Line of Durin
The Line of Durin, also known as Durin's Folk or the Longbeards, is the eldest and most illustrious of the seven Dwarf-kindreds, tracing its ancestry to Durin the Deathless, the first of the Dwarf-fathers. This royal dynasty is the central force behind the quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and its treasure from the dragon Smaug, and its story encompasses the rise, fall, and restoration of the Kingdom under the Mountain, culminating in the Battle of Five Armies and the death of its last direct heir, Thorin Oakenshield.
Origins and Royal Lineage
The Line of Durin is the oldest of the Dwarf races, with Durin himself being the father of the fathers of the Longbeards. Thorin Oakenshield explicitly identifies himself as Durin's heir, stating, "He was the father of the fathers of the eldest race of Dwarves, the Longbeards, and my first ancestor: I am his heir." The lineage passes through Thrain the Old, a far ancestor who first discovered the Lonely Mountain, and then through Thror, who became King under the Mountain. Thror's son was Thrain, and Thrain's son was Thorin Oakenshield. The line also includes Thorin's nephews, Fili and Kili, who are described as "the sons of my father's daughter" and are of the race of Durin. The dynasty's history is marked by both immense wealth and catastrophic loss, as the dwarves mined and tunnelled in the Mountain, growing "immensely rich and famous" until the dragon Smaug drove them out.
The Loss of the Mountain and Exile
The prosperity of the Line of Durin under Thror ended with the coming of Smaug. The dragon, described as "a most specially greedy, strong and wicked worm," flew south and attacked the Mountain, destroying the nearby town of Dale and killing most of the dwarves inside. Thorin, who was outside at the time, survived, and was later joined by his father Thrain and grandfather Thror, who had escaped through a secret side-door. The family was forced into exile, earning their livings as best they could, often sinking as low as blacksmith-work or coalmining. Thror was later killed in the mines of Moria by the goblin Azog, and Thrain was captured and imprisoned by the Necromancer, losing his wits and memory. The map and key to the secret entrance of the Mountain were given to Gandalf by Thrain, who could not remember his own name at the time. This exile and the desire to reclaim their stolen treasure became the driving motivation for Thorin and his company.
The Quest and Restoration
The quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain was led by Thorin Oakenshield, the grandson of Thror and heir to the Line of Durin. The company of thirteen dwarves, including Thorin, set out with the hobbit Bilbo Baggins as their burglar. After many adventures, including the death of Smaug at the hands of Bard, the dwarves took possession of the Mountain. However, the treasure attracted other claimants, leading to a siege by the Elves and Men of Lake-town. The conflict was resolved only by the sudden arrival of a goblin and Warg army, which forced the former enemies to unite in the Battle of Five Armies. During the battle, Thorin was mortally wounded, and his nephews Fili and Kili fell defending him. After the battle, Dain, a cousin from the Iron Hills, became the new King under the Mountain, taking up his abode in the ancient halls. The treasure was divided, with a fourteenth share given to Bard, and the Arkenstone was laid upon Thorin's breast in his tomb beneath the Mountain. The Line of Durin thus continued through Dain, who gathered many other dwarves to his throne, restoring the kingdom and bringing a new peace to the region.
