Balin was the son of a Dwarf named Fundin. Fundin born in Lonely Mountain, who later shifted to Smaug. Some of the Dwarves settled in Dunland when they faced exile. During the Battle of Azanulbizar, he fought against Orcs. Orcs humiliated them in public, seized their arms and weapons, put them on woodfire, and burned them. This was the greatest humiliation that Dwarves received from the Orcs. Later, Balin, the son of one of those Dwarves, inherited the throne. Balin grew up seeing the battles and wars, and he remained determined to avenge the Orcs for their brutal acts towards his father and other Dwarves. He joined Thorin and, in no time, became his closest and best companion. He received immense respect and dignity from Thorin.
He ultimately became the adviser to the king in all the critical matters. People believed that he was distantly related to Thorin in inheritance. Durin-I led the settlement of the Longbeards or Durin's Folk, were the ancestors of the Dwarves at Khazad-Dum. He enjoyed the title of "The Great." After many generations down the inheritance, the Dwarves came from the rebirth of the ancestors of Durin-I. This descendant of Durin was the relation between Thorin and Balin. This was one of the reasons Thorin kept him his closest aid and accompanied him during all the battles. Bali was born in TA 2763 and ruled as the Lord of Moria in his last five years of life from TA 2989 to TA 2904. He lived for 231 years. A white-haired Dwarf, Balin was a warrior of killing swords. He was a great Dwarf who rose from an ordinary person to the level Lord of Moria. Ken Stott played his character in the film by Peter Jackson and other media houses. In another movie, the Hobbit, Don Messick, played his role in 1977.
He ultimately became the adviser to the king in all the critical matters. People believed that he was distantly related to Thorin in inheritance. Durin-I led the settlement of the Longbeards or Durin's Folk, were the ancestors of the Dwarves at Khazad-Dum. He enjoyed the title of "The Great." After many generations down the inheritance, the Dwarves came from the rebirth of the ancestors of Durin-I. This descendant of Durin was the relation between Thorin and Balin. This was one of the reasons Thorin kept him his closest aid and accompanied him during all the battles. Bali was born in TA 2763 and ruled as the Lord of Moria in his last five years of life from TA 2989 to TA 2904. He lived for 231 years. A white-haired Dwarf, Balin was a warrior of killing swords. He was a great Dwarf who rose from an ordinary person to the level Lord of Moria. Ken Stott played his character in the film by Peter Jackson and other media houses. In another movie, the Hobbit, Don Messick, played his role in 1977.
Biography
It is assumed that Balin was born in the Lonely Mountain. He lived his childhood in the Lonely Mountain until Smaug attacked the mountain and forced them to leave the place. Balin and his brother had to leave the Lonely Mountain and took refuge in Dunland. The other Dwarves also had to take shelter in Dunland. After that, the war broke out at the Battle of Azanulbizar. The Dwarves fought from the side of Tharain-II, who was the father of Thorin. After several years, when they tried to return to the Lonely Planet, Orcs killed Thrain-II in a sudden planned attack.
Quest for Erebor
Later, when Thorin Oakenshield became king, Balin joined his Company in TA 2941. With the help of Bilbo Baggins, the White Gandalf, Balin and Thorin attempted to capture the kingdom of Erebor. Balin and his brother Dwalin arrived at the house of Bilbo to plan a voyage. Balin loved playing music and played a massive violin at Bilbo's house. It became the symbol of his love for music. At Bilbo's home, they prepared a plan for a long journey to Lonely Mountain. Bilbo arranged their trip, and Balin Company departed from his house. Bali, his brother, and his other associates started their journey and passage through Lone-lands and Trollshaws. The whole of the trip was full of battles with enemies, which included attacks by William, Bert, and trolls Tom.
They defeated them quickly without much aggression to avoid further loss of life. After the fight, they found that Bilbo had gone in hiding. But they were sure that he was alive and would return soon. So, they waited for his return but later departed when Bilbo did not respond. When they reached Rivendell, they felt safer than before. After a brief rest for the soldiers, they resumed their journey. But the troubles were far from over.
Soon after the Company crossed the Misty Mountains near High pass, Orcs attacked them and made them captives. Fortunately, the weather was terrible and oppressive thunder and storm provided them an opportunity to escape. Taking advantage of the weather and the help of the White Gandalf, the Company escaped from the Orcs. Later, Bilbo also joined the Company. During their captivity by Orcs at orc tunnels, Bilbo realized the functions of one of the rings and used it for escaping from the tunnel. After that, the orcs attacked the Company with warg animals. These were giant fox-like animals, powerful and brutal.
