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

In Dunland, his people tried to make a living, but twenty years after the Sack of Erebor Thrór now old, poor, and desperate, left his people and went north with a single companion, Nár, but not before giving his son Thráin II his Ring of Power, along with the map and key to the Lonely Mountain. He said to Thráin at their parting: "This may prove the foundation of new fortune for you yet, though it seems unlikely. It needs gold to breed gold." "Surely you do not think of returning to Erebor?" Thráin said. "Not at my age," Thrór said. "Our vengeance on Smaug at 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." But he did not say where.

From Dunland where he was then dwelling, he made north with Nár. Eventually they made it over the Redhorn Pass and down into Azanulbizar the Dimrill Dale. When Thrór came to the East-gate of Moria he found it open. Nár begged him 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. One day he heard a loud shout and the blare of a horn, and a body was flung out onto steps. Fearing that it was Thrór, he began to creep near but a voice called out from within the gate: "Come on, beardling! We can see you. But there is no need to be afraid today. We need you as a messenger." Nár approached and found that it was indeed the body of Thrór, but his head was severed and lay face downward. As he knelt there, he heard Orc-laughter from the shadows and the voice said, "If beggars will not wait at my gate but sneak in to try thieving, this is what we 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 now king here, the name is written on his face. I wrote it! I killed him! I am the master!" Then Nár turned over the head and and saw branded across the brow in Dwarvish runes the name AZOG. That name was branded in his heart and the hearts of Dwarves afterwards.

Nár stooped to retrieve the head but the voice of Azog said, "Drop it! Be off! Here is your fee, beggar-beard!" A small pouch struck him, holding a few coins of little worth. Weeping, Nár took the pouch and fled down the Silverlode. When he looked back, he saw that Orcs had emerged from the gate and were hacking Thrór's body into pieces and throwing them to the crows.

Aftermath

When Nár returned to Dunland and brought with him the tale to Thráin, Thráin wept and cursed and tore his beard and he fell silent. For seven days he sat in silence without eating or sleeping. Finally on the seventh day, he stood up and said, "This cannot be borne!" This was the beginning of the War of the Dwarves and Orcs. He sent messengers with tale to every corner of the world to the Seven Houses, calling upon them 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