The Prophecy of Durin VII - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

A_Brandybuck · 05-26-2006, 02:12 PM

There is a little reference to Durin VII concerning the Battle of Five Armies. YOu can find it in HoME XII: Peoples of Middle-Earth: Late Writings, Of Glorfindel, Cirdan and other matters:
The context of the mention is the reincarnation of the Seven Fathers of Dwarves in descendants of them.

In the Third Age Durin VI was slain by a Balrog in 1980. It was prophesied (by the Dwarves), when Dain Ironfoot took kingship in Third Age 2941 (after the Battle of Five Armies), that in his direct line there would one day appear a Durin VII - but he would be the last.

This fact sadly didn't make it to come into the Appendix. ;-)

For me the prophecy of Dain indicates, that the Time of the Dwarves comes to an end similar to the time of Middle-Earth. There was always a Durin (or came back after a time), the next should be the last. It doesn't sound good for the Dwarves. They have already been a dwindling race at the end of the Third Age.

Anguirel · 05-26-2006, 02:28 PM

I am reminded of the Byzantine prophecy that as Constantinople's first Emperor was Constantine born of Helena, so its last Emperor would be Constantine born of Helena. And so it came to pass, in the person of the valiant but doomed Constantine XI Palaeologus.

Deeply sad, in both cases. That sense that I feel is Tolkien's primary "kick", of something being lost that can never be replaced.

05-26-2006, 02:12 PM	#1
A_Brandybuck Haunting Spirit Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 95	There is a little reference to Durin VII concerning the Battle of Five Armies. YOu can find it in HoME XII: Peoples of Middle-Earth: Late Writings, Of Glorfindel, Cirdan and other matters: The context of the mention is the reincarnation of the Seven Fathers of Dwarves in descendants of them. In the Third Age Durin VI was slain by a Balrog in 1980. It was prophesied (by the Dwarves), when Dain Ironfoot took kingship in Third Age 2941 (after the Battle of Five Armies), that in his direct line there would one day appear a Durin VII - but he would be the last. This fact sadly didn't make it to come into the Appendix. ;-) For me the prophecy of Dain indicates, that the Time of the Dwarves comes to an end similar to the time of Middle-Earth. There was always a Durin (or came back after a time), the next should be the last. It doesn't sound good for the Dwarves. They have already been a dwindling race at the end of the Third Age. __________________ „I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve."

05-26-2006, 02:28 PM	#2
Anguirel Byronic Brand Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: The 1590s Posts: 2,778	I am reminded of the Byzantine prophecy that as Constantinople's first Emperor was Constantine born of Helena, so its last Emperor would be Constantine born of Helena. And so it came to pass, in the person of the valiant but doomed Constantine XI Palaeologus. Deeply sad, in both cases. That sense that I feel is Tolkien's primary "kick", of something being lost that can never be replaced. __________________ Among the friendly dead, being bad at games did not seem to matter -Il Lupo Fenriso