Inside Middle-earth — Petty-dwarves
Reviewing the mysterious history of the renegade Dwarf clan.
The story of the Petty-dwarves is one of the saddest in the whole history of Middle-earth, despite how little is known about them and how little role they played in the events of the Elder Days.
The origin of these Dwarves is diffuse and unclear because it is said that they were individuals from different houses of the Dwarven race who dwelt in the East during the Peace of Arda (at the time of Melkor’s imprisonment).
For some unknown reason, they were exiled from the eastern city-kingdoms, so they joined in their pilgrimage to the West. There are several theories about the causes of their expulsion: possible malformations and thorough repudiation of Dwarves who had some defect. However, it is most likely due to some issue related to bad behavior or problematic individuals.
Over the years, the Petty-dwarves advanced and crossed the Blue Mountains to reach Beleriand. They were the first Dwarves to set foot in those lands long before the construction of Nogrod and Belegost.
In Beleriand, however, they were not alone since, in some regions, there were the Sindar Elves, who, under the command of King Thingol, had established their dwellings during the Great Journey of the Eldar.