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The Ivy Bush

2026-05-06T09:33:56Z

Frankr: /* Inspiration */

{{Location infobox
| image = Ralph Damiani - Ivy Bush Inn.jpg
| caption = "Ivy Bush Inn" by [[:Category:Images by Ralph Damiani|Ralph Damiani]]
| location = [[Bywater Road]], [[the Shire]]
| inhabitants = [[Hobbits]] of [[Hobbiton]] and [[Bywater]]
| type=Inn
| name=The Ivy Bush
| gallery = The Ivy Bush
}}
{{Quote|No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at the The Ivy Bush, a small inn on the Bywater road...|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Long-expected Party]]"}}
[[File:Kay Woollard - The Landlord of the Ivy Bush (retouched unfinished design).jpg|thumb|''The Landlord of the Ivy Bush'' (unfinished) by [[Kay Woollard]]]]

'''The Ivy Bush''' was an inn located on [[Bywater Road]] in [[the Shire]].

==History==
The Ivy Bush was frequented by the [[Hobbits]] of [[Hobbiton]] and [[Bywater]]. Prior to [[Bilbo's Farewell Party]], many people gathered around [[Gaffer Gamgee]], were interested in the stories he told about [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] and [[Frodo Baggins]]. [[Daddy Twofoot]], [[Old Noakes]], the miller [[Sandyman]] and others, such as a stranger from [[Michel Delving]] gossipped about the mysterious Bagginses and the rumored treasure in [[Bag End]].<ref>{{FR|Party}}</ref>

==Inspiration==
The Ivy Bush is the name of a public house located on Hagley Road, [[Birmingham]], England.<ref>Fiona Glass, "[http://wulfwaru.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/its-official-hobbiton-is-really-birmingham/ It’s official – Hobbiton is really… Birmingham?!]", ''[http://wulfwaru.wordpress.com/ The Britwriters]'', [[8 September|September 8]], [[2008]]</ref> When [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] lived on Stirling Road this would have been his local hostelry and could be found halfway between his house and the [[Birmingham Oratory]], where he attended Mass for a time.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:The Ivy Bush Sign.jpg|thumb|right|The sign of the Ivy Bush, as depicted in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']]
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:The Ivy Bush is a two-story building located at Bywater's market. Unlike the [[Green Dragon]], which is on the other side of the market, the Ivy Bush plays no part in the story.

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ivy Bush}}

[[Category:Inns]]
[[Category:The Shire]]

[[de:Gasthaus „Zum Efeubusch“]]
[[fi:Muratti]]

Birmingham Oratory

2026-05-06T09:33:32Z

Frankr:

{{location infobox
| name=Birmingham Oratory
| image=Birmingham Oratory.jpg
| caption=Birmingham Oratory in 2009
| map={{#display_map:Birmingham Oratory, Birmingham, England|width=275|height=275|zoom=5}}
}}
The '''Birmingham Oratory''' is a [[Christianity|Roman Catholic]] church in [[Birmingham]], England. It is used primarily by the [[:Wikipedia:Oratory of Saint Philip Neri|Oratory of Saint Philip Neri]], a congregation of priests and lay-brothers. Because of its baroque design, it is often called the "Little Rome in Birmingham".

The church was constructed between 1907 and 1910 as a memorial to [[Wikipedia:John Henry Newman|John Henry Newman]], a prominent English cardinal who converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism, now a canonized saint.

[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], a devout Catholic, attended Mass here for about seven years. [[Francis Xavier Morgan]], Ronald and [[Hilary Tolkien]]'s guardian, was a priest at the Oratory.

==External links==
*[http://www.birminghamoratory.org.uk/ Birmingham Oratory Official page]
*[http://www.birminghamoratory.org.uk/tolkien-and-the-oratory/ Tolkien and the Oratory]
*[[Wikipedia:Birmingham Oratory|Birmingham Oratory on Wikipedia]]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emaY0BfA06o "JRR Tolkien and the Birmingham Oratory" YouTube video]

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Structures (real-world)]]
[[de:Birmingham Oratorium]]

Gaffer Gamgee

2026-05-06T09:30:44Z

Frankr:

{{short description|Father of Samwise Gamgee}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Hamfast Gamgee
| image=Stephen Hickman - Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider.jpg
| caption="Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider" by [[Stephen Hickman]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Gaffer, Old Gamgee, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]]
| titles=
| position=Gardener
| location=[[Hobbiton]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth={{SR|1326}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{SR|1428}}<ref group=note>''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' gives {{FoA|8}}</ref>
| deathlocation=
| age=102
| notablefor=
| family=[[Gamgee Family|Gamgee]]
| parentage=[[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]]
| siblings=[[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]]
| spouse= [[Bell Goodchild]]
| children=[[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]] and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=In later life, grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
{{quote|No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at The Ivy Bush, a small inn on the Bywater road; and he spoke with some authority, for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years, and had helped old Holman in the same job before that. Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in the joints, the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son, Sam Gamgee. Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Long-expected Party]]"}}</center>
'''Hamfast Gamgee''', also known as '''the Gaffer''', was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] of [[the Shire]], and the father of [[Samwise Gamgee]] of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. He was the chief gardener at [[Bag End]], though in his later years he had passed most of the work onto his son, Sam.

==History==

Hamfast was born in {{TA|2926}}, the third son of [[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]], who was a roper by trade. He had three siblings: [[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]].<ref name="Gamgee">{{App|Gamgee}}</ref>

He entered the service of his relative, "[[Holman Greenhand|Cousin Holman]]", and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of [[Bag End]].<ref name=party/> On [[22 June]], {{TA|2942}}, he and Holman frantically tried to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead [[Bilbo Baggins]].

Hamfast resided in Number 3, [[Bagshot Row]] and [[Daddy Twofoot]] was his next-door neighbor<ref name=party/> and had never been as far as [[Bucklebury]].<ref name=three/>

Hamfast became a gardener in his own right in about {{TA|2961}}, and a local expert on [[potatoes]] and other roots; "Master Hamfast" (as Bilbo called him) appreciated Bilbo's politeness and respecting his knowledge.<ref name=party>{{FR|Party}}</ref> He married [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]], and they had six children: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], Samwise and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].<ref name="Gamgee"/> Sam became Hamfast's apprentice.

Sam took over most of his father's work, who had become too old for the laborous work.<ref name=party/> He became known as the "Gaffer", a name Sam uses more often than "Hamfast".

Prior to the [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Farewell Party]], the younger [[hobbits]] sought information about the legendary Mr. Bilbo Baggins at the ''[[Ivy Bush]]''. Always a man of loquacity and knowledge, he argued with [[Sandyman]], [[Old Noakes]] and Daddy Twofoot about the [[Baggins Family|Bagginses]] and the [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]]. After the party, Bilbo left him two sacks of potatoes, a new spade, a woolen waistcoat, and a bottle of ointment as he suffered from creaking joints.<ref name=party/> By {{TA|3018}} he was beginning to lose his sight.<ref name=three/>

In {{TA|3018}}, his new neighbor, [[Frodo Baggins]] decided to leave the Shire, and [[Gandalf]] had obliged Sam to go with him. Frodo pretended to be moving to [[Buckland]], and sold Bag End to Lobelia, for which Hamfast was not so happy. He allowed Sam to go with Frodo to help and tend the garden of his new house, as he said.<ref name=three>{{FR|Three}}</ref>

On [[23 September]], the night of the departure of Frodo and Sam, [[Khamûl]]<ref name=Note1>{{UT|Hunt}}, Notes, note 1</ref>, one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane as the elderly hobbit was taking his air, and asked about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". The Gaffer told him that he had left for [[Bucklebury]] and it's not their business to know why, and refused to leave any message. The stranger hissed, making Hamfast shudder. Soon after the Nazgûl left, Sam arrived to give Hamfast the keys to Bag End before leaving. Surprised by Sam's arrival, the Gaffer told Sam about the stranger.<ref name=three/> [[29 September|A week later]], he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who he also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref><ref>{{App|B3}}</ref>

When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he had only a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored Bagshot Row, the "[[New Row]]", where he was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]]: a fact which Frodo uses to comfort Sam upon Sam and [[Rosie Cotton|Rosie]] moving into [[Bag End]]. After Sam's first [[Elanor Gardner|child]] is born, Sam calls on his father to decide upon a name. Gaffer tells him to stick with the tradition of naming hobbit-girls after flowers which prompts Frodo to suggest the name "[[Elanor (flower)|Elanor]]".

After the return of Frodo, Sam and company to the Shire, the Gaffer lived for another 7 years, dying in [[Fourth Age 7]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Four years later, Sam and Rosie named their seventh child [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]] in his honour.<ref name="Gamgee"/>

==Etymology==
The name ''Hamfast'' is a modernization of Old English ''hám-fæst'', meaning "Stay-at-home", or literally, "Home-fast". It is a translation of his [[Westron]] name, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]].<ref>{{App|F2}}</ref> In the [[King's Letter]], the name (referring to [[Hamfast Gardner]], the fourth son of Sam and Rose, not the Gaffer) is translated into [[Sindarin]] as [[Baravorn]].<ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}</ref>

"[[Wiktionary:gaffer|Gaffer]]" is a colloquial word for "old man". It is a contraction of "grandfather."

==In other stories==
In the illustrated short story ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'', there is a resident in the village named Gaffer Gamgee who struggles to listen to the discussion between Mr Binks and Sergeant [[Boffin Family|Boffin]] about whether Mr Bliss should be locked up for failure to pay for his car. Sergeant Boffin also has a son named [[Sam]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'' (2011 edition), p. 63</ref>

==Inspiration==
In [[Letter 257]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] recounts a holiday to Lamorna Cave in the early 1930's. To amuse his sons, he named a local Gaffer Gamgee. This "curious local character" was "an old man who used to go about swapping gossip and weather-fashion and such like". The surname was chosen because it alliterated with Gaffer.

Tolkien had several encounters with actual Gamgees, however. [[wikipedia:Gamgee Tissue|Gamgee Tissue]], a word young Ronald considered comical, was named after [[wikipedia:Sampson Gamgee|J. Sampson Gamgee]] (1828-1886), a famous [[Birmingham]] surgeon,<ref>{{L|72}}</ref> whilst in the Black Country dialect cotton wool was referred to as "gamgee".<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://sedgleymanor.com/ The Ancient Manor of Sedgley]|articleurl=http://sedgleymanor.com/dictionaries/dialect.html|articlename=Black Country Dialect|accessed=9 September 2014}}</ref> The Gamgees were notorious surgeons - years later, Dr. Leonard Gamgee tended those war-wounded, including Lieutenant Tolkien.<ref>[[John Garth]], ''[[Tolkien and the Great War]], "Part Three: Castles in the air", p. 206</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Gaffer Gamgee.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Hamfast Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Romana Kendelic - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game]]''
File:Tomas Duchek - The Gaffer.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]''
</gallery>

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The Gaffer does not appear in the film, though Sam mentions that he saw him thrown out onto the street in his vision as he looks into the [[Mirror of Galadriel]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:[[John Church]] plays Gaffer Gamgee. He used a thick peasant accent for the role. He is included in early episodes including a full dramatisation of his encounter with the Nazgul. Neither Frodo or Sam learn of this exchange. He also features towards the end of the adaptation when he admonishes the returning Hobbits for wearing "ironmongery." The Gaffer also is present as the travelers discuss how Sam should use Galadriel’s gift.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee is played by Wolfgang Reinsch.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gaffer appears in the film's [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|Extended Edition]], where he is played by [[Norman Forsey]]. The conversation in the Ivy Bush is moved to the [[Green Dragon]] Inn, though the dialogue remains much the same. He does not appear at Sam's marriage in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Gaffer appears twice; at first, he drinks at the Green Dragon, but during the night, he informs Frodo of the Ringwraith that stalks the Shire. He was voiced by an uncredited [[Jim Piddock]].

