Nain had a son who succeeded to the throne, and he was King Dain. He was Dain the First's last son. Aside from being King, he was also the Durin Folk's Dwarven King. He was fifth in line in the kingdom. In the later years of the Third Age, he became Iron Hill's Lord.
His Life Story
Battle Waged Between the Orcs and Dwarves
Dain's grandfather, named Gror, was slain during the Azanulbizar's battle. He was slain by the chieftain of the Orcs. Dain became the successor of being the Lord of their territory. After his father Nain's passing, Dain wasted no time. He ascended to the role and sought out the killer behind his father's passing. He made sure that he will be the one slaughtering the commander of the Orcs. He successfully did that without remorse. When he ascended to the throne, he was thirty-two. Relating it to Dwarf age, it was considered a young age. But it did not stop him from achieving so much at a young age. He was regarded with a remarkable reverence. It was hard to believe that a young ruler managed to accomplish a lot in a short period. His people loved and honored him. As he was looking at the entryway of Khazad-dûm. He had a premonition that his people will not have the chance to go back to their kingdom just in time. His kingdom stood proud. He was the only King having the numbers to face the armada of Sauron. His soldiers were ready for battle, and their numbers should not be underestimated.
The War of the Ring
After the Mountain King's sudden passing, Dain became the next in line to take the throne. He has crowned the King Under the Mountain. He has no appropriate line to be Durin's folk's next King. He became the first King of Durin who does not have a direct link to the throne. It seems like Dain was groomed to be the King everyone needs. He has the wisdom and the objective to be a just King. He brought prosperity to his kingdom. He maintained excellent and civil relations with northern and southern borders. Due to this relationship with nearby nations, peace did not become a luxury anymore. It has come easily for a long time. Balin came to him to propose a resistance that can take back Moria. Dain was having doubts and refused. Balin came to him and convinced him of what was at stake. It was a surprise when a Mordor's messenger was at the entryway of Erebor. Sauron was offering them allegiance.
If the Dwarves would agree to the alliance, they only need to reveal what they know about the whereabouts of the Hobbits. The second thing they would do for Sauron is to help him find the Isildur's Bane or the Ruling Ring. Those were his conditions. The messenger also relayed that if they presented the Ruling Ring, Sauron, in return, would give back the three Power Rings. Dwarven Lords initially owned these artifacts. Sauron would also offer Khazad-dûm to them. He would not disturb them there.
The message bearer also gave them a warning about refusing Sauron's conditions. If they would choose not to help Sauron, there will be consequences they would pay in blood. Dain knew about Sauron's mischief and treachery. He knew all too well that trusting Sauron is a horrible decision. He will not subject himself to blackmail and bribery. Sending the message bearer, he did not give him an answer. He pretended that he still needs to think about the offer before having an answer. He let Gloin consult Sauron's proposal to Rivendell's Lord, Elrond. Dain did not sit on idle hands; he gathered his army and prepared Erebor for battle.
If the Dwarves would agree to the alliance, they only need to reveal what they know about the whereabouts of the Hobbits. The second thing they would do for Sauron is to help him find the Isildur's Bane or the Ruling Ring. Those were his conditions. The messenger also relayed that if they presented the Ruling Ring, Sauron, in return, would give back the three Power Rings. Dwarven Lords initially owned these artifacts. Sauron would also offer Khazad-dûm to them. He would not disturb them there.
The message bearer also gave them a warning about refusing Sauron's conditions. If they would choose not to help Sauron, there will be consequences they would pay in blood. Dain knew about Sauron's mischief and treachery. He knew all too well that trusting Sauron is a horrible decision. He will not subject himself to blackmail and bribery. Sending the message bearer, he did not give him an answer. He pretended that he still needs to think about the offer before having an answer. He let Gloin consult Sauron's proposal to Rivendell's Lord, Elrond. Dain did not sit on idle hands; he gathered his army and prepared Erebor for battle.
