Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Ancalagon

2009-02-16T21:41:58Z

96.244.149.20:

{{Pronounce|Ancalagon.mp3|Ardamir}}
[[Image:Daniel Govar - Ancalagon the Black.jpg|thumb|250px|''Ancalagon the Black'' by [[Daniel Govar]]]]
'''Ancalagon the Black''' ([[Sindarin]] "Rushing Jaws") was the greatest [[Dragon]] of [[Middle-earth]]

The Dark Lord [[Morgoth]] bred Ancalagon during the [[First Age]] to be the mightiest of all the winged Dragons. During the [[War of Wrath]] that pitted Morgoth's armies against the host of the [[Valar]], Morgoth sent Ancalagon forth from the fortress of [[Angband]] to destroy the Dark Lord's enemies. So powerful was the dragon that even the [[Valar]] host was driven back.

But [[Eärendil the Mariner|Eärendil]], a [[Half-elven]] descendent of the princes of the [[Eldar]] and [[Edain]], descended from the sky on his ship [[Vingilot]] and duelled with Ancalagon. They fought for an entire day until Eärendil slew the dragon, whose ruined corpse crashed down upon the triple-peaked towers of [[Thangorodrim]], destroying them. With his mightiest defender slain, [[Morgoth]] was utterly defeated soon afterward.

Ancalagon was said to have been so large that he blotted out the [[Sun]], even from afar, and was heavy enough to crush the three mountains of [[Thangorodrim]] under him when he was killed. [[Gandalf]] later said that Ancalagon's fire-breath was hotter than that of any other dragon in history, and he speculated that it was hot enough to destroy even Rings of Power, although not the [[One Ring]] itself. It is not stated as to what methods or weapons Eärendil used to battle, and eventually kill, so vast and mighty a creature, though the Silmaril of [[Vingilot]]'s prow more than likely played a part.

It is possible that Ancalagon's titanic size might have turned into a disadvantage when fighting a foe so comparativly small as Vingilot in the air, if one were to compare such an action to a large adult human attempting to swat a fly buzzing around him. Eärendil more than likely had aid from the Eagles, which might be likened to trying to find and swat a gnat while at the same time fending off a swarm of angry bees. Eärendil may have focused on shredding the great dragon's wings, a difficult attempt at best, as to eventually deprive Ancalagon of the ability to fly, thus letting the great reptile simply fall to his grusome and doubtlessly painful death on the jagged tops of Thangorodrim.

Whatever method he might have used, Eärendil's slaying of Ancalagon would have been one of the greatest and most spectacular battles in all the recorded history of [[Arda]] before or since, even eclipsing [[Gandalf]]'s battle against the [[Balrog of Moria]] ages later.

{{dragons}}

[[Category:Dragons]]
[[de:Ancalagon]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:dragons:ancalagon]]
[[fi:Ancalagon]]

Scatha

2009-02-16T21:38:43Z

96.244.149.20:

'''Scatha''' also known as '''Scatha the Worm''', was a mighty [[Long-worms|Long-worm]] of the [[Grey Mountains]] and one of the greatest [[Dragons]] to infest them of the north. Little is known of Scatha's life, except that he was slain by [[Fram]] son of Frumgar (an ancestor of [[Eorl the Young]]) in the early days of the [[Éothéod]].

His recovered hoard was the subject of great dispute between the Men of the Éothéod and the [[Dwarves]] of that region, who claimed the hoard as their own. Fram rebuked their claim, and sent them the teeth of the dragon, with the words, "Jewels such as these you will not match in your treasuries, for they are hard to come by." Thereafter there was war between the Éothéod and the Dwarves, a war in which Fram met his end.

However this dispute was resolved (we are not told), it seems that Fram's people retained at least some of the hoard, and brought it south with them when they settled in [[Rohan]]. The horn that [[Éowyn]] gave to [[Merry Brandybuck]] after the [[War of the Ring]] many hundred of years later was said to come from it.

{{dragons}}

[[Category:Dragons]]

Scatha

2009-02-16T21:37:57Z

96.244.149.20:

'''Scatha''' also known as '''Scatha the Worm''', was a mighty [[Long-worms|Long-worm]] of the [[Grey Mountains]] and one of the greatest [[Dragons]] to infest them of the north. Little is known of Scatha's life, except that he was slain by [[Fram]] son of Frumgar (an ancestor of [[Éorl the Young]]) in the early days of the [[Éothéod]].

His recovered hoard was the subject of great dispute between the Men of the Éothéod and the [[Dwarves]] of that region, who claimed the hoard as their own. Fram rebuked their claim, and sent them the teeth of the dragon, with the words, "Jewels such as these you will not match in your treasuries, for they are hard to come by." Thereafter there was war between the Éothéod and the Dwarves, a war in which Fram met his end.

However this dispute was resolved (we are not told), it seems that Fram's people retained at least some of the hoard, and brought it south with them when they settled in [[Rohan]]. The horn that [[Éowyn]] gave to [[Merry Brandybuck]] after the [[War of the Ring]] many hundred of years later was said to come from it.

