The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Founded before the first rising of the Sun; destroyed in the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age
Location
To the east of Mount Dolmed in Ered Luin
Race
Division
Not certainly known1
Culture
Pronunciation
mi'ckleburg
Meaning
'Great city' or 'great fortress'
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 4 November 2013
  • This entry is complete

Mickleburg

A great Dwarf-city of the Blue Mountains

Map of Mickleburg

The Mannish name for Belegost, the northern of the two great Dwarf-cities of the ancient Blue Mountains. The name 'Mickleburg' is in fact from Old English, and represents a direct translation of the Elvish name Belegost (that is 'great city') which was in turn a translation of the Dwarvish name Gabilgathol. The 'Mickle' of the Mickleburg's name derives from Old English micel meaning 'great, large' and a different version of the same word also appears in 'Michel Delving' the name of the Shire's chief township.


Notes

1

Based on comments in volume XII of The History of Middle-earth, it seems that Mickleburg was populated by a clan of Dwarves distinct from the more familiar Longbeards of Durin's Folk. These seem to have been either the Firebeards or the Broadbeams, and (based purely on word order in the original text) Mickleburg appears to have been the domain of the Broadbeam Dwarves.

See also...

Gabilgathol

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 4 November 2013
  • This entry is complete

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