Thorin's hall

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This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Thorin's hall
The Lord of the Rings Online - Thorin's Halls.jpg
General information
LocationSouthern Blue Mountains, beyond the Lhûn
People
PopulationDurin's Folk
LanguageWestron, Khuzdul
GovernanceKing of Durin's Folk
History
FoundedT.A. 2802
Followed byLonely Mountain

Thorin's hall[1] was the main western realm of Durin's Folk, led by King Thráin II and later Thorin II Oakenshield.

Location[edit | edit source]

Thorin's hall was located on the east side[2] in the South of the Blue Mountains[3] "beyond" the Lune[2][3]. It is not clear from which point of view beyond the river Lune Thorin's hall was located. From a point of view north of the Gulf of Lune Harlindon lies beyond the Lune and the Blue Mountains continue south of the Gulf of Lune. The people of Thorin had fair halls in the mountains, stores of goods and a forge where Thorin worked with iron on an anvil.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Establishment and Thráin's reign[edit | edit source]

Several years after the Sack of Erebor by the dragon Smaug, the exiled King of Durin's folk Thrór was murdered by Orcs. Thráin II led a host of Dwarves from his and other house in a great war against the Orcs of the Misty Mountains. After that, Thráin's people moved to the hills of Dunland and stayed for some time before moving to the Blue Mountains and established their hall in the year T.A. 2802.

For nearly forty years Thráin ruled his people in the Ered Luin but was driven to obsession by his ring of power. In 2841 he left with a small group of followers to return to the Erebor determined to kill Smaug and take his father's realm back. But in 2845 while encamped on the eves of Mirkwood Thráin was captured by the servants of the Necromancer and taken to Dol Guldur; where he was tortured till his death many years later. His followers including Balin and Dwalin did not know his fate, and after searching for days they returned to the Ered Luin.

Thorin's rule[edit | edit source]

Thorin was made the ruler of Durin's folk, and under his leadership, his people prospered, their trade increased as well as their numbers, not only from birth but wandering Longbeards heard of Thorin's realm and came to him.

Matěj Čadil - Thorin in Blue Mountains

Thorin ruled in the Ered Luin for nearly one hundred years, until he met Gandalf the Wizard who helped him concoct a plan to take back Erebor from Smaug; he left his halls for the last time on a quest to take back his former home. After many months Thorin and Company took the mountain as theirs and Thorin declared himself King under the Mountain after Smaug was killed; but after a great battle with Orcs and Wargs Thorin was mortally wounded and died, never being able to enjoy the realm he gained.

Dissolvement as the Capital[edit | edit source]

After Thorin's death, his cousin Dáin II Ironfoot of the Iron Hills became king of Durin's folk; and when news reached Durin's folk in the Ered Luin that Erebor was retaken, it is believed that most of them moved to the Lonely Mountain. Therefore, Thorin's hall became a sub-realm of Durin's folk.

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

In an abandoned attempt to rewrite The Hobbit in the style of The Lord of the Rings in 1960 before the publication of the second edition of The Lord of the Rings and the third edition of The Hobbit in 1966 the home of Thorin in exile was said to be in the west-side of the Blue Mountains in the southern part in Harlindon.[4]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Thorin's Hall is one of the major cities in the game. Following the death of Thorin, many Longbeards move away and the rule of Thorin's Hall falls to the Dourhands: a group of Blue Mountain Dwarves who are the descendants of the Petty-dwarves. In T.A. 3016 King Dáin sends a company of Longbeards to investigate the Dourhands, which results in the rogue dwarves being thrown out and Dwalin becoming the Steward of Thorin's Hall.
Thorin's Hall is the default location for Dwarf characters to begin their journey in Middle-Earth: the city itself is safe from dangers, but outlying outposts face the threats of wild beasts, remaining Dourhands and occasional Goblins.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Quest of Erebor", "Appendix: Extracts from an earlier version", typescript B
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk", p. 1079
  3. 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age", entry for the year 2799, p. 1088
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "Timelines and Itinerary", "i. Distances and Itinerary", Itinerary, entry 1. April 28.