Durin's folk
Encyclopedia
In J. R. R. Tolkien
's fictional universe
of Middle-earth
, Durin's folk, also known as the Longbeards, were the most important clan of Dwarves
. Their name comes from that of their first king, Durin I "The Deathless". They were the eldest and greatest of the seven Dwarf-clans.
They originally inhabited the Misty Mountains
as a home, until they were driven out by Orcs
. Their strongholds in the Misty Mountains included Khazad-dûm (Moria), their first city, and Mount Gundabad. During the Second Age
, Durin's folk entered into friendship with the Noldor
of Celebrimbor
in Eregion
. During the War of the Last Alliance, Durin's folk allied with the Elves
and the Dúnedain
.
In the Third Age, after being driven out of Moria by the Balrog
Durin's Bane, most of Durin's Folk fled north and established cities in Erebor and the Ered Mithrin. Both the Ered Mithrin and Erebor were later occupied by Dragons, and they then became a wandering folk in exile. Most of them settled in the Iron Hills
, while others under Thráin II
wandered west, till they came to the Ered Luin and settled there. Finally, the Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor was restored when Dáin II, Lord of the Iron Hills, became King of Erebor in after Smaug
's death.
Durin I was succeeded by many generations of kings, among whom appeared six others also named Durin. These six were believed by the Dwarves to be reincarnations (or even reanimations) of Durin I, with memories of his earlier lives. Durin VI was killed by Durin's Bane in 1980 of the Third Age
. Durin did not again return to his people until Durin VII appeared in the Fourth Age
, a descendant of Thorin III son of Dáin II Ironfoot, and a descendant in direct line from Durin the Deathless. Durin VII would become known as Durin the Last.
A son or later descendant of Thorin III was Durin VII the Last, who refounded Khazad-dûm. At this time all of the old lands of the Dwarves were reclaimed by Durin's folk, including Khazad-dûm, Erebor, the Iron Hills, Gundabad, the Blue Mountains, the Glittering Caves of Aglarond, and many small dwellings in the Misty Mountains.
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
's fictional universe
Fictional universe
A fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
of Middle-earth
Middle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
, Durin's folk, also known as the Longbeards, were the most important clan of Dwarves
Dwarf (Middle-earth)
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Dwarves are a race inhabiting the world of Arda, a fictional prehistoric Earth which includes the continent Middle-earth....
. Their name comes from that of their first king, Durin I "The Deathless". They were the eldest and greatest of the seven Dwarf-clans.
They originally inhabited the Misty Mountains
Misty Mountains
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, the Misty Mountains is a mountain range, running for 795 miles from north to south, between Eriador and the valley of the Great River, Anduin, and...
as a home, until they were driven out by Orcs
Orc (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings, Orcs or Orks are a race of creatures who are used as soldiers and henchmen by both the greater and lesser villains of The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings — Morgoth, Sauron and Saruman...
. Their strongholds in the Misty Mountains included Khazad-dûm (Moria), their first city, and Mount Gundabad. During the Second Age
Second Age
The Second Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. Tolkien intended for the history of Middle-earth to be considered fictionally as a precursor to the history of the real Earth....
, Durin's folk entered into friendship with the Noldor
Noldor
In the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, the Noldor are Elves of the Second Clan who migrated to Valinor and lived in Eldamar. The Noldor are called Golodhrim or Gódhellim in Sindarin, and Goldoi by Teleri of Tol Eressëa. The singular form of the Quenya noun is Noldo and the adjective is Noldorin...
of Celebrimbor
Celebrimbor
Celebrimbor is a fictional character In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. His name means "silver fist" or "Hand of silver" in Sindarin ....
in Eregion
Eregion
In the fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien, Eregion or Hollin was a kingdom of the Noldorin Elves in Eriador during the Second Age, located near the West Gate of Moria under the shadow of the Hithaeglir . Its capital was Ost-in-Edhil...
. During the War of the Last Alliance, Durin's folk allied with the Elves
Elf (Middle-earth)
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, Elves are one of the races that inhabit a fictional Earth, often called Middle-earth, and set in the remote past. They appear in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings, but their complex history is described more fully in The Silmarillion...
and the Dúnedain
Dúnedain
In J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, the Dúnedain were a race of Men descended from the Númenóreans who survived the sinking of their island kingdom and came to Eriador in Middle-earth, led by Elendil and his sons, Isildur and Anárion...
.
In the Third Age, after being driven out of Moria by the Balrog
Balrog
Balrogs are fictional demonic beings who appear in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Such creatures first appeared in print in his novel The Lord of the Rings, though they figured in earlier writings that posthumously appeared in The Silmarillion and other books.Balrogs are described as...
Durin's Bane, most of Durin's Folk fled north and established cities in Erebor and the Ered Mithrin. Both the Ered Mithrin and Erebor were later occupied by Dragons, and they then became a wandering folk in exile. Most of them settled in the Iron Hills
Iron Hills
The Iron Hills are a fictional range of mountains in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings. They are remnants of the Iron Mountains of the First Age and are located east of the Lonely Mountain in the northeastern part of Rhovanion and the northwest of Rhûn. In the Third Age, they are home to a...