{{dragons}}

[[Category:Dragons]]

Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor

2009-01-29T22:14:43Z

96.244.149.20: /* Synopsis */

{{Incomplete}}
{{silmarillion-chapters}}
'''Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor''' is the eleventh chapter of the [[Quenta Silmarillion]] section within [[The Silmarillion]].

==Synopsis==
This chapter illustrates the origin of the sun, governed by [[Arien]], and moon, governed by [[Tilion]].

==External links==
* [http://www.entmoot.com/showthread.php?t=8966 Chapter discussion at Entmoot.com]

Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor

2009-01-29T22:13:33Z

96.244.149.20: /* Synopsis */

{{Incomplete}}
{{silmarillion-chapters}}
'''Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor''' is the eleventh chapter of the [[Quenta Silmarillion]] section within [[The Silmarillion]].

==Synopsis==
This chapter illustrates the origin of the sun, governed by [[Arien]], and moon, governed by [[Tílion]].

==External links==
* [http://www.entmoot.com/showthread.php?t=8966 Chapter discussion at Entmoot.com]

Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor

2009-01-29T22:06:49Z

96.244.149.20: /* Synopsis */

{{Incomplete}}
{{silmarillion-chapters}}
'''Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor''' is the eleventh chapter of the [[Quenta Silmarillion]] section within [[The Silmarillion]].

==Synopsis==
This chapter illustrates the origin of the sun and moon.

==External links==
* [http://www.entmoot.com/showthread.php?t=8966 Chapter discussion at Entmoot.com]

Frodo Baggins

2009-01-25T02:40:50Z

96.244.149.20: /* Portrayal in Adaptations */

{{disambig-two|the Ring-bearer|the son of [[Samwise Gamgee]]|[[Frodo Gardner]]}}
{{Hobbit
| image = [[Image:Natalia Volodeva - Frodo Baggins.jpg|250px]]
| name = Frodo Baggins
| othernames = See ''[[#Names|Names]]'' below
| birth = [[September 22]], [[Third Age 2968|T.A. 2968]]
| death = Date unknown, [[Valinor]]
| parentage = [[Drogo Baggins]] + [[Primula Brandybuck]]
| location=[[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]]; [[Valinor]]
| race = [[Hobbits]]
| gender = Male
| height =Taller than most Hobbits
| hair = Brown
}}
'''Frodo Baggins''' was a [[Hobbit]] of the [[Third Age]], the most famous of all Hobbits in the histories for his leading role in the [[Quest of the Ring]]. During this epic quest, he bore the [[One Ring]] to [[Mount Doom]] and there destroyed it, giving him renown like no other [[Hobbit|Halfling]] throughout [[Middle-earth]]. He is also peculiar for being, as a [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]], one of the three Hobbits who sailed from Middle-earth to [[Aman]], there to die in peace.

==History==
''Main Article: [[History of Frodo Baggins]]''

Frodo was born to [[Drogo Baggins]] and [[Primula Brandybuck]] on September 22nd, [[Third Age 2968]]. He spent much of his youth at [[Brandy Hall]] in [[Buckland]], the home of his mother's family. He was considered something of a rascal, particularly by [[Farmer Maggot]] from whom Frodo stole mushrooms. In 2980, when Frodo was only twelve years old, he lost both his parents who took a boat out onto the [[Brandywine River]] and drowned. With no siblings, Frodo was taken in by the [[Brandybucks]] to live at [[Brandy Hall]] until his cousin, [[Bilbo Baggins]], adopted him and made Frodo his heir.

===War of the Ring===
[[Image:Rob Alexander - Lure of Expedience.jpg|thumb|left|275px|''Lure of Expedience'' by [[Rob Alexander]].]]Frodo was entrusted with the keeping of the [[One Ring]] when Bilbo left for [[Rivendell]] after the [[Bilbo's Birthday Party|celebration]] of his 111th birthday. [[Gandalf]] warned Frodo that the Ring must never be used and should be kept secret. (At the time, he was not yet certain that it was a [[Rings of Power|Ring of Power]].) Frodo kept the Ring hidden for seventeen years, until T.A. 3018, when Gandalf returned to confirm that it was indeed the [[One Ring]]. Gandalf sent him away with [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam Gamgee]], who was Frodo's gardener and eventually his dearest friend. Together with [[Peregrin I Took|Peregrin Took]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] and later [[Aragorn II|Strider]], they made it to the [[Rivendell|House of Elrond]]. There, at Elrond's Council, it was decided that the Ring must be destroyed by casting it into the [[Crack of Doom]]. A [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] was formed to protect Frodo as the [[Ring-bearer]]. His quest to destroy the Ring forms a large portion of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Eventually, he succeeded in reaching [[Orodruin]], where, at the last moment, he attempted to claim the Ring, whose power had grown too great for him. However, at that moment he was attacked by [[Gollum]], who seized the Ring and then fell into the fire with it. The Ring was destroyed.

Two years after the destruction of the Ring, still troubled by the wounds he received during the War of the Ring, Frodo and Bilbo as Ring-bearers were given the right to travel to [[Valinor]] where, though remaining mortal, they might rest and be healed, together with [[Gandalf]], [[Elrond]] and [[Galadriel]]. They boarded a ship from the [[Grey Havens]] and passed over the sea on September 29, T.A. 3021. Having no children of his own, Frodo left his estate and passed on the [[Red Book of Westmarch|Red Book]] to [[Samwise Gamgee]] who followed Frodo across the sea 61 years later, following the death of his wife [[Rose Cotton|Rose (nee) Cotton]].

