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HiddenVale (talk | contribs) (That wording could have been interpreted as, "too small to be included within a wider, preexisting kingdom", but this is what you meant.) Tag: Visual edit |
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| caption = '''Balin''', as he appears in Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' Trilogy |
| caption = '''Balin''', as he appears in Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit' Trilogy |
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| name = Balin |
| name = Balin |
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| − | | |
+ | |siblings = [[Dwalin]] |
| + | | title = Lord of Moria |
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| birth = [[TA 2763]] |
| birth = [[TA 2763]] |
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| − | | rule = [[TA 2989]] |
+ | | rule = [[TA 2989]] - [[TA 2994]] |
| − | | death = |
+ | | death = November 10, TA 2994 |
| − | | realm = |
+ | | realm = |
| spouse = |
| spouse = |
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| weapon = Sword |
| weapon = Sword |
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| voice = Don Messick, in the 1977 [[Rankin/Bass]] version of ''The Hobbit'' |
| voice = Don Messick, in the 1977 [[Rankin/Bass]] version of ''The Hobbit'' |
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| character = |
| character = |
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| + | |age = 231 (at death)|realms = [[Khazad-dûm]]}} |
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| − | '''Balin''' was a [[Dwarf]] leader, the son of [[Fundin]], and elder brother of [[Dwalin]]. He was one of the [[Thorin and Company|thirteen Dwarves]] who accompanied [[Thorin II Oakenshield]] on the quest to regain the [[Lonely Mountain]]. |
+ | '''Balin''' was a [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] leader, the son of [[Fundin]], and elder brother of [[Dwalin]]. He was one of the [[Thorin and Company|thirteen Dwarves]] who accompanied [[Thorin II Oakenshield]] on the [[Quest of Erebor|quest]] to regain the [[Lonely Mountain]]. |
| − | A Dwarf Lord known for his wise counsel and willingness to listen, he was one of Thorin's closest friends and advisers. Balin was distantly related to him, and a descendant of the noble [[Durin's Folk| |
+ | A Dwarf Lord known for his wise counsel and willingness to listen, he was one of Thorin's closest friends and advisers. Balin was distantly related to him, and a descendant of the noble [[Durin's Folk|House of Durin]]. |
| − | He later went to re-establish the |
+ | He later went to re-establish the Dwarf presence in [[Khazad-dûm|Moria]], but within five years it was overcome once more by [[Orcs]], and he was killed there along with the rest of his companions. |
== Biography == |
== Biography == |
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=== Early life === |
=== Early life === |
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| − | Balin was likely born in the [[Lonely Mountain]] before the coming of the [[dragon]] [[Smaug]]. He had a younger brother named [[Dwalin]], and was amongst those driven from their homes when Smaug [[ |
+ | Balin was likely born in the [[Lonely Mountain]] before the coming of the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]]. He had a younger brother named [[Dwalin]], and was amongst those driven from their homes when Smaug [[Sack of Erebor|attacked]] the Lonely Mountain. Afterwards, he may have lived in [[Dunland]] as a refugee, before fighting in the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]] which culminated in the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]. Many years later, in approximately [[TA 2841]], he accompanied [[Thráin II]], the father of Thorin, when he attempted to go back to the Lonely Mountain himself, but Thráin was captured and lost.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix A]], Annals of the Kings and Rulers, III. "Durin's Folk"</ref> |
| − | === Quest |
+ | === Quest of Erebor === |
| − | Balin was part of the [[Thorin and Company|company]] assembled by Thorin Oakenshield in [[TA 2941]] that journeyed to the Lonely Mountain with [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Gandalf]] to defeat Smaug, and to retake the kingdom of Erebor. He was the second Dwarf to arrive at Bilbo's [[Bag End| |
+ | Balin was part of the [[Thorin and Company|company]] assembled by Thorin Oakenshield in [[TA 2941]] that journeyed to the Lonely Mountain with [[Bilbo Baggins]] and [[Gandalf]] to defeat Smaug, and to retake the kingdom of Erebor. He was the second Dwarf to arrive at Bilbo's [[Bag End|home]], where, like his brother Dwalin, he played a viol as big as himself.<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. I: "[[An Unexpected Party]]"</ref> Following the meeting's conclusion and the company's initial departure to the [[Green Dragon Inn]], Balin spotted Bilbo hurrying to reach them before they set out.<ref name=":0">''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. II: "[[Roast Mutton]]"</ref> |
