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[[Image:Longbeard king.jpg|thumb|A king of the Longbeards, portrayed by Warren Mahy]]
[[Image:Longbeard king.jpg|thumb|A king of the Longbeards, portrayed by Warren Mahy]]
'''Durin's Folk''', also called ''[[Sigin-tarâg]]'', the '''Longbeards''' were, by rights, the inhabitants of [[Khazad-dûm]]. Their first King was [[Durin I|Durin]] the Deathless.


Durin's Folk were joined in [[Second Age]] by the [[Firebeards]] and [[Broadbeams]] from the [[Ered Luin]], after the [[War of Wrath]] destroyed and ruined their homes.
'''Durin's Folk''' were the '''Longbeards''' (''[[Sigin-tarâg]]'' in [[Khuzdul]]), one of the seven kindreds of [[Dwarves]] whose leaders were from the [[House of Durin]].  Their first king was named [[Durin I|Durin]], who was one of the seven [[Fathers of the Dwarves]].<ref name="Durin">{{App|Durin}}</ref>


The Dwarves of Durin's Folk were ruled by six kings named Durin, all fathers and sons, until [[Durin VI]], who was killed by ''[[Durin's Bane]]'' in 1980 of the [[Third Age]]. After his death, a king named Durin did not return to the [[Dwarves]] for many years. In the [[Fourth Age]], a [[Durin VII]] appeared, being either the son or grandson of [[Thorin Stonehelm|Thorin III]]. He therefore would have  been a direct descendant of Durin the Deathless. Durin VII was also known as Durin the Last.
==History==
==History==
The Dwarves did not participate in any important event of history. However their friendship with the Elves perhaps became more close than ever; the Dwarves of [[Moria]] maintained close connections to the [[Gwaith-i-Mírdain]] of [[Eregion]]; the [[Doors of Durin]] of Moria were built to facilitate the communication between the two people, and was constructed jointly by both races.
===The [[First Age]]===
In the deeps of time the Fathers of the Dwarves awoke.  Durin, who had slept alone at Mount [[Gundabad]],<ref name="Dwarves">{{PM|Dwarves}}</ref> wandered until he came upon [[Azanulbizar]] and in the caves above [[Kheled-zâram]] he founded the Dwarf-realm of [[Khazad-dûm]], the home of Durin's Folk.  Durin lived there so long he became known as Durin the Deathless, yet in the end he died before the end of the [[First Age]].<ref name="Durin"/>


When Eregion was sacked by [[Sauron]]'s forces, the Dwarves assailed them from behind; however it was too late to stop him from conquering all [[Eriador]].
When [[Men]] first migrated west into [[Rhovanion]] and [[Eriador]] they encountered Durin's Folk.  The Longbeards were the wisest and most farseeing of the seven kindreds and began dealing with Men, establishing an economy in which Men chiefly provided food in exchange for Dwarven work in building, roadmaking, mining, and the crafting of tools and weapons.  During this period the Dwarves adopted the speech of Men, keeping their own language to themselves.<ref name="Dwarves"/>
===The [[Second Age]]===
At the end of the First Age during the [[War of Wrath]] and the breaking of [[Thangorodrim]] the ancient cities of [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]] in the [[Blue Mountains]] had been ruined.  About the year {{SA|40|n}},<ref name="SA">{{App|SA}}</ref> many Dwarves, with their craft and lore, left the destruction behind and came to Khazad-dûm, greatly increasing its wealth and power.<ref name="Durin"/>


In [[Third Age 1980]], a [[Durin's Bane|Balrog]] awoke in the deeps of of the Misty Mountains and killed King [[Durin VI]].  The next year, his son [[Náin I]] was killed, and the Dwarves fled Khazad-dum, which from then on was called ''Moria'', which means "Black pit".
In {{SA|750|n}}, the [[Noldor]] established a new realm in [[Eregion]].  Being nigh to Khazad-dûm they established a friendship with Durin's Folk unsurpassed before or since between [[Elves]] and [[Dwarves]].  Although both peoples were enriched, eventually the Elves succumbed to the seduction of [[Sauron]] and forged the [[Rings of Power]] (the forging of these Rings began about {{SA|1500|n}} and one was given to [[Durin III]] in Khazad-dûm<ref name="Durin"/>).  In {{SA|1693|n}} the [[War of the Elves and Sauron]] began. By {{SA|1697|n}} Eregion had been destroyed and the gates of Khazad-dûm were shut.<ref name="SA"/>
 