==Etymology and Translations==
[[Image:Elizabeth Wyeth - Frodo's Journal.jpg|thumb|left|''Frodo's Journal'' by Elizabeth Wyeth.]]
The name ''Frodo Baggins'' is an English translation of his [[Westron]] name '''Maura Labingi'''. The name ''Maura'' has the element ''maur-'' (wise, experienced), which Tolkien equivalated to the Germanic element ''frod-'' of the same meaning. Frodo's name in [[Sindarin]] was '''''Iorhael''''' ("old-wise").

In the German translation he is called ''Frodo Beutlin'', in Spanish, ''Frodo Bolsón'', in French, ''Frodon Sacquet'', in Norwegian, ''Frodo Lommelun'', in Danish, ''Frodo Sækker'', in Faroese, ''Fróði Pjøkin'' in Finnish, ''Frodo Reppuli'' and in Dutch, ''Frodo Balings''. In one of three Polish translations he is called ''Frodo Bagosz'', but he keeps his original name in the other two.

== Frodo's Struggles ==
[[Image:Olanda Fong-Surdenas - Corruption.jpg|thumb|''Corruption'' by [[Olanda Fong-Surdenas]].]]
Notably, Frodo Baggins never actually killed anything in the course of the ''Lord of the Rings''. He did, however, stand up to fight against some formidable adversaries. He foolishly attempted to fight the [[Nazgûl]] at [[Weathertop]], and he stabbed a [[troll]] in the foot in [[Moria]] to keep it from forcing open a door.

Frodo was wounded several times in the ''Lord of the Rings''. The first came when he tried to fight the Nazgul at Weathertop and was stabbed with a [[Morgul blade]]. He was later knocked out by an orc's thrown spear in Moria, but the [[mithril]] armor [[Bilbo]] had given him saved his life. He was poisoned by [[Shelob]] in the pass of [[Cirith Ungol]] and later questioned by orcs in the tower. Finally, [[Gollum]] bit off his finger to obtain the [[One Ring]] as they struggled inside [[Mount Doom]].

==Description and Equipment==
Frodo's only real description is Gandalf's, and he is declared a "stout fellow with red cheeks." He was a tall hobbit, and fairer than most of his kind, with a cleft chin, a bright eye, and a perky personality.

Frodo carried a small Elven sword (actually a dagger) called [[Sting]] and wore a coat of Dwarven chainmail made of [[Mithril]] under his clothes, both given to him by Bilbo. At [[Lothlórien]], [[Galadriel]] gave him an Elven cloak that blends him in with the natural surroundings and a phial carrying the light of the star [[Eärendil]] to aid him on his quest.

==Portrayal in Adaptations ==
<gallery>
Image:Frodo.png|Frodo as portrayed in [[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]].
Image:Frodo Rankin Bass.png|Frodo as portrayed in [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]].
Image:Frodo Elijah Wood.png|[[Elijah Wood]] as Frodo in [[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]].
</gallery>

'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Frodo was voiced by [[Christopher Guard]]. [[Sharon Baird]] was the model for Frodo in the live-action recordings Bakshi used for rotoscoping.

'''1979: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|Mind's Eye's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:The voice of Frodo is provided by [[James Arrington]].

'''1980: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Frodo was voiced by [[Orson Bean]], who had previously played Bilbo in ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]''.

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Frodo is voiced by [[Ian Holm]].

'''1992: ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|BBC Radio's Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'':'''
:In two episodes telling of the meeting of Frodo and [[Tom Bombadil]], [[Nigel Planer]] provided the voice of Frodo.

'''2001-3: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Frodo is played by [[Elijah Wood]]. He is portrayed as slightly younger than his character in the book.

'''2002: ''[[Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring (game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Frodo is one of the player characters. He is voiced by [[Steve Staley]].

==Names==
* Frodo Baggins - ''fród'' means "wise by experience" in [[Old English]]. Baggins may have been a reference to [[Bag End]] or may come from "bagging" which means "eating between meals" in northern England.
* [[Ring-bearer]] - he bore [[the One Ring]] to [[Mount Doom]].
* [[Elf-friend]] - given to him by [[Gildor Inglorion]].
* [[Mr. Underhill]] - used during his stay in the [[Prancing Pony]] to conceal his identity.
* [[The Halfling]] - a name used for him from [[Boromir]]'s dream.
* [[Master]] - given to Frodo by both [[Samwise Gamgee]] as Sam was his gardener, and [[Gollum]], as Frodo was the Master of the Precious.
* Nine-fingered Frodo\Frodo of the Nine Fingers - given to Frodo after Gollum bit off his finger.
* Deputy Mayor of [[Michel Delving]] - he was the Deputy from November 3019 through Mid-Year's Day in 3020
* Bronwe athan Harthad - a name given to Frodo by Gandalf in an early version of [[The Lord of the Rings]], revealed in [[The History of Middle-earth]]. It means "Endurance beyond Hope".
* [[Daur]] - comes from ''[[taur]]'' which translates to "noble" and was given to Frodo at the [[Field of Cormallen]].
* [[Iorhael]] - the [[Sindarin]] name for Frodo which comes from [[ior]] meaning "old" and [[hael]] meaning "wise,"
* [[Maura Labingi]] - the Hobbit name for Frodo.
* [[Bingo Baggins]] - Frodo's name in the early drafts of [[The Lord of the Rings]].