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| + | Balin, along with his companions, underwent the journey through the [[Trollshaws]] and [[Lone-lands]] to [[Rivendell]], including the encounter with the trolls [[Tom, Bert, and William]].<ref name=":0" /> The company rested in Rivendell for some time, and after setting out to cross the [[Misty Mountains]], were captured by [[Orcs]] on the [[High Pass]], after taking refuge from a thunderstorm.<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. IV: "[[Over Hill and Under Hill]]"</ref> With Gandalf's help, the Dwarves escaped, and subsequently Balin was posted as a lookout when Bilbo returned, having been separated from the company during their flight. Due to Bilbo's usage of the [[One Ring]], which he had discovered in the Orc tunnels, the Hobbit crept by Balin unnoticed, puzzling the Dwarf a great deal. Soon afterwards, the company was beset by [[Wargs]], which forced them to climb a number of pine trees until their rescue by the [[Great Eagles]].<ref name=":1">''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. VI: "[[Out Of The Frying-Pan Into The Fire]]"</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The Eagles took them to their eyrie, and then to the [[Carrock]], from whence the company traveled to the [[Beorn]]'s [[Beorn's hall|hall]].<ref name=":1" /> Gandalf decided to introduce the Dwarves by pairs so as not to overwhelm Beorn, and Balin and Dwalin were chosen to come first. Having been welcomed by the skin-changer and given rest and provisions, the company set out to cross the forest of [[Mirkwood]].<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. VII: "[[Queer Lodgings]]"</ref> Despite having been warned to the contrary, the Dwarves eventually left the path after running low on supplies, and were soon waylaid by great [[spiders]], which intended to eat them. Bilbo used the Ring to escape notice, and returned to free them. Balin afterwards led the company in escaping from and fighting off the spiders, though the Dwarves were captured by Wood-elves, and taken to the hall of the Elvenking, [[Thranduil]]. It was here that Balin spoke for his companions, arguing for their release. Thranduil refused, and imprisoned the Dwarves, until Bilbo again rescued the company.<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. VIII: "[[Flies and Spiders]]"</ref> |
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| − | + | The Dwarves came to [[Lake-town]],<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. X: "[[A Warm Welcome]]"</ref> and then to the Lonely Mountain. After opening the [[Side-door]] to the mountain,<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. XI: "[[On the Doorstep]]"</ref> Balin was the only member of the company willing to go with Bilbo some way inside. The hobbit, after unintentionally disturbing the dragon Smaug, returned to the Dwarves, but Smaug left his lair and attempted to kill the Dwarves before turning to Lake-town, with the intent to destroy it.<ref>[[The Hobbit|''The Hobbit'']], Chapter XII: "[[Inside Information]]"</ref> The dragon was there slain by [[Bard]], and the Dwarves took possession of the mountain.<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. XIII: "[[Not At Home]]"</ref> Thorin and Balin, not long after, came upon the raven [[Roäc]], who brought word of the dragon's demise.<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. XIV: "[[The Gathering of the Clouds]]"</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Balin fought in and survived the subsequent [[Battle of Five Armies]], which was fought against [[Orcs]] led by [[Bolg]], after tensions with the [[Lake-men]] and Wood-elves had run high, due to a disagreement about the division of Smaug's treasure.<ref>''[[The Hobbit]]'', Ch. XVII: "[[The Clouds Burst]]"</ref> He took up residence at the Lonely Mountain afterwards with the surviving members of the company. |
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| ⚫ | The Eagles took them to their eyrie, and then to the [[Carrock]], from whence the company traveled to the |
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| + | === Visiting Bilbo === |
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| − | The dwarves came to [[Lake-town]],<ref>[[The Hobbit|''The Hobbit'']], Chapter X: "[[A Warm Welcome]]"</ref> and then to the Lonely Mountain. After opening the [[side-door]] to the mountain,<ref>[[The Hobbit|''The Hobbit'']], Chapter XI: "[[On the Doorstep]]"</ref> Balin was the only member of the company willing to go with the hobbit some way inside. The hobbit, after unintentionally disturbing the dragon Smaug, returned to the dwarves, but Smaug left his lair and attempted to kill the dwarves before turning to Lake-town, with the intent to destroy it.<ref>[[The Hobbit|''The Hobbit'']], Chapter XII: "[[Inside Information]]"</ref> The dragon was there slain by [[Bard]], and the dwarves took possession of the mountain.<ref>[[The Hobbit|''The Hobbit'']], Chapter XIII: "[[Not At Home]]"</ref> Thorin and Balin, not long after, came upon the raven [[Roäc]], who brought word of the dragon's demise.<ref>[[The Hobbit|''The Hobbit'']]: Chapter XIV: "[[The Gathering of the Clouds]]"</ref> |
