Mayor of Michel Delving: Difference between revisions

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The '''Mayor of Michel Delving''' was a title held by the leader of [[Michel Delving]], the 'capital' of the [[Shire]]. Over time, the power of the Mayor grew to encompass all the lands of the Shire. His authority was not above the [[Thain]] or the [[Master of Buckland]], however his position was the only one chosen on a proper, regular basis. Every seven years during the [[Free Fair]], taking place in the [[White Downs]], a new Mayor was chosen by the peoples of the Shire. The Mayor's chief duty was the presiding over feasts and festivals, though he was also in charge of the [[Shirriffs]] and the [[Messenger Service]]. King [[Aragorn II]] in the year 1434 Shire Reckoning made not only the Mayor, but the Thain and Master official Counsellors of the [[Arnor|North-kingdom]]
[[File:Storn Cook - Will Whitfoot.jpg|250px|thumb|[[Storn Cook]] - ''Will Whitfoot'']]
The '''Mayor of Michel Delving''', sometimes '''Mayor of the Shire''' ([[Sindarin]]: ''Condir i-Drann'')<ref>{{SD|XI2}}</ref> was the elected leader of [[Michel Delving]], the ''de facto'' capital of [[the Shire]].  


== Notable Mayors ==
The Mayor was chosen by the [[hobbits]] every seven years at [[Lithe]], during the [[Free Fair]] on the [[White Downs]]. Though the responsibilities of Mayoralty itself amounted to little more than presiding at banquets, the office was attached to that of [[Postmaster]] and [[First Shirriff]].<ref name="OrderingShire">{{FR|Ordering}}</ref>
At the time of the [[War of the Ring]], Mayor [[Will Whitfoot]] had been in power for several years, but was put into the [[Lockholes]] by [[Saruman]]'s footpads the year 1419 Shire Reckoning. After his return to the Shire, [[Frodo Baggins]] held the reins for about eight months in order for "Old Flourdumpling" to regain his health. The following Free Fair saw Whitfoot re-elected for his final term, for in the year 1427 Shire Reckoning, the most famous [[Samwise Gamgee]] was elected and served for seven terms as Mayor of Michel Delving.
==History==
By the end of the [[Third Age]], the Mayor of Michel Delving was "the only real official in the Shire", so he was commonly known as the '''Mayor of the Shire'''<ref name="OrderingShire"/>


[[Category: Titles]]
In {{FoA|13}} ([[Shire Reckoning|S.R.]] 1434) the Mayor of Michel Delving, along with the [[Thain]] and the [[Master of Buckland]], was made a Counsellor of the newly re-established [[Arnor|North-kingdom]] by [[High King of the Dúnedain|King]] [[Aragorn|Elessar]].<ref name="AppBLater">{{App|B5}}</ref>
 
===Mayors of Michel Delving===
The poem [[Perry-the-Winkle]] mentions "[[Pott the Mayor]]" in Michel Delving, but it is not clear if this character is based on an actual Hobbit who was a Mayor.<ref>{{AB|Perry}}</ref>
 
[[Will Whitfoot]] was the Mayor of Michel Delving during the War of the Ring. An old and fat hobbit, he was largely regarded as a harmless figure of fun,<ref>{{FR|I10}}</ref> but showed his mettle when in {{TA|3019}} he was one of the few hobbits that protested [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho Sackville-Baggins']] takeover of the Shire on behalf of [[Saruman]], and in return was imprisoned in the [[Lockholes]] by Lotho's [[Ruffians]].<ref name="Scouring">{{RK|VI8}}</ref> He was released following the [[Scouring of the Shire]], and [[Frodo Baggins]] acted as his Deputy until he had recovered.<ref name="GreyHavens">{{RK|VI9}}</ref>
 
After Whitfoot, [[Samwise Gamgee]] served an unprecedented seven consecutive terms as Mayor, starting in {{FoA|6}} and ending in {{FoA|55}} ([[Shire Reckoning|S.R.]] 1427&ndash;1476). [[Tolman Cotton Junior|Tom Cotton]] briefly acted as his Deputy.<ref name="AppBLater"/>
{{references}}
[[Category:Hobbitish Titles]]
[[Category:Positions and Occupations]]
[[de:Bürgermeister von Michelbinge]]
[[de:Bürgermeister von Michelbinge]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hobbits/maire_de_grand_cave]]
[[fi:Järin Möyremän pormestari]]
[[fi:Järin Möyremän pormestari]]

Revision as of 12:25, 27 January 2020

Storn Cook - Will Whitfoot

The Mayor of Michel Delving, sometimes Mayor of the Shire (Sindarin: Condir i-Drann)[1] was the elected leader of Michel Delving, the de facto capital of the Shire.

The Mayor was chosen by the hobbits every seven years at Lithe, during the Free Fair on the White Downs. Though the responsibilities of Mayoralty itself amounted to little more than presiding at banquets, the office was attached to that of Postmaster and First Shirriff.[2]

History

By the end of the Third Age, the Mayor of Michel Delving was "the only real official in the Shire", so he was commonly known as the Mayor of the Shire[2]

In Fo.A. 13 (S.R. 1434) the Mayor of Michel Delving, along with the Thain and the Master of Buckland, was made a Counsellor of the newly re-established North-kingdom by King Elessar.[3]

Mayors of Michel Delving

The poem Perry-the-Winkle mentions "Pott the Mayor" in Michel Delving, but it is not clear if this character is based on an actual Hobbit who was a Mayor.[4]

Will Whitfoot was the Mayor of Michel Delving during the War of the Ring. An old and fat hobbit, he was largely regarded as a harmless figure of fun,[5] but showed his mettle when in T.A. 3019 he was one of the few hobbits that protested Lotho Sackville-Baggins' takeover of the Shire on behalf of Saruman, and in return was imprisoned in the Lockholes by Lotho's Ruffians.[6] He was released following the Scouring of the Shire, and Frodo Baggins acted as his Deputy until he had recovered.[7]

After Whitfoot, Samwise Gamgee served an unprecedented seven consecutive terms as Mayor, starting in Fo.A. 6 and ending in Fo.A. 55 (S.R. 1427–1476). Tom Cotton briefly acted as his Deputy.[3]

References