Durin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Durin (Norse mythology)
Durin is a character in J. R. R. Tolkien's universe, Middle-earth. Tolkien took Durin's name, like most of the dwarf names in his work, from Norse mythology.
Contents |
[edit] Durin the Deathless (Ages of Stars)
In Tolkien's mythology, King Durin I of Khazad-dûm, better known as Durin the Deathless, was the eldest of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves, first created by Aulë the Vala. Durin was set to sleep alone beneath the mountains of Middle-earth until after the Elves were born. The name Durin, like other names of Tolkien's Dwarves, was taken from old Norse: this was later explained by the translation fiction: because Westron was translated with English, the language of Dale was translated with Old Norse. The Dwarvish names were in Dalish, which therefore was translated in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with old Norse.
According to the Dwarves Durin awoke during one of the Ages of Stars at Mount Gundabad in the north of the Misty Mountains, which remained a sacred place to them ever after. Upon his awakening, he travelled great lengths to the places where the other Fathers of the Dwarves had awoken, before eventually arriving at the Mirrormere, a lake high up in the Misty Mountains that was thenceforth known to the Dwarves as Kheled-zâram. He founded there what became the greatest of the Dwarf cities: Khazad-dûm: the Dwarrowdelf, later called Moria.
Durin's people were known as the Longbeards or more commonly as Durin's folk.
Durin was called the Deathless because he lived to a far greater age than any other dwarf, and was revered by all Dwarves, not just those of his own line, as was his place of awakening, Mount Gundabad.
Durin was believed to be fated with six future reincarnations, and indeed throughout the course of history, six of his descendants were judged to resemble Durin so closely that they were assumed to be those reincarnations. It is said that all the subsequent Durins had memories of their 'earlier lives', which suggests that this belief had some basis in fact.
[edit] Durin II (? First Age)
Little is recorded about his reign, although there are indications that the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm had an agreement with early Men from the vales of Anduin, where the Men provided food in return for Dwarven weapons, which allowed them to defend themselves effectively against the nearby orcs. This cooperation developed into co-ordinated attacks against the orcs, with the dwarf heavy infantry complemented by mounted archers from the vales.
[edit] Durin III (Mid Second Age)
He was the first bearer of one of the Seven Rings, although this was not known to outsiders until the end of the Third Age. He had been given this ring by Celebrimbor himself, and not by Sauron, though Sauron was involved in the making. Durin III allied his forces with Eregion during the War of the Elves and Sauron, but they were unable to save that realm from destruction, which resulted in a long period of isolation and the beginning of a gradual depopulation in Khazad-dûm.
[edit] Durin IV (? late Second/early Third Age)
He lived in Khazad-dûm, and with the aid of the Ring prospered. Also joined Elendil and Gil-galad in the Last Alliance, although this is often overlooked due to the common reference to this as the "Last Alliance of Elves and Men".
[edit] Durin V (? Early Third Age)
He lived in Khazad-dûm, and with the aid of the Ring prospered.
[edit] Durin VI (Mid Third Age)
Durin VI was King of the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm when their ever-deeper mining for mithril under the city aroused a Balrog from its hiding place in the depths. The creature killed Durin in 1980 T.A., and became known as Durin's Bane. Durin VI was the first reincarnation of Durin the Deathless to be slain. He was succeeded by his son, Náin, who was killed by the Balrog the following year, after which the ancient city was abandoned by its people.
[edit] Durin the VIIth and Last (Early Fourth Age)
Durin VII was the direct descendant—some sources say the son—of king Thorin III Stonehelm, ruler of Erebor and the Iron Hills in Wilderland. His birth was apparently prophesied at the Battle of Five Armies (although no record exists of the actual prophecy itself), and he led Durin's Folk back to recolonize Khazad-dûm "several years" after the beginning of the Fourth Age, where they remained 'until the world grew old and the Dwarves failed and the days of Durin's race were ended' (according to The Peoples of Middle-earth, "The Making of Appendix A (iv): Durin's Folk").
| House of Durin Age of stars-F.A.372 Born: [[{{{3}}}]] |
||
|---|---|---|
| Vacant Title last held by None; Line established |
Kings of Durin's folk | Succeeded by many descendants |
| Preceded by None; Realm established |
King of Khazad-dûm | Succeeded by many descendants |
| Dwarves from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium | |
|
Azaghâl | Balin | Bifur | Bofur | Bombur | Borin | Dáin I | Dáin II Ironfoot | Dís | Dori | Durin(s) | Dwalin | Fíli | Flói | Frerin | Frár | Frór | Fundin | Gamil Zirak | Gimli | Glóin | Gróin | Grór | Ibûn | Khîm | Kíli | Lóni | Mîm | Náin I | Náin II | Náin son of Grór | Náli | Nár | Narvi | Nori | Óin | Ori | Telchar | Thorin I | Thorin II Oakenshield | Thorin III | Thráin I | Thráin II | Thrór |
|
| Kingdoms of the Dwarves | |
| Belegost | Iron Hills | Khazad-dûm | Lonely Mountain | Nogrod | |