==The Line of Frodo==

<code>
[[Balbo Baggins]] = [[Berylla Boffin]]
|
------------------------
| |
[[Mungo Baggins|Mungo]] Largo [[Baggins Family|Baggins]] = [[Tanta Hornblower]]
(grandfather of Bilbo) |
[[Fosco Baggins|Fosco]] = [[Ruby Bolger]]
|
--------------------------------------------
| | |
[[Dora Baggins|Dora]] [[Drogo Baggins|Drogo]] = Primula Brandybuck [[Dudo Baggins|Dudo]]
| |
'''Frodo''' [[Daisy Baggins|Daisy]] = [[Griffo Boffin]]
</code>

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Frodo Baggins|Images of Frodo Baggins]]
*[[Timeline of Frodo Baggins]]
{{sequence
|prev=[[Bilbo Baggins]]
|next=[[Samwise Gamgee]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] [[September 22]], [[Third Age 3001|T.A. 3001]] - [[March 13]], [[Third Age 3019|3019]]}} 
{{sequence
|prev=[[Samwise Gamgee]]
|next=[[Gollum]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] [[March 14]], 3019 - [[March 25]], 3019}}{{fellowship}}

[[Category:Baggins]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]

[[de:Frodo Beutlin]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hobbits:sacquet:frodo_sacquet]]
[[fi:Frodo Reppuli]]

Bilbo Baggins

2009-01-25T02:37:16Z

96.244.149.20: /* Portrayal in Adaptations */

{{sources}}
{{Hobbit
| image = [[Image:Ian Holm as Bilbo.jpg|250px]]
| name = Bilbo Baggins
| othernames =
| birth = [[September 22]], [[Third Age 2890|T.A. 2890]]
| death = Sailed [[West]] [[September 29]], [[Third Age 3021|T.A. 3021]]
| parentage= [[Bungo Baggins]] and [[Belladonna Took]]
| location = [[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]], [[Rivendell]]
| race = [[Hobbits]]
| gender = Male
| height = Between 3' and 3'6"
| hair = Brown
| eyes =
}}
{{quote|In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole and that means comfort.|[[The Hobbit]], "[[An Unexpected Party]]"}}

'''Bilbo Baggins''' was a hobbit who lived in the Shire during the final years of the Third Age. His adventure with the dwarves Thorin and company was related in 'The Hobbit' (originally known as 'There and Back Again'). It was during this adventure that Bilbo Baggins obtained the [[One Ring]] of [[Sauron]] from the creature [[Gollum]]. Bilbo was noteworthy as the first [[ring-bearer]] in the history of [[Middle-earth]] to give up the [[One Ring]] voluntarily; he surrendered the ring to [[Frodo Baggins]] at [[Gandalf]]'s request.

== History ==
===Early Life and Adventures===
Bilbo Baggins was born on [[September 22]], [[Third Age 2890|2890]] of the [[Third Age]], the son of Bungo [[Baggins family|Baggins]] and [[Belladonna Took]]. To the eyes of his neighbors, he seemed just like his father - a solid, sensible, unadventurous and respectable hobbit. In [[Third Age 2941|2941]], he reluctantly joined [[Gandalf]], [[Thorin Oakenshield]] and his twelve [[Dwarves]] on the [[Quest of Erebor|quest]] to reclaim the [[Lonely Mountain]] (and its sizeable hoard) from the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]]. Gandalf had convinced Thorin that Bilbo was the right hobbit to be a burglar for them, despite Bilbo's feeble objections. Thus the hobbit became part of the [[Thorin and Company|company]].

[[Image:Donato Giancola - The Hobbit - Expulsion.jpg|300px|thumb|left|''Expulsion'' by [[Donato Giancola]].]]Bilbo, out the door early without a pocket handkercheif, aroused doubts in his dwarvish comrades when they fell in with some [[trolls]]. Bilbo was sent to check them out, and only got captured. He escaped the trolls but was helpless to prevent all the dwarves from being captured. Gandalf, however, came in the nick of time and saved them all with his voice imitations. Upon the discovery of the troll-cave and the swords of Gondolin, Bilbo discovered [[Sting|a small blade]] and bore it with him ever after.

Eventually they came to Rivendell, where Bilbo was enchanted with the [[Elves]]. After their stay there, the company entered the [[Misty Mountains]]. Bilbo and the dwarves were captured by [[goblins]], but saved by Gandalf once more. However Bilbo, carried by [[Dori]], was dropped in the escape. Wandering in the dark passages, he picked up a strange [[One Ring|golden ring]], and came to the lake of [[Gollum]]. Gollum, desiring to eat the hobbit but not willing to face his blade, engaged in a riddle contest. If Bilbo won, according to the predetermined rules, Gollum would lead him to safety. If Gollum won, however, Bilbo would submit to be eaten.