Most of Durin's folk left for the [[Grey Mountains]] in the North, while some followed the new king, [[Thráin I]], who went to [[Erebor]] on the eaves of Mirkwood in [[Third Age 1999]] and started his kingdom there.  For a little over two hundred years the Dwarves that followed the king lived in [[Erebor]], mining for gold and jewels and finding the most precious of jewels, the [[Arkenstone]].  When Thráin died in [[Third Age 2190]], his son [[Thorin I]] became [[King under the Mountain]]. In [[Third Age 2210]], when he heard that his kinsmen were gathering in the mountains to the North, and how rich and unexplored they were, he left Erebor for the [[Ered Mithrin]].


For more than 300 years the [[Dwarves of the Grey Mountains]] prospered.  After many years, however, the Dragons in the far North started to gain strength; their population grew, and they made war against the Dwarves, plundering and destroying their works.  At last, in [[Third Age 2589]], King [[Dáin I]], along with his second oldest son [[Frór]], was killed at the gates of his halls by a great [[Cold-drakes|Cold-drake]].
During the Dark Years of Sauron's dominion Durin's Folk remained enclosed in Khazad-dûm, which was unassailable from without.  Its wealth remained unravished but its people began to dwindle.<ref name="SA"/>


Once again the Dwarves were exiled from their homes.  Most of the Dwarves left the Ered Mithrin.  Some followed Dáin's youngest son [[Grór]] to the [[Iron Hills]], while most one being the king's brother [[Borin]] followed the the new king [[Thrór]] to Erebor again to start a new [[Kingdom under the Mountain]].
In the [[Battle of Dagorlad]] in {{SA|3434|n}} some Dwarves fought on the side of Sauron, but all of Durin's Folk fought against him.<ref>{{S|Rings}}</ref>
===The [[Third Age]]===
During the reign of [[Durin VI]] the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm delved deeper and deeper for ''[[mithril]]'', which had become ever harder to mine.  They roused from sleep a hidden [[Balrog]] that had fled from the coming of the [[Host of the West]].  In {{TA|1980|n}} [[Durin VI]] was slain by it and in {{TA|1981|n}} his son [[Náin I]] was killed and all the people of Khazad-dûm were either destroyed or fled far away.<ref name="Durin"/>


For over 200 years Durin's folk prospered, having friendship with Men who dwelt near; the [[Men of Dale]] were able to drive away all enemies from the East, until the dragon [[Smaug]] descended upon Erebor in [[Third Age 2770]]; not long after the kingdom was destroyed and Smaug made for himself a bed of gold in the Great Hall. Many of of the Dwarves escaped the sacking, last of all King Thrór with his son [[Thráin II]] from a secret passage.  The King decided to wander South  along with a small company of family and followers, while most of the survivors went to the Iron Hills.
Most of Durin's Folk escaped to the north where in {{TA|1999|n}}<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> [[Thráin I]] established a new realm within [[Erebor]], becoming [[King under the Mountain]].  His son [[Thorin I]] left Erebor in {{TA|2210|n}}<ref name="TA"/> and travelled further north to settle in the [[Grey Mountains]] where most of Durin's Folk had gone.  For a time they prospered there for the mountains were rich.<ref name="Durin"/>


Eventually Durin's folk settled in [[Dunland]], and in [[Third Age 2790]] King Thrór gave to his son the Last of the Seven Rings of the Dwarves, and departed with his old friend [[Nár (companion of Thrór)|Nár]]; they travelled North over the [[Redhorn Pass]] to the [[East-gate]] of Moria, where he entered proudly into the ancient kingdom, demanding to return it. But he was met by the [[Goblin]]s of Moria, and their king [[Azog]] cut his head, calling him a beggar. The head of the dwarven king was given to [[Nár (companion of Thrór)|Nár]] (who hid before the Gate few days and waited), and on it was written "AZOG". Nár returned to Thráin and tell him everything. Enraged, Thráin, now the King of Dwarves, called to all the Houses of Dwarves to war, to avenge his father. Thus began the [[War of Dwarves and Orcs]], in which the Dwarves destroyed all the Goblin strongholds in the [[Misty Mountains]] one by one, until they came to the [[East-gate]] of Moria, where the great [[Battle of Azanulbizar]] was fought. In this battle all the dwarven clans united, but the Goblins were still slowly winning, until at last help came - [[Náin (son of Grór)|Náin]] son of [[Grór]] came with fresh Dwarven forces from the [[Iron Hills]]. The Battle ended with the victory of Dwarves, but at great cost. Náin was slain by Azog, but his son [[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin]] avenged him by killing Azog. Thráin wanted to enter Khazad-dûm, but the other Dwarven clans would not, and Dáin also warned him of the Balrog of Moria that he felt when he came close to the Gate.
Unfortunately there were [[Dragons|dragons]] in the wastes north of the Grey Mountains.  In {{TA|2570|n}} they began afflicting the Dwarves and in {{TA|2589|n}} [[Dáin I]]<ref name="TA"/> and his second son [[Frór]] were killed by a great [[Cold-drake|cold-drake]].<ref name="Durin"/>  Soon the Grey Mountains were abandoned by Durin's Folk with [[Grór]], Dáin's third son, leading many followers to the [[Iron Hills]] in {{TA|2590|n}}.<ref name="TA"/>