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| + | Seven years after the Quest for Erebor, Balin accompanied Gandalf to visit Bilbo in the [[Shire]] in [[TA 2949]], since the two had become good friends during their travels. He and Gandalf gave Bilbo the news of current happenings in Middle-earth.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', [[Appendix B]], The Tale of Years, "The Third Age"</ref> |
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| + | Sometime afterward in the coming years before his expedition in TA 2989, Balin would visit Bilbo at least one more time. During this visit to the Shire, Balin met Bilbo's newly adopted heir of Bag End, [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], and the young Hobbit would come to learn of some of Balin and his Uncle's travels to the lonely mountain. |
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| ⚫ | Balin fought in and survived the subsequent [[Battle of Five Armies]], which was fought against |
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| − | === Expedition |
+ | === Expedition into Moria === |
[[File:Balin's_death.png|thumb|340x340px|Balin at his death bed]] |
[[File:Balin's_death.png|thumb|340x340px|Balin at his death bed]] |
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| − | In [[TA 2989]], Balin led an expedition in an attempt to reclaim the ancient |
+ | In [[TA 2989]], Balin led an [[re-colonization of Moria|expedition]] in an attempt to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of [[Khazad-dûm|Moria]], hoping to re-establish Dwarven rule and to reclaim the [[Ring of Thrór|last]] of the [[Rings of Power|Seven Rings]] of the Dwarves.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Vol. I: ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring (novel)|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Book Two, Ch. I: "[[Many Meetings]]"</ref> Though his king did not give his consent, Balin and company went anyway. Among his numbers were fellow members of Thorin's company [[Óin]] and [[Ori]]. While in Moria, he discovered [[Durin's Axe]] and a [[Mithril]] helm (possibly the crown of [[Durin I|Durin l]]) and claimed them as his own. After the discovery of these items Balin, being a descendant of the [[House of Durin|line of Durin]], claimed rulership over the Dwarven realm, taking the title Lord of Moria (his colony being too small to be counted as a kingdom). Ultimately, the search for the ring, which conferred great wealth and a curse of greed on its owner, was in vain, as it had been taken from [[Thráin II]] by [[Sauron]]. |
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| + | After ruling as Moria's Lord for about five years, Balin was slain by [[Orcs]] on [[November 10]] [[TA 2994]], after going to look upon the [[Kheled-zâram|Mirromere]] alone. His body was recovered after a battle, and entombed in the [[Chamber of Mazarbul]]. The attempt to retake Moria ultimately failed afterward, as the rest of his kin we're eventually trapped and killed.<ref name=":2">''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Vol. I: ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring (novel)|The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', Book Two, Ch. V: "[[The Bridge of Khazad-dûm]]"</ref> Ironically he died in the same place and the same way as his father had been slain 195 years before in [[TA 2799]]. |
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=== Legacy === |
=== Legacy === |
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| ⚫ | [[File:Durin's grave.jpg|thumb|Balin's tomb at the time of the Fellowship's arrival|190x190px]]Some twenty-five years later in [[TA 3019]], the [[Fellowship of the Ring (group)|Fellowship of the Ring]] passed through Moria and discovered [[Balin's tomb]], and the truth of what happened to his expedition, which had not previously been known, in the [[Book of Mazarbul]]. The knowledge of this brought much grief to Balin's cousin [[Gimli]], who was a member of the fellowship.<ref name=":2" /> |
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| − | [[File:Book of Mazarbul1.jpg|thumb|282px|Book of Mazarbul]] |
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| ⚫ | Some twenty-five years later in [[TA 3019]], the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] passed through Moria and discovered [[Balin's tomb]], and the truth of what happened to his expedition, which had not previously been known, in the [[Book of Mazarbul]]. The knowledge of this brought much grief to Balin's |
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== Characteristics == |
== Characteristics == |
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| − | Balin was a discerning character, being described as the company's "look-out man": He spotted Bilbo approaching [[ |
