Talk:Dáin Ironfoot
Could someone install one of those character profile templates on here, please. Dwarf Lord
[edit] Do Dwarves Allow Sucession Via Matrilineal Descent?
I notice that this article describes Dain as having become next in line to be King under the Mountain because of the deaths of Fili and Kili, but relatively few cultures in Middle-earth have been explicitly stated to allow inheritance through the female line, and they seem to be the exceptions rather than the rule. Fili is never specifically described as Thorin's heir, either in The Hobbit or elsewhere. When describing the death of Thorin and subsequent succession of Dain to the throne, neither Fili and Kili are mentioned in the same paragraph. And, in Appendix A of "The Return of the King," Dain is described as such:
"But Dain Ironfoot, [Thorin's] cousin, who came from the Iron Hills and was also his rightful heir, became then King Dain II, and the Kingdom under the Moutnain was restored..."
I interpret this description as having meant that Dain was already Thorin's heir, despite the presence of nephews through his sister, Dis. Dis is the only female Dwarf mentioned in the genealogies in Appendix A, and only because of the deeds of her sons. All other Dwarves shown in the genealogies, especially the Heirs of Durin, inherited their title from father to son, until Dain inherited from Thorin, and he was the closest relative by male descent.
I intend to change the reference accordingly; I'll keep it somewhat ambiguous out of respect for other possible intepretations, since there isn't a hard and fast answer here. —Unsigned comment by Corsair Caruso (talk • contribs).
Taking in account the fact that thorin himself had no kids and that dwarf marriages are most likely very rare, it seems likely that the heir would be the kids of the closest relative with kids (in that case, dis)--LordAndSaviourSauron 10:40, 16 June 2017 (UTC)
Corsair Caruso, I agree with your approach and your edit. --Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 08:01, 17 June 2017 (UTC)
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