Then Thráin came to the Blue Mountains and established his realm there, doing everything to increase its wealth, power and numbers. But in him still was rage - now that he had his revenge on the Goblins, he now was eager of the [[Lonely Mountain]] and its wealth, and also to revenge [[Smaug]]. Soon after, he left the Blue Mountains to his son [[Thorin Oakenshield|Thorin]], and started traveling to [[Erebor]] with a group of Dwarves. His company returned, but he did not. He was taken by the [[Necromancer]] to [[Dol Guldur]], and there he was long held in the dark dungeons. [[Gandalf]] met him, and Thráin, although not able to even remember his name, gave him a [[Thrór's Map|map]] and key of Erebor before his death.
In the same year, Dáin's first son and heir, [[Thrór]], with his uncle [[Borin]] and the remainder of Durin's Folk, returned to Erebor. There they prospered, winning the friendship of all Men nearby, and trafficking in ore with their kin in the Iron Hills.<ref name="Durin"/>  News of the wealth of Erebor spread and reached the ears of the dragons, and in {{TA|2770|n}} [[Smaug]] suddenly descended upon the Mountain.<ref name="TA"/>  Although many were killed, many others of Thrór's kin escaped.  Those with Thrór headed south into long homeless wandering while more of Durin's Folk headed east and joined those in the Iron Hills.<ref name="Durin"/>


Thorin became the King of Dwarves, and ruled in the Blue Mountains for some time. But soon he, by chance of destiny, met [[Gandalf]] at [[Bree]]. There Gandalf told him about his father Thráin, and Thorin decided to make a quest to Erebor. He gathered around him [[Thorin and Company|twelve dwarves]], mostly from his own line, and he was joined by [[Gandalf]] and [[Bilbo Baggins]]. The [[Quest of Erebor]] ended with the death of [[Smaug]] at the hands of [[Bard the Bowman]]. With the hoard unguarded, Thorin claimed it fully. The [[Elves of Mirkwood]] and [[Men of Dale]] demanded part of the treasures, which Thorin refused. Then he asked help from his cousin [[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin]] from the [[Iron Hills]], and he came with five hundred Dwarven warriors. The Dwarves united with the Elves and Men when the Goblins came, and fought the [[Battle of Five Armies]]. With the death of Thorin and his sister-sons [[Fíli]] and [[Kíli]], the kingship under the Mountain passed to Dáin.
The followers of Thrór had settled in [[Dunland]]<ref name="Durin"/> when in {{TA|2790|n}} Thrór left "to see what I can find."<ref name="TA"/>  With a companion, [[Nár]], he came to the gate of Khazad-dûm and entered as a returning heir. For days Nár waited in hiding until Thrór’s body was tossed from the gates by the Orc-leader [[Azog]], who told Nár to go warn all other Dwarves not to come. Nár reported the evil news to [[Thráin II|Thráin]], Thrór's son. Now King, Thráin II sent messengers bearing the tale to all other Dwarves.<ref name="Durin"/>


Some time during the Fourth Age, Durin VII re-established the kingdom of Khazad-dûm.
By {{TA|2793|n}} the Dwarves had mustered and the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]] began.<ref name="TA"/>  Durin's Folk gathered all their host and were joined by large forces of the other Houses of the Dwarves. From Gundabad to the [[Gladden]] battles were fought that the Dwarves won through greater strength, matchless weapons, and burning anger.<ref name="Durin"/>


Durin's Folk also seemed to have a small remnant of its people in the Grey Mountains after the main population left.
At last on a dark wintery day in {{TA|2799|n}} the Dwarf-host came to Azanulbizar<ref name="TA"/> and found a great host of [[Orcs]] awaiting them.  Undeterred, the Dwarves, led by Thráin II, made an assault and thus began the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]].  This battle too, the Dwarves won, but at fearsome cost.  In the end Azog was beheaded and Thrór was avenged, but the Dwarves could not take Khazad-dûm, for within still dwelt [[Durin's Bane]].


