Wicked dwarves

Of the races, Dwarves are the most resistant to corruption and influence of Morgoth and later Sauron. The seven rings of Power of the dwarves did not turn them to evil, but it did amplify their greed and lust for gold. It is said that very few willfully served the side of darkness. Of those who did very little was written. Of the seven houses few fought on either side during The Last Alliance at the end of the Second Age, and is known that none from the House of Durin ever fought on the side of evil. During the early parts of the Third Age (or at least in legends of the previous), it is known that in some places wicked dwarves had made alliances with the goblins and orcs. It is suggested by Tolkien in some of his notes that of the dwarves that turned to wickedness they most likely came from the Dwarves of the far eastern mansions (and perhaps some of the nearer ones) came under the Shadow of Morgoth and turned to evil. It is however unclear if these refer to Dwarves beyond Iron Hills (the most eastern known stronghold of the Dwarves) Because Dwarves are not evil by nature, few ever served the Enemy of their own free will (though rumors of Men suggest the total was greater).

Some of the dwarves accused of fighting on the side of darkness may have been in conflict due to enmity between the races due to misunderstandings (which may also apply to the Petty-dwarves distrust and hatred of the elves), or enmity between the races caused by the greed and envy (men lusting after the dwarves' wealth and their handiwork, and possibly between the Dwarven clans themselves), or by races becoming estranged from each other (the rise of the enmity and distrust between dwarves and elves after the fall of Khazad-dum). What may have been fought in self-defense may be seen as an evil action by the opposing force. But in these cases those involved were never allied with the Enemy or his ambassadors (though the wars between the Free Peoples may have worked to his advantage).

Some of the dwarves accused of fighting on the side of darkness may have been in conflict due to enmity between the races due to misunderstandings. This may apply to the Petty-dwarves who gained distrust and hatred of the elves after most of their kind was wiped out, and also between them and other dwarves since they had been exiled by the other clans. In some cases there was enmity between the races caused by the greed and envy (men lusting after the dwarves' wealth and their handiwork, and possibly between the Dwarven clans themselves). Many of the dwarves had become nomadic merchants and smiths without a home wandering and tresspassing through foreign and private lands (which may have been viewed with suspicion in some places). Still others became estranged from each other for other reasons (the rise of the enmity and distrust between dwarves and elves after the fall of Khazad-dum, for example). What may have been fought in self-defense may be seen as an evil action by the opposing force (for example distrust of the wood-elves of Mirkwood and Thorin's party). But in these cases those involved were never allied with the Enemy or his ambassadors (though the wars between the Free Peoples may have worked to his advantage). The trust and interaction between elves and dwarves was later restored through the friendship of Legolas and Gimli.