Thrór

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Thrór
Dwarf
Art by David Wenzel
Family
ParentageDáin I
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Thrór

Thrór (Third Age 2542 – 2790, lived 248 years) was King of Durin's folk for 201 years, from 2589 to 2790. He was the eldest son of Dáin I, and with his younger brother Grór he led his people away from the Grey Mountains after a great Cold-drake killed both his father and brother Frór. Thrór led some of the Dwarves back to Lonely Mountain, where he became King under the Mountain. While Grór continued west with the a great following of Durin's folk to the Iron Hills, where he founded his own realm.

History

King under the Mountain

At Erebor, Thrór and his people were very prosperous. Gaining the friendship of the Northmen who lived along the river Celduin. These people later founded the town of Dale and had much trade of goods, beautiful trinkets, and weapons with the Dwarves. The Ereborians also had much traffic of ores with their kinsman in the Iron Hills. And the region had peace and prosperity for many years.

In 2770 though their prosperity ended. The Dragon Smaug heard of the wealth of Thrór and his people. And he came south from the Ered Mithrin and sacked the Lonely Mountain, killing many Dwarves. But from the destruction many escaped last of them being Thrór and his son Thráin from the hidden Side Door. So with a small company of kin and faithful followers they made the great wandering south, until they reached the hills of Dunland.

On a Midyear's Day, Thrór created his map of the Desolation. With runes he wrote information about entering Erebor from a secret way. He used Moon-letters for this.

Dunland, and the journey to Moria

Why Thrór and his people chose to settle in Dunland is not clear, but they tried to make a living. However twenty years after the Sack of Erebor despondent and homeless, Thrór now old and desperate, gave to his son Thráin II his Ring of Power, along with the map and key to the Lonely Mountain. "It takes gold to breed gold," He said to Thráin at their parting. "Surely you are not thinking of returning to Erebor?" Thráin said. "Not at my age," Thrór said to him. "Our vengeance on Smaug I bequeath upon you and your sons. But I am tired of poverty and the scorn of Men. I go to see what I can find." He did not say where.

Thrór left his people and went north with a single companion, an old friend Nár. Eventally they made it over the Redhorn Pass down into Azanulbizar the Dimrill Dale. And when they came to the East-gate of Moria they found it open. Nár begged Thrór to beware, but he took no heed of him, and walked through the gates as the heir who had returned. But he did not come back.

Death

Nár stayed nearby for many days in hiding until one day he heard a great shout, followed by the blast of a horn, and a body was flung out of the gate and onto the steps.

Fearing that it was Thrór, Nár crept near. He heard the sound of Orc laughter from the shadows of the gate and then a voice called out, "Come here, beardling! We can see you. But there is no need to be afraid today. We need you as a messenger." Nár found that it was indeed the body of Thrór. His head had been severed and it lay face downward.

As he knelt there, the voice called out from the gate, "If beggars will not wait at my gates but instead sneak in to try thieving, this is what we will do to them. If any of your people poke their foul beards in here again, they will fare the same. Go and tell them so. But if his family wishes to know who is king here, tell them I am king here! I killed him!" Nár turned Thrór's head upright and saw branded across his brow in Dwarvish runes the name AZOG.

"Drop it!" The voice commanded when Nár moved to retrieve the head. "Here is your fee, beggar-beard! Now be off!" Nár was struck with a small pouch of coins of little worth. Weeping, he took the pouch and fled down the Silverlode. He looked back and saw that Orcs had emerged from the Gate and were hacking Thrór's body into pieces and flinging them to the crows.

Aftermath

When Nár returned to Dunland with the tale, Thráin wept and cursed and tore his beard and then fell silence. For seven days he sat in silence with little food or drink. Finally on the seventh day, he stood up and said, "This cannot be borne!" He declared war on the Orcs and sent word to the corners of the world, calling on all the Seven Houses together for vengeance. Nine years later at the Battle of Azanulbizar, the climax of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs the Thrór was avenged, and Thráin took the Azog's severed head and shoved the purse of coins into his mouth then set it on a stake.

Genealogy

           Dáin I
             |          
     ________|________      
    |        |        |
    |        |        |
  THRÓR     Frór     Grór
    |                 |
    |                 |
Thráin II            Náin

Portrayal in Adaptations

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

A statue of Thrór stands in the great hall of Erebor

References

Preceded by:
Dáin I
King of Durin's Folk
Third Age 25892790
Followed by:
Thráin II
Preceded by:
Thorin I, 350 years earlier
3rd King under the Mountain
Third Age 25892790
Followed by:
Abandoned for 170 years
until Thorin II Oakenshield