Thráin II is the heir of the great King Thrór of Erebor, father of The Dwarven Lord Thorin Oakenshield, and direct descendant of Durin's lineage. He took over as the king under the mountain and king of the Dwarves after his father's fall in the Battle of Moria.
History
Thráin II was born to Thrór in Erebor as the only son and heir to the throne under the mountains. Thráin got married and had his first son, Thorin II Oakenshield, in the year 2746 of the Third Age. Other Sons include Dis, father of Kili, and Frerin.
Thráin II in Exile
Thráin escaped The Lonely Mountains with Thror, his father, three sons, and the surviving Dwarves of Erebor when Smaug rampaged the mountain and settled there in the year 2770 of the Third Age. Smaug desolated the great dwarf kingdom and took over its treasure. He continued with the rest of the dwarven outcasts and wandered southward to settle in the hills of Dunland. The dwarves remained there for 20 years in exile and poverty. They only had memories of the glory and might of the Kingdom of Erebor. The condition of the dwarves disheartened King Thror. In desperation, King Thror took along with him an old friend, Nár, to find anything from the remains of their wealth from the days of glory. Thror handed his ring and the map of Erebor to Thráin II and then parted with the dwarves.
War of Azanulbizar
Nár, the only companion of the parted King Thror, returned in a few weeks to the Hills of Dunland to the sad news of the possible capture of Thror. Nár recounted the confrontation Thror got involved in when they found out that an orc had taken over the wealth of the dwarves in Moria. Nár also stated that it was against his advice that Thror went forward to face the orc, Azog, that has taken over the wealth of the dwarves' ancestry.
Thráin wailed as he received Nár's news and tore his beard, ashamed of what had befallen their honor. He became silent and went on to remain in silence for seven days. On the last day of his silence, he rose and proclaimed revenge and returned to take their honor, and thus the war between the Orcs and the dwarven kingdom began. Thráin sent emissaries to deliver ongoing events and the fate of Thror. The emissaries went to all parts of Middle-earth, delivering the message of Thráin II to dwarven settlements. The Dwarven kings were outraged by the news they received. They rose to Thráin's call for vengeance and were determined to put down Azog and the orcs in Moria for the great dishonor to their entire race. The dwarven kingdom hoped to restore their honor.
The war began with devastating losses on both sides. The disastrous battles took place beneath Moria's Eastern gate in the valley of Azanulbizar, although most of the war occurred in the tunnel and mines beneath the Misty Mountains. Frerin, the son of Thráin and brother of Thorin II, fell alongside others that fought fiercely. Thráin was wounded and took a grievous wound to the eye. The hope of regaining the honor of the dwarven kingdom rose when reinforcements arrived late from Emyn Engrin (Iron Hills). Azog saw the loss in his army ranks and fled for safety, but he got caught by Dain Ironfoot and slain. The battle of Azanulbizar ended in defeat for the orcs.
Thráin wailed as he received Nár's news and tore his beard, ashamed of what had befallen their honor. He became silent and went on to remain in silence for seven days. On the last day of his silence, he rose and proclaimed revenge and returned to take their honor, and thus the war between the Orcs and the dwarven kingdom began. Thráin sent emissaries to deliver ongoing events and the fate of Thror. The emissaries went to all parts of Middle-earth, delivering the message of Thráin II to dwarven settlements. The Dwarven kings were outraged by the news they received. They rose to Thráin's call for vengeance and were determined to put down Azog and the orcs in Moria for the great dishonor to their entire race. The dwarven kingdom hoped to restore their honor.
The war began with devastating losses on both sides. The disastrous battles took place beneath Moria's Eastern gate in the valley of Azanulbizar, although most of the war occurred in the tunnel and mines beneath the Misty Mountains. Frerin, the son of Thráin and brother of Thorin II, fell alongside others that fought fiercely. Thráin was wounded and took a grievous wound to the eye. The hope of regaining the honor of the dwarven kingdom rose when reinforcements arrived late from Emyn Engrin (Iron Hills). Azog saw the loss in his army ranks and fled for safety, but he got caught by Dain Ironfoot and slain. The battle of Azanulbizar ended in defeat for the orcs.
