Durin I

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The name Durin refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Durin (disambiguation).
Durin
Dwarf
Liz Danforth - Durin I.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesDurin the Deathless
"Father of the Dwarves"
TitlesKing of Durin's Folk
King of Khazad-dûm
LocationKhazad-dûm
LanguageKhuzdul
BirthYears of the Trees
Mount Gundabad
DeathFirst Age
Family
HouseHouse of Durin
ParentageNone; created by Aulë
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Durin

Durin I (Years of the TreesFirst Age), also known as Durin the Deathless due to his longevity, was the first of the seven Fathers of the Dwarves, the founder of the city of Khazad-dûm, and the first king of the Longbeards.

History

Aule creates the Seven Fathers

Long before the awakening of the Elves it is said that Aulë, yearning for the Children of Ilúvatar, fashioned the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves in a hall under the mountains in Middle-earth. Pleased with his work, Aulë was instructing his creations in the speech he had devised for them when Ilúvatar rebuked him, pointing out that they were mere counterfeits that would only stand idle without Aulë’s will. Aulë humbled himself before Ilúvatar and prepared to destroy the Dwarves, but at that moment Ilúvatar gave them independent life. However, Ilúvatar would not suffer their arrival in the world before the Firstborn, so the seven fathers were laid to sleep until after the coming of the Elves.[1]

Ilúvatar commanded Aulë to lay the sleeping fathers in deep places, each with a mate, save Durin the eldest who had none.[2] Durin was set to sleep under Mount Gundabad in the Misty Mountains during the Years of the Trees.[3]

King of the Longbeards

Ted Nasmith - Durin I Discovers the Three Peaks

When he awoke he journeyed south alone through the wild where no person ever wandered before, and gave name to "nameless hills and dells", perhaps Azanulbizar and the nearby features[4]. He came upon Kheled-zâram. Looking upon mysterious stars set like a crown reflected in its surface, he took this as a sign, and there in the caves above the lake, founded a great city. This was Khazad-dûm, later called Moria, and for many years it was the greatest Dwarven city in Middle-earth.[5]

Durin was the founder of the Longbeards house, which became known as Durin's folk. He lived to a great age even by the measure of the Dwarves until he was known as "The Deathless". However, he was not actually immortal, and died sometime during the First Age.[5]

All that can be known for certain about his age, is that he was born before Y.T. 1250[6] and died before the end of the First Age.[5] This makes Durin at least 2,395 years old, about ten-times the lifespan of Dwarves.[note 1]

Legacy

The Longbeards believed that Durin would return to them seven times, and in each reincarnation he will again be named Durin and reign as King. He did have six descendants that were named Durin, all were kings of Durin's folk.[5]

Durin's Axe, a great heirloom of Durin's folk, was probably his; it was apparently found when Balin and his colony came to Khazad-dûm in T.A. 2989.[7][8]

Etymology

Durinn is one of the Dwarfs in the Dvergatal. The name means "Sleepy".[9]

Notes

  1. Years of the Sun. Each Year of the Trees is equal to 9.582 Years of the Sun, and the Years of the Trees ended in the year 1500. So, 9.582 x 250 = 2,395.

References

Durin I
House of Durin
None
Position created
King of Durin's FolkUnknown
Next known:
Durin II
King of Khazad-dûm