A settlement of poor Atani, and a trade hub along the North-west region of Rhovanion's Long Lake. It was established around the year 2600 in the Third Age as Esgaroth on Rhovanion’s Long-lake. Lake-town is southward of the Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor and Eastward of Greenwood. It was filled with houses only built with woods and pillars of woods drilled into the Lake’s bed. Esgatoth was a poor town established to enhance trade between the Elves, the Dwarves of Erebor, and the Atani kinds. It was the town that Smaug, the deathly dragon fell to its famous death from the arrow of the Prince of Dale. The town was acquired by the city of Dale following the Smaug fell.
Representation of Lake-town
It was a small town and settlement of the Lake Men under the rule of the Master of Laketown. The trading town began in the Third Age after the death and end of the reign of Lord of the Éothéod Eorl the Young. He was the first king of Rohan in the Struggle of the Easterlings at Wold. Esgaroth enhanced trade between all beings. Lake men traded with the Thranduil’s Elves, Dwarves of Erebor and Iron-hills, and the People of Dale and southward to Dorwinion. Esgaroth was established more than once, the initial creation was in the third age before the dragon, Smaug desolated Erebor and the city of Dale.
It was finally re-established after Smaug settled in Erebor. Esgaroth's construction was in the lake, for protection. Esgaroth was almost enclosed by mountains. This makes it fortified and protected against possible beleaguering unlike any other cities and places in Endor. Although the location of the town was useless against the Smaug the Dragon, it had helped in protecting its people on many occasions. One such event was the invasion of the ravaging Easterlings during the Third Age. It hindered and frustrated the Easterlings until they left the town for other victims.
It was finally re-established after Smaug settled in Erebor. Esgaroth's construction was in the lake, for protection. Esgaroth was almost enclosed by mountains. This makes it fortified and protected against possible beleaguering unlike any other cities and places in Endor. Although the location of the town was useless against the Smaug the Dragon, it had helped in protecting its people on many occasions. One such event was the invasion of the ravaging Easterlings during the Third Age. It hindered and frustrated the Easterlings until they left the town for other victims.
Quest of Erebor
In the Dwarves’ quest for their home, Erebor, the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, and the dwarves entered Esgaroth with the ingenuity of Bard. After Bilbo Baggins awakened the Smaug, it headed to Lake-town to spread fear and destroy the town. The Master of Lake-town [1] made an attempt to flee the town with its wealth piled on his boat, while the people of the town scrambled to find boats and survive. Few of the Lakemen escaped, while Smaug's fire burnt most of the town and its inhabitants. The army of Esgaroth struggled to attack, but all efforts were to no avail. Bard escaped his cell and faced Smaug that failed.
At the same time, Bard’s wife was fleeing the town with Bain, his eldest son, and the two daughters. Bain looked up and saw his father on a wooden tower shooting arrows at Smaug. He left his mother and climbed to support his father. Bard got help from a bird to find the spot of deficiency in the impenetrable armor of Smaug and struck it from there. Smaug fell on the fleeing Master of lake-town and killed him.
After Smaug fell, the people of Esgaroth revolted against the corrupt regime of the Master. Then one of the people recognized Bard and informed them of the hero who had stood for them against the evil Smaug. They saw Bard as a worthy leader and moved with him to re-establish the Kingdom and CIty of Dale. Under the leadership of Bard the Bowman, the City of Dale regained its glory and was rebuilt beyond the glamor of its original creation. Bard ruled until his death and his son Bard succeeded him in the year 2977 of the Third Age.
At the same time, Bard’s wife was fleeing the town with Bain, his eldest son, and the two daughters. Bain looked up and saw his father on a wooden tower shooting arrows at Smaug. He left his mother and climbed to support his father. Bard got help from a bird to find the spot of deficiency in the impenetrable armor of Smaug and struck it from there. Smaug fell on the fleeing Master of lake-town and killed him.
After Smaug fell, the people of Esgaroth revolted against the corrupt regime of the Master. Then one of the people recognized Bard and informed them of the hero who had stood for them against the evil Smaug. They saw Bard as a worthy leader and moved with him to re-establish the Kingdom and CIty of Dale. Under the leadership of Bard the Bowman, the City of Dale regained its glory and was rebuilt beyond the glamor of its original creation. Bard ruled until his death and his son Bard succeeded him in the year 2977 of the Third Age.
Tolkien’s Cultural Representation of Esgaroth
The town was a typical trading hub, its people could comprehend conversations in the general Westron. But they spoke a dialect, Old Norse, that is older than Westron and closer to those of the people of the Kingdom of Rohan which is less common to others. Westron is the fictional representation of the English Language in Tolkien’s Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. The dialect he used for the Kingdom of Rohan was Old English which is close to Old Norse used for the people of Lake-town.
Adaptation of Esgaroth
The representation from Peter Jackson in his film of the trilogy [2] has influences of the ancient trading hub of the Northern Rus, Novgorod. The film represented Esgaroth and the people of the town in an ancient Eastern political sense. There were many signs of influence from medieval Russia, especially Kyivan Rus (Finnic). The City of Dale, like Esgaroth, was also influenced by Turkic and Baltic culture.
References
Categories:
Cities
Cities of Men