+ | Balin was a discerning character, being described as the company's "look-out man": He spotted Bilbo approaching the [[Green Dragon Inn]] at [[Bywater]]; he spotted the [[Tom, Bert, and William|trolls]]' fire, and; he was the first to spot the [[Elves]] in [[Mirkwood]]. He noted that not even a mouse had ever passed him on watch, and wondered why he did not notice Bilbo (hidden by wearing the magic ring) when he was lookout for the company after escaping the Orcs in the [[Misty Mountains]]. Among the Dwarves of the company, Balin was the second-eldest dwarf, and loosely held the position of deputy leader. |
Balin gained respect for Bilbo's abilities, and was the only dwarf who volunteered to accompany Bilbo down the secret passage to Smaug's chamber. Of all the Dwarves in the quest, Balin was the only one known to have visited Bilbo at [[Bag End]] after their quest for the Lonely Mountain. |
Balin gained respect for Bilbo's abilities, and was the only dwarf who volunteered to accompany Bilbo down the secret passage to Smaug's chamber. Of all the Dwarves in the quest, Balin was the only one known to have visited Bilbo at [[Bag End]] after their quest for the Lonely Mountain. |
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| + | == Other versions of the legendarium == |
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| + | In early drafts of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' in the 1940s, Balin had a son called [[Burin]], who accompanied [[Bilbo Baggins]] from [[Bag End]] along with his fellow dwarves [[Anar (Dwarf)|Anar]], [[Hannar]], [[Lofar]] and [[Nar]].<ref>''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', Vol. VI: ''[[The Return of the Shadow]]''</ref><ref>''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', Vol. VII: ''[[The Treason of Isengard]]''</ref> |
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| + | [[File:Rankin Bass Balin.PNG|thumb|199x199px|Balin (1977)]] |
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=== Rankin/Bass films === |
=== Rankin/Bass films === |
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| − | In the |
+ | In the 1977 animated version of ''[[The Hobbit (1977 animated film)|The Hobbit]]'', he was voiced by [[wikipedia:Don Messick|Don Messick]]. He is one of the few Dwarves to have a major role in the film. |
| − | === The Hobbit film trilogy === |
+ | === ''The Hobbit'' film trilogy === |
| − | In [[Peter Jackson]]'s |
+ | In [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[The Hobbit film trilogy|''The Hobbit'' film trilogy]], he was portrayed by Scottish actor [[Ken Stott]]. The studio released the following statement regarding Balin in the films: |
<blockquote> |
<blockquote> |
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''A descendant of nobility and a Dwarf Lord in his own right, Balin is one of the oldest members of The Company of Dwarves. Wise and gentle by nature, he has been forced to live a life fraught with war and the ongoing struggle for survival. Related to Thorin Oakenshield, Balin is one of his closest, most trusted advisers – but deep in his heart, this wisest and most loyal of Dwarves harbors troubling doubts about the wisdom of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain.''</blockquote> |
''A descendant of nobility and a Dwarf Lord in his own right, Balin is one of the oldest members of The Company of Dwarves. Wise and gentle by nature, he has been forced to live a life fraught with war and the ongoing struggle for survival. Related to Thorin Oakenshield, Balin is one of his closest, most trusted advisers – but deep in his heart, this wisest and most loyal of Dwarves harbors troubling doubts about the wisdom of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain.''</blockquote> |
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| − | In ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'', Balin shows his wisdom when he tells [[Fíli and Kíli]] and [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] about [[Thorin |
+ | In ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'', Balin shows his wisdom when he tells [[Fíli and Kíli]] and [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] about [[Thorin II|Thorin]]’s dislike for Orcs. |
| − | In ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]'', Balin persuades [[Bard the Bowman]] to take them safely to Lake-town in return for a huge amount of money (double Bard's usual barge fare), an event that did not occur in the book. |
+ | In ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]'', Balin persuades [[Bard|Bard the Bowman]] to take them safely to Lake-town in return for a huge amount of money (double Bard's usual barge fare), an event that did not occur in the book. |
| − | In [[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies |
+ | In ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'', Balin fights in and survives the battle, during which he helps to man a dwarven war chariot and transport [[Dwalin]], Fíli, and Kíli to [[Ravenhill]]. He later personally bids Bilbo farewell at his leaving. |
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| − | ==== Personality ==== |
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| + | ===Games=== |
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| ⚫ | Balin is portrayed to be the wiser, more social and |
