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Dáin II Ironfoot

Meaning: old Norse 'corpse'

Location(s): Iron Hills, Erebor

Race/Species: Dwarf

Title(s): King under the Mountain; King of Durin’s Folk

Dates: 2767 - 3019 III

Parents: Náin

Spouse: N/A

Children: Thorin III

Description:
But go specially to my cousin Dain in the Iron Hills, for he has many people well-armed, and dwells nearest to this place.
-The Gathering of the Clouds, The Hobbit


He was interested, however, to hear that Dáin was still King under the Mountain, and was now old (having passed his two hundred and fiftieth year), venerable, and fabulously rich.
-Many Meetings, The Fellowship of the Ring


Up the steps after him leaped a Dwarf with a red axe. It was Dáin Ironfoot, Náin's son. Right before the doors he caught Azog, and there he slew him, and hewed off his head. That was held a great feat, for Dáin was then only a stripling in the reckoning of the Dwarves. But long life and many battles lay before him, until old but unbowed he fell at last in the War of the Ring. Yet hardy and full of wrath as he was, it is said that when he came down from the Gate he looked grey in the face, as one who has felt great fear.
[...]
But Dáin Ironfoot, [Thorin's] cousin, who came from the Iron Hills to his aid and was also his rightful heir, became then King Dáin II, and the Kingdom under the Mountain was restored, even as Gandalf had desired. Dáin proved a great and wise king, and the Dwarves prospered and grew strong again in his day.
[...]
yet even so with his far-stretched right hand Sauron might have done great evil in the North, if King Dáin and King Brand had not stood in his path. Even as Gandalf said afterwards to Frodo and Gimli, when they dwelt together for a time in Minas Tirith. Not long before news had come to Gondor of events far away.
'I grieved at the fall of Thorin,' said Gandalf; 'and now we hear that Dáin has fallen, fighting in Dale again, even while we fought here. I should call that a heavy loss, if it was not a wonder rather that in his great age he could still wield his axe as mightily as they say that he did, standing over the body of King Brand before the Gate of Erebor until the darkness fell.
-Durin's Folk, Appendix A, Return of the King

Contributors:
Kitt of Lindon 1.30.05.

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