Durin's folk

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Durin's folk, also called the Longbeards were, by rights, the inhabitants of Khazad-dûm. Their first King was Durin the Deathless.

Durin's folk were joined in Second Age by the Firebeards and Broadbeams from the Ered Luin, after the War of Wrath destroyed and ruined their homes.

The Dwarves of Durin's folk were ruled by six kings named Durin, all fathers and sons, until Durin VI, who was killed by Durin's Bane in 1980 of the Third Age. After his death, a king named Durin did not return to the Dwarves for many years. In the Fourth Age, a Durin VII appeared, being either the son or grandson of Thorin III. He therefore would have been a direct descendant of Durin the Deathless. Durin VII was also known as Durin the Last.


Kingdoms

When Durin's folk were driven out of Khazad-dum, most of them went to the Grey Mountains, while some followed king Thráin I to the Lonely Mountain. When Thorin I succeeded his father as king, he abandoned the Lonely Mountain for the Grey Mountains because he saw how prosperous the Dwarves there were. Several hundred years later, Thorin's great-great-grandson king Dáin I was killed by invading Cold-drakes. Durin's folk then fled to the Iron Hills, and also once again to the Lonely Mountain.

Years later, the Dwarves of Erebor fled the mountain when Smaug attacked. Those of Durin's line that lived in Erebor were now exiles. They lived for a short period in Dunland, until the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, after which they then moved to the Blue Mountains. For over one hundred and fifty years, Durin's folk waited to take back Erebor, until their king, Thorin II Oakenshield, went on his quest to the Lonely Mountain. Thorin refounded his kingdom after Smaug was killed, but was killed later in the Battle of Five Armies. His cousin Dáin II Ironfoot succeeded him as king of Durin's folk. Some time during the Fourth Age, Durin VII reastablished the kingdom of Khazad-dum.

Durin's folk also seemed to have a small remnant of its people in the Grey Mountains after the main population left.

Line of Durin's folk

After Thorin's death the line passed to his cousin Dáin II Ironfoot (grandson of Grór), who was killed in the War of the Ring in 3019 T.A. Dáin's son. Thorin III Stonehelm, then became king. Thorin III, had either a son or grandson, Durin VII, who refounded Khazad-dûm.