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| + | [[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Balin.jpg|thumb|left|Young Balin in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']] |
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| + | In ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'', Young Balin makes a cameo appearance in a flashback sequence depicting the [[Battle of Azanulbizar]]. Older Balin makes another silent cameo during the Company's departure for the [[Quest of Erebor]]. In the present day, the fate of Balin's expedition in Moria is uncovered by the sons of [[Bifur]] and [[Bofur]]. |
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| − | === |
+ | ==== Personality ==== |
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| ⚫ | Balin is portrayed to be the wiser, more social and sceptical individual in Thorin and Company. He is kind, sly and brave, an excellent fighter. Thorin, at one point, notes Balin's skill as a fighter. He develops an essentially strong relationship with the other Dwarves he travels with and is willing to fight alongside them for any cause. He is sympathetic, sometimes cynical, towards Bilbo Baggins, remarking that the latter wasn't fit for the job they had set out to do. He got on brilliantly with Thorin, and seemed to share something of a grandfatherly view of the latter. |
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| − | * In the 1977 [[Rankin/Bass]] adaptation of 'The Hobbit', Balin, voiced by Don Messick, is one of the few dwarves to have a major role in the film. |
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| − | * In Peter Jackson's films, Balin fights with a weapon with similarities of a sword and a mace, which [[Ken Stott]], asked for himself. |
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| − | * Of all the dwarves on the quest to reclaim the [[Lonely Mountain]], Balin was the only dwarf known to have visited [[Bilbo Baggins]] after the journey. |
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=== Voice dubbing actors === |
=== Voice dubbing actors === |
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| − | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |
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| + | {{Clear}} |
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| + | === Books === |
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| + | [[File:87-31-00990 Hobbit Balin Mace 004.jpg|thumb|Balin's (Cinematic trilogy) Weapon]] |
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| + | {{Gallery|width=120|height=160|captionalign=center|position=center |
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| + | |Balin.png|Peter Jackson's films Balin|11=Balin (Leadership).JPG|12=Balin in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game]], The Hobbit: On the Doorstep Expansion''}} |
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==Translations== |
==Translations== |
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| width="300" |'''Foreign Language''' |
| width="300" |'''Foreign Language''' |
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| width="300" |'''Translated name''' |
| width="300" |'''Translated name''' |
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|Bulgarian Cyrillic |
|Bulgarian Cyrillic |
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|Балин |
|Балин |
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| + | |Burmese |
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| + | |ဘာလင် |
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|Chinese (Hong Kong) |
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|巴林 |
|巴林 |
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| − | |Balin |
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{{Clear}} |
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| + | {{Sequence |
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| + | |before=[[Náin I]] |
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| + | |title=[[King of Khazad-dûm]] |
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| + | |after=[[Durin VII]] |
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| + | |years=[[TA 2989]] - [[TA 2995]] |
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{{Thorin and Company}} |
{{Thorin and Company}} |
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| − | == |
+ | ==References== |
<references /> |
<references /> |
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Latest revision as of 20:30, 10 April 2024
Balin was a Dwarf leader, the son of Fundin, and elder brother of Dwalin. He was one of the thirteen Dwarves who accompanied Thorin II Oakenshield on the quest to regain the Lonely Mountain.
A Dwarf Lord known for his wise counsel and willingness to listen, he was one of Thorin's closest friends and advisers. Balin was distantly related to him, and a descendant of the noble House of Durin.
He later went to re-establish the Dwarf presence in Moria, but within five years it was overcome once more by Orcs, and he was killed there along with the rest of his companions.