Later life of Thráin
The dwarven army followed their new leader, Thráin, back to the Hills of Dunland and lived there for a while. The dwarves then migrated to the Blue Mountains. The settlement of the dwarves in the Blue Mountains gradually increased in number, and their territory prospered. After the dwarves lived in the Blue Mountains for many years, Thráin got older and grew in his longing to revive Erebor's glory. His desire rose from the awe of their might in the last Battle of Moria. Thráin wanted to reclaim the most magnificent dwarven kingdom in the Lonely Mountains. In the year 2841 of the Third year, Thráin took companions that included Balin and Dwalin. Together, they headed out of the flourishing Blue Mountains into Mirkwood, where they encountered Sauron's forces. While in hiding from the forces of Sauron, the dwarven companions had settled to sleep but woke up to see that Thráin, their leader, was gone.
They searched in desperation for their leader to no avail and later found out that he was captured and taken to Sauron's pits in Dol Guldur, the stronghold fortress of Sauron located in the South of Mirkwood. Sauron seized the ring of power given to Thror from him and abandoned him to die. In Dol Guldur, Thráin became miserable. He lost all his memory, including his name. When Thráin encountered Gandalf in Dol Guldur, he gave him the map of Erebor from Thror. Gandalf took the map and promised to give it to Thorin, but had doubts on whether the miserable-looking dwarf was indeed Thráin, the heir to the throne of Erebor. After Thráin got the promise of Gandalf, he died.
They searched in desperation for their leader to no avail and later found out that he was captured and taken to Sauron's pits in Dol Guldur, the stronghold fortress of Sauron located in the South of Mirkwood. Sauron seized the ring of power given to Thror from him and abandoned him to die. In Dol Guldur, Thráin became miserable. He lost all his memory, including his name. When Thráin encountered Gandalf in Dol Guldur, he gave him the map of Erebor from Thror. Gandalf took the map and promised to give it to Thorin, but had doubts on whether the miserable-looking dwarf was indeed Thráin, the heir to the throne of Erebor. After Thráin got the promise of Gandalf, he died.
Legacy
Gandalf met with Thorin Oakenshield in a bar at Bree. He realized the miserable-looking dwarf he met in Dol Guldur was indeed Thráin II of Erebor and the father of Thorin II. Gandalf also knew that Erebor's location would be of great importance in a future war with Sauron. A revived Erebor could help break Sauron's plans to receive reinforcement from the Easterlings in a fight. The wizard Gandalf then decided to support Thorin's cause to reclaim the lost honor of the Lonely Mountains. The wizard also promised to find someone who would further aid their mission as a burglar. Gandalf chose Bilbo Baggins from the Shire as the much-awaited burglar of the dwarves. The dwarves were surprised to see that the great wizard chose a weak hobbit for the enormous task ahead of them, and their leader disapproved of him but did not react. He later showed his disapproval of the decision to allow the hobbit to journey with them as they proceeded and faced obstacles along the way. Thorin stated that the hobbit was a liability on many occasions, but Bilbo always persevered and worked hard to prove him wrong.
Gandalf later mentioned his reason for choosing Bilbo. He said he would serve as a burglar, and he thought that Bilbo's weaknesses could serve as an inspiration to help him manage his fears. As decades passed, the dwarves entered Elrond's Council in Rivendell. GlĂłin affirmed his belief that Balin's intention for the second attempt to enter Moria was to find the dwarven Ring of Power. Balin remembered that he last saw the Ring with Thror at Moria, but Gandalf informed him that Thror gave the ring to his son, and Sauron took it from him in Dol-Guldur. Gloin, filled with sorrow from the loss, said that he hoped the dwarves would one day get their revenge against Sauron.
Gandalf later mentioned his reason for choosing Bilbo. He said he would serve as a burglar, and he thought that Bilbo's weaknesses could serve as an inspiration to help him manage his fears. As decades passed, the dwarves entered Elrond's Council in Rivendell. GlĂłin affirmed his belief that Balin's intention for the second attempt to enter Moria was to find the dwarven Ring of Power. Balin remembered that he last saw the Ring with Thror at Moria, but Gandalf informed him that Thror gave the ring to his son, and Sauron took it from him in Dol-Guldur. Gloin, filled with sorrow from the loss, said that he hoped the dwarves would one day get their revenge against Sauron.