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Hamfast Gamgee is found working in his garden just outside Bag End. He only offers one regional Shire quest, but has more story involvement during various seasonal festivals.

{{References|Notes}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Hamfast Gamdschie (Sohn von Hobsen)]]
[[fi:Hamfast Gamgi (Ukko Gamgi)]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hobbits/gamegie/hamfast gamegie 1]]

Gaffer Gamgee

2026-05-06T09:28:49Z

Frankr:

{{short description|Father of Samwise Gamgee}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Hamfast Gamgee
| image=Stephen Hickman - Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider.jpg
| caption="Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider" by [[Stephen Hickman]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Gaffer, Old Gamgee, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]]
| titles=
| position=Gardener
| location=[[Hobbiton]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth={{SR|1326}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{SR|1428}}<ref group=note>''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' gives {{FoA|8}}</ref>
| deathlocation=
| age=102
| notablefor=
| family=[[Gamgee Family|Gamgee]]
| parentage=[[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]]
| siblings=[[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]]
| spouse= [[Bell Goodchild]]
| children=[[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]] and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=In later life, grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
{{quote|No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at The Ivy Bush, a small inn on the Bywater road; and he spoke with some authority, for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years, and had helped old Holman in the same job before that. Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in the joints, the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son, Sam Gamgee. Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Long-expected Party]]"}}</center>
'''Hamfast Gamgee''', also known as '''the Gaffer''', was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] of [[the Shire]], and the father of [[Samwise Gamgee]] of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. He was the chief gardener at [[Bag End]] though in his later years he passed most of the work onto his son, Sam.

==History==

Hamfast was born in {{TA|2926}}, the third son of [[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]], who was a roper by trade. He had three siblings: [[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]].<ref name="Gamgee">{{App|Gamgee}}</ref>

He entered the service of his relative, "[[Holman Greenhand|Cousin Holman]]", and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of [[Bag End]].<ref name=party/> On [[22 June]], {{TA|2942}}, he and Holman frantically tried to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead [[Bilbo Baggins]].

Hamfast resided in Number 3, [[Bagshot Row]] and [[Daddy Twofoot]] was his next-door neighbor<ref name=party/> and had never been as far as [[Bucklebury]].<ref name=three/>

Hamfast became a gardener in his own right in about {{TA|2961}}, and a local expert on [[potatoes]] and other roots; "Master Hamfast" (as Bilbo called him) appreciated Bilbo's politeness and respecting his knowledge.<ref name=party>{{FR|Party}}</ref> He married [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]], and they had six children: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], Samwise and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].<ref name="Gamgee"/> Sam became Hamfast's apprentice.

Sam took over most of his father's work, who had become too old for the laborous work.<ref name=party/> He became known as the "Gaffer", a name Sam uses more often than "Hamfast".

Prior to the [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Farewell Party]], the younger [[hobbits]] sought information about the legendary Mr. Bilbo Baggins at the ''[[Ivy Bush]]''. Always a man of loquacity and knowledge, he argued with [[Sandyman]], [[Old Noakes]] and Daddy Twofoot about the [[Baggins Family|Bagginses]] and the [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]]. After the party, Bilbo left him two sacks of potatoes, a new spade, a woolen waistcoat, and a bottle of ointment as he suffered from creaking joints.<ref name=party/> By {{TA|3018}} he was beginning to lose his sight.<ref name=three/>

In {{TA|3018}}, his new neighbor, [[Frodo Baggins]] decided to leave the Shire, and [[Gandalf]] had obliged Sam to go with him. Frodo pretended to be moving to [[Buckland]], and sold Bag End to Lobelia, for which Hamfast was not so happy. He allowed Sam to go with Frodo to help and tend the garden of his new house, as he said.<ref name=three>{{FR|Three}}</ref>

On [[23 September]], the night of the departure of Frodo and Sam, [[Khamûl]]<ref name=Note1>{{UT|Hunt}}, Notes, note 1</ref>, one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane as the elderly hobbit was taking his air, and asked about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". The Gaffer told him that he had left for [[Bucklebury]] and it's not their business to know why, and refused to leave any message. The stranger hissed, making Hamfast shudder. Soon after the Nazgûl left, Sam arrived to give Hamfast the keys to Bag End before leaving. Surprised by Sam's arrival, the Gaffer told Sam about the stranger.<ref name=three/> [[29 September|A week later]], he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who he also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref><ref>{{App|B3}}</ref>

When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he had only a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored Bagshot Row, the "[[New Row]]", where he was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]]: a fact which Frodo uses to comfort Sam upon Sam and [[Rosie Cotton|Rosie]] moving into [[Bag End]]. After Sam's first [[Elanor Gardner|child]] is born, Sam calls on his father to decide upon a name. Gaffer tells him to stick with the tradition of naming hobbit-girls after flowers which prompts Frodo to suggest the name "[[Elanor (flower)|Elanor]]".

After the return of Frodo, Sam and company to the Shire, the Gaffer lived for another 7 years, dying in [[Fourth Age 7]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Four years later, Sam and Rosie named their seventh child [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]] in his honour.<ref name="Gamgee"/>

==Etymology==
The name ''Hamfast'' is a modernization of Old English ''hám-fæst'', meaning "Stay-at-home", or literally, "Home-fast". It is a translation of his [[Westron]] name, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]].<ref>{{App|F2}}</ref> In the [[King's Letter]], the name (referring to [[Hamfast Gardner]], the fourth son of Sam and Rose, not the Gaffer) is translated into [[Sindarin]] as [[Baravorn]].<ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}</ref>

"[[Wiktionary:gaffer|Gaffer]]" is a colloquial word for "old man". It is a contraction of "grandfather."

==In other stories==
In the illustrated short story ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'', there is a resident in the village named Gaffer Gamgee who struggles to listen to the discussion between Mr Binks and Sergeant [[Boffin Family|Boffin]] about whether Mr Bliss should be locked up for failure to pay for his car. Sergeant Boffin also has a son named [[Sam]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'' (2011 edition), p. 63</ref>

==Inspiration==
In [[Letter 257]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] recounts a holiday to Lamorna Cave in the early 1930's. To amuse his sons, he named a local Gaffer Gamgee. This "curious local character" was "an old man who used to go about swapping gossip and weather-fashion and such like". The surname was chosen because it alliterated with Gaffer.

Tolkien had several encounters with actual Gamgees, however. [[wikipedia:Gamgee Tissue|Gamgee Tissue]], a word young Ronald considered comical, was named after [[wikipedia:Sampson Gamgee|J. Sampson Gamgee]] (1828-1886), a famous [[Birmingham]] surgeon,<ref>{{L|72}}</ref> whilst in the Black Country dialect cotton wool was referred to as "gamgee".<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://sedgleymanor.com/ The Ancient Manor of Sedgley]|articleurl=http://sedgleymanor.com/dictionaries/dialect.html|articlename=Black Country Dialect|accessed=9 September 2014}}</ref> The Gamgees were notorious surgeons - years later, Dr. Leonard Gamgee tended those war-wounded, including Lieutenant Tolkien.<ref>[[John Garth]], ''[[Tolkien and the Great War]], "Part Three: Castles in the air", p. 206</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Gaffer Gamgee.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Hamfast Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Romana Kendelic - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game]]''
File:Tomas Duchek - The Gaffer.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]''
</gallery>

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The Gaffer does not appear in the film, though Sam mentions that he saw him thrown out onto the street in his vision as he looks into the [[Mirror of Galadriel]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:[[John Church]] plays Gaffer Gamgee. He used a thick peasant accent for the role. He is included in early episodes including a full dramatisation of his encounter with the Nazgul. Neither Frodo or Sam learn of this exchange. He also features towards the end of the adaptation when he admonishes the returning Hobbits for wearing "ironmongery." The Gaffer also is present as the travelers discuss how Sam should use Galadriel’s gift.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee is played by Wolfgang Reinsch.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gaffer appears in the film's [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|Extended Edition]], where he is played by [[Norman Forsey]]. The conversation in the Ivy Bush is moved to the [[Green Dragon]] Inn, though the dialogue remains much the same. He does not appear at Sam's marriage in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Gaffer appears twice; at first, he drinks at the Green Dragon, but during the night, he informs Frodo of the Ringwraith that stalks the Shire. He was voiced by an uncredited [[Jim Piddock]].

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Hamfast Gamgee is found working in his garden just outside Bag End. He only offers one regional Shire quest, but has more story involvement during various seasonal festivals.

{{References|Notes}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Hamfast Gamdschie (Sohn von Hobsen)]]
[[fi:Hamfast Gamgi (Ukko Gamgi)]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hobbits/gamegie/hamfast gamegie 1]]

Gaffer Gamgee

2026-05-06T09:25:30Z

Frankr:

{{short description|Father of Samwise Gamgee}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Hamfast Gamgee
| image=Stephen Hickman - Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider.jpg
| caption="Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider" by [[Stephen Hickman]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Gaffer, Old Gamgee, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]]
| titles=
| position=Gardener
| location=[[Hobbiton]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth={{SR|1326}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{SR|1428}}<ref group=note>''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' gives {{FoA|8}}</ref>
| deathlocation=
| age=102
| notablefor=
| family=[[Gamgee Family|Gamgee]]
| parentage=[[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]]
| siblings=[[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]]
| spouse= [[Bell Goodchild]]
| children=[[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]] and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=In later life, grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
{{quote|No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at The Ivy Bush, a small inn on the Bywater road; and he spoke with some authority, for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years, and had helped old Holman in the same job before that. Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in the joints, the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son, Sam Gamgee. Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Long-expected Party]]"}}</center>
'''Hamfast Gamgee''', also known as '''the Gaffer''', was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] of [[the Shire]], and the father of [[Samwise Gamgee]] of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. He was the chief gardener at [[Bag End]] though in his later years he passed most of the work onto his son, Sam.

==History==

Hamfast was born in {{TA|2926}}, the third son of [[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]], who was a roper by trade. He had three siblings: [[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]].<ref name="Gamgee">{{App|Gamgee}}</ref>

He entered the service of his relative, "[[Holman Greenhand|Cousin Holman]]", and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of [[Bag End]].<ref name=party/> On [[22 June]], {{TA|2942}}, he and Holman frantically tried to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead [[Bilbo Baggins]].