==Line of Durin's Folk==
Post-battle, the Dwarves dispersed. [[Dáin Ironfoot]] let his contingent of Durin's Folk back to the Iron Hills. Thráin II, with [[Thorin Oakenshield]], [[Balin]], [[Glóin]], and others of their following returned to Dunland. Soon though they uprooted and wandered in Eriador until they established themselves in the [[Ered Luin]] beyond the [[Lhûn|Lune]]. There they prospered and their numbers slowly grew.<ref name="Durin"/>
*[[Durin I]] (The Deathless), father of Dwarves. Founder and first King of [[Khazad-dûm]].
 
*[[Durin II]] Durin Reincarnated.
Thráin II decided to return to Erebor in {{TA|2841|n}} but as he travelled, he and his companions were pursued by Sauron's servants.  One day in {{TA|2845|n}} Thráin was captured and imprisoned in [[Dol Guldur]].  Eventually, in {{TA|2850|n}}, [[Gandalf]] found him and received the key to Erebor, but the last of the [[Seven Rings]] had been taken and Gandalf was unable to rescue Thráin.<ref name="TA"/>
*[[Durin III]] started a friendship with the Elves of [[Eregion]] during his reign, and was the first to receive one of the [[Seven Dwarf-rings]].  
 
*[[Durin IV]] Lead a host of Dwarves from Khazad-dûm in the [[War of the Last Alliance]]
Thorin Oakenshield and his followers among Durin's Folk continued to labour and traffic in the Ered Luin until one day Thorin sought and found Gandalf to solicit his counsel and aid in dealing with Smaug.  Gandalf devised a plan for burglary, employing the service of [[Bilbo Baggins]] of [[the Shire]]. The plan succeeded and Smaug was slain, but in the subsequent [[Battle of Five Armies]] Thorin died.  However, his cousin Dáin Ironfoot, who had fought in the battle with those of Durin's Folk from the Iron Hills, entered Erebor and restored the Kingdom under the Mountain as King Dáin II.<ref name="Durin"/>
*[[Durin V]]  Durin reincarnated.
 
*Durin VI son of [[Durin V]]. He was killed by Durin's Bane in {{TA|1980}}
Durin's Folk grew strong in Erebor until during the [[War of the Ring]] their realm and that of the [[Kingdom of Dale]] were invaded by Sauron's northern army. In the [[Battle of Dale]] in {{TA|3019|n}} King Dáin II fell and thereafter the Mountain was besieged.  Upon the news of Sauron's downfall, however, the besieged routed the army of Sauron and Dáin's son, [[Thorin Stonehelm]] became the King under the Mountain as Thorin III.<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref>  Eventually his descendant, [[Durin VII]], would lead Durin's Folk back to Khazad-dûm .<ref>{{PM|Aiv}}</ref>
*[[Náin I]] son of Durin VI. Last King of Khazad-dûm, he was killed by Durin's Bane in 1981 T.A.
 
*Thráin I son of Náin I. Founded [[Erebor]] in {{TA|1999}}
Also after the fall of Sauron, [[Gimli]], the son of Glóin, brought some of Durin's Folk from Erebor south to Aglarond and there established a new Dwarf-realm. Gimli served as the Lord of the [[Glittering Caves]].<ref name="Durin"/>
*[[Thorin I]] son of Thráin I. He left Erebor for the [[Ered Mithrin]]
*[[Glóin (Son of Thorin I)|Glóin]] son of Thorin I
*[[Óin (Son of Glóin)|Óin]] son of Glóin
*[[Náin II]] son of Óin
*[[Dáin I]] son of Náin II. The last King to rule the [[Dwarves of the Grey Mountains]], he was killed by a great [[Cold-drakes | Cold-drake]] in {{TA|2589}}
*[[Thrór]] son of Dáin I. Returned to Erebor as ''King in Exile'', and later tried to reclaim Moria. He was killed by [[Azog]] the Orc in {{TA|2790}} (Beginning of the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]])
*[[Thráin II]] son of Thrór. Made his kingdom in the northern range of the Ered Luin. He tried to go claim Erebor once again, but was captured by Orcs and taken to the dungeons of [[Dol Guldur]] in {{TA|2850}}, and was the last bearer of [[Seven Dwarf-rings | Durin's ring]].
*[[Thorin Oakenshield]] son of Thrain II. He was the king of '''Durin's Folk''' in the Blue Mountains, until he refounded Erebor, but was killed in the [[Battle of Five Armies]] in {{TA|2941}}. He is the only known Longbeard King to die childless.
----
*[[Dáin Ironfoot|Dáin II]] Ironfoot (grandson of [[Grór]]), who was killed in the [[War of the Ring]] in {{TA|3019}}  
*[[Thorin Stonehelm|Thorin III Stonehelm]] Dáin's son became king and had either a son or grandson who became...
*[[Durin VII]], who refounded Khazad-dûm in the Fourth Age


