Durin III

From Tolkien Gateway
The name Durin refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Durin (disambiguation).
Durin III
Dwarf
Ahmet Can Kahraman - Durin III.jpg
"Durin III" by Ahmet Can Kahraman
Biographical Information
TitlesKing of Durin's Folk
King of Khazad-dûm
LocationKhazad-dûm
AffiliationAlliance of Dwarves and Men[1]
LanguageKhuzdul, Sindarin
BirthBefore c. S.A. 1500 - c. 1590[2]
DeathAfter S.A. 1697[3] (aged 107+)
Notable forGifted the Ring of Durin
Family
HouseHouse of Durin
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Durin III

Durin III (fl. S.A. 1600s) was the King of Durin's folk who ruled the great Dwarf-city of Khazad-dûm at the time of Sauron's assault on Eregion.

History[edit | edit source]

Like all Durins after Durin I, he was given the name of the first Father of the Dwarves because he greatly resembled him in both appearance and manner. Indeed it was believed among the Dwarves that he was the reincarnation of Durin I, though whether this is possible is unclear.[2]

During his reign in the 16th century of the Second Age, the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm had struck a rare friendship with the Elves of Eregion. Around S.A. 1500, the Elves, guided by Annatar, began forging the Rings of Power.[4] According to the Dwarves, Celebrimbor and the Elven-smiths gave Durin the first of the Seven Rings of the Dwarves (other traditions state that Celebrimbor was said to have yielded the Seven - all the Seven - to Sauron after torture and it was Sauron who gifted the ring to Durin).[2]

Their instructor in crafting the Rings, the wise Annatar, was actually Sauron who had come to corrupt the Elves through the Rings of Power. By S.A. 1697, seeing that he could not control either the Elves nor the Dwarves through the Rings, he led a large army towards Eregion. In response, Durin sent a great force of Dwarves to the aid of Celebrimbor, but with the fall of Eregion, his warriors were driven back and the Doors of Durin were shut. Their actions were not in vain for it was by the aid of Durin that Elrond was able to escape and establish the refuge of Imladris in the North.[3]

Sauron's assault on Eregion was only the beginning of his campaign of conquest. His servants also invaded Gundabad and the Ered Mithrin, cutting off communications between Durin III and the Iron Hills. Consequently, the Alliance of Dwarves and Men came to an end during his reign.[1] Although Eregion was conquered, Durin III's people were too numerous and valiant, and his halls too deep and strong, to be taken by Sauron.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

One account states that the name Durin was a word for "king" in the language of the Men of the North in the early Second Age.[1]

Another account states that Durinn is one of the Dwarfs in the Dvergatal. The name means "Sleepy".[5]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

Durin I
fl. First Age
 
 
 
 
 
 
Durin II
fl. late F.A./early S.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
DURIN III
fl. S.A. 1600s
 
 
 
 
 
 
Durin IV
fl. late S.A./early T.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Durin V
fl. late S.A./early T.A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Durin VI
T.A. 1731 - 1980
 


Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Durin III in adaptations

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

In the prologue, Durin III appears with the other six Lords receiving their Rings. He is only identified as Durin on a Decipher Card.

2021: The Lord of the Rings Online: Fate of Gundabad:

Durin III briefly appears in a flashback in the Second-age, sealing the West-gate following the Sack of Eregion. He also was noted to have convened the Fourth Dwarrowmoot of the Seven Houses at Mount Gundabad. The name of his Ring of Power is given as Angya, or Handórm in the dwarven tongue.

2022: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power:

King Durin III appears in Amazon's series, portrayed by Peter Mullan. He is depicted as the king of Khazad-dûm and father to Prince Durin IV. He first appears on it's series second episode at Khazad-dûm where he Elrond, who has traveled there, and speaks with him.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "X. Of Dwarves and Men", "Relations of the Longbeard Dwarves and Men"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Second Age"
  5. Chester Nathan Gould, "Dwarf-Names: A Study in Old Icelandic Religion", published in Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, Vol 44 (1929), issue #4, pp. 939-967
Durin III
House of Durin
Unknown
Last known:
Durin II
King of Durin's Folk
Mid-Second Age
Unknown
Next known:
Durin IV
King of Khazad-dûm
Mid-Second Age


Kings of Durin's Folk
Durin I* (Y.T.) · Durin II* · Durin III* (fl. S.A. 1600) · Durin IV* · Durin V* · Durin VI* (until T.A. 1980) · Náin I* (1980 - 1981) · Thráin I (1981 - 2190) · Thorin I (2190 - 2289) · Glóin (2289 - 2385) · Óin (2385 - 2488) · Náin II (2488 - 2585) · Dáin I (2585 - 2589) · Thrór (2585 - 2790) · Thráin II (2790 - captured 2845, d. 2850) · Thorin II Oakenshield (after 2845 - 2941) · Dáin II Ironfoot (2941 - 3019) · Thorin III Stonehelm (T.A. 3019 - Fourth Age) · Durin VII (Fourth Age)*
* Kings of Khazad-dûm · Kings under the Mountain