Biography
Early life
Balin was likely born in the Lonely Mountain before the coming of the dragon Smaug. He had a younger brother named Dwalin, and was amongst those driven from their homes when Smaug attacked the Lonely Mountain. Afterwards, he may have lived in Dunland as a refugee, before fighting in the War of the Dwarves and Orcs which culminated in the Battle of Azanulbizar. Many years later, in approximately TA 2841, he accompanied Thráin II, the father of Thorin, when he attempted to go back to the Lonely Mountain himself, but Thráin was captured and lost.[1]
Quest of Erebor
Balin was part of the company assembled by Thorin Oakenshield in TA 2941 that journeyed to the Lonely Mountain with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf to defeat Smaug, and to retake the kingdom of Erebor. He was the second Dwarf to arrive at Bilbo's home, where, like his brother Dwalin, he played a viol as big as himself.[2] Following the meeting's conclusion and the company's initial departure to the Green Dragon Inn, Balin spotted Bilbo hurrying to reach them before they set out.[3]
Balin visits Bilbo in The Hobbit films
Balin, along with his companions, underwent the journey through the Trollshaws and Lone-lands to Rivendell, including the encounter with the trolls Tom, Bert, and William.[3] The company rested in Rivendell for some time, and after setting out to cross the Misty Mountains, were captured by Orcs on the High Pass, after taking refuge from a thunderstorm.[4] With Gandalf's help, the Dwarves escaped, and subsequently Balin was posted as a lookout when Bilbo returned, having been separated from the company during their flight. Due to Bilbo's usage of the One Ring, which he had discovered in the Orc tunnels, the Hobbit crept by Balin unnoticed, puzzling the Dwarf a great deal. Soon afterwards, the company was beset by Wargs, which forced them to climb a number of pine trees until their rescue by the Great Eagles.[5]
The Eagles took them to their eyrie, and then to the Carrock, from whence the company traveled to the Beorn's hall.[5] Gandalf decided to introduce the Dwarves by pairs so as not to overwhelm Beorn, and Balin and Dwalin were chosen to come first. Having been welcomed by the skin-changer and given rest and provisions, the company set out to cross the forest of Mirkwood.[6] Despite having been warned to the contrary, the Dwarves eventually left the path after running low on supplies, and were soon waylaid by great spiders, which intended to eat them. Bilbo used the Ring to escape notice, and returned to free them. Balin afterwards led the company in escaping from and fighting off the spiders, though the Dwarves were captured by Wood-elves, and taken to the hall of the Elvenking, Thranduil. It was here that Balin spoke for his companions, arguing for their release. Thranduil refused, and imprisoned the Dwarves, until Bilbo again rescued the company.[7]
The Dwarves came to Lake-town,[8] and then to the Lonely Mountain. After opening the Side-door to the mountain,[9] Balin was the only member of the company willing to go with Bilbo some way inside. The hobbit, after unintentionally disturbing the dragon Smaug, returned to the Dwarves, but Smaug left his lair and attempted to kill the Dwarves before turning to Lake-town, with the intent to destroy it.[10] The dragon was there slain by Bard, and the Dwarves took possession of the mountain.[11] Thorin and Balin, not long after, came upon the raven Roäc, who brought word of the dragon's demise.[12]
Balin fought in and survived the subsequent Battle of Five Armies, which was fought against Orcs led by Bolg, after tensions with the Lake-men and Wood-elves had run high, due to a disagreement about the division of Smaug's treasure.[13] He took up residence at the Lonely Mountain afterwards with the surviving members of the company.
Visiting Bilbo
Seven years after the Quest for Erebor, Balin accompanied Gandalf to visit Bilbo in the Shire in TA 2949, since the two had become good friends during their travels. He and Gandalf gave Bilbo the news of current happenings in Middle-earth.[14]
Sometime afterward in the coming years before his expedition in TA 2989, Balin would visit Bilbo at least one more time. During this visit to the Shire, Balin met Bilbo's newly adopted heir of Bag End, Frodo, and the young Hobbit would come to learn of some of Balin and his Uncle's travels to the lonely mountain.
Expedition into Moria
Balin at his death bed
In TA 2989, Balin led an expedition in an attempt to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria, hoping to re-establish Dwarven rule and to reclaim the last of the Seven Rings of the Dwarves.[15] Though his king did not give his consent, Balin and company went anyway. Among his numbers were fellow members of Thorin's company Óin and Ori. While in Moria, he discovered Durin's Axe and a Mithril helm (possibly the crown of Durin l) and claimed them as his own. After the discovery of these items Balin, being a descendant of the line of Durin, claimed rulership over the Dwarven realm, taking the title Lord of Moria (his colony being too small to be counted as a kingdom). Ultimately, the search for the ring, which conferred great wealth and a curse of greed on its owner, was in vain, as it had been taken from Thráin II by Sauron.
