Fathers of the Dwarves

[Finmandos12]

Were the Fathers of the Dwarves actually reincarnated later in their descendants? I read that in the Tolkien Bestiary( knowing how often its wrong, I wouldn't be suprised if it was on this).

[Ben]

Well although they called him "Durin the Deathless" I believe it was actually separate individuals. They just liked to say he was the reincarnation of Durin.

[Finmandos12]

Another mistake by Day.

[The Eye of Fangorn]

I think it would be nice knowing thet Gimli was a reincarnation of Durin.

[Xivigg]

can't be

he would have been a direct descendant of Durin and he would have been named Durin not gimli

[Ñólendil]

Day's not too far off. The info. can be found in Peoples of Middle-earth, Late Writings, Last Writings. When the Fathers of the Dwarves died, their spirits were laid to 'sleep', they rested in the tombs of their own bodies and any suffering that the body had suffered is healed. When a King in their direct descent died without an heir, they awoke and took up the Kingship. So in a curious sense, yes, they were reincarnated.

The Last Durin was Dain Ironfoot's grandson, Thorin Stonehelm's 'son'. I.e., Thorin III must have died without an heir. There's an interesting story there, there must be. Durin VI died in Moria, he was slain by the Balrog. But obviously, no one removed his body. It is recorded that the Last Durin became King Under the Mountain in the 100th year of the Fourth Age, and became King of Khazad-dum before 175 (or 173, I don't remember). Durin VII must have awoken in the Black Pit and must have journeyed from the Dwarrowdelf to Erebor. There he would have reigned for some time before retaking Moria.