[[Image:Michael Hague - Riddles in the Dark.jpg|thumb|200px|right|''Riddles in the Dark'' by [[Michael Hague]].]]Bilbo won the contest by accident, wondering outloud as he fingered the ring he had picked up, "What have I got in my pocket?" Gollum mistook this for a question, and Bilbo decided to stick to it. Gollum lost, but went back to his little island to take the ring Bilbo had picked up (as it was a magic ring) to turn himself invisible and kill the hobbit anyway. But of course the ring was not there, and Gollum, enraged, suddenly guessed that Bilbo had it. He chased Bilbo, but Bilbo unwittingly used the ring and escaped his notice. Gollum led Bilbo to the eastern door of the goblin-tunnels, through which Bilbo departed in safety and rejoined his fellow adventurers. But he said nothing of the ring.

===Across Rhovanion===
The company had not journeyed long when they were chased and treed by [[wargs]]. Gandalf kept them at bay with pyrotechnical pinecones, but eventually goblins came and set the trees to fire. Even Gandalf had begun to despair, but the [[Eagles]] of [[Gwaihir]] came to rescue them, bringing them first to the eyry, then to the [[Carrock]]. Bilbo did not enjoy his experience of being carried by his rescuers, apparently suffering from a fear of heights.

From the Carrock they came to [[Beorn]]'s [[Beorn's Hall|Hall]]. Gandalf took only Bilbo at first, but with his story introduced the dwarves in pairs, convincing Beorn to house them for a time. Eventually, Beorn even gave them mounts and set them on their way to [[Mirkwood]]. Bilbo alone (save for perhaps Gandalf) noticed that Beorn still followed them in bear-form. Gandalf turned back at the edge of Mirkwood, and left them to brave the perils on their own.

Bilbo "helped" the dwarves by climbing a tree midway through the wood, and declaring he could see only trees, not realizing they were at the bottom of a bowl formation. Later, when the dwarves were taken by spiders, Bilbo rescued them with his ring and little blade, which he named ''[[Sting]]'' after its first kill. Calling the spiders names, he lured them away and came back around to help with the battle between the dwarves and spiders. Eventually, the company won with no serious injuries, but was later captured when intruding on the feasts of [[Wood-elves]]. Bilbo, with his ring, escaped notice and thus capture. He followed the elves into the [[Halls of Thranduil]], where the dwarves refused to tell their errand to [[Thranduil]] King and were locked up. Later, getting used to the elven halls and with the aid of his magic ring, he devised a plan for the dwarves to escape. It worked, with the dwarves being packed away in barrels and launched into the [[Forest River]]. Poor Bilbo was forced to cling to the barrels, invisible, and grew cold and wet. Upon reaching [[Lake-town]], he had an awful cold, despite the feigned hospitality of the [[Master of Lake-town]] and the people of that town.

===Encounter with the Dragon===
On their way again, the party came to the [[Lonely Mountain]], where they followed the instructions of the map to find the secret entrance. Bilbo, and the dwarves, were unable to open it. Bilbo sat days on the [[doorstep]], thinking, and before long autumn waned. Soon the dwarves began to grumble against the hobbit, but Bilbo finally solved the riddle of the thrush knocking at the last light of Durin's Day. The dwarves found that he was right, and with the key managed to open the passage.

Bilbo was, of course, elected to enter the passage first, taking only [[Balin]] with him. Soon Balin halted, but Bilbo went on, finding Smaug's lair and stealing a single jewelled cup before returning. But he did ill in this, for when Smaug awoke he ravaged the mountain. Despite their grumbling, the dwarves had begun to rely on Bilbo's advice for their course of action, and agreed to wait. Bilbo soon decided, however, to return and try and find a weakness in Smaug. Slipping on his ring, he approached the dragon's hoard.

Gandalf had indeed done well in choosing Bilbo, for the old worm did not recognize Bilbo's scent, and was puzzled. Nevertheless he sensed the hobbit's presence, and challenged him. Bilbo riddled with him about his own identity and flattered the dragon. This confrontation did not last especially long, for Bilbo tricked Smaug into showing his underside. Bilbo then saw the gap in the dragon's hard scales, an unprotected place. Bilbo, upon seeing this, cracked a joke and hastily departed, and for this was nearly burned to death. All the same, he escaped and recovered, and told the dwarves what he had learned. This indirectly aided the company, for a [[thrush]] overheard, and this would prove beneficial in the end.

===Death of Smaug===
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Scouring the Mountain.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''Scouring the Mountain'' by [[Ted Nasmith]].]]As darkness came, Bilbo urged the dwarves to close the door for fear of Smaug's vengeance. Reluctantly, and at last, they gave in. Just as the door closed, Smaug ravaged the side of the mountain, blocking up the door and destroying the doorstep. Then Smaug went on to wreck his vengeance on Laketown. There, armed with the knowledge given him by the Thrush who overheard Bilbo telling about the unprotected patch of Smaug's skin, [[Bard]] the bowman of the heirs of [[Dale]] shot Smaug dead. The people, no longer afraid, proclaimed him king of a restored [[Dale]]. Bard summoned [[Thranduil]] to help rebuild Laketown and Dale, in return for part of the treasure.

