Dwarves of Belegost

The Dwarves of Belegost were a people of Dwarves who dwelt in the city of Belegost, the northernmost of the two great Dwarf-cities that stood in the Blue Mountains during the First Age.

They had generally better relations with the Elves than their neighbors in Nogrod, and were behind the building of Menegroth. The Dwarves of Belegost were friends to the Sindar and later allies of the Noldor of Beleriand. They first met the Noldor Elves near Mount Rerir and a great friendship began between the two peoples; Maedhros once saved Lord Azaghâl from an Orc-assault. They joined the Union of Maedhros and fought bravely beside each other during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, where they lost their ruler Lord Azaghâl in battle to the dragon Glaurung.

When the Dwarves of Nogrod assembled a great host of Dwarves to attack Doriath, the Dwarves of Belegost tried to dissuade them from war, but their brethren from Nogrod did not heed their advice. These dwarves went on to fight in the Battle of the Thousand Caves, and later met their demise the Battle of Sarn Athrad. After this tragedy the Dwarves of Belegost started leaving for Khazad-dûm, for fear of reprisal from the Elves. There was much loathing between Elf and Dwarf from there on.

Belegost was later ruined in the War of Wrath, and most of the dwarves left for Khazad-dûm. Some stayed to build, or rebuild, new homes and mines, along with the remaining Dwarves of Nogrod. However, Belegost seems to have been mostly abandoned.

In smithing, the Dwarves of Belegost were second only to the Dwarves of Nogrod. They learned many secrets in smithing from the Elves, and Elves from the Dwarves. They created many weapons for the Elves when evil began to stir in Beleriand, and the smiths of Belegost were the first to create linked ring mail.
 * 1) ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Sindar"
 * 2) ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Noldor in Beleriand"
 * 3) ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Narn i Hîn Húrin (The Tale of the Children of Húrin)", p. 75
 * 4) ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Ruin of Doriath"
 * 5) ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn", p. 235