We don't know exactly when Gimli established himself as Lord of the Glittering Caves, but it seems to be implied that it was not long after the Downfall of Sauron at the close of the Third Age. He would thus have been Lord for about one hundred and twenty years, until his departure from Middle-earth (or perhaps his death - sources leave room for doubt) in IV 120.
It is not established whether the title continued in use after this date. Gimli himself had no recorded heirs, but in principle another of his followers might have continued the Lordship in his place.
In fact, there is some question about how long Gimli himself retained the title of Lord of the Glittering Caves. In the Epilogue to The Lord of the Rings (not in fact published with the book, but reproduced in volume IX of The History of Middle-earth) Gimli and his fellow Dwarves were said to have removed from the Glittering Caves after a time. According to this account, they settled in the White Mountains farther to the east, only returning occasionally to the Glittering Caves. If this is correct, then the title 'Lord of the Glittering Caves' might very well have fallen out of use even during Gimli's lifetime. |
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