Meanwhile, in the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo and the dwarves decided to inspect the hoard while Smaug was away. During this time Bilbo stumbled across a gigantic and beautiful gem. Recalling an earlier conversation, Bilbo decided it was the famous [[Arkenstone]], but felt strangely reluctant to give it up. Instead, he put it in his pocket and continued on. After a song and gathering of treasure, the party eventually found the [[Front Gate]], and sheltered in a [[guardroom]]. Thorin gave Bilbo a beautiful [[Mithril#The Mithril Coat|coat]] of [[mithril]] as a first reward for his services.

At that time [[Roäc]] the raven came to them, and told of the death of Smaug. He counseled them to make peace with Bard and Thranduil, though it cost him dearly in gold. Thorin rejected this advice, and harshly responded to the polite words of Bard at his door. Bard's reasoning did little for the stubborn King under the Mountain. Bilbo feared war, and to prevent this gave the Arkenstone into the hands of [[Bard]] for negotiation. With the praise of Bard, Thranduil, and Gandalf he returned, only to be rejected and cast away for his deed by Thorin. But Bilbo was successful in that Thorin was willing to negotiate, and war was prevented temporarily.

===Battle and Return Journey===
And yet war did come. [[Dáin II Ironfoot]], at the summons of Thorin, came from the [[Iron Hills]] with an army of dwarves. Bard refused to let the dwarves enter the mountain, which would mean a long and almost certainly unsuccessful siege. But just as battle was about to be joined, Gandalf called them all to be wary of the new coming danger - the alliance of [[Wargs]] and [[Goblins]] against them. Dáin, Bard, and Thranduil took council together, and decided upon a strategy of defending the slopes of the Lonely Mountain. Then the enemy came. Thus was the [[Battle of Five Armies]] fought.

[[Image:Darrell Sweet - The Death of Thorin Oakenshield.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''The Death of Thorin'' by [[Darrell Sweet]].]]During the battle Bilbo stood with Thranduil and Gandalf on [[Ravenhill]]. As the battle went against the men, dwarves, and elves, Bilbo reflected gloomily on the ungloriousness of war and the bitterness of the end. But then the [[Eagles]] of [[Gwaihir]] came, and [[Beorn]] too, and the battle was won. But Bilbo did not see this result, for a falling stone knocked him out. Invisible as he was, his bruised body was not discovered until the next day. Bilbo then bade farewell to the mortally wounded Thorin and his other friends. Then, taking his share of the treasure, he returned with Gandalf to the [[Shire]]. There he discovered that he was believed dead, and an auction was going on of his house and possessions. He bought back his own things, and settled once more peacefully into [[Bag End]].

===The Years Between===
Bilbo lived on in health and comfort, high in the regard of those who new him best, but considered somewhat of an oddity. He adopted his young cousin [[Frodo Baggins]] as his heir, and raised him in Bag End. Occasionally he received visitors; dwarves, Gandalf, or even elves from time to time. Most of his time was spent reading, writing his memoirs, writing poetry, and avoiding his nasty relatives the [[Sackville-Bagginses]].

His life was extended by the ring (actually the [[One Ring]] of ancient history), and yet as he lived on with no apparent sign of aging, he began to feel stretched and thin. At last, in September of [[Third Age 3001|3001]], Bilbo threw a [[Bilbo's Birthday Party|grand party]] for his 111th birthday (which happened to be shared with Frodo). During this party he did a vanishing act with his ring and left with three dwarves for [[Rivendell]], to live with [[Elrond]] and the elves there. He left all his possessions to Frodo, including, urged by Gandalf, the One Ring. He was the first ringbearer to so give up the object.

===End of the Third Age===

[[Image:Bilbo smoking a pipe.jpg|thumb|250px|Bilbo smoking a pipe in [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring|Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''.]]He lived a very pleasant life of retirement in Rivendell: eating, sleeping, writing poetry, and working on his memoir, ''There and Back Again'', known to us as ''[[The Hobbit]]''. He also wrote a book called ''Translations from the Elvish'', which formed the basis of what is known to us as ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

Upon the coming of Frodo eighteen years later on the [[Quest for the Ring]], Bilbo attended the [[Council of Elrond]], offering to take the Ring to [[Mount Doom]]. Nevertheless this task fell to the younger Frodo, and in farewell Bilbo gave him [[Sting]] and his old mithril coat, both of which bore him well in the struggles to come.

The [[War of the Ring]] was fought far from where Bilbo dwelt, but successfully, and in the end Frodo returned home. Two years later, however, Bilbo as a former ringbearer accompanied Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, and certain Elves to the [[Grey Havens]], there to take ship for [[Valinor]] across the sea, on [[September 29]], [[Third Age 3021|3021]]. He had already celebrated his 131st birthday, becoming the oldest Hobbit in the history of Middle-earth. So he passed West to die in peace in Valinor.

The last writing of Bilbo appears in the form of the poem "''[[Bilbo's Last Song]]''." It is a poem Bilbo conceivably composed while sailing west, and looking back on Middle-earth in farewell. It was published after Tolkien's death.

