Dáin Ironfoot: Difference between revisions

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{{disambig-two|the successor of [[Thorin|Thorin II Oakenshield]]|earlier King of Durin's Folk|[[Dáin I]]}}
{{disambig-two|the successor of [[Thorin|Thorin II Oakenshield]]|earlier King of Durin's Folk|[[Dáin I]]}}
{{dwarves infobox
{{dwarves infobox
| image=[[File:Decipher - Dáin Ironfoot.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:Turner Mohan - Dain.jpg|250px]]
| name=Dáin Ironfoot
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'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:Dáin Ironfoot will be played by [[Billy Connolly]].<ref name="BBCCasting1">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16960081|articlename=Billy Connolly lands dwarf role in The Hobbit|dated=9-Feb-2012|website=BBC|accessed=9-Feb-2012}}</ref
:Dáin Ironfoot will be played by [[Billy Connolly]].<ref name="BBCCasting1">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16960081|articlename=Billy Connolly lands dwarf role in The Hobbit|dated=9-Feb-2012|website=BBC|accessed=9-Feb-2012}}</ref>


===Radio series===>
===Radio series===
'''1968: [[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1968 radio series)]]:'''
'''1968: [[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|''The Hobbit'' (1968 radio series)]]:'''
:Dáin's voice is provided by [[Brian Haines]].<ref>Radio Times, Volume 181, No. 2349, [[14 November|November 14]], [[1968]]</ref>
:Dáin's voice is provided by [[Brian Haines]].<ref>Radio Times, Volume 181, No. 2349, [[14 November|November 14]], [[1968]]</ref>

Revision as of 16:39, 17 August 2014

This article is about the successor of Thorin II Oakenshield. For the earlier King of Durin's Folk, see Dáin I.
Dáin Ironfoot
Dwarf
Turner Mohan - Dain.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesDáin II
TitlesLord of the Iron Hills
King of Durin's Folk
King under the Mountain
LocationIron Hills
Lonely Mountain
LanguageKhuzdul and Westron
BirthT.A. 2767
Iron Hills
RuleT.A. 2805-2941 (Lord)
T.A. 2941-3019 (King)
Death17 March T.A. 3019 (aged 252)
Battle of Dale
Family
HouseDurin's line
ParentageNáin
ChildrenThorin Stonehelm
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Dáin Ironfoot

Dáin II or Dáin Ironfoot (Third Age 2767 – 3019, aged 252 years) was the Lord of the Iron Hills and King under the Mountain. In his life, he fought in the Battle of Azanulbizar, the Battle of Five Armies and the Battle of Dale. He was renowned as a warrior across Middle-earth.[1]

History

Early Life

Dáin was born in T.A. 2767 in the Iron Hills, the son of Náin, during the reign of his grandfather Grór.[2]

War of the Dwarves and Orcs

Liz Danforth - Dáin and Azog

After the murder of Thrór by Azog in T.A. 2790, his son Thráin II swore revenge. He summoned all available Dwarves, and sacked every Orc stronghold in the Misty Mountains, battling his way to Moria. There, the Battle of Azanulbizar raged before the gate of the ancient Dwarf stronghold.

Náin and his son Dáin arrived late in the battle, but proved pivotal. Fresh and well equipped, they drove through the Orc forces, until at last Náin confronted Azog. But Náin was weary and filled with anger, and Azog strong and agile. He darted from the dwarf's blows, and when the warrior stumbled, Azog hewed and broke his neck. However, all across the valley, his troops were in retreat. He tried to escape back inside, but he was followed by Dáin who with his red axe, hewed off his head before the doors of the East-Gate. He was a very young Dwarf at thirty-two at the time, and it was heralded as a magnificent feat.

After the battle King Thráin II wanted to enter Moria as his own. But Dáin dissuaded him, because he alone looked past the gate into Moria, and had the wisdom to know that it was impossible for Durin's folk to return at that time because of Durin's Bane.[2]

Lord of the Iron Hills

Dáin returned to the Halls of Grór with his people, and with his father dead, became Lord of the Iron Hills at his grandfather's death in T.A. 2805. He had one son, Thorin, born in T.A. 2866.[2]

During his reign his people became the strongest in Wilderland, being the only realm capable to resist Sauron if he dared come North and retake the realm of Angmar and the northern passes of the Misty Mountains.[1]

The Battle of Five Armies

Nearly a hundred years later, King Thorin, the son of Thráin II, set out on a journey to reclaim Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, which had been usurped by the Dragon Smaug.[3]