Death
After ruling as Moria's Lord for about five years, Balin was slain by Orcs on November 10 TA 2994, after going to look upon the Mirromere alone. His body was recovered after a battle, and entombed in the Chamber of Mazarbul. The attempt to retake Moria ultimately failed afterward, as the rest of his kin we're eventually trapped and killed.[16] Ironically he died in the same place and the same way as his father had been slain 195 years before in TA 2799.
Legacy
Balin's tomb at the time of the Fellowship's arrival
Some twenty-five years later in TA 3019, the Fellowship of the Ring passed through Moria and discovered Balin's tomb, and the truth of what happened to his expedition, which had not previously been known, in the Book of Mazarbul. The knowledge of this brought much grief to Balin's cousin Gimli, who was a member of the fellowship.[16]
Characteristics
Balin was a discerning character, being described as the company's "look-out man": He spotted Bilbo approaching the Green Dragon Inn at Bywater; he spotted the trolls' fire, and; he was the first to spot the Elves in Mirkwood. He noted that not even a mouse had ever passed him on watch, and wondered why he did not notice Bilbo (hidden by wearing the magic ring) when he was lookout for the company after escaping the Orcs in the Misty Mountains. Among the Dwarves of the company, Balin was the second-eldest dwarf, and loosely held the position of deputy leader.
Balin gained respect for Bilbo's abilities, and was the only dwarf who volunteered to accompany Bilbo down the secret passage to Smaug's chamber. Of all the Dwarves in the quest, Balin was the only one known to have visited Bilbo at Bag End after their quest for the Lonely Mountain.
Other versions of the legendarium
In early drafts of The Lord of the Rings in the 1940s, Balin had a son called Burin, who accompanied Bilbo Baggins from Bag End along with his fellow dwarves Anar, Hannar, Lofar and Nar.[17][18]
In adaptations
Balin (1977)
Rankin/Bass films
In the 1977 animated version of The Hobbit, he was voiced by Don Messick. He is one of the few Dwarves to have a major role in the film.
The Hobbit film trilogy
In Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy, he was portrayed by Scottish actor Ken Stott. The studio released the following statement regarding Balin in the films:
A descendant of nobility and a Dwarf Lord in his own right, Balin is one of the oldest members of The Company of Dwarves. Wise and gentle by nature, he has been forced to live a life fraught with war and the ongoing struggle for survival. Related to Thorin Oakenshield, Balin is one of his closest, most trusted advisers – but deep in his heart, this wisest and most loyal of Dwarves harbors troubling doubts about the wisdom of the Quest for the Lonely Mountain.
In The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Balin shows his wisdom when he tells Fíli and Kíli and Bilbo about Thorin’s dislike for Orcs.
In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Balin persuades Bard the Bowman to take them safely to Lake-town in return for a huge amount of money (double Bard's usual barge fare), an event that did not occur in the book.
In The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Balin fights in and survives the battle, during which he helps to man a dwarven war chariot and transport Dwalin, Fíli, and Kíli to Ravenhill. He later personally bids Bilbo farewell at his leaving.
Balin fights with a weapon with similarities to a sword and a mace, which Ken Stott, asked for himself. While in the book, Balin is about twenty years younger than Thorin, in Peter Jackson's three-part adaptation, Balin is ranked as the oldest member of the company.
Games
Young Balin in The Lord of the Rings Online
In The Lord of the Rings Online, Young Balin makes a cameo appearance in a flashback sequence depicting the Battle of Azanulbizar. Older Balin makes another silent cameo during the Company's departure for the Quest of Erebor. In the present day, the fate of Balin's expedition in Moria is uncovered by the sons of Bifur and Bofur.
Personality
Balin is portrayed to be the wiser, more social and sceptical individual in Thorin and Company. He is kind, sly and brave, an excellent fighter. Thorin, at one point, notes Balin's skill as a fighter. He develops an essentially strong relationship with the other Dwarves he travels with and is willing to fight alongside them for any cause. He is sympathetic, sometimes cynical, towards Bilbo Baggins, remarking that the latter wasn't fit for the job they had set out to do. He got on brilliantly with Thorin, and seemed to share something of a grandfatherly view of the latter.