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
Historically "Longbeards" is the supposed original name of the [[Wikipedia:Lombards|Lombards]], but other than the name, there is no other significant similarities between the Lombards and the Durin's Folk.
Historically "Longbeards" is the supposed original name of the [[Wikipedia:Lombards|Lombards]], but other than the name, there is no other significant similarities between the Lombards and the Durin's Folk.
 
{{References}}
{{dwarvenclans}}
{{dwarvenclans}}
[[Category:Dwarves]]
[[Category:Dwarves]]

Revision as of 00:49, 18 July 2011

File:Longbeard king.jpg
A king of the Longbeards, portrayed by Warren Mahy

Durin's Folk were the Longbeards (Sigin-tarâg in Khuzdul), one of the seven kindreds of Dwarves whose leaders were from the House of Durin. Their first king was named Durin, who was one of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves.[1]

History

The First Age

In the deeps of time the Fathers of the Dwarves awoke. Durin, who had slept alone at Mount Gundabad,[2] wandered until he came upon Azanulbizar and in the caves above Kheled-zâram he founded the Dwarf-realm of Khazad-dûm, the home of Durin's Folk. Durin lived there so long he became known as Durin the Deathless, yet in the end he died before the end of the First Age.[1]

When Men first migrated west into Rhovanion and Eriador they encountered Durin's Folk. The Longbeards were the wisest and most farseeing of the seven kindreds and began dealing with Men, establishing an economy in which Men chiefly provided food in exchange for Dwarven work in building, roadmaking, mining, and the crafting of tools and weapons. During this period the Dwarves adopted the speech of Men, keeping their own language to themselves.[2]

The Second Age

At the end of the First Age during the War of Wrath and the breaking of Thangorodrim the ancient cities of Nogrod and Belegost in the Blue Mountains had been ruined. About the year 40,[3] many Dwarves, with their craft and lore, left the destruction behind and came to Khazad-dûm, greatly increasing its wealth and power.[1]

In 750, the Noldor established a new realm in Eregion. Being nigh to Khazad-dûm they established a friendship with Durin's Folk unsurpassed before or since between Elves and Dwarves. Although both peoples were enriched, eventually the Elves succumbed to the seduction of Sauron and forged the Rings of Power (the forging of these Rings began about 1500 and one was given to Durin III in Khazad-dûm[1]). In 1693 the War of the Elves and Sauron began. By 1697 Eregion had been destroyed and the gates of Khazad-dûm were shut.[3]

During the Dark Years of Sauron's dominion Durin's Folk remained enclosed in Khazad-dûm, which was unassailable from without. Its wealth remained unravished but its people began to dwindle.[3]

In the Battle of Dagorlad in 3434 some Dwarves fought on the side of Sauron, but all of Durin's Folk fought against him.[4]

The Third Age

During the reign of Durin VI the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm delved deeper and deeper for mithril, which had become ever harder to mine. They roused from sleep a hidden Balrog that had fled from the coming of the Host of the West. In 1980 Durin VI was slain by it and in 1981 his son Náin I was killed and all the people of Khazad-dûm were either destroyed or fled far away.[1]

Most of Durin's Folk escaped to the north where in 1999[5] Thráin I established a new realm within Erebor, becoming King under the Mountain. His son Thorin I left Erebor in 2210[5] and travelled further north to settle in the Grey Mountains where most of Durin's Folk had gone. For a time they prospered there for the mountains were rich.[1]

