Thorin is one of the key characters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novel the Hobbit. The novel has recently been produced into a trilogy of films with the final installment arriving in December 2014. Thorin is the leader of a small band of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their lost homeland and kingdom.
Background
Thorin is the crown prince of the kingdom of Erebor. His grandfather Thror was king under the mountain in Erebor until the dragon Smaug laid siege to the kingdom and conquered the dwarves. Thror would lead the dwarves away from Erebor with nowhere to go and no land to claim as their own. Thorin survives the encounter with Smaug and would go on to become a leader within the wandering dwarf ranks.
The Battle of Moria
Thror led an army in an attempt to reclaim the ancient dwarven settlement of Moria. Moria was a massive series of mines and would later play an important role in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Thror finds Moria inhabited by orcs and leads a desperate attack against them. The battle rages and Azog, leader of the orcs, enters single hand to hand combat with Thror. The result is the death of the king and Azog beheads him as a sign of their victory over the dwarves.
Thorin takes up the fight where his grandfather fell and attacks Azog in a blind rage. Azog quickly takes advantage of Thorin’s unbalance and gains the upper hand. Thorin loses his shield and is forced to defend himself with a large oak branch, which earns him the name Oakenshield. Throin defeats Azog by cutting off his arm.
Finding themselves outnumbered and leaderless, the tide of battle turns against the dwarves. Thorin rises up and regroups the dwarves in a counter strike that turns the tide of the battle in favor of the dwarves. The battle ends with such incredible losses for the dwarves that there are very few of them left alive. While victorious, the dwarves lost more than they gained in the battle.
The Quest of the Lonely Mountain
Thorin encounters the wizard Gandalf the Grey and begins making plans to reclaim the kingdom of Erebor from Smaug. The goal is to retake the treasure under the mountain, regain the Arkenstone and rally the other dwarf kingdom together. Thorin recruits the remnant of his dwarven allies and gathers a band of twelve others to join him in the quest for Erebor.
Thorin is convinced by Gandalf to recruit a burglar to assist in reclaiming the Arkensone. Thorin and his company meet at the home of Bilbo Baggins in the Shire. After Bilbo is recruited, the band sets out for the Erebor.
The Battle of the Five Armies
Following the death of Smaug, who was killed by Bard, Five armies descend on Erebor and begin to fight over the kingdom and its treasure. Thorin who is under siege by an army of elves and by an army of humans, sends for aid from the dwarves of the Iron Hills. The three armies prepare to engage one another as Gandalf alerts them to another threat. An army of orcs is advancing from the fortress of Dul Guldur and threatens the dwarves, elves and humans. Thorin and the company of dwarves join in the battle to help fight off the oncoming orcs.
During the melee Thorin is mortally wounded and his nephews Killi and Filli die at his side trying to defend their king. Thorin and his nephews were buried in Erebor with honor.