, while others under Thráin II
Thráin II
Thráin II is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is first mentioned in The Hobbit, and more of his history is given in Unfinished Tales.A Dwarven king, Thráin is the son of Thrór and father of Thorin Oakenshield...
wandered west, till they came to the Ered Luin and settled there. Finally, the Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor was restored when Dáin II, Lord of the Iron Hills, became King of Erebor in after Smaug
Smaug
Smaug is a fictional character in the novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. He is a dragon, and the main antagonist within the story.-The Hobbit:...
's death.
Durin I was succeeded by many generations of kings, among whom appeared six others also named Durin. These six were believed by the Dwarves to be reincarnations (or even reanimations) of Durin I, with memories of his earlier lives. Durin VI was killed by Durin's Bane in 1980 of the Third Age
Third Age
The Third Age is a time period from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. The history of Middle-earth is to be taken fictionally as a history of the real Earth....
. Durin did not again return to his people until Durin VII appeared in the Fourth Age
Fourth Age
In the fictional world of middle earth "'the fourth age'" and the ages that preceded it, are time periods from J. R. R. Tolkien's universe of Middle-earth, described in his fantasy writings...
, a descendant of Thorin III son of Dáin II Ironfoot, and a descendant in direct line from Durin the Deathless. Durin VII would become known as Durin the Last.
Kings of Durin's folk
- Durin I (The Deathless), father of Dwarves. Founder and first King of Khazad-dûm.
- (Many generations from Durin I to Durin VI, including Durin II–V.)
- Durin III, was given one of the Seven Dwarven Rings.
- Durin VI, killed by Durin's Bane in T.A. 1980.
- Náin I son of Durin VI. Last King of Khazad-dûm, he was killed by Durin's Bane in T.A. 1981.
- Thráin I son of Náin I. Founded Erebor as King under the Mountain in T.A. 1999.
- Thorin I son of Thráin I. He left Erebor for the Ered Mithrin.
- Glóin son of Thorin I.
- Óin son of Glóin.
- Náin II son of Óin.
- Dáin I son of Náin II. Last King of all of Durin's folk, he was killed by a cold-drakeDragon (Middle-earth)J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium features dragons closely based on those of European legend.Besides dragon , Tolkien variously used the terms drake and worm .-History:The dragons were created by Morgoth...
in T.A. 2589. - Thrór son of Dáin I. Returned to Erebor as King under the Mountain, and tried to reclaim Moria. Was killed by Azog the Orc in T.A. 2790. (Start of the War of Dwarves and Orcs)
- Thráin IIThráin IIThráin II is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He is first mentioned in The Hobbit, and more of his history is given in Unfinished Tales.A Dwarven king, Thráin is the son of Thrór and father of Thorin Oakenshield...
son of Thrór, King in Exile. Lived in or near the ruins of Belegost in the Ered Luin. He died in the dungeons of Dol GuldurDol GuldurDol Guldur was Sauron's stronghold in Mirkwood in the fictional world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. It is first mentioned in The Hobbit. The hill itself, rocky and barren, was the highest point in the southwestern part of the forest. Before Sauron's occupation it was called Amon Lanc...
in T.A. 2850, and was the last holder of the Last Ring of the Dwarves. - Thorin II OakenshieldThorin OakenshieldThorin Oakenshield, son of Thráin, son of Thrór, King Under the Mountain is a major character in The Hobbit and is mentioned in passing in The Lord of the Rings...
son of Thráin II. He refounded Erebor, but was killed in the Battle of Five Armies in T.A. 2941. He was never crowned King, but claimed the title King under the Mountain (and did in fact have right to it after refounding Erebor). - Dáin II IronfootDáin II IronfootDáin II Ironfoot was a Dwarf and king of Erebor in J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy legendarium concerning Middle-earth. His story is told primarily in Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings, and he appears briefly in The Hobbit....
(grandson of Grór, younger brother of Thrór). He became King under the Mountain as well as King of all Durin's Folk after Thorin's death. He was the first in Durin's line not to inherit in direct father-to-son succession. - Thorin III Stonehelm became king when Dáin was killed in the War of the RingWar of the RingIn the fictional high fantasy-world of J. R. R. Tolkien, the War of the Ring was fought between Sauron and the free peoples of Middle-earth for control of the One Ring and dominion over the continent. The War of the Ring took place at the end of the Third Age. Together with the Quest of Mount Doom,...
in T.A. 3019.
A son or later descendant of Thorin III was Durin VII the Last, who refounded Khazad-dûm. At this time all of the old lands of the Dwarves were reclaimed by Durin's folk, including Khazad-dûm, Erebor, the Iron Hills, Gundabad, the Blue Mountains, the Glittering Caves of Aglarond, and many small dwellings in the Misty Mountains.