==Names==
* Bilbo Baggins
* Burglar, from a note on Bilbo's door left by [[Gandalf]]
* Thief, from [[Gollum]] after Bilbo stole [[the One Ring]]. [[Smaug]] also gave the name to Bilbo after he stole a cup.
* Clue-finder, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Web-cutter, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Stinging Fly, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Ringwinner, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Luckwearer, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug
* Barrel-rider, a name given to Bilbo by himself during his conversation with Smaug, Smaug also later addressed Bilbo by this name.
* Mr. Lucky Number, a name given to Bilbo by Smaug.
* Child of the Kindly West, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thorin II Oakenshield]].
* Bilbo the Magnificient, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thranduil]]
* Elf-friend, a name given to Bilbo by [[Thranduil]]
* Madd Baggins, a name given to Bilbo by [[Rorimac Brandybuck]] after Bilbo disappeared from [[the Shire]] suddenly.
* Ring-bearer, for his bearing of [[the One Ring]].
* Bilba Labingi, the original hobbit name for Bilbo.

== Portrayal in Adaptations ==
<gallery>
Image:Bilbo Baggins from Rankin-Bass' The Hobbit.jpg|<center>''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]''</center>
Image:Bilbo smoking a pipe.jpg|<center>''[[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</center>
Image:Bilbo viv lotr.JPG|<center>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]''</center>
Image:The Hobbit (2003) One Ring.JPG|<center>''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit]]''</center>
</gallery>
'''1968: ''[[The Hobbit (1968 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Hobbit]]'':'''
:Bilbo is portrayed by [[Paul Daneman]], and several times, when he introduces himself, he spells out his last name ("B-A-GG-I-N-S").

'''1977: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit]]'':'''
:[[Orson Bean]] was the voice of Bilbo.

'''1978: ''[[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:[[Norman Bird]] was the voice of Bilbo, and [[Billy Barty]] the body double.

'''1980: ''[[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Orson Bean reprised his role as Bilbo. He lives in [[Rivendell]], and listens to the tale of Frodo of the Nine Fingers. Some archive footage from ''Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit'' is also shown at the start of the film.

'''1981: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Bilbo is portrayed by [[John Le Mesurier]].

'''2001-3: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:Bilbo is played by [[Ian Holm]], who also played [[Frodo Baggins]] in the radio series 20 years earlier.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Bilbo has a short appearance in Rivendell, after the [[Council of Elrond]]. He is voiced by [[Jim Piddock]].

'''2003: ''[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|Sierra's The Hobbit]]'':'''
:[[Michael Beattie]] provides the voice of a young, redheaded Bilbo.

==Genealogy==
{{Baggins}}

== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Bilbo Baggins|Images of Bilbo Baggins]]

==References==
<references/>

{{sequence
|prev=[[Gollum]]
|next=[[Frodo Baggins]]
|list=[[Ring-bearer]] [[Third Age 2941|T.A. 2941]] - [[September 22]] [[Third Age 3001|3001]]}}{{Template:Thorin and Company}}
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Baggins]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[de:Bilbo Beutlin]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hobbits:sacquet:bilbo_sacquet]]
[[fi:Bilbo Reppuli]]

Thain

2009-01-16T13:10:00Z

96.244.149.20:

{{sources}}
The '''thain''' was an office of great respect in [[the Shire]].

==History==

For nearly four hundred years after its foundation, the Shire had been part of the lands of [[Arthedain]], and under the rule of that land's King. Ultimately, Arthedain fell to the forces of [[Angmar]], and its last King, [[Arvedui]], was lost, leaving the [[Shire-hobbits]] without a ruler. They remedied this by choosing a new leader from among themselves, [[Bucca of the Marish]], who was given the title thain, a word simply meaning "chief".

Bucca and his descendants, a family known as the [[Oldbucks]], served as Shire-thain for twelve generations. The twelfth Thain, one [[Gorhendad Oldbuck]], left the Shire and crossed the River [[Brandywine]] to find [[Buckland]]. With his departure, the Thainship passed to a new line, the [[Took family|Tooks]], and specifically to [[Isumbras Took I]].

From Isumbras I, the line of the Took Shire-thains continued unbroken to the time of the [[War of the Ring]] and beyond. The last recorded Thain was [[Faramir Took I]], the thirty-fourth to hold the title of Shire-thain. The fact that both he and his father [[Peregrin Took]] are recorded as the first of that name shows that there must have been more Thains after this time, and the office clearly lasted well into the [[Fourth Age]].

==Line of Thains==
It is known that there were at least thirty-three Shire-thains, from Bucca, who became Thain in [[Third Age 1979]], to Faramir I, who took on the title in [[Fourth Age 63]], more than a thousand years later.

