The Battle of Five Armies occurs in the year 2941 of the Third Age in Tolkien’s chronology.
The battle takes place near the Lonely Mountain after Thorin Oakenshield and his company reclaim Erebor from Smaug. Dwarves, Elves, and Men initially gather over the treasure, but they unite when an army of Orcs and wargs approaches. The forces commonly counted as the five armies are Dwarves, Elves, Men, Orcs, and the combined Eagles and bats in the battle’s traditional description, with the exact counting discussed by readers.
The event closes the main action of The Hobbit. Bilbo returns to the Shire afterward, while Thorin dies from wounds received in the battle. The date is earlier than the War of the Ring, which occurs in 3018–3019 of the Third Age. Film adaptations alter or expand some chronology and battle details, but Tolkien’s timeline places the battle in 2941.