Durin

Durin is a name used in J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium for several prominent dwarves, most famously Durin I, also known as Durin the Deathless. He is traditionally regarded as the first of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves and the founder of Khazad-dûm (Moria) in the First Age. Durin I is regarded as the progenitor of Durin’s Folk, the long-lived line of dwarven kings often referred to as the Longbeards.

The name Durin was carried by later rulers of Khazad-dûm as part of a dynastic tradition. Subsequent dwarven kings bore the name Durin, continuing the lineage and the royal title King Under the Mountain within the same line. In the broader dwarven histories within Tolkien’s writings, Durin’s line becomes a symbol of continuity and identity for the dwarves of Khazad-dûm, and its memory informs dwarven culture, art, and governance.

Durin’s Folk is the term used for the dwarves who trace their ancestry to Durin I, distinguishing their heritage from other dwarven groups. The durability and craft associated with Durin’s line contribute to the dwarves’ reputation for artistry, craftsmanship, and endurance. The figure of Durin and the tradition of Durin’s Folk appear in various Tolkien works, including appendices and related writings, where they serve as a central element of dwarven lore in Middle-earth.