Hamfast resided in Number 3, [[Bagshot Row]] and [[Daddy Twofoot]] was his next-door neighbor<ref name=party/> and had never been as far as [[Bucklebury]].<ref name=three/>

Hamfast became a gardener in his own right in about {{TA|2961}}, and a local expert on [[potatoes]] and other roots; "Master Hamfast" (as Bilbo called him) appreciated Bilbo's politeness and respecting his knowledge.<ref name=party>{{FR|Party}}</ref> He married [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]], and they had six children: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], Samwise and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].<ref name="Gamgee"/> Sam became Hamfast's apprentice.

Sam took over most of his father's work, who had become too old for the laborous work.<ref name=party/> He became known as the "Gaffer", a name Sam uses more often than "Hamfast".

Prior to the [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Farewell Party]], the younger [[hobbits]] sought information about the legendary Mr. Bilbo Baggins at the ''[[Ivy Bush]]''. Always a man of loquacity and knowledge, he argued with [[Sandyman]], [[Old Noakes]] and Daddy Twofoot about the [[Baggins Family|Bagginses]] and the [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]]. After the party, Bilbo left him two sacks of potatoes, a new spade, a woolen waistcoat, and a bottle of ointment as he suffered from creaking joints.<ref name=party/> By {{TA|3018}} he was beginning to lose his sight.<ref name=three/>

In {{TA|3018}}, his new neighbor, [[Frodo Baggins]] decided to leave the Shire, and [[Gandalf]] had obliged Sam to go with him. Frodo pretended to be moving to [[Buckland]], and sold Bag End to Lobelia, for which Hamfast was not so happy. He allowed Sam to go with Frodo to help and tend the garden of his new house, as he said.<ref name=three>{{FR|Three}}</ref>

On [[23 September]], the night of the departure of Frodo and Sam, [[Khamûl]]<ref name=Note1>{{UT|Hunt}}, Notes, note 1</ref>, one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane as the elderly hobbit was taking his air, and asked about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". The Gaffer told him that he had left for [[Bucklebury]] and it's not their business to know why, and refused to leave any message. The stranger hissed, making Hamfast shudder. Soon after the Nazgûl left, Sam arrived to give Hamfast the keys to Bag End before leaving. Surprised by Sam's arrival, the Gaffer told Sam about the stranger.<ref name=three/>

[[29 September|A week later]], he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who he also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref><ref>{{App|B3}}</ref>

When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he had only a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored Bagshot Row, the "[[New Row]]", where he was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]]: a fact which Frodo uses to comfort Sam upon Sam and [[Rosie Cotton|Rosie]] moving into [[Bag End]]. After Sam's first [[Elanor Gardner|child]] is born, Sam calls on his father to decide upon a name. Gaffer tells him to stick with the tradition of naming hobbit-girls after flowers which prompts Frodo to suggest the name "[[Elanor (flower)|Elanor]]".

After the return of Frodo, Sam and company to the Shire, Gaffer lived for another 7 years, dying in [[Fourth Age 7]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref> Four years later, Sam and Rosie named their seventh child [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]] in honour of the Gaffer.<ref name="Gamgee"/>

==Etymology==
The name ''Hamfast'' is a modernization of Old English ''hám-fæst'', meaning "Stay-at-home", or literally, "Home-fast". It is a translation of his [[Westron]] name, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]].<ref>{{App|F2}}</ref> In the [[King's Letter]], the name (referring to [[Hamfast Gardner]], the fourth son of Sam and Rose, not the Gaffer) is translated into [[Sindarin]] as [[Baravorn]].<ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}</ref>

"[[Wiktionary:gaffer|Gaffer]]" is a colloquial word for "old man". It is a contraction of "grandfather."

==In other stories==
In the illustrated short story ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'', there is a resident in the village named Gaffer Gamgee who struggles to listen to the discussion between Mr Binks and Sergeant [[Boffin Family|Boffin]] about whether Mr Bliss should be locked up for failure to pay for his car. Sergeant Boffin also has a son named [[Sam]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'' (2011 edition), p. 63</ref>

==Inspiration==
In [[Letter 257]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] recounts a holiday to Lamorna Cave in the early 1930's. To amuse his sons, he named a local Gaffer Gamgee. This "curious local character" was "an old man who used to go about swapping gossip and weather-fashion and such like". The surname was chosen because it alliterated with Gaffer.

Tolkien had several encounters with actual Gamgees, however. [[wikipedia:Gamgee Tissue|Gamgee Tissue]], a word young Ronald considered comical, was named after [[wikipedia:Sampson Gamgee|J. Sampson Gamgee]] (1828-1886), a famous [[Birmingham]] surgeon,<ref>{{L|72}}</ref> whilst in the Black Country dialect cotton wool was referred to as "gamgee".<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://sedgleymanor.com/ The Ancient Manor of Sedgley]|articleurl=http://sedgleymanor.com/dictionaries/dialect.html|articlename=Black Country Dialect|accessed=9 September 2014}}</ref> The Gamgees were notorious surgeons - years later, Dr. Leonard Gamgee tended those war-wounded, including Lieutenant Tolkien.<ref>[[John Garth]], ''[[Tolkien and the Great War]], "Part Three: Castles in the air", p. 206</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Gaffer Gamgee.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Hamfast Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Romana Kendelic - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game]]''
File:Tomas Duchek - The Gaffer.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]''
</gallery>

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The Gaffer does not appear in the film, though Sam mentions that he saw him thrown out onto the street in his vision as he looks into the [[Mirror of Galadriel]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:[[John Church]] plays Gaffer Gamgee. He used a thick peasant accent for the role. He is included in early episodes including a full dramatisation of his encounter with the Nazgul. Neither Frodo or Sam learn of this exchange. He also features towards the end of the adaptation when he admonishes the returning Hobbits for wearing "ironmongery." The Gaffer also is present as the travelers discuss how Sam should use Galadriel’s gift.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee is played by Wolfgang Reinsch.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gaffer appears in the film's [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|Extended Edition]], where he is played by [[Norman Forsey]]. The conversation in the Ivy Bush is moved to the [[Green Dragon]] Inn, though the dialogue remains much the same. He does not appear at Sam's marriage in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Gaffer appears twice; at first, he drinks at the Green Dragon, but during the night, he informs Frodo of the Ringwraith that stalks the Shire. He was voiced by an uncredited [[Jim Piddock]].

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Hamfast Gamgee is found working in his garden just outside Bag End. He only offers one regional Shire quest, but has more story involvement during various seasonal festivals.

{{References|Notes}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Hamfast Gamdschie (Sohn von Hobsen)]]
[[fi:Hamfast Gamgi (Ukko Gamgi)]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hobbits/gamegie/hamfast gamegie 1]]

Gaffer Gamgee

2026-05-06T09:02:39Z

Frankr:

{{short description|Father of Samwise Gamgee}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Hamfast Gamgee
| image=Stephen Hickman - Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider.jpg
| caption="Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider" by [[Stephen Hickman]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Gaffer, Old Gamgee, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]]
| titles=
| position=Gardener
| location=[[Hobbiton]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth={{SR|1326}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{SR|1428}}<ref group=note>''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' gives {{FoA|8}}</ref>
| deathlocation=
| age=102
| notablefor=
| family=[[Gamgee Family|Gamgee]]
| parentage=[[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]]
| siblings=[[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]]
| spouse= [[Bell Goodchild]]
| children=[[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]] and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=In later life, grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
{{quote|No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at The Ivy Bush, a small inn on the Bywater road; and he spoke with some authority, for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years, and had helped old Holman in the same job before that. Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in the joints, the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son, Sam Gamgee. Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Long-expected Party]]"}}</center>
'''Hamfast Gamgee''', also known as '''the Gaffer''', was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] of [[the Shire]], and the father of [[Samwise Gamgee]] of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. He was the chief gardener at [[Bag End]], though in his later years he passed most of the work onto his son, Sam.

==History==

Hamfast was born in {{TA|2926}}, the third son of [[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]], who was a roper by trade. He had three siblings: [[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]].<ref name="Gamgee">{{App|Gamgee}}</ref>

He entered the service of his relative, "[[Holman Greenhand|Cousin Holman]]", and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of [[Bag End]].<ref name=party/> On [[22 June]], {{TA|2942}}, he and Holman frantically tried to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead [[Bilbo Baggins]].

Hamfast resided in Number 3, [[Bagshot Row]] and [[Daddy Twofoot]] was his next-door neighbor<ref name=party/> and had never been as far as [[Bucklebury]].<ref name=three/>

Hamfast became a gardener in his own right in about {{TA|2961}}, and a local expert on [[potatoes]] and other roots; "Master Hamfast" (as Bilbo called him) appreciated Bilbo's politeness and respecting his knowledge.<ref name=party>{{FR|Party}}</ref> He married [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]], and they had six children: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], Samwise and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].<ref name="Gamgee"/> Sam became Hamfast's apprentice.

Sam took over most of his father's work, who had become too old for the laborous work.<ref name=party/> He became known as the "Gaffer", a name Sam uses more often than "Hamfast".

Prior to the [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Farewell Party]], the younger [[hobbits]] sought information about the legendary Mr. Bilbo Baggins at the ''[[Ivy Bush]]''. Always a man of loquacity and knowledge, he argued with [[Sandyman]], [[Old Noakes]] and Daddy Twofoot about the [[Baggins Family|Bagginses]] and the [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]]. After the party, Bilbo left him two sacks of potatoes, a new spade, a woolen waistcoat, and a bottle of ointment as he suffered from creaking joints.<ref name=party/> By {{TA|3018}} he also began to lose his sight.<ref name=three/>

In {{TA|3018}}, his new neighbor, [[Frodo Baggins]] decided to leave the Shire, and [[Gandalf]] had obliged Sam to go with him. Frodo pretended to be moving to [[Buckland]], and sold Bag End to Lobelia, for which Hamfast was not so happy. He allowed Sam to go with Frodo to help and tend the garden of his new house, as he said.<ref name=three>{{FR|Three}}</ref>

On [[23 September]], the night of the departure of Frodo and Sam, [[Khamûl]]<ref name=Note1>{{UT|Hunt}}, Notes, note 1</ref>, one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane as the elderly hobbit was taking his air, and asked about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". The Gaffer told him that he had left for [[Bucklebury]] and it's not their business to know why, and refused to leave any message. The stranger hissed, making Hamfast shudder. Soon after the Nazgûl left, Sam arrived to give Hamfast the keys to Bag End before leaving. Surprised by Sam's arrival, the Gaffer told Sam about the stranger.<ref name=three/>

[[29 September|A week later]], he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who he also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref><ref>{{App|B3}}</ref>

When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and eventually [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he had only a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored Bagshot Row, the "[[New Row]]." He was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]], which Frodo uses to comfort Sam about moving into [[Bag End]]. After his [[Elanor Gardner|granddaughter]] is born, Sam calls his father to decide upon a name. Gaffer tells him to stick with the tradition of naming hobbit-girls after flowers and Frodo gives Sam the name "Elanor". The Gaffer lived for another 7 years and died in [[Fourth Age 7]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

His son, Sam, named his seventh child [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]] after his father.<ref name="Gamgee"/>

==Etymology==
The name ''Hamfast'' is a modernization of Old English ''hám-fæst'', meaning "Stay-at-home", or literally, "Home-fast". It is a translation of his [[Westron]] name, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]].<ref>{{App|F2}}</ref> In the [[King's Letter]], the name (referring to [[Hamfast Gardner]], the fourth son of Sam and Rose, not the Gaffer) is translated into [[Sindarin]] as [[Baravorn]].<ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}</ref>

"[[Wiktionary:gaffer|Gaffer]]" is a colloquial word for "old man". It is a contraction of "grandfather."

