Durin's folk

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 T.A. 2941 after Smaug's death.

Durin I was succeeded by many generations of kings, among whom^[1] 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.^[2] 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.

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-drake 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 II 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 Guldur in T.A. 2850, and was the last holder of the Last Ring of the Dwarves.
• Thorin II Oakenshield 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 Ironfoot (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.^[3]
• Thorin III Stonehelm became king when Dáin was killed in the War of the Ring 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.

Family tree

Durin's Folk

^* Italic: Thorin and his company from The Hobbit

See also

• Fathers of the Dwarves

Notes

References

• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1996), Christopher Tolkien, ed., The Peoples of Middle-earth, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, "Of Dwarves and Men", ISBN 0-395-82760-4 
• The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The Making of Appendix A", '(iv) Durin's Folk'.
• The Return of the King, Appendix A, (III) "Durin's Folk".