Unfortunately there were dragons in the wastes north of the Grey Mountains. In 2570 they began afflicting the Dwarves and in 2589 Dáin I[5] and his second son Frór were killed by a great cold-drake.[1] Soon the Grey Mountains were abandoned by Durin's Folk with Grór, Dáin's third son, leading many followers to the Iron Hills in 2590.[5]

In the same year, Dáin's first son and heir, Thrór, with his uncle Borin and the remainder of Durin's Folk, returned to Erebor. There they prospered, winning the friendship of all Men nearby, and trafficking in ore with their kin in the Iron Hills.[1] News of the wealth of Erebor spread and reached the ears of the dragons, and in 2770 Smaug suddenly descended upon the Mountain.[5] Although many were killed, many others of Thrór's kin escaped. Those with Thrór headed south into long homeless wandering while more of Durin's Folk headed east and joined those in the Iron Hills.[1]

The followers of Thrór had settled in Dunland[1] when in 2790 Thrór left "to see what I can find."[5] With a companion, Nár, he came to the gate of Khazad-dûm and entered as a returning heir. For days Nár waited in hiding until Thrór’s body was tossed from the gates by the Orc-leader Azog, who told Nár to go warn all other Dwarves not to come. Nár reported the evil news to Thráin, Thrór's son. Now King, Thráin II sent messengers bearing the tale to all other Dwarves.[1]

By 2793 the Dwarves had mustered and the War of the Dwarves and Orcs began.[5] Durin's Folk gathered all their host and were joined by large forces of the other Houses of the Dwarves. From Gundabad to the Gladden battles were fought that the Dwarves won through greater strength, matchless weapons, and burning anger.[1]

At last on a dark wintery day in 2799 the Dwarf-host came to Azanulbizar[5] and found a great host of Orcs awaiting them. Undeterred, the Dwarves, led by Thráin II, made an assault and thus began the Battle of Azanulbizar. This battle too, the Dwarves won, but at fearsome cost. In the end Azog was beheaded and Thrór was avenged, but the Dwarves could not take Khazad-dûm, for within still dwelt Durin's Bane.

Post-battle, the Dwarves dispersed. Dáin Ironfoot let his contingent of Durin's Folk back to the Iron Hills. Thráin II, with Thorin Oakenshield, Balin, Glóin, and others of their following returned to Dunland. Soon though they uprooted and wandered in Eriador until they established themselves in the Ered Luin beyond the Lune. There they prospered and their numbers slowly grew.[1]

Thráin II decided to return to Erebor in 2841 but as he travelled, he and his companions were pursued by Sauron's servants. One day in 2845 Thráin was captured and imprisoned in Dol Guldur. Eventually, in 2850, Gandalf found him and received the key to Erebor, but the last of the Seven Rings had been taken and Gandalf was unable to rescue Thráin.[5]

Thorin Oakenshield and his followers among Durin's Folk continued to labour and traffic in the Ered Luin until one day Thorin sought and found Gandalf to solicit his counsel and aid in dealing with Smaug. Gandalf devised a plan for burglary, employing the service of Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. The plan succeeded and Smaug was slain, but in the subsequent Battle of Five Armies Thorin died. However, his cousin Dáin Ironfoot, who had fought in the battle with those of Durin's Folk from the Iron Hills, entered Erebor and restored the Kingdom under the Mountain as King Dáin II.[1]

Durin's Folk grew strong in Erebor until during the War of the Ring their realm and that of the Kingdom of Dale were invaded by Sauron's northern army. In the Battle of Dale in 3019 King Dáin II fell and thereafter the Mountain was besieged. Upon the news of Sauron's downfall, however, the besieged routed the army of Sauron and Dáin's son, Thorin Stonehelm became the King under the Mountain as Thorin III.[6] Eventually his descendant, Durin VII, would lead Durin's Folk back to Khazad-dûm .[7]

Also after the fall of Sauron, Gimli, the son of Glóin, brought some of Durin's Folk from Erebor south to Aglarond and there established a new Dwarf-realm. Gimli served as the Lord of the Glittering Caves.[1]

Inspiration

Historically "Longbeards" is the supposed original name of the Lombards, but other than the name, there is no other significant similarities between the Lombards and the Durin's Folk.

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "Of Dwarves and Men"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Great Years"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "IX. The Making of Appendix A": (iv) "Durin's Folk"
Dwarven Clans
Longbeards · Firebeards · Broadbeams · Ironfists · Stiffbeards · Blacklocks · Stonefoots · (Petty-dwarves)
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