The Battle of Five Armies
Oakenshield was a friend and relative of Dain. They were cousins. When his cousin sent word that he needed aid. Dain did not hesitate when Oakenshield asked for help when he was in the process of reclaiming Erebor from the firedrake. King Dain prepared his army of five hundred soldiers. These soldiers were no ordinary, and they were unusually powerful. They exceeded the Dwarf's natural strength. They were equipped with heavy artillery. They were armed with hatchets, swords, and shields. He commanded his army, and they marched towards the battlefield. When they finally arrived, the battle of the allied forces was already brutal. After the chaos of the battle had passed, Dain was grateful for the Great Eagles that aided them in the fight.
He crowned a golden top to their leader. He swore that Dwarves will always have allegiance and eternal friendship to them. After Oakenshield's death, Dain acknowledged his cousin's wishes. The Lake-town people received compensation for the destruction of their city. Dain gave them a fourteenth share of the treasure. He gave Girion's emerald to King Thranduil, who valued it a great deal. Dain offered a much higher wealth to the Hobbit, but Bilbo refused it politely. He only took two chests full of gold and silver.
He crowned a golden top to their leader. He swore that Dwarves will always have allegiance and eternal friendship to them. After Oakenshield's death, Dain acknowledged his cousin's wishes. The Lake-town people received compensation for the destruction of their city. Dain gave them a fourteenth share of the treasure. He gave Girion's emerald to King Thranduil, who valued it a great deal. Dain offered a much higher wealth to the Hobbit, but Bilbo refused it politely. He only took two chests full of gold and silver.
His Demise
In the Third Age of 3019, Dain joined the Kingdom of Dale against the Easterlings. It was a crucial battle held in the northern part of Dale. At first, the enemies had been victorious in overwhelming the Dwarves and Men of Dale. Their siege lasted for a couple of days. The trapped allied forces lost hope, but it was a surprise for everybody when they had managed to turn the tide back again. The losses they took were tremendous. It resulted in the casualties of two kings from different nations. One of them was King Dain, and he was trying to hold off the enemies from charging forward. But there were too many of them, and he was also protecting his friend. He died trying to protect King Brand's body from the enemies. They were found at the entrance to Erebor. Considering the fact that Dain was very old during the battle, he still could create havoc in the enemy's lines. He was already two hundred and fifty-two.
He was considered one of the most prominent Dwarven warriors of all time. He was a Durin descent, and it was no surprise that his inclination in wars was exceptional and unparalleled. The death of Dain spread like wildfire in Minas Anor. The wizard who took on Dain's passing was pure wisdom. He stated that the incident is genuinely saddening, especially to his people. He further said that his death should be celebrated because he died protecting his people and his friend. Dain until his old age was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. He remained as skillful as he was back then. His prowess did not falter. The loss of a well-respected leader was hard on his constituents. The victory of the battle came at a high cost. Losses and casualties were everywhere. Thorin the Third ascended to the throne after his father's death.
He was considered one of the most prominent Dwarven warriors of all time. He was a Durin descent, and it was no surprise that his inclination in wars was exceptional and unparalleled. The death of Dain spread like wildfire in Minas Anor. The wizard who took on Dain's passing was pure wisdom. He stated that the incident is genuinely saddening, especially to his people. He further said that his death should be celebrated because he died protecting his people and his friend. Dain until his old age was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. He remained as skillful as he was back then. His prowess did not falter. The loss of a well-respected leader was hard on his constituents. The victory of the battle came at a high cost. Losses and casualties were everywhere. Thorin the Third ascended to the throne after his father's death.
Depiction in Adaptations
In 1977, an animated TV series [1] titled The Hobbit was based on Tolkien's anthology. Rankin and Bass directed the animated adaptation of the series. The Mountain King mentioned King Dain. He was referred to as the commander of Iron Hills' Dwarven army marching towards the Lonely Mountains. This scene was not included in the movie.
Peter Jackson’s Trilogy
In the Hobbit trilogy of Peter Jackson, the third installation, Billy Connolly, was the actor portraying Dain. He was a famous Scottish celebrity and a comic. There were changes in the tale of the characters. They needed to include as much history as they could. The battle against Azog was also the same scene where Oakenshield gained that moniker. During their encounter, the Orc chieftain should have dissolved in thin air rather than having a missing limb. Erebor was seized by the allied forces of Greenleaves' Elves and humans. Lake-town was almost in ruins when Dain arrived with his Iron Hills' army. He ordered them to charge towards Azog's forces and to wait for their presence on the battlefield. The past differences with the Elves were starting to dissipate when they fought side by side. There were hesitations at first, but they all knew too well that Azog's army was enormous, and one army could not face it alone.
