The 10 strongest Dwarves inThe Lord of the Ringsare some of fantasy’s best heroes. Dwarves are one of the many species invented by high fantasy master J.R.R. Tolkien inThe Lord of the Rings, the masterpiece published in three parts between 1954 and 1955. They were adapted by Peter Jackson in his famousHobbitandLord of the Ringstrilogies, with each movie adapting a part of the novel. From part one of the novel and Jackson’s first movie,The Fellowship of the Ring, Gimli, son of Glóin, gave the Dwarves a strong presence in the story.
But Gimli is just the best-known Dwarf of heroic stature inThe Lord of the Rings, with plenty of others spread across the legendarium. Tolkien’s firstLotRrelease was actually based on Dwarves, that beingThe Hobbit, published in 1937. The hardy Dwarves only grew in lore and legend from there on out, coming to lead many tales inThe SilmarillionandThe History of Middle-earth, and even to star in Amazon Prime Video’sThe Rings of Powerseason 1in 2022.Rings of Power’sDurin remained a main character ever since, proving the breadth and diversity of Dwarf heroes inLotR.
10Thrór I
King Of Durin’s Folk
Thrór I was the beleaguered Dwarf hero who was thrust from his home by Smaug the Golden in the year 2770 of the Third Age. Not only did he survive an attack by one ofLord of the Rings’four named dragons, but he led his people to safety. However, Thrór I had been a hero even before that. Orphaned by a cold-drake,Thrór and his brothers had guided their civilization from the dangerous Grey Mountainsto Erebor, only for Erebor, too, to be destroyed by a dragon.
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Thrór was a holder of one ofLord of the Rings’Dwarf Rings of Power, fighting against its corrupting effect to keep his sanity. He also created the famous map of the Lonely Mountain that Bilbo and Thorin followed. Following the exodus from Erebor,Thrór continued exploring, seeking to better the lives of his impoverished folk. He traveled to the entrance of Moria, which was to be his undoing. Unfortunately for Thrór, Moria had been occupied, and he left Moria headless, courtesy of Azog the Orc.
9Thráin II
Son Of Thrór
One ofThe Lord of the Rings’Rings of Powerwith the most intriguing journeys,Thrór’s Dwarven-ring was passed to ThráinII, his son. On hearing of his father’s death, Thráin, the new king, was furious. He waged the War of the Dwarves and Orcs to attempt to neutralize the threat of the Orcs. Uniting many Dwarf clans under his banner, Thráin was successful and Azog was slain.
The Dwarves' Lord Of The Rings Origin Story Explains Why Sauron & Saruman Turned Evil
The Dwarves have an interesting background in The Lord of the Rings and it cuts right to the core of good and evil in J.R.R. Tolkien’s story.
Moria was still occupied by Durin’s Bane, the Balrog, and Thráin still wasn’t content scratching out a living in Dunland. So, he took his followers to the Blue Mountains. All the while, his mind was being consumed by the Ring. He disappeared one day and was never seen again until Gandalf found him in Dol Guldur.Sauron had captured and tortured Thráin, reclaiming the ring and ending the life of one of the Dwarves' great kings.
8Durin III
Durin III was another victim ofSauron’s Rings of Power scheme, and like Thrór and Thráin, he put up a good fight against his ring’s all-consuming power while ruling a kingdom. Durin III was masterfully portrayed in Amazon Prime Video’sThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerby Scottish actor Peter Mullan.Durin guided his race through a time of prosperity, including being the first Dwarf to receive a Ring of Power.
Michael Mizrahi portrayed the older Thráin inThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
Durin had crafted a positive relationship with the Elves of Eregion, which precipitated their offer of a Ring of Power. Despite the poisonous ring,Durin’s friendship with the Elves had a strong and lasting effecton the success of both species for a long time. OnceSauron’s fair form was revealed as a disguise in Eregionand the Elves stopped working with him, in shock and horror, Sauron invaded Eregion. Durin sent troops to aid Eregion, allowing Elrond to escape to Rivendell.
7Azaghâl
Lord Of Belegost
Azaghâl was a First Age Dwarvish hero who fought against Morgoth with the Elves and Men in the War of the Jewels.Morgoth wasThe Lord of the Rings’first villain, and he was the enemy of Belegost in the First Age.Azaghâl joined the Union of Maedhros, a unique and brave alliance of Men, Elves, and Dwarves led by Noldor prince Maedhros. As a part of the Union of Maedhros, Azaghâl and his Dwarves played a major role in the Nirnaeth Arneodiad.
The story of the Nirnaeth Arneodiad is told inThe Silmarillion.
The Nirnaeth Arneodiad was also known as the Battle of Unnumbered Tears - it didn’t go well for the Union of Maedhros. But it would have gone much worse had it not been forthe Dwarves' ancient armor creation.Azaghâl and his Dwarves wore fire-retardant helmsthat helped them withstand dragon-fire. The evil dragon Glaurung was present at the battle, and Azaghâl gave his life taking him down. Attacking Glaurung, Azaghâl was struck down, but Glaurung fled the field with many of his followers.
6Thorin II Oakenshield
King Under The Mountain
The main Dwarf hero ofPeter Jackson’sThe Hobbitmoviesand their source material, ThorinOakenshield overcame a lot to end up a good man and a good king. As his father and grandfather had been poisoned by their Ring of Power, Thorin became poisoned by lust for the Arkenstone. It temporarily diverted his noble goals during his mission with Bilbo and his company to reclaim Erebor.