They were able to uproot trees and climb mountains. The Dwarves had to climb several pine trees to save themselves from the wargs. At one point in time, the Dwarves were hanging from a tree over a high cliff. It seemed almost inconceivable to escape from death. Meantime, the quick approach of the Great Eagles saved their life who picked them up and took them away. It seemed that Beon, a skin-changer, sent the Great Eagles to rescue the Dwarves. They were brought to Carrock by the Eagles. After that, the Company went to the house of Beorn.
The Dwarves realized why the Eagles protected their life. The White Gandalf, Balin, and Dwalin met Beon and asked for space for rest and some food supplies, arms, and weaponry. When Beon realized their condition, he offered them full food supplies and proper weaponry. He guided them to restart their journey safely. The white Gandalf was quite happy with the attitude and timely help from Beon. Amid great dangers of animals and enemies, the Company needed to cross the thick forests of Mirkwood. Despite receiving reinforcement from Beon, they fell short of food and materials. Consequently, they lost the correct direction, and mistakenly entered the den of spiders. The spiders ambushed the Company and wanted to eat them all.
Having realized the danger, Bilbo escaped un-noticed from the spiders and planned the escape of the Company. Balin was the leader in their fight against the spiders and tried their best to drive them off. Meantime, the wood-elves overpowered the tired Company and captured them. The wood-elves gave them to Elvenking. Balin was the leader of the Company as Bilbo had already escaped. He spoke to Elvenking and requested to secure the release of his men. But all the conviction and assurance strategies failed before Elvenking, and the Company could not escape from there. After some days, Bilbo, with the help of the ring, attacked Elvenking and saved Balin and the Company. This was indeed a great escape for the Dwarves, which provided them almost an impossible escape. The Company reached the Lonely Mountain through Lake Town. Balin entered the mountain through the side door and found the dragon Smaug.
Smaug attacked Balin and Bard, but finally, Bard killed the dragon. After that, the Company of Thorin and Balin took possession of the Lonely Mountain. The dragon Smaug had accumulated enormous wealth. The wealth created serious conflict among Wood-elves and Lakeman, which led to the famous Battle of the Five Armies. Balin fought the Battle against Orcs and survived the Battle. After the Battle, he permanently lived in the Lonely Mountain. In TA 2949, he and Gandalf visited the Shire to meet Bilbo and returned back to the Lonely Mountains. After controlling the Lonely Mountain, he wanted to regain control of the previously Dwarf kingdom at Moria. He tried to take control of the seventh and the last ring, it was believed that the seventh ring was in Moria. After reaching Moria, he came to know about Mithril Helm and Durin's Axe.
The seventh ring possessed a great treasure and was known for the creation of greed in the heart of the person who owns it. He did a reasonable search for the ring but could not locate it in Moria. He did not want to engage in direct conflict with Thrain-II and Sauron. Sauron knew the plans for Balin and acted swiftly to capture Moria and claim the seventh ring. Meantime, Sauron recaptured the Seventh ring when Thrain-II surrendered in front of him.
Finally, Balin could not get the ring. Due to the limited space available in Moria for placing another king, he had to satisfy himself with the title of the Lords of Moria Unfortunately, Orcs killed most of the other Dwarves who joined the attempt to regain the ring. Balin, after five years in TA 2994, at the age of 231 years, died at the same place and in similar circumstances as his father died in TA 2799.
They defeated them quickly without much aggression to avoid further loss of life. After the fight, they found that Bilbo had gone in hiding. But they were sure that he was alive and would return soon. So, they waited for his return but later departed when Bilbo did not respond. When they reached Rivendell, they felt safer than before. After a brief rest for the soldiers, they resumed their journey. But the troubles were far from over.
Soon after the Company crossed the Misty Mountains near High pass, Orcs attacked them and made them captives. Fortunately, the weather was terrible and oppressive thunder and storm provided them an opportunity to escape. Taking advantage of the weather and the help of the White Gandalf, the Company escaped from the Orcs. Later, Bilbo also joined the Company. During their captivity by Orcs at orc tunnels, Bilbo realized the functions of one of the rings and used it for escaping from the tunnel. After that, the orcs attacked the Company with warg animals. These were giant fox-like animals, powerful and brutal.