Voice dubbing actors
| Foreign Language | Voice dubbing artist |
| Japanese | Takashi Inagaki (稲垣隆史) |
| French (France) | Jean-Claude Donda |
| Spanish (Latin America) | Jaime Vega |
| Spanish (Spain) | Jordi Vila |
| German | Alexander Pelz |
| Italian (Italy) | Carlo Valli |
| Portuguese (Brazil) (Television/DVD) | Pádua Moreira / Isaac Schneider (AUJ) |
| Polish | Zdzisław Wardejn |
| Czech | Oldřich Vlach |
| Slovak | Dušan Kaprálik |
| Hungarian | Endre Botár |
| Russian | Aleksei Borzunov (Борзунов, Алексей Алексеевич) † (AUJ) Boris Bystrov (Быстров, Борис Евгеньевич) (DOS) |
| Ukrainian | Eugen Maluha (Євге́н Малу́ха) |
| Thai | Suphap Chaiwisutthikun (สุภาพ ไชยวิสุทธิกุล) |
Appearances
Books
- The Hobbit
- The Fellowship of the Ring (Mentioned only)
Films
- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
- The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- The Hobbit (1977 animated film)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Mentioned and Tomb only)
Balin's (Cinematic trilogy) Weapon
Gallery
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Translations
| Foreign Language | Translated name |
| Amharic | ባሊን |
| Arabic | بالين |
| Armenian | Բալին |
| Belarusian Cyrillic | Балін |
| Bengali | বলিং |
| Bulgarian Cyrillic | Балин |
| Burmese | ဘာလင် |
| Chinese (Hong Kong) | 巴林 |
| Georgian | ბალინი |
| Greek | Μπάλιν |
| Gujarati | બલિન્ |
| Hebrew | באלין |
| Hindi | बलिन् |
| Japanese | バーリン |
| Kannada | ಬಾಲಿನ್ |
| Kazakh | Балин (Cyrillic) Balïn (Latin) |
| Korean | 발린 |
| Kyrgyz Cyrillic | Балин |
| Macedonian Cyrillic | Балин |
| Marathi | बॅलीन |
| Mongolian Cyrillic | Балин |
| Nepalese | बलिन् |
| Pashto | بالین |
| Persian | بالین |
| Punjabi | ਬਾਲਿਨ |
| Russian | Балин |
| Sanskrit | बलिन् |
| Serbian | Балин (Cyrillic) Balin (Latin) |
| Sinhalese | බැලින් |
| Tajik Cyrillic | Балин |
| Tamil | பாலின் |
| Telugu | బాలిం |
| Thai | บาลิน |
| Ukrainian Cyrillic | Балин |
| Urdu | بالین |
| Uzbek | Балин (Cyrillic) Balin (Latin) |
| Yiddish | באַלין |
| King of Khazad-dûm | ||
| Preceded by Náin I |
Balin | Succeeded by Durin VII |
| TA 2989 - TA 2995 | ||
| Thorin and Company | |
|---|---|
| Thorin II • Balin • Dwalin • Fíli • Kíli • Dori • Nori • Ori • Óin • Glóin • Bifur • Bofur • Bombur • Gandalf • Bilbo Baggins | |
References
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, Annals of the Kings and Rulers, III. "Durin's Folk"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. I: "An Unexpected Party"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Hobbit, Ch. II: "Roast Mutton"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. IV: "Over Hill and Under Hill"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Hobbit, Ch. VI: "Out Of The Frying-Pan Into The Fire"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. VII: "Queer Lodgings"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. VIII: "Flies and Spiders"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. X: "A Warm Welcome"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. XI: "On the Doorstep"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Chapter XII: "Inside Information"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. XIII: "Not At Home"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. XIV: "The Gathering of the Clouds"
- ↑ The Hobbit, Ch. XVII: "The Clouds Burst"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, The Tale of Years, "The Third Age"
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Ch. I: "Many Meetings"
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Ch. V: "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. VI: The Return of the Shadow
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. VII: The Treason of Isengard