The enemy forces saw the toll they were making to the Dwarves. They took their time and pushed them further back to the entrance of the Lonely Mountains. Oakenshield and his allies arrived just in time to counter the attack and charged forward. The cousins greeted each other cheerfully on the battleground. Thorin was urging Dain to rally the dwarves and join their leader. That was the last scene Dain appeared in the movie. Dain was known to fight astride his boar. He arrived at Erebor for war with his boar. His steed was helping him when the battle broke out. But, during the chaos of the fight. Dain was tossed off his steed and resulted in losing his helm. He was seen fighting with a Mohawk in red. It resembled Dwalin's haircut.
This was the last battle Dain was accompanied by his boar. A spear was thrown by the enemy, and it was pierced. Dain could not do anything since he was battling two Orcs at that moment. Dain was able to take his revenge to the Orc, who was responsible. He smashed it with his war hammer and killed him instantly. In the more extended version of the war of the allied forces, Dain's appearances grew. He was seen leading the Iron Hill's army towards the Elves. This was before the Orcs arrived. In the writings from the book, the account of Dain's army was so different from the adaptation. His forces were not only loaded with weapons. He had more in quantity. They were all equipped with swords, shields, axes, and spears.
There was an addition of soldiers striding goats. He had war chariots that carried ballista and can fire javelins. Dain became the newly crowned Mountain King after they won the battle and suffered significant losses. In part three of the movie adaptation, it did not include what happens after Dain's coronation. Some speculate that he followed his cousin's wishes for the Lake-town people. The former King owed them. It was also assumed that he returned the emeralds to King Thranduil. The movie adaptation was dubbed in different languages too. Artists were dubbed in Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Hungarian.
The enemy forces saw the toll they were making to the Dwarves. They took their time and pushed them further back to the entrance of the Lonely Mountains. Oakenshield and his allies arrived just in time to counter the attack and charged forward. The cousins greeted each other cheerfully on the battleground. Thorin was urging Dain to rally the dwarves and join their leader. That was the last scene Dain appeared in the movie. Dain was known to fight astride his boar. He arrived at Erebor for war with his boar. His steed was helping him when the battle broke out. But, during the chaos of the fight. Dain was tossed off his steed and resulted in losing his helm. He was seen fighting with a Mohawk in red. It resembled Dwalin's haircut.
This was the last battle Dain was accompanied by his boar. A spear was thrown by the enemy, and it was pierced. Dain could not do anything since he was battling two Orcs at that moment. Dain was able to take his revenge to the Orc, who was responsible. He smashed it with his war hammer and killed him instantly. In the more extended version of the war of the allied forces, Dain's appearances grew. He was seen leading the Iron Hill's army towards the Elves. This was before the Orcs arrived. In the writings from the book, the account of Dain's army was so different from the adaptation. His forces were not only loaded with weapons. He had more in quantity. They were all equipped with swords, shields, axes, and spears.
There was an addition of soldiers striding goats. He had war chariots that carried ballista and can fire javelins. Dain became the newly crowned Mountain King after they won the battle and suffered significant losses. In part three of the movie adaptation, it did not include what happens after Dain's coronation. Some speculate that he followed his cousin's wishes for the Lake-town people. The former King owed them. It was also assumed that he returned the emeralds to King Thranduil. The movie adaptation was dubbed in different languages too. Artists were dubbed in Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Hungarian.
Advents
In the books, Dain first had his appearance in The Hobbit. He was only mentioned in the first and third books. In the Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, there was also a mention of him. This book was Tolkien's alternative tales but was unfinished. His son, Christopher, continued it, and the books hit the shelves in 1980. In the movie adaptations, he was mentioned in the first installment of The Hobbit. But, in the third and final installation of the series, Dain had quite an appearance.
Computer games inspired by Dain
EA Games created the second part of Middle Earth's Battle. [2] It is based on Tolkien's books. Dain has a character in this strategy game. He appears as King Dain that wields Barazanthual, an ax. It was one of the prominent forms of weaponry created by the Dwarven Kingdom. The sight of it was feared by his foes.