==In other stories==
In the illustrated short story ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'', there is a resident in the village named Gaffer Gamgee who struggles to listen to the discussion between Mr Binks and Sergeant [[Boffin Family|Boffin]] about whether Mr Bliss should be locked up for failure to pay for his car. Sergeant Boffin also has a son named [[Sam]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'' (2011 edition), p. 63</ref>

==Inspiration==
In [[Letter 257]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] recounts a holiday to Lamorna Cave in the early 1930's. To amuse his sons, he named a local Gaffer Gamgee. This "curious local character" was "an old man who used to go about swapping gossip and weather-fashion and such like". The surname was chosen because it alliterated with Gaffer.

Tolkien had several encounters with actual Gamgees, however. [[wikipedia:Gamgee Tissue|Gamgee Tissue]], a word young Ronald considered comical, was named after [[wikipedia:Sampson Gamgee|J. Sampson Gamgee]] (1828-1886), a famous [[Birmingham]] surgeon,<ref>{{L|72}}</ref> whilst in the Black Country dialect cotton wool was referred to as "gamgee".<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://sedgleymanor.com/ The Ancient Manor of Sedgley]|articleurl=http://sedgleymanor.com/dictionaries/dialect.html|articlename=Black Country Dialect|accessed=9 September 2014}}</ref> The Gamgees were notorious surgeons - years later, Dr. Leonard Gamgee tended those war-wounded, including Lieutenant Tolkien.<ref>[[John Garth]], ''[[Tolkien and the Great War]], "Part Three: Castles in the air", p. 206</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Gaffer Gamgee.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Hamfast Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Romana Kendelic - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game]]''
File:Tomas Duchek - The Gaffer.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]''
</gallery>

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The Gaffer does not appear in the film, though Sam mentions that he saw him thrown out onto the street in his vision as he looks into the [[Mirror of Galadriel]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:[[John Church]] plays Gaffer Gamgee. He used a thick peasant accent for the role. He is included in early episodes including a full dramatisation of his encounter with the Nazgul. Neither Frodo or Sam learn of this exchange. He also features towards the end of the adaptation when he admonishes the returning Hobbits for wearing "ironmongery." The Gaffer also is present as the travelers discuss how Sam should use Galadriel’s gift.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee is played by Wolfgang Reinsch.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gaffer appears in the film's [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|Extended Edition]], where he is played by [[Norman Forsey]]. The conversation in the Ivy Bush is moved to the [[Green Dragon]] Inn, though the dialogue remains much the same. He does not appear at Sam's marriage in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Gaffer appears twice; at first, he drinks at the Green Dragon, but during the night, he informs Frodo of the Ringwraith that stalks the Shire. He was voiced by an uncredited [[Jim Piddock]].

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Hamfast Gamgee is found working in his garden just outside Bag End. He only offers one regional Shire quest, but has more story involvement during various seasonal festivals.

{{References|Notes}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Hamfast Gamdschie (Sohn von Hobsen)]]
[[fi:Hamfast Gamgi (Ukko Gamgi)]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hobbits/gamegie/hamfast gamegie 1]]

Gaffer Gamgee

2026-05-06T08:57:53Z

Frankr:

{{short description|Father of Samwise Gamgee}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Hamfast Gamgee
| image=Stephen Hickman - Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider.jpg
| caption="Gaffer Gamgee and the Black Rider" by [[Stephen Hickman]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Gaffer, Old Gamgee, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]]
| titles=
| position=Gardener
| location=[[Hobbiton]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth={{SR|1326}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death={{SR|1428}}<ref group=note>''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' gives {{FoA|8}}</ref>
| deathlocation=
| age=102
| notablefor=
| family=[[Gamgee Family|Gamgee]]
| parentage=[[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]]
| siblings=[[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]]
| spouse= [[Bell Goodchild]]
| children=[[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], [[Samwise Gamgee|Samwise]] and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=In later life, grey
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
{{quote|No one had a more attentive audience than old Ham Gamgee, commonly known as the Gaffer. He held forth at The Ivy Bush, a small inn on the Bywater road; and he spoke with some authority, for he had tended the garden at Bag End for forty years, and had helped old Holman in the same job before that. Now that he was himself growing old and stiff in the joints, the job was mainly carried on by his youngest son, Sam Gamgee. Both father and son were on very friendly terms with Bilbo and Frodo. They lived on the Hill itself, in Number 3 Bagshot Row just below Bag End.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[A Long-expected Party]]"}}</center>
'''Hamfast Gamgee''', also known as '''the Gaffer''', was a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] of [[the Shire]], and the father of [[Samwise Gamgee]] of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]]. He was the chief gardener at [[Bag End]] though in his later years he passed most of the work onto his son, Sam.

==History==

Hamfast was born in {{TA|2926}}, the third son of [[Hobson|Hobson Gamgee]], who was a roper by trade. He had three siblings: [[Andwise Roper]], [[May (hobbit)|May]] and [[Halfred of Overhill]].<ref name="Gamgee">{{App|Gamgee}}</ref>

He entered the service of his relative, "[[Holman Greenhand|Cousin Holman]]", and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of [[Bag End]].<ref name=party/> On [[22 June]], {{TA|2942}}, he and Holman frantically tried to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead [[Bilbo Baggins]].

Hamfast resided in Number 3, [[Bagshot Row]] and [[Daddy Twofoot]] was his next-door neighbor<ref name=party/> and had never been as far as [[Bucklebury]].<ref name=three/>

Hamfast became a gardener in his own right in about {{TA|2961}}, and a local expert on [[potatoes]] and other roots; "Master Hamfast" (as Bilbo called him) appreciated Bilbo's politeness and respecting his knowledge.<ref name=party>{{FR|Party}}</ref> He married [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]], and they had six children: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], Samwise and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]].<ref name="Gamgee"/> Sam became Hamfast's apprentice.

Sam took over most of his father's work, who had become too old for the laborous work.<ref name=party/> He became known as the "Gaffer", a name Sam uses more often than "Hamfast".

Prior to the [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Farewell Party]], the younger [[hobbits]] sought information about the legendary Mr. Bilbo Baggins at the ''[[Ivy Bush]]''. Always a man of loquacity and knowledge, he argued with [[Sandyman]], [[Old Noakes]] and Daddy Twofoot about the [[Baggins Family|Bagginses]] and the [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]]. After the party, Bilbo left him two sacks of potatoes, a new spade, a woolen waistcoat, and a bottle of ointment as he suffered from creaking joints.<ref name=party/> By {{TA|3018}} he also began to lose his sight.<ref name=three/>

In {{TA|3018}}, his new neighbor, [[Frodo Baggins]] decided to leave the Shire, and [[Gandalf]] had obliged Sam to go with him. Frodo pretended to be moving to [[Buckland]], and sold Bag End to Lobelia, for which Hamfast was not so happy. He allowed Sam to go with Frodo to help and tend the garden of his new house, as he said.<ref name=three>{{FR|Three}}</ref>

On [[23 September]], the night of the departure of Frodo and Sam, [[Khamûl]]<ref name=Note1>{{UT|Hunt}}, Notes, note 1</ref>, one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane as the elderly hobbit was taking his air, and asked about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". The Gaffer told him that he had left for [[Bucklebury]] and it's not their business to know why, and refused to leave any message. The stranger hissed, making Hamfast shudder. Soon after the Nazgûl left, Sam arrived to give Hamfast the keys to Bag End before leaving. Surprised by Sam's arrival, the Gaffer told Sam about the stranger.<ref name=three/>

[[29 September|A week later]], he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who he also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref><ref>{{App|B3}}</ref>

When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and eventually [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he had only a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored Bagshot Row, the "[[New Row]]." He was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]], which Frodo uses to comfort Sam about moving into [[Bag End]]. After his [[Elanor Gardner|granddaughter]] is born, Sam calls his father to decide upon a name. Gaffer tells him to stick with the tradition of naming hobbit-girls after flowers and Frodo gives Sam the name "Elanor". The Gaffer lived for another 7 years and died in [[Fourth Age 7]].<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

His son, Sam, named his seventh child [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]] after his father.<ref name="Gamgee"/>

==Etymology==
The name ''Hamfast'' is a modernization of Old English ''hám-fæst'', meaning "Stay-at-home", or literally, "Home-fast". It is a translation of his [[Westron]] name, [[Ranugad]] [[Galbasi]].<ref>{{App|F2}}</ref> In the [[King's Letter]], the name (referring to [[Hamfast Gardner]], the fourth son of Sam and Rose, not the Gaffer) is translated into [[Sindarin]] as [[Baravorn]].<ref>{{SD|Epilogue}}</ref>

"[[Wiktionary:gaffer|Gaffer]]" is a colloquial word for "old man". It is a contraction of "grandfather."

==In other stories==
In the illustrated short story ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'', there is a resident in the village named Gaffer Gamgee who struggles to listen to the discussion between Mr Binks and Sergeant [[Boffin Family|Boffin]] about whether Mr Bliss should be locked up for failure to pay for his car. Sergeant Boffin also has a son named [[Sam]].<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'' (2011 edition), p. 63</ref>

==Inspiration==
In [[Letter 257]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] recounts a holiday to Lamorna Cave in the early 1930's. To amuse his sons, he named a local Gaffer Gamgee. This "curious local character" was "an old man who used to go about swapping gossip and weather-fashion and such like". The surname was chosen because it alliterated with Gaffer.

Tolkien had several encounters with actual Gamgees, however. [[wikipedia:Gamgee Tissue|Gamgee Tissue]], a word young Ronald considered comical, was named after [[wikipedia:Sampson Gamgee|J. Sampson Gamgee]] (1828-1886), a famous [[Birmingham]] surgeon,<ref>{{L|72}}</ref> whilst in the Black Country dialect cotton wool was referred to as "gamgee".<ref>{{webcite|website=[http://sedgleymanor.com/ The Ancient Manor of Sedgley]|articleurl=http://sedgleymanor.com/dictionaries/dialect.html|articlename=Black Country Dialect|accessed=9 September 2014}}</ref> The Gamgees were notorious surgeons - years later, Dr. Leonard Gamgee tended those war-wounded, including Lieutenant Tolkien.<ref>[[John Garth]], ''[[Tolkien and the Great War]], "Part Three: Castles in the air", p. 206</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Gaffer Gamgee.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Hamfast Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Romana Kendelic - Gaffer Gamgee.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game]]''
File:Tomas Duchek - The Gaffer.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth]]''
</gallery>

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:The Gaffer does not appear in the film, though Sam mentions that he saw him thrown out onto the street in his vision as he looks into the [[Mirror of Galadriel]].

