivendell with the Elves?”

[@MatthewBerman-i3j]

Just wondering where do you find this info? Also great vid!

[@blueshit199]

question, who do you think Dale was trading with, aside from Mirkwood and Dorwinion, if there were anyone to trade with? are there any friendly lands to the east like the Iron Hills? did they trade with easterlings? did Dale have trade routes to Rohan or Gondor? to Eriador?

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

Very interesting question! But If I may guess and some parts in the appendices, they traded with the lake folks who traded with the woodland realm. The men of dale were also familiar with the eotheod (rohan) in the earlier days of their foundings so perhaps they were in great terms with them. The easterlings (depending on the tribes) however, often make wars with them near the river. And since the easterlings would mostly target laketown, the men of dale would've definitely intervene in some cases. In the outbreak of the war of the ring, the easterlings crossed the river halfway across the anduin and pushed back the dalemen of brand by the first week of march. Suggesting they were going to target laketown first.

[@blueshit199]

@@richmondlandersenfells2238 oh, hahah, I never made a mental disctinction between Dale and Lake Town, I always assumed that Lake Town was founded by men of Dale after it fell, and was a part of one realm together

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

@@blueshit199 I also thought they were the same like osgilliath to minas tirith! But the founding of lake town or esgaroth is still a mystery to me. Nonetheless Dale has always been its closest ally. The tales of esgaroth dated back in the early years of the third age. Spanning as far as anduin and the running rivers of the woodland realm.

[@andrewhead1840]

Wonder what these middlemen were doing during the first age before they became the men of Dale and the roherium?

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

Strangely enough, they were somehow "related" to the eotheod. But intermingled with stranger folks soon after.

[@andrewhead1840]

Cool how interesting. :-)

[@Lawsan-d4e]

Could you cover Eonwe next ?

[@14shamus14]

Thank you

[@tea002]

great!

[@peterk7428]

I always wonder if and how many dwarves lived in Dale. It would have been the only place in the third age where races lived together.

[@dragonsized]

NEW VIDEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RAWWR!

[@Ethan.D.McKinney37195]

I'm not sure why, but I have always enjoyed the story of Erebor and Dale much more than Gondor

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

Same!

[@fredreindljr1996]

You're probably the only Tolkien YT channel I watch nowadays. Every other one is just RoP bashing and treating the Silmarillion like it's a bible or something, very tiresome in my opinion. Keep up the good work, man!

[@thecocktailian2091]

To be fair, the Silmarillion is as close to a Bible as you would get for Tolkien's universe.

[@vittoanaranto4795]

they should make a movie now about the siege of erebor

[@SithSlayer524]

Hopefully one of the upcoming movies WB has announced covers the events that happen in Erebor, Dale, Woodland Realm etc during the War of the Ring. Peter Jackson said he wanted to cover those events in the trilogy but they couldn’t fit them in, so I say let’s get Peter back at the helm and make a War in the North movie

[@teeheeteeheeish]

I really hated the depiction of the Laketown Army in the Hobbit - Battle of the Five Armies. They made them a comically unarmed rabble.

[@codymcteer5898]

Ok who’s the better archer, Beleg strongbow, Legolas, or Bard?

[@edwarddore7617]

If Gimli had been around in the Hobbit, would he have told Bard "that counts as one!"?

[@CraigCourt]

Finally!

[@jackychang9148]

3:58 Why do people get ANCESTORS and DESCENDANTS mixed up!? Ancestors are our parents and their parents and their parents and upward. Descendants and our children's children and downward. Seriously?!

[@zcsknzfanz]

Here's a question I have. Both Elros and Elrond had the gift of choice of which children they wanted to be a part of, as being part elven, human, and maia. It seems Elrond's children also had the choice with Arwen's decision to become mortal to marry Aragorn. So did Elros' children have the same choice?

[@slashknife]

What if a barrow wight got the ring from frodo?

[@Raven6794]

The Master of Laketown seems to be closely related to Stephen Fry

[@1987AnimeBoy]

9:14 Is that a picture of Alfrid?

[@JayashinaParthiban]

Would you write your own Fantasy book? Just curious

[@JoseGonzalez-pn5zl]

We men of Dale will help you.

[@erikbender1967]

Now that would be a story to put into movies, or make a short series. Peter Jackson take note!

[@korkronwarlord]

What music are you using in your videos?

[@corneliusmaze-eye2459]

"Up with the Bowman, and down with Moneybags." Hearing that, I just thought of Spyro the Dragon and that god damn posh bear. I wonder if this is where Insomniac got the name from? Hunter also uses a bow.

[@Ghan04]

Under the protection of the King of the West? Surely you must refer to Manwe, the Elder King and not merely Aragorn Elessar? ;) Great video as always.

[@ondris11]

Not much information about Lake-town...

[@kirandeepchakraborty7921]

Nice

[@nicosy282]

What’s your opinion of Laketown in The Hobbit films?

[@TamajitDas88]

Is this dain, the same as Thorin's cousin from the hobbit..?? Can someone clarify..??

[@valentinkambushev4968]

Yes, he is.

[@NerdoftheRings]

Indeed! Dwarves live quite a lot longer than normal humans in the 3rd age

[@richardclark.]

made completely of wood as a deterrent for the dragon?

[@00martoneniris86]

What if urwen lived the first sister of turin

[@Eowyn3Pride]

That's an interesting thought! 🤔 I wonder, maybe more likely Galadriel...

[@joshuajohansen1210]

Why do you think Bard called for the bridge to be thrown down if Smaug could just fly?

[@colinbaldwin313]

It makes sense to me that Lake-town was founded before Smaug's attack. If the Lake-men had had any intention of deterring the dragon, why would they build the whole town out of wood?

[@hermanmelville3368]

Crossroads between Thranduil Kingdom and Dorwinion. Customs money.

[@colinbaldwin313]

@@hermanmelville3368 Why does that dictate that the town be made of wood?

[@aurelian2668]

​@@colinbaldwin313 I think he meant the reason Lake town wass built was because of the river and the trade it would bring. I do agree that Lake town was probably built on the earlier days of Dale before smaugs attack

[@Myriadmusics]

haha firewyrm go brrr

[@Eowyn3Pride]

😂😂

[@ahmetturki7147]

😍😍😍😍 so interested

[@Dannywise527]

Please don't forget my request to do a video on the Three Numenorans kings who were deceived by Saroun into acceptimg a Ring of Power.

[@hermanmelville3368]

All Rhovanion locations are the best