The dragon was slain, though by Bard of Lake-town and not by Thorin's company. Thorin claimed the entire hoard and proclaimed himself King under the Mountain, but both Bard and the Elven king Thranduil both longed for compensation of their suffering caused by the Dragon. Because his company of thirteen could not hold the mountain, Thorin sent for Dáin.[4]

Dáin responded to Thorin's call and set out with more than five hundred dwarves, well armed and experienced. They were originally intent on driving off the Elves and Men, but Gandalf arrived to inform them of the approaching Orcs and Wargs. They all united against the common enemy, and so was fought the Battle of Five Armies in the valley of Dale.[5]

Thorin was killed in the battle, as were his sister-sons Kíli and Fíli. This made Dáin the next in line to become King under the Mountain, and King of all of Durin's folk.[6]

King under the Mountain

During his reign as king, he became exceedingly rich and his people were very prosperous. The town of Dale was rebuilt and its border stretched far to the South and East and the friendship between the Elves of Mirkwood, Men of Dale, and Dwarves of Erebor was close, especially between the Men and Dwarves. For the Dwarves of Erebor now exceeded all their ancestors in the art of masonry and mining, and created many beautiful things in Dale.[7]

But not all were content. Balin set out with several others to reclaim Moria in T.A. 2989. Dáin did not give his blessing when Balin, but could not dissuade them.[8] It was only later learned the colony was destroyed after five years.[9]

War of the Ring

In T.A. 3018, a messenger came from Mordor, enquiring about a creature named "Baggins" from "Shire". In return for information Dáin would be given the last three Dwarf-rings. Dáin told him to give him time to think and for many weeks he pondered until he sent Glóin and his son Gimli to Elrond for council, and to warn Bilbo of the enemy looking for him.[8]

After many months war came to Erebor in the Battle of Dale. King Brand of Dale was at war with Easterlings along the River Carnen, but they defeated him and he retreated back to Dale where he was given aid by Dáin and an army of Dwarves. After three days of fighting the Dwarves and Men were driven back, and Brand was slain. But defending his body stood Dáin, who at over 250 years old was not feeble, and still could wield his axe with great skill. But his skill was not enough and he was slain as well before the gates of Erebor.[1]

Several days later the Easterlings learned that the Battle of the Pelennor Fields was lost and they were afraid. When the new King Thorin III Stonehelm, son of Dáin, and Brand's son Bard II saw this they came out of the mountain and routed their enemies.[10]

Etymology and names

Dáinn is a dwarf from the Dvergatal. His name most likely means "Deadlike".[11]

The epithet Ironfoot remains unexplained in the published writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. However, John D. Rateliff has pointed out that an explanation for the epithet is likely found in the original manuscript of The Hobbit, where it is stated that the shoes of the Dwarves of the Iron Hills were of iron.[12]

Genealogy

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dáin I
2440 - 2589
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thrór
2542 - 2790
 
Frór
2552 - 2589
 
 
 
Grór
2565 - 2803
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thráin II
2644 - 2850
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Náin
2665 - 2799
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thorin II Oakenshield
2746 - 2941
 
Frerin
2751 - 2799
 
Dís
2760 - ???
 
 
 
DÁIN II IRONFOOT
2767 - 3019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fíli
2859 - 2941
 
Kíli
2864 - 2941
 
Thorin III Stonehelm
2866 - ???


Portrayal in adaptations

Dáin Ironfoot from The Lord of the Rings Online

Films

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):

Dáin is said to come to Thorin's aid, but he is never individually identified. It's possible that he's the Dwarf who lays Orcrist on Thorin's body after he dies, as that Dwarf does not resemble any of the other 12 member's of Thorin's company.

2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):

Dáin Ironfoot will be played by Billy Connolly.[13]

Radio series

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Dáin's voice is provided by Brian Haines.[14]

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

No actor is credited for the role of Dáin.

Games

2001-07: The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game:

Weta made a special card for Dáin.

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

Dáin has no speaking part; he only appears on parchment sections.

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II:

Dáin is a hero in the Dwarves faction. In the campaigns, he appears in the Battle of Dale in the Good Campaign, where he has to survive the onslaught of enemy forces to succeed the level.

References

Dáin Ironfoot
House of Durin
Born: T.A. 2767 Died: T.A. 3019
Preceded by:
Grór
Lord of the Iron Hills
T.A. 28052941
Himself
as King
Preceded by:
Thorin II Oakenshield
King of Durin's Folk
T.A. 29413019
Followed by:
Thorin III Stonehelm
5th King under the Mountain
T.A. 29413019