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:[[John Church]] plays Gaffer Gamgee. He used a thick peasant accent for the role. He is included in early episodes including a full dramatisation of his encounter with the Nazgul. Neither Frodo or Sam learn of this exchange. He also features towards the end of the adaptation when he admonishes the returning Hobbits for wearing "ironmongery." The Gaffer also is present as the travelers discuss how Sam should use Galadriel’s gift.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Hamfast "Gaffer" Gamgee is played by Wolfgang Reinsch.

'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gaffer appears in the film's [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition)|Extended Edition]], where he is played by [[Norman Forsey]]. The conversation in the Ivy Bush is moved to the [[Green Dragon]] Inn, though the dialogue remains much the same. He does not appear at Sam's marriage in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|The Return of the King]]''.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Gaffer appears twice; at first, he drinks at the Green Dragon, but during the night, he informs Frodo of the Ringwraith that stalks the Shire. He was voiced by an uncredited [[Jim Piddock]].

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Hamfast Gamgee is found working in his garden just outside Bag End. He only offers one regional Shire quest, but has more story involvement during various seasonal festivals.

{{References|Notes}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Hamfast Gamdschie (Sohn von Hobsen)]]
[[fi:Hamfast Gamgi (Ukko Gamgi)]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/hobbits/gamegie/hamfast gamegie 1]]

Bag End

2026-05-06T08:53:58Z

Frankr: /* History */

{{short description|Home of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins}}
{{location infobox
| name=Bag End
| image=J.R.R. Tolkien - The Hall at Bag-End, Residence of B. Baggins Esquire (Colored by H.E. Riddett).jpg
| caption="The Hall at Bag-End" by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], coloured by [[H.E. Riddett]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| location=[[Hobbiton]], [[The Shire]]
| type=[[Smials|Smial]]
| description=The most luxurious hobbit-hole in the local area
| regions=
| towns=
| inhabitants=[[Baggins Family]], [[Gardner Family]]
| created=Around {{SR|1280}}
| destroyed=
| events=[[An Unexpected Party]] [[Scouring of the Shire]]
}}
{{quote|In a hole in the ground there lived a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]]. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an 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.|Opening lines of ''[[The Hobbit]]''<ref name="Unexpected">{{H|Party}}</ref>}}

'''Bag End''' or '''Bag-End''' was a [[Hobbit-holes|smial]] in [[Hobbiton]], the residence of the [[Baggins Family]] and later the [[Gardner Family]].

==Layout==
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Bag End, Underhill.jpg|thumb|left|"Bag End, [[Underhill]]" by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]]]
The entrance to Bag End was a perfectly round green door featuring a brass knob in the center. The entryway was a tube-shaped hall with paneled walls and a tiled floor, furnished with carpeting, polished chairs, and an abundance of pegs for the hats and coats of many visitors. The tunnel continued into the hill with side doors that were also round. All of the rooms were on the same level – bedrooms, bathrooms, cellars, multiple pantries, wardrobes, kitchens, and dining rooms. The best rooms were those on the left side of the passage for they had deep-set round windows with a view of the garden and meadows beyond down to [[The Water]].<ref name="Unexpected"/>

==History==
{{quote|You can say what you like, Gaffer, but Bag End's a queer place, and its folk are queerer.|[[Sandyman]]<ref name="Party">{{FR|Party}}</ref>|center}}

Bag End was built into [[Hobbiton Hill]] by [[Bungo Baggins]], where he went to live with his new wife, [[Belladonna Took]]. The hole was largely financed by her.<ref name="Unexpected"/> The earth removed was shot over the edge of the sudden fall in the hillside onto the ground; this lane would thenceforth be known as "[[Bagshot Row]]".<ref name="N">{{HM|N}}, p. 763-5</ref> The hole was inherited by Bungo's son [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]].

Bilbo employed [[Holman Greenhand]], [[Hamfast Gamgee]],<ref>{{UT|Erebor}}</ref> to tend to its gardens. During Bilbo's [[Quest for Erebor|disapparance]], he was presumed dead, when he returned in {{TA|2942}} just in time to see his estate being auctioned by [[Messrs Grubb, Grubb and Burrowes]].<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref> During that time Holman and Ham tried to protect the garden from the crowd. The [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]] hoped that Bag End would be theirs (and [[Lobelia Sackville-Baggins|Lobelia]] allegedly snatched some silver spoons).<ref name="Party"/>

In {{SR|1389}} Bilbo adopted orphan [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] as his heir (disappointing the [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Bagginses]] who coveted it for years), with whom they shared same birthday. Together they gave famous combined birthday parties in Bag End. While preparing for his [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|famous party]], Bag End was closed, with only [[Gandalf]] and some [[Dwarves of Erebor]] working there.<ref name="Party"/>
[[File:Cor Blok - The Hobbits sacking Bilbo's House II.jpg|thumb|"The [[Hobbits]] sacking Bilbo's House II" by [[Cor Blok]]]]
Bag End in turn was left to Frodo, in {{SR|1401}} along with all the chief treasures, books, pictures and furniture. The [[23 September|next day]] of the party and Bilbo's disappearance, many hobbits crowded Bag End to inquire what happened and to collect farewell gifts. This caused the rumor that Bilbo's household was given out for free and many came for loot; they tried to loot overlooked small items, make swaps or deals, even mixed or removed labels from presents that Bilbo prepared. Three young hobbits even knocked holes in the walls of one of the cellars, and [[Sancho Proudfoot]] dug in the larger pantry, looking for Bilbo's mysterious treasure. Frodo attempted to block the entrance with barrows and handcarts and had [[Merry Brandybuck]] to keep an eye.<ref name="Party"/>

When he too left [[The Shire]], he sold it to Lobelia by [[June]] {{TA|3018}}. Frodo had bought a house at [[Crickhollow]] and his friends helped him empty and pack his household, and celebrated with them his last [[22 September|birthday]] party in Hobbiton. The title would pass to Lobelia on [[24 September]], but she arrived [[23 September|one day early]] with her son [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] to inspect the remaining items. Leaving Bag End, Frodo left the keys with his chief gardener [[Gaffer Gamgee]].<ref>{{FR|Three}}</ref> It was used by Lotho as he declared himself [[Chief Shirriff]]. [[Sharkey]] also adopted the hole as his base, digging up Bagshot Row and erecting many houses in its stead. After the [[Battle of Bywater]], it was largely restored to normal, and Frodo took up residence in the hole again.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>

After [[Frodo Baggins]] left [[Middle-earth]], he gave Bag End to [[Samwise Gamgee]], whose family, the Gardners, would live in it for many years.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s aunt [[Jane Neave]]'s farm was called Bag End by the locals in Dormston, Worcestershire.
{{quote|It [Bag End] was the local name for my aunt's [Jane Neave] farm in Worcestershire, which was at the end of a lane leading to it and no further...|[[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings|''Nomenclature'']]<ref name="N"/>}}

The name can also be seen as a pun on "cul-de-sac" (literally "bottom of the bag").<ref name="N"/>

In the books, it is supposedly a translation of the [[Westron]] ''[[Laban-neg]], [[Labin-nec]]'', which has much the same meaning, and the same relationship to the Westron form of Baggins: ''[[Labingi]]''.<ref name="PM">{{PM|Languages}}</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1982: [[The Hobbit (1982 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (1982 video game)]]:'''
:Bag End is the game's starting point.

'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]'''
:A life-sized exterior of Bag End was constructed as part of the Hobbiton set near Matamata, New Zealand. The interior sets of Bag End were built on two different scales.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Bag End is the starting point. Prior to leaving, the deed and key have to be found. The One Ring is also kept inside a chest, but Frodo will not take it out until after he has sold Bag End to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins.

'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]:'''
:Bag End is the starting point.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Two different maps of the Shire are used: in the evil campaign, and a map is available for skirmishes. In the former, Bag End and the Hill are located in the top left and can be destroyed as a bonus objective; in the latter, it does not appear.

[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Bag End.jpg|thumb|250px|Bag End in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']]
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Bag End, including surrounding environs The Hill and the [[Party Tree]], are featured in the Shire region. In autumn, during the [[Harvestmath]] festival, the basement of Bag End becomes the "Haunted Burrow," a hobbit-style haunted house.
[[File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - poster 1.jpg|thumb|200px|Bag End in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'']]
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
:As with ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' films, ''The Hobbit'' trilogy opens with an older Bilbo in the study of Bag End. In crafting the set, the designers said they were inspired by [[wikipedia:Victorian decorative arts|Victorian aesthetics]] but chose to make the home brighter and with lighter, earthier colours, reflecting the fact this is 60 years earlier than ''The Lord of the Rings'' and home to a much younger hobbit. The pantry was designed to be overly-stocked whilst the whole home - especially the bedroom - was stuffed with plump furnishings to reflect Bilbo's "comfortable" lifestyle.<ref>[[Daniel Falconer]], ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey: Chronicles: Art & Design]]'', pp. 16-20</ref>

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Bag End|Images of Bag End]]
*''[[Tolkien's Bag End]]''

{{references}}
{{companyroute}}
[[Category:Buildings]]
[[Category:The Shire]]
[[de:Beutelsend]]
[[fi:Repunpää]]
[[fr:encyclo:geographie:villes tours et forteresses:comte:cul-de-sac]]

Samwise Gamgee

2026-05-06T08:48:04Z

Frankr:

{{short description|Companion & Gardener of Frodo Baggins}}{{header image|shire}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Samwise Gamgee
| image=Nia Kovalevski - Sam.jpg
| caption="Sam" by [[:Category:Images by Nia Kovalevski|Nia Kovalevski]]
| pronun=
| othernames=''[[Banazîr]]'' ([[Hobbitish|H]]) ''[[Perhael]]'' ([[Sindarin|S]])
| titles=[[Mayor of Michel Delving]], Ring-Bearer (for a short time)
| position=Gardener, chief investigator, [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]]
| location=[[Bagshot Row|3 Bagshot Row]], [[Hobbiton]] [[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]] [[Tol Eressëa]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=[[6 April]] {{TA|2980}}<ref group="note">In the second edition of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Sam's year of birth was added to ''[[Appendix B|The Tale of Years]]''; it was, however, {{TA|2983}}. This contradicts both ''[[Gamgee family#The Longfather.E2.80.93Tree of Master Samwise|The Longfather-Tree of Master Samwise]]'' and a later entry in ''The Tale of Years''. The incorrect date has been corrected in the [[The Lord of the Rings (50th Anniversary Edition)|50th anniversary edition]]. See also ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'', p. 716.</ref>
| birthlocation=The [[Shire]]
| rule={{FoA|6}} - {{FoA|55|n}}
| sailedwest=After {{FoA|61}}
| sailedto=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=102
| notablefor=Being counted among the Fellowship of the Ring and following [[Frodo Baggins]] into Mordor.
| family=[[Gamgee Family|Gamgee]]; founded the [[Gardner Family|Gardner family]]
| parentage=[[Gaffer Gamgee|Hamfast Gamgee]] and [[Bell Goodchild]]
| siblings=[[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]] and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]]
| spouse=[[Rose Cotton]]
| children=[[Elanor Gardner|Elanor]], [[Frodo Gardner|Frodo]], [[Rose Gardner|Rose]], [[Merry Gardner|Merry]], [[Pippin Gardner|Pippin]], [[Goldilocks Gardner|Goldilocks]], [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]], [[Daisy Gardner|Daisy]], [[Primrose Gardner|Primrose]], [[Bilbo Gardner|Bilbo]], [[Ruby Gardner|Ruby]], [[Robin Gardner|Robin]], and [[Tolman Gardner|Tolman]]
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=Brown<ref name="breaking">{{FR|Breaking}}</ref>
| skin colour=Brown-handed
| clothing=
| weapons=[[Barrow-blades|Barrow-blade]], also [[Sting]]
| steed=[[Bill the Pony]]
|headerimage=shire}}
<center>{{quote|I am glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things, Sam|[[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] in ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Mount Doom]]"}}</center>

'''Samwise Gamgee''', commonly known as '''Sam''', was [[Frodo Baggins]]' gardener at [[Bag End]], one of the nine members of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], and the only one to remain with Frodo to the end of the journey to [[Mount Doom]].