* '''I''' [[Bucca of the Marish]] (Thain from Third Age 1979) - The first Thain was given the title in 1979 (379 by the [[Shire-reckoning]]) in a time when the northern lands were recovering from a devastating war in which the old kingdom of Arthedain had come to an end. He was succeeded by Thains of the Oldbuck line.
* '''II-XI''' Ten Thains of the Oldbuck line (Thains for about 300 years to [[Third Age 2340]]) - Bucca was followed by Thains whose names are not recorded, but who took the surname ''Oldbuck'' in honour of their ancestor.
* '''XII''' [[Gorhendad Oldbuck]] (Thain to [[Third Age 2340]]) - The line of the Oldbucks came to an end with Gorhendad, who crossed the River Brandywine and founded Buckland, changing his name to Brandybuck. The Thainship passed from him to the Took family, and Gorhendad was succeeded by the first Thain of the Took line.
* '''XIII''' [[Isumbras Took I|Isumbras I]] (Thain from [[Third Age 2340]]) - The thirteenth Thain in line from Bucca, and the first of the Took line. Isumbras' descendants would hold the Thainship for the rest of the recorded history of the Shire.
* '''XIV-XXI''' Eight Thains of the Took line (Thains for about two hundred years to [[Third Age 2683]]) - The eight Tooks to hold the Thainship after Isumbras I are nowhere named, but we can infer some of their identities from the names of later holders of the office. Among these eight must have been Isengrim I, Ferumbras I, Paladin I and Isumbras II, but no records of their Thainships are known.
* '''XXII''' [[Isengrim Took II|Isengrim II]] (Thain for 39 years to [[Third Age 2722]]) - The twenty-second Thain, and tenth of the Took line. He began the excavation of Great Smials, which would become the seat of the Thains in the Tookland. He became Thain soon after the first pipe-weed was introduced into the Shire by Tobold Hornblower. He was succeeded by his son.
* '''XXIII''' [[Isumbras Took III|Isumbras III]] (Thain for 32 years to [[Third Age 2759]]) - His younger son was [[Bandobras Took]], the famous "Bullroarer". In Isumbras' time the Shire was greatly troubled by Orcs, and Bandobras defeated a band of them at the [[Battle of Greenfields]] during his Thainship. Bandobras, though, was Isumbras' younger son - the Thainship passed instead to his older brother.
* '''XXIV''' [[Ferumbras Took II|Ferumbras II]] (Thain for 42 years to [[Third Age 2801]]) - He was succeeded by his son.
* '''XXV''' [[Fortinbras Took I|Fortinbras I]] (Thain for 47 years to [[Third Age 2848]]) - At the beginning of his Thainship, the Shire would have seen much activity as Dwarves of Durin's Folk travelled westward to settle in the Blue Mountains. He was succeeded by his son.
* '''XXVI''' [[Gerontius Took|Gerontius]] (Thain for 72 years to [[Third Age 2920]]) - The famous Old Took, who held the office of Thain for a total of seventy-two of his one hundred and thirty years, and had a total of twelve children. During his Thainship, the Shire suffered the dreadful privations of the Fell Winter, and invasions of White Wolves. He was succeeded by the eldest of his many sons.
* '''XXVII''' [[Isengrim Took III|Isengrim III]] (Thain for 10 years to [[Third Age 2930]]) - Due to the Old Took's many years in office, his eldest son Isengrim was no less than eighty-eight years old when he inherited the Thainship. He held it for just ten years and died without leaving an heir. He was succeeded by his younger brother.
* '''XXVIII''' [[Isumbras Took IV|Isumbras IV]] (Thain for 9 years to [[Third Age 2939]]) - Like his brother Isengrim, Isumbras came old to the Thainship, being ninety-two when he took office. After his short time as the Shire-thain, he was succeeded by his son.
* '''XXIX''' [[Fortinbras Took II|Fortinbras II]] (Thain for 41 years to [[Third Age 2980]]) - Early in his time as Thain there was a sensation in Hobbiton, due to the mysterious disappearance into the Wild - and later reappearance - of one Bilbo Baggins of Bag End. Fortinbras was succeeded by his son.
* '''XXX''' [[Ferumbras Took III|Ferumbras III]] (Thain for 35 years to [[Third Age 3015]]) - He was Thain at the time of Bilbo Baggins' famous farewell feast and Birthday Party, which indeed he attended. He never married, and so left no heir. The descent of the Thainship passed to the line of Gerontius' fourth son Hildigrim, and specifically to Hildigrim's grandson.
* '''XXXI''' [[Paladin Took II|Paladin II]] (Thain for 19 years to [[Fourth Age 13]]) - Born in the time that his great uncle Isumbras IV was Thain, Paladin took up a farming life at Whitwell in the Tookland. He was Thain during the War of the Ring, and held the Tookland against the ruffians who invaded the Shire at that time. He was succeeded by his fourth child, but eldest son.
* '''XXXII''' [[Peregrin Took I|Peregrin I]] (Thain for 50 years to [[Fourth Age 63]]) - Peregrin Took of the Fellowship of the Ring inherited the Thainship some thirteen years after his return from adventuring in the south, and held the title into his old age. At the age of ninety-four, he gave up the office and rode away once again into the countries of the south with his friend Meriadoc Brandybuck; they were never seen in the Shire again. He was succeeded by his son.
* '''XXXIII''' [[Faramir Took I|Faramir I]] (Thain from Fourth Age 63) - Named for [[Faramir (son of Denethor II)|Faramir]] the [[Prince of Ithilien]], little is known of Thain Faramir, except that he married [[Sam Gamgee]]'s daughter Goldilocks. Doubtless he was succeeded by further generations of Shire-thains, but of them we have no record.

[[Category:Hobbits]]

[[de:Thain]]
[[fi:Thain]]