Adaptations
The Hobbit Trilogy
The young Thráin II was portrayed by Michael Mizrahi in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, [1] the first part of The Hobbit series. Co-dwarf actor, Thomas Robins, also portrayed Thráin II in the extended scenes, during the Battle at Moria. In The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug, [2] Thráin II was portrayed by Sir Antony Sher during the Battle of Dol Guldur. In the year 2799 of the Third Age, when Thror died in the hands of Azog during the Battle at Moria, Thráin forbade his son to charge forward towards Azog. Thráin warned his son that he should stay to preserve Durin's lineage as Azog's cause was to wipe their bloodline out. Thráin then charged towards the Dimrill Gate himself and was never found again. Thráin's son looked for his remains among those that fell.
He found nothing, so he believed that Thráin survived. Thorin was right, and Thráin did not fall in Moria. Thráin was captured as a prisoner of the dark lord Sauron and kept imprisoned in the fortress of Dul Guldur, abandoned to die after suffering years of torture. Gandalf sent Radagast to Galadriel to inform her of the return of Sauron. Gandalf then entered into Dol Guldur in search of signs of the evil of Sauron. When Gandalf got far into the fortress of Dol Guldur, a miserable-looking Thráin attacked him as a beast. The two fought, but Gandalf overpowered him and helped him recover. Gandalf recognized him as an old friend.
Thráin remembered his son and recounted his ordeal in Moria and how Azog took the ring. He warned Gandalf and told him to warn his son from taking back Erebor of the danger that such actions would cause. Gandalf and Thráin realized that the orcs were coming for them, and they fled to evade the orcs. Thráin kept recounting the evil relationship between the Dragon Smaug and Sauron. When Azog and the orcs attacked the two, Thráin was terrified by the army of orcs and lost hope, but Gandalf used his powers to repel the orcs and help them reach the exit of the fortress. There, they encountered the Darkness from Sauron. The dark manifestation of Sauron confronted the two and pulled to consume the two. Thráin was overwhelmed by Sauron's might that he gave up and told Gandalf to help him relay his love for his son for him. Gandalf advised Thráin not to lose hope in seeing his son again. But despite Gandalf's efforts to give Thráin hope, Thráin stated that it was too late already and got pulled into the darkness of Sauron.
He found nothing, so he believed that Thráin survived. Thorin was right, and Thráin did not fall in Moria. Thráin was captured as a prisoner of the dark lord Sauron and kept imprisoned in the fortress of Dul Guldur, abandoned to die after suffering years of torture. Gandalf sent Radagast to Galadriel to inform her of the return of Sauron. Gandalf then entered into Dol Guldur in search of signs of the evil of Sauron. When Gandalf got far into the fortress of Dol Guldur, a miserable-looking Thráin attacked him as a beast. The two fought, but Gandalf overpowered him and helped him recover. Gandalf recognized him as an old friend.
Thráin remembered his son and recounted his ordeal in Moria and how Azog took the ring. He warned Gandalf and told him to warn his son from taking back Erebor of the danger that such actions would cause. Gandalf and Thráin realized that the orcs were coming for them, and they fled to evade the orcs. Thráin kept recounting the evil relationship between the Dragon Smaug and Sauron. When Azog and the orcs attacked the two, Thráin was terrified by the army of orcs and lost hope, but Gandalf used his powers to repel the orcs and help them reach the exit of the fortress. There, they encountered the Darkness from Sauron. The dark manifestation of Sauron confronted the two and pulled to consume the two. Thráin was overwhelmed by Sauron's might that he gave up and told Gandalf to help him relay his love for his son for him. Gandalf advised Thráin not to lose hope in seeing his son again. But despite Gandalf's efforts to give Thráin hope, Thráin stated that it was too late already and got pulled into the darkness of Sauron.