==History==
===Early life===
Samwise lived with his father, [[Hamfast Gamgee]], better known as "The Gaffer", on [[Bagshot Row]] in [[The Shire]], close to [[Bag End]]. Sam's mother was [[Bell Gamgee|Bell Goodchild]]; he had five siblings: [[Hamson Gamgee|Hamson]], [[Halfred Gamgee|Halfred]], [[Daisy Gamgee|Daisy]], [[May Gamgee|May]], and [[Marigold Gamgee|Marigold]]. He was a friend of the [[Cotton Family|Cotton family]] and used to play in [[Bywater Pool]] with [[Wilcome Cotton II|Jolly]], [[Tolman Cotton Junior|Tom]], [[Carl Cotton|Nibs]], and [[Rose Cotton|Rosie Cotton]] specifically.<ref>{{RK|VI3}}</ref>

A gardener by trade, Sam seemed to be a simple [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] of plain speech. He helped his Gaffer tending the garden of Bag End and was taught the art of rope making by his [[Hobson|grandfather]] and his uncle [[Andwise Roper|Andy]]. In his work at Bag-End, he was acquainted with [[Bilbo Baggins]]. Bilbo taught him [[tengwar|letters]], and nurtured his love for [[Elves]], poetry, and his belief that the world contains greater wonders than most hobbits are aware of. This set him apart from the beginning to the Gaffer's dismay.<ref>{{FR|Party}};{{TT|Taming}}</ref> Sam often wandered outside [[Hobbiton]] and knew well the area twenty miles around.<ref name="three">{{FR|Three}}</ref>

On [[12 April]] Sam was in ''[[The Green Dragon]]'' and discussed with [[Ted Sandyman]] the strange rumours he heard around the Shire, including his [[Hal Gamgee|cousin Hal]] seeing a [[Tree-men|Tree-man]], and the [[Elves]] who leave [[Middle-earth]]. Ted called his cousin crazy and dismissed all rumours. In the evening, he returned to [[Hobbiton Hill]] thinking about the hard work he has to do when he saw [[Gandalf]] arriving to visit Frodo, after many years.<ref name="shadow">{{FR|Shadow}}</ref>

===Eavesdropping on Frodo and Gandalf===
Sam was one of the "[[Conspirators]]" who were summoned by [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry Brandybuck]] in order to watch over [[Frodo Baggins]] and the [[The One Ring|Ring]] inherited by Frodo from Bilbo. Being the closest to Frodo, Sam was their "chief investigator" who was to eavesdrop on his talks with Gandalf the [[Wizards|Wizard]].<ref>{{FR|Conspiracy}}</ref>

He eavesdrops on Frodo and Gandalf's discussion while working at the garden of Bag End. It was when Gandalf revealed to Frodo that Bilbo's ring is [[Sauron]]'s One Ring, and on the mention that Frodo must leave the Shire, Sam choked. Initially suspected as a spy, Sam feigned innocent curiosity. Sam begged Gandalf not to turn him into anything "unnatural". Sam then immediately asked to be taken to see Elves when they went away. Gandalf decided to make Sam Frodo's first companion.<ref name="shadow" />

===From Hobbiton to Crickhollow===
Sam joined Frodo on his journey to [[Bree]] and [[Rivendell]], as to outside appearances as Frodo's gardener. He lied that he had the lightest baggage after Frodo complained about the weight of his, and he offered to take more. Sam and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin Took]] followed Frodo to his new house at [[Crickhollow]] and when they were encountered by [[Black Riders]] Sam mentioned that one of those was asking his father about Frodo. Later they met one of the [[Wandering Companies]] of Elves; the experience of meeting Elves the first time left him speechless (although they were different than he expected, ''"so old and young, and so gay and sad, as it were,"'' as Sam described them<ref name="short">{{FR|Mushrooms}}, p. 87</ref>); the hobbits camped with them and Sam was like in a living dream, mentioning it as one of the most important events of his life. He was enchanted especially by their singing.<ref name="three" /> The Elves warned him not to leave Frodo on his journey, and Sam denied he would ever think about it.<ref name="short" />

The next day Sam insisted that Pippin should leave some elven bread for their breakfast. That morning, Sam felt changed, feeling that he had to fulfill a role that lies beyond the Shire, something more important than meeting Elves or [[dragons]] or seeing mountains.<ref name="short" />

At Crickhollow where his and the Conspirators' role was revealed. Merry joined the travellers on their way to Bree.

===Crickhollow to Rivendell===
The hobbits decided to risk travelling through the [[Old Forest]] to avoid Black Riders. There [[Old Man Willow]] put a spell of sleepiness on the four hobbits. Once Merry and Pippin slept by the tree and Frodo bathed his feet in the [[Withywindle]], the willow tree tried to drown Frodo and swallowed Merry and Pippin, but Sam proved the most resistant. He saved Frodo from drowning and tried to start a fire to frighten Old Man Willow but the tree threatened to squeeze the hobbits in two if he did not put it out. They were saved by Tom Bombadil and stayed in his house for two days. Sam was the only hobbit who slept contentedly.<ref>{{FR|Forest}}; {{FR|Bombadil}}</ref>

They passed through [[Barrow-downs]] and came to [[the Prancing Pony]] at Bree where they were joined by "[[Strider (Aragorn)|Strider]]". Sam did not trust the ranger at first, but Frodo accepted his help as they could not get to Rivendell otherwise. [[Sauron]]'s spies had opened the stables of the inn and all the mounts went loose, therefore before leaving the village, the company purchased a [[Ponies|pony]] from [[Bill Ferny]]. Sam loved and tended the animal, and named him [[Bill the Pony|Bill]], after his owner. Upon their departure, Bill Ferney saw and taunted them. In response, Sam threw an apple at his head.<ref>{{FR|Sign}}; {{FR|Strider}}; {{FR|Knife}}</ref>

As they came to [[Weathertop]], Sam recited a poem about Gil-Galad that Bilbo had taught him.<ref>{{FR|Knife}}, p. 186</ref> After Frodo was stabbed by a Ringwraith, his distrust toward Strider only grew, and he was distraught when he learned that Frodo's wound might subdue him to the Black Riders' will. When the group came to the old place where [[Tom]], [[Bert]], and [[William]] had been turned to stone, he sang "[[The Stone Troll]]", an original composition of his, for the others.<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref>

===Fellowship of the Ring===
When they reached [[Rivendell]], Sam was beside Frodo's bed while he was recovering from the [[Morgul-wound]] he was inflicted on Weathertop and hardly left except to run messages. Once Frodo awoke, Sam led him to join the rest of the party. He had begged to wait on Frodo but was told that for this time he was a guest of honor. When Frodo reunited with Bilbo, Sam sat near near them and listened as they spoke together until he fell asleep.<ref>{{FR|II1}}</ref>

The following day, Sam eavesdropped on the [[Council of Elrond]] and remained silent until it was revealed that Frodo would be the [[Ring-bearers|Ringbearer]]. Then Sam was unable to contain himself any longer and revealed himself, asking if Frodo was meant to go alone, to which [[Elrond]] responded that he at least should accompany Frodo as it is impossible to separate them, even when Frodo is invited to a secret council and Sam is not.<ref>{{FR|Many}}; {{FR|Council}}, p. 270-271</ref>

[[File:John_Howe_-_Watcher_in_the_Water.jpg‎|thumb|150px|left|''Watcher in the Water'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Sam insisted on bringing Bill along on the journey, saying he would pine if he did not come. At that point, he lamented that he had not brought rope but found that it was too late to find some now.<ref>{{FR|South}}, p. 280</ref> Sam was dismayed when he learned they were to enter [[Moria]], and he was even more dismayed that they had to send Bill away when they entered Moria when wolves were about. Sam saved Frodo's life as the [[Watcher in the Water]] tried to seize him with one of its tentacles. As they passed by fissures and chasms there, Sam once again remarked that he wished he had brought rope. Sam received a scratch along his scalp for his first orc kill in the mines. When Frodo was pinned against the wall by an Orc-spear, Sam hacked and broke the spear-shaft.<ref>{{FR|Journey}};{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>

In [[Lothlórien]], the Elves remarked that Sam breathed so loudly that they could shoot him in the dark. Sam was the only one of the four hobbits who had no trouble sleeping upon the Elves' [[flet]], and he remarked that he will go on sleeping whether or not he rolled off in his slumber.<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}, p. 342, 344</ref> In [[Cerin Amroth]], once the Fellowship was unblindfolded, Sam was surprised by the bright daylight in an Elven realm, and he remarked that he "thought that Elves were all for moon and stars: but this is more elvish than anything I ever heard tell of".<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}, p. 351</ref>

Sam made a verse in honour of Gandalf's fireworks. He, along with Frodo, looked into the [[Mirror of Galadriel]] where he saw trees being felled and that the Old Mill had been replaced by a large red-brick building. Sam considered going back to help those at home, but, being warned by [[Galadriel]] not to let the mirror decide his choices, Sam decided to finish his task with Frodo. At their parting from Lórien, Galadriel [[Gifts of Galadriel|gave]] Sam a [[Sam's garden box|box]] containing earth from her orchard.<ref>{{FR|Mirror}};{{FR|Farewell}}</ref>

===Journey to Mordor===
At the [[Falls of Rauros]] Frodo tried to leave the Fellowship secretly by boat, but Sam pursued him and leapt into the water although he could not swim. Thus after the [[Breaking of the Fellowship]], Sam was the only member of the Fellowship to remain with Frodo.<ref name="breaking" />
[[File:The Brothers Hildebrandt - Faramir.png|thumb|250px|"[[Faramir]]" by [[The Brothers Hildebrandt]]]]
When [[Gollum]] joined up with them, Sam remained distrustful of his loyalty to Frodo, and treated him with disdain, and partially (though unintentionally) pushed Gollum to betray Frodo in [[Shelob's Lair]].<ref>{{L|165}}</ref><ref>{{L|96}}</ref>
As Sam, Frodo, and Gollum travelled, Sam began to worry about their food supplies running short and he, unlike Frodo, still thought of the return journey.<ref>{{TT|Passage}}</ref> In [[Ithilien]], he decided to risk a fire and stew rabbit, but he accidentally let it smoke which attracted the attention of [[Faramir]] and his rangers who were also in that region. There, to Sam's delight, he got the chance to see an [[oliphaunt]]. Faramir took the hobbits to [[Henneth Annûn]] where Sam accidentally revealed the purpose of their quest, but Faramir did not hinder it and Sam judged his quality to be "the very highest.", saying he reminded him of Gandalf.<ref>{{TT|Herbs}}; {{TT|Window}}</ref>

Gollum led the hobbits to the [[Stairs of Cirith Ungol]], where Sam, in a conversation with Frodo, reflected on whether their adventure would be put in tales and songs to be told by a fireside and noted that they were part of a greater tale than themselves.<ref name="TT|Stairs">{{TT|Stairs}}</ref>
[[File:Irvin Rodriguez - Samwise the Stouthearted.jpg|thumb|''Samwise the Stouthearted'' by [[:Category:Images by Irvin Rodriguez|Irvin Rodriguez]]]]
Gollum betrayed the hobbits in [[Shelob's lair]], hoping to find the Ring among Frodo's bones once [[Shelob]] had eaten him. However, Sam pierced Shelob's flesh, being the first person ever to have done so, but not before Shelob seemingly killed Frodo.