They were able to uproot trees and climb mountains. The Dwarves had to climb several pine trees to save themselves from the wargs. At one point in time, the Dwarves were hanging from a tree over a high cliff. It seemed almost inconceivable to escape from death. Meantime, the quick approach of the Great Eagles saved their life who picked them up and took them away. It seemed that Beon, a skin-changer, sent the Great Eagles to rescue the Dwarves. They were brought to Carrock by the Eagles. After that, the Company went to the house of Beorn.
The Dwarves realized why the Eagles protected their life. The White Gandalf, Balin, and Dwalin met Beon and asked for space for rest and some food supplies, arms, and weaponry. When Beon realized their condition, he offered them full food supplies and proper weaponry. He guided them to restart their journey safely. The white Gandalf was quite happy with the attitude and timely help from Beon. Amid great dangers of animals and enemies, the Company needed to cross the thick forests of Mirkwood. Despite receiving reinforcement from Beon, they fell short of food and materials. Consequently, they lost the correct direction, and mistakenly entered the den of spiders. The spiders ambushed the Company and wanted to eat them all.
Having realized the danger, Bilbo escaped un-noticed from the spiders and planned the escape of the Company. Balin was the leader in their fight against the spiders and tried their best to drive them off. Meantime, the wood-elves overpowered the tired Company and captured them. The wood-elves gave them to Elvenking. Balin was the leader of the Company as Bilbo had already escaped. He spoke to Elvenking and requested to secure the release of his men. But all the conviction and assurance strategies failed before Elvenking, and the Company could not escape from there. After some days, Bilbo, with the help of the ring, attacked Elvenking and saved Balin and the Company. This was indeed a great escape for the Dwarves, which provided them almost an impossible escape. The Company reached the Lonely Mountain through Lake Town. Balin entered the mountain through the side door and found the dragon Smaug.
Smaug attacked Balin and Bard, but finally, Bard killed the dragon. After that, the Company of Thorin and Balin took possession of the Lonely Mountain. The dragon Smaug had accumulated enormous wealth. The wealth created serious conflict among Wood-elves and Lakeman, which led to the famous Battle of the Five Armies. Balin fought the Battle against Orcs and survived the Battle. After the Battle, he permanently lived in the Lonely Mountain. In TA 2949, he and Gandalf visited the Shire to meet Bilbo and returned back to the Lonely Mountains. After controlling the Lonely Mountain, he wanted to regain control of the previously Dwarf kingdom at Moria. He tried to take control of the seventh and the last ring, it was believed that the seventh ring was in Moria. After reaching Moria, he came to know about Mithril Helm and Durin's Axe.
The seventh ring possessed a great treasure and was known for the creation of greed in the heart of the person who owns it. He did a reasonable search for the ring but could not locate it in Moria. He did not want to engage in direct conflict with Thrain-II and Sauron. Sauron knew the plans for Balin and acted swiftly to capture Moria and claim the seventh ring. Meantime, Sauron recaptured the Seventh ring when Thrain-II surrendered in front of him.
Finally, Balin could not get the ring. Due to the limited space available in Moria for placing another king, he had to satisfy himself with the title of the Lords of Moria Unfortunately, Orcs killed most of the other Dwarves who joined the attempt to regain the ring. Balin, after five years in TA 2994, at the age of 231 years, died at the same place and in similar circumstances as his father died in TA 2799.
Characters and Personality
Balin enjoyed great respect from the Dwarves throughout his life. They called him the lookout of the Company. They believed that not even a rat could escape from the eyes of the great leader Balin. He had the record of detecting the return of Bilbo when they needed him most. During their escape, when Wood-elves were about to attack, Balin discovered the attack and was able to negotiate for their release. He commanded respect from all due to his abilities and correct predictions. He was sympathetic and liberal towards Dwarves and kept high regards for all subordinates. He showed immense courage and bravery on several occasions, like when he accompanied Bilbo to enter the Smaug's Chamber. No other Dwarf was courageous enough to enter the den of Smaug. On his bravery, the King Thorin called him as the Fighter. He was the only Dwarf who visited Bag End to find Bilbo after they conquered the Lonely Mountain.
Portrayal in Movies
An actor from Scotland, Ken Stott, played the character of Balin in Peter Jackson's film. During the movie, the statement given in the film [1] is impressive, which says:
[2]