Thorin retook Erebor but lost his life in the process.
But through it all, Thorin stood strong and led his small team on an incredibly difficult mission, bravely facing Smaug. Once Smaug was killed,Thorin and his Company faced the Battle of Five Armies. Never one to sit out the action, Thorin leaped from the front gate and fought a winning battle. However, like Fili and Kili, he martyred himself for this cause. Thorin retook Erebor but lost his life in the process. In his final words, he appeared to relinquish the greed that had taken hold of him, finding peace.
5Durin VII
Durin The Last
Durin VII was known as Durin the Last and was the last great Durin in a long line of legendary kings. Durin VII wasn’t a main character inThe Lord of the Ringsbut was referenced in the appendices. Here, it was told howDurin VII eventually led Durin’s Folk back from Erebor to Khazad-Dûm, finally reestablishing their glorious realm of old. This had been a long time coming.
Durin VII was the final reincarnation of Durin the Deathless, and he was the last great figure in Dwarf lore. As the Elves came to fade in Middle-earth, giving way to the Age of Men, so too did the Dwarves. Despite centuries of conflict with Morgoth and Sauron, plus hostility with the Elves,Durin VII ended the Dwarves' time on Arda with peace, wealth, and positive relations with other species.
4Gimli
Lord Of The Glittering Caves
The Lord of the Rings’most famous Dwarf, Gimli, only carried out a fraction of his heroics in the main body ofThe Lord of the Rings’text. As told in Tolkien’s novel and shown in Jackson’s movies,Gimli joined the prestigious Fellowship of the Ringin accompanying Frodo on his mission to save the world, ridding it ofSauron’s One Ringand, therefore, Sauron himself. Gimli fought bravely in the War of the Ring, defending the good people of Middle-earth from Sauron’s looming threat.
ButGimli’s trueLord of the Ringsdestinywas revealed in the novel’s appendices. After proving to Dwarves and Elves that the species could once again overcome their differences, in the form of his friendship with Legolas, Gimli went traveling with the Elf. This friendship was the Third Age equivalent of Celebrimbor’s relationship with Narvi, establishing support where previously there was enmity.After visiting the Glittering Caves of Aglarond with Legolas, Gimli colonized the area, becoming Lord and going on to help rebuild Gondor after the War of the Ring.
3Dáin II Ironfoot
Lord Of The Iron Hills
Dáin II Ironfoot was a renowned warrior. Dáin joined the War of the Dwarves and Orcs with his father, Náin, at the tender age of 32. This was very young for a Dwarf. Heroically,he defeated Azog at the gates of Moria, motivated by the rage of watching Azog slay his father. Wise as well as strong, Dáin dissuaded Thráin II from entering Moria, knowing the Balrog awaited.
Dáin became Lord of the Iron Hills in his father’s stead, and eventually joined the Battle of Five Armies, assisting Thorin, Elves, and Men, in defeating an onslaught of Orcs and Wargs. After Thorin’s death, Dáin succeeded him as King under the Mountain and King of Durin’s Folk. Even more commendably,Dáin sent a Ringwraith packingwhen it came knocking many years later, asking for Bilbo’s whereabouts.
2Telchar
Dwarf Of Nogrod
Telchar may be the most famous Dwarvish smith, and the Dwarves were very famous for their smithing. Telchar forged Narsil, the sword that Elendil used to beat Sauron in the War of the Last Alliance. This victory was so cataclysmic, that it ended the Second Age and started the Third. Narsil was broken under Elendil in the fight. These were the shards that Aragorn agonized over inThe Fellowship of the Ringmovie, and that were reforged into Andúril, the Flame of the West.
In essence, neither the War of the Last Alliance nor the War of the Ring could have been won without Telchar.
Telchar made the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin, which was famously worn by Túrin inThe Silmarillion. Also, Angrist, the knife that Lúthien and Beren used to pry a Silmaril from Morgoth’s crown, was forged by Telchar. The Dwarvish equivalent of the Elves' greatest smith, Celebrimbor,Telchar saved Middle-earth, indirectly, more than once. In essence, neither the War of the Last Alliance nor the War of the Ring could have been won without Telchar.
1Durin The Deathless
Eldest Of The Fathers Of The Dwarves
Although it may seem harsh to claim that the Dwarves peaked at the first-ever member of their race, and it was all downhill from there, there are good reasons whyDurin the Deathless may just be the greatest Dwarf to have ever lived. The first Dwarf and the eldest of the Fathers of the Dwarves to awaken, Durin the Deathless was created by one ofLord of the Rings'15 Valar- by Aulë himself. And despite his moniker, he did eventually die but lived for longer than any other Dwarf in recorded history.
Durin the Deathless put this time to good use, carving out a place for the Dwarves in Khazad-Dûm.Durin I’s reign was considered a golden agein Dwarf lore, with centuries of peaceful mining, culture, and growth generated in his era. Dwarves of future generations would have multiple threats to contend with. Multiple myths exist inThe Lord of the Ringslegendarium of Durin’s deathlessness. Not just very long-lived, Durin was said to reincarnate into subsequent generations, and in some legends, back into his own body.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