Grieving for Frodo, Sam took the Ring. At first, he was tempted to go on a quest for revenge on Gollum but instead chose to complete the quest. However, upon learning that Frodo still lived, he rescued him from the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]] and returned the Ring to him. Because he held the Ring for a time, he is considered one of the [[Ring-bearers]].<ref>{{TT|Choices}};{{RK|Tower}}</ref>

Together, Sam and Frodo crossed [[Mordor]] to [[Mount Doom]]. Sam himself carried Frodo up the slope for part of the way. There, Gollum tried to attack the hobbits and Sam spared his life now he had an idea of what it had been like for Gollum to be Ring-bearer—a choice which soon led to success in their quest. After the destruction of the Ring, both Sam and Frodo were honoured by [[Aragorn|King Elessar]] for their deeds.<ref>{{RK|Doom}}; {{RK|Field}}</ref>

===Later life===
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Sam and Rosie Cotton.jpg|thumb|left|''Sam and Rosie Cotton'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
After the [[War of the Ring]], and the [[Scouring of the Shire]], Sam planted saplings in all the places where specially beautiful and beloved trees had been destroyed, and he put a grain of Galadriel's soil at the root of each. He was especially shocked that the [[Party Tree]] was cut down and planted a silver nut in the [[Party Field]] where it had once been, and the nut grew into the [[Golden Tree]], the only [[Mallorn]] tree in the Shire.

He married [[Rose Cotton|Rose "Rosie" Cotton]] on [[1 May]] {{SR|1420}}.<ref>{{App|Chief}}</ref> In honor for restoring the Shire his family was given the name [[Gardner Family|Gardner]].

They had thirteen children: [[Elanor Gardner|Elanor the Fair]], [[Frodo Gardner|Frodo]], [[Rose Gardner|Rose]], [[Merry Gardner|Merry]], [[Pippin Gardner|Pippin]], [[Goldilocks Gardner|Goldilocks]], [[Hamfast Gardner|Hamfast]], [[Daisy Gardner|Daisy]], [[Primrose Gardner|Primrose]], [[Bilbo Gardner|Bilbo]], [[Ruby Gardner|Ruby]], [[Robin Gardner|Robin]], and [[Tolman Gardner|Tolman]]. When Frodo sailed on the [[White Ship]], at the end of the Third Age, Sam inherited Bag End and was entrusted the [[Red Book of Westmarch]].

After [[Will Whitfoot]] resigned his post as [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] (the largest town in the Shire and the "unofficial capital"), in {{FoA|6}}, Sam was elected Mayor of the Shire, that would be the first of seven consecutive 7-year terms.<ref name="later" /> Soon after his election he established a rule of succession and inheritance in situations such as the headless [[Baggins family]], since Bilbo and Frodo went over the sea and was impossible to presume death.<ref>{{L|214}}</ref> During his service, King Elessar appointed the Mayor as a [[Counsellor of the North-kingdom]]. In {{SR|1436}} he met King Elessar on the [[Brandywine Bridge]] and was awarded the [[Star of the Dúnedain]]. In {{SR|1442}} he left [[Tolman Cotton Junior]] as deputy Mayor so that he rode to Gondor with his wife and his daughter Elanor, maid of honour to Queen Arwen, to spend a year there. When Elanor married [[Fastred of Greenholm]], he requested from Thain Peregrin to make him [[Warden of Westmarch]] in {{SR|1462}}.<ref name="later">{{App|Later}}</ref>

After his wife died in {{FoA|61}}, on [[22 September]] Sam left Bag End, and went to the [[Tower Hills]] where he was last seen by Elanor, entrusting to her the Red Book; according to her, he went to the [[Grey Havens]] to sail across the Sea<ref name="later" /> and be reunited with Frodo in the [[Undying Lands]].

==Characteristics==
Sam had brown eyes. At some points his hands are described as brown.<ref name="TT|Stairs" /><ref>{{RK|Tower}}</ref>
This could indicate he belongs to the [[Harfoots]], as they are described as having browner skin than the [[Fallohides]], to which breed Merry, Pippin and Frodo belong.<ref>{{FR|Hobbits}}</ref> Or it could simply be a tan from years of working outside. His face is often described as red-faced, turning scarlet or blushing. At one point his face is said to have turned white, before flushing scarlet. He was the shortest of the four Hobbits of the [[Fellowship of the Ring]], but the sturdiest in build.<ref name="Descriptions">{{NM|Descriptions}}</ref>

Sam was a representative hobbit. He was vulgar and cocksure, but his devotion to Frodo moderated his conceit. For him, his service and loyalty was the measure of his heroicism and bravery.<ref>{{L|246}}</ref>

==Etymology==
''Samwise'' means "simple minded" or "half-minded". ''Gamgee'' is explained as a corruption of the name ''[[Gammidgy]]'', a village in the Shire. Both names are presented as translations of the [[Westron]] form of Sam's name '''[[Banazîr]] Galpsi''' (from the complete form [[Galbasi]]) (q.v. for more information).<ref>{{App|Translation}}</ref>

Tolkien's English translation, ''Samwís Gamwich'', could have come to ''Samwise Gamgee'' in modern English.

The [[Sindarin]] version of Samwise is '''''[[Perhael]]'''''. In the [[King's Letter]], contained in the unpublished "[[Epilogue]]", King Elessar refers to Sam as ''Perhael (i sennui Panthael estathar aen)'', Sindarin for "Halfwise (who should rather be called Fullwise)."

==Inspiration==
[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] took the name from ''Gamgee Tissue'', a surgical dressing invented by a 19th century [[Birmingham]] surgeon called Joseph Sampson Gamgee. "Gamgee" became the colloquial name in Birmingham for cotton wool. Here, Tolkien describes why he had chosen that name for his character:
{{blockquote|The choice of Gamgee was primarily directed by alliteration, but I did not invent it. It was caught out of childhood memory, as a comic word or name. It was in fact the name when I was small (in Birmingham) for 'cotton-wool'. (Hence the association of the Gamgees with the Cottons.) I knew nothing of its origin.|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]:'' [[Letter 257]]}}

It is possible that Tolkien may have subconsciously recalled Dr. Gamgee (who died in 1886 but is commemorated by a plaque at the Birmingham Medical Institute, only yards from Tolkien's childhood home) but he claimed to be genuinely surprised when, in March 1956, he received a letter from one Sam Gamgee, who had heard that his name was in ''The Lord of the Rings'' but had not read the book. Tolkien replied on March 18:
{{blockquote|Dear Mr. Gamgee,It was very kind of you to write. You can imagine my astonishment when I saw your signature! I can only say, for your comfort, I hope, that the 'Sam Gamgee' of my story is a most heroic character, now widely beloved by many readers, even though his origins are rustic. So that perhaps you will not be displeased at the coincidence of the name of this imaginary character of supposedly many centuries ago being the same as yours.|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]:'' [[Letter 184]]}}

He proceeded to send Mr Gamgee a signed copy of all three volumes of the book. However, the incident sparked a nagging worry in Tolkien's mind, as he recorded in his journal:
{{blockquote|For some time I lived in fear of receiving a letter signed 'S. Gollum'. That would have been more difficult to deal with.|''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''}}

==Commentary==
In one of his letters, Tolkien described Sam is as the "chief hero" and placed special emphasis on his "rustic love" for Rosie.<ref>{{L|131}}</ref> He was known for rescuing Frodo at [[Cirith Ungol]], and carrying him up [[Mount Doom]]. He was one of only two Ring-bearers strong enough to surrender the Ring voluntarily.

The relationship between Frodo and Sam is, in many respects, at the centre of ''The Lord of the Rings''. Sam's humbleness and plain speaking are frequently emphasised in contrast to Frodo's gentility, and he often shows deference to Frodo, calling him "Mister Frodo" or "Master". At the same time, a strong bond of love and trust grows between them, portrayed most poignantly during the events of Cirith Ungol, where Sam vows to return to his (apparently) dead master, to be reunited with Frodo in death.

[[Tolkienists]] regard Sam as Frodo's ''[[wikipedia:Batman (army)|batman]]''. In the British Army, a batman was an orderly who acted as the personal servant of an officer. It was a role with which Tolkien (who served as an Army officer in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I First World War]) would have been extremely familiar. Sam undertakes all of the typical roles of a batman — he runs errands for Frodo, cooks, transports him (or at least carries him), and carries his luggage. Tolkien confirmed this interpretation when he wrote in a private letter that:
{{blockquote|My Sam Gamgee is indeed a reflection of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself|''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''}}

This may be compared to the relationship between [[wikipedia:Don Quixote|Don Quixote]] and his squire, [[wikipedia:Sancho Panza|Sancho Panza]], and the gradual "Quixotization" of Sancho.

==In other stories==
In the illustrated short story ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'', the local police officer is a Sergeant [[Boffin Family|Boffin]] who - at the behest of [[Gaffer Gamgee]] - seeks to lock up Mr Bliss as a thief for failing to pay for his car. Sergeant Boffin also has a son named Sam.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Mr. Bliss]]'' (2011 edition), p. 62</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Samwise Gamgee in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200px" heights="150px">
File:Sagan om Ringen - Samwise Gamgee.png|Sam in ''[[Sagan om Ringen (1971 film)|Sagan om Ringen]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings (1978 film) - Sam Gamgee.png|Sam in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Samwise Gamgee.jpg|Sam in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings (film series) - Samwise Gamgee.jpg|Sam in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Samwise Gamgee.jpg|Sam in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Lego - Sam mini figure.png|Sam as a ''[[Lego]] mini figure''
File:Aragorn's Quest - Sam.jpg|Sam in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest]]''
</gallery>

'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Victor Platt]] provided the voice of Sam.

'''1971: [[Sagan om Ringen (1971 film)|''Sagan om Ringen'' (1971 film)]]:'''
:Sam is present at the [[Bilbo Baggins]]' [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|111th birthday party]] and dined with [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry,]] [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] and [[Gandalf]]. After Gandalf tells Frodo of the powers of [[The One Ring|Bilbo's ring]], Merry, Pippin and Sam decide to accompany Frodo to [[Rivendell]]. They set off, pursued by [[Nazgûl|Black Riders.]] Later, they encounter a group of dancing [[Elves]]. They camp with the Elves and share food, an experience which becomes, in Sam's memory, one of the chief events in his life. Continuing on, they arrive in the [[Old Forest]] and stop for a rest. Pippin is trapped in the [[Old Man Willow]] and Frodo and Sam attempt to help him out. Their efforts are futile until helped by a wandering [[Tom Bombadil]]. The group arrive at [[Bree]] and enter ''[[Prancing Pony|Prancing Pony Inn]]''. They meet with a man named Strider. A letter from Gandalf reveals that his real name is [[Aragorn]] and the Hobbits follow him, as he knows a better route to Rivendell. They arrive in Rivendell and wait for Frodo, who is comatosed for 4 days due to his encounter with the Black Riders. The soon-to-be members of the [[Council of Elrond]] hold a celebratory feast after Frodo recovers. The Council convenes and they decide to form a [[Fellowship of the Ring]], comprising the previous members of their band, Gandalf, [[Legolas]] and [[Gimli]], to take the ring to [[Mordor]] and destroy it. As they prepare, Sam checks and re-checks his pack to ensure no supplies are missing. He is dismayed by the lack of rope, remembering that he had thought previously about how rope could be useful. The Fellowship depart and take a final look at the House of Elrond. The group sets off, Sam behind Frodo.

'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:[[Michael Scholes]] was the voice of Sam, and [[Billy Barty]] played him in rotoscoped footage.

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Sam is provided by [[Lou Bliss]].

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:[[Roddy McDowall]] provided the voice of Sam.

'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''
:A young [[Bill Nighy|William Nighy]] portrays Sam as a warm and caring person. No dialectical or social difference was made.

'''1992: ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'':'''
:In the two episodes of "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil", [[Jonathan Adams]] portrayed Sam with a very rustic accent.

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Samwise Gamgee is provided by Stano Dančiak. Dančiak, though a slightly older actor than the other actors portraying the four hobbits, was well-known for his convincing "smart everyman" roles. This is utilised in the series to emphasize that Sam comes from a more ordinary family and humbler social standing than Frodo, Pippin and Merry. Sam is portrayed as resourceful, honest, loyal, caring, and capable of finding bravery when he least expects it. He is also very curious about the world outside of The Shire, including Elven and Dwarven culture and lore. He is addressed almost entirely by his abbreviated name, Sam.

'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Sam is played by [[Sean Astin]]. [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]] majorly diverges Sam and Frodo's story. Frodo, manipulated by Gollum and the One Ring, abandons Sam in Mordor after he offers to carry the Ring. Frodo faces Shelob alone and Sam comes to his rescue after he has already been bound by her webs. Though not noted in dialogue, a page of Frodo's ''The Lord of the Rings'' notes that Sam became the Mayor of Hobbiton.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Scott Menville]] provided the voice for Sam in all but the X-box version; there, [[Cliff Broadway]] took over. The role of Sam is greatly diminished: after being caught eavesdropping by Gandalf, Sam is to be Frodo's companion, but he does not appear again until Frodo reaches [[Farmer Maggot]].

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Sam is a playable character in several missions: escape from [[Osgiliath]], Shelob's Lair, Cirith Ungol and the Crack of Doom.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Samwise only makes a single appearance in the Lothlorien mission.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Unlike most other characters, Frodo and Sam make no appearance in Skirmish battles - they only appear in the storyline campaign.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Sam and other Hobbits are no longer permanent units, they are now a temporary power boost available to Free People forces.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Samwise is first found in Rivendell, preparing for the departure. Later, he is found on [[Cerin Amroth]] in Lothlorien, alongside Frodo. A series of a session plays depicts Sam, Frodo and Gollum's journey through the [[Dead Marshes]], the Pass of [[Cirith Ungol]] and [[Mordor]]. The player later meets Sam and Frodo again at the [[Field of Cormallen]].

:The game's "Guardian" class ("Tank" in MMO terms) is based on Samwise due to the dedication he showed Frodo. Samwise insists that he is no Guardian and not fit to be one - because his heroic deeds have not happened yet. The player has to double-check and discovers that whoever talked of Sam as a great Guardian, apparently had misheard the word "Gardener".

'''2010: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest]]'':'''
:Samwise appears in the game as a non-playable character, with [[Sean Astin]] reprising his role. He narrates the story of Aragorn to his children when the latter is to come to the Shire.

{{References|n}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=hobbit
| house=[[Gamgee Family]]
| born=[[6 April]] {{TA|2980}}
| died=Sailed west in {{FoA|61}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Frodo Baggins]]
| list=[[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]]
| dates=[[13 March|13]] - [[14 March]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=[[Frodo Baggins]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Will Whitfoot]]
| list=[[Mayor of Michel Delving]]
| dates={{FoA|6}} - {{FoA|55|n}}
| next=Unknown
| nrow=2
}}
{{seq
| pvac=None
| prev=Position established
| list=[[Counsellor of the North-kingdom]]
| dates={{FoA|13}} - {{FoA|55|n}}
}}
{{seq-end}}

{{councilofelrond}}{{fellowship}}{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{ringbearers}}{{lordoftheringsfilms}}
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Chroniclers of Arda]]
[[Category:Fourth Age characters]]
[[Category:Gamgee]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Mayors of Michel Delving]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Samweis Gamdschie]]

Mithe

2026-03-28T12:44:34Z

Frankr:

[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Mithe.jpg|thumb|250px|The Mithe in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']]
'''Mithe''' was a body of water in [[the Shire]], the outflow of the [[Shirebourn]] river.

At the Mithe there was a landing-stage called [[Mithe Steps]],<ref>{{ATB|2}}</ref> from which a lane ran to [[Deephallow]] and so on to the [[Causeway]] road that went through [[Rushey]] and [[Stock]].<ref>{{ATB|Preface}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[Andreas Möhn]] has suggested that ''Mithe'' means "Place where two streams meet", derived from [[Old English]] ''[[Wiktionary:muþ|mūþ]]'' or ''[[Wiktionary:gemyþ|ġemȳþ]]'' "river-mouth, meeting of streams". Möhn adds that ''Mithe'' "is evidently related to 'mouth' and probably a derivative surviving in English place-names".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Andreas Möhn]]|articleurl=http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Bombadil_in_the_Shire.html|articlename=Bombadil in the Shire|dated=|website=Lalaith |accessed=16 May 2012}}</ref> The name is probably unrelated to the [[Middle English]] verb ''[[Wiktionary:mithen|mithen]]'' which meant to hide, conceal or avoid.{{fact}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The river Shirebourn itself is currently inaccessible, as the [[Southfarthing]] of the [[Shire]] is not present in the game. The Mithe however can be accessed from the [[Bree-land]] side.

{{references}}
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:The Shire]]

[[de:Meite]]
[[fi:Mithe]]

Mithe

2026-03-28T12:43:29Z

Frankr: Obviously unrelated? Nothing obvious about it.

[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Mithe.jpg|thumb|250px|The Mithe in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']]
'''Mithe''' was a body of water in [[the Shire]], the outflow of the [[Shirebourn]] river.

At the Mithe there was a landing-stage called [[Mithe Steps]],<ref>{{ATB|2}}</ref> from which a lane ran to [[Deephallow]] and so on to the [[Causeway]] road that went through [[Rushey]] and [[Stock]].<ref>{{ATB|Preface}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[Andreas Möhn]] has suggested that ''Mithe'' means "Place where two streams meet", derived from [[Old English]] ''[[Wiktionary:muþ|mūþ]]'' or ''[[Wiktionary:gemyþ|ġemȳþ]]'' "river-mouth, meeting of streams". Möhn adds that ''Mithe'' "is evidently related to 'mouth' and probably a derivative surviving in English place-names".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Andreas Möhn]]|articleurl=http://lalaith.vpsurf.de/Tolkien/Bombadil_in_the_Shire.html|articlename=Bombadil in the Shire|dated=|website=Lalaith |accessed=16 May 2012}}</ref> The name is probably unrelated to the [[Middle English]] verb ''[[Wiktionary:mithe|mithen]]'' which meant to hide, conceal or avoid.{{fact}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The river Shirebourn itself is currently inaccessible, as the [[Southfarthing]] of the [[Shire]] is not present in the game. The Mithe however can be accessed from the [[Bree-land]] side.

{{references}}
[[Category:Rivers]]
[[Category:The Shire]]

[[de:Meite]]
[[fi:Mithe]]

The Yale

2026-03-27T04:47:46Z

Frankr: /* Etymology */

[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - The Yale.jpg|thumb|300px|The Yale-height in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']]
'''The Yale''' was a region of lowlands that lay in the [[Eastfarthing]] of the [[Shire]] between the [[Bridgefields]] and the [[Marish]]. The road from [[Tuckborough]] emerged from the [[Woody End]] and descended into the Yale, on its way to join the [[Causeway]] at [[Stock]].<ref>{{FR|Part}}</ref><ref>{{FR|I3}}</ref>

The Yale was of old the home of the [[Boffin Family|Boffins]].<ref>{{App|Boffin}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[David Salo]] has suggested that Yale represents an [[Old English|Old Hobbitish]] form *''Geal'', from [[Welsh]] ''[[Wikipedia:Iâl|iâl]]''.<ref>{{webcite|author=[[David Salo]]|articleurl=https://tolkienlistsearch.herokuapp.com/message/5e9c35b63ee6a6c41e9862d6|articlename=Hobbitish Place-names|dated=23 November 1998|website=[[Elfling]]|accessed=9 March 2013}}</ref> This fits right in with Tolkien's comment to the Dutch Translator, [[Max Schuchart]], that there were "'[[Celtic]]' elements in [[Buckland]] and [[Eastfarthing|East-farthing]] names."<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 93</ref>

''Yale'' is also an English surname derived from a [[Welsh]] place name meaning "fertile upland".<ref name="Mathomium">[[Mark T. Hooker]], ''[[A Tolkienian Mathomium]]'', pp. 42-47</ref> The best known ''"Yale"'' in Britain was the ''commote'' (traditional medieval Welsh district) of [[Wikipedia:Yale (commote)|Yale]] in Wales, the home of the medieval [[Wikipedia:Kingdom of Powys|kings of Powys]].<ref name="Mathomium"/>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
The Yale appeared in the text, as well as in the ''[[A Part of the Shire]]'' map only after the second edition ([[1966]]); Tolkien himself had added the name on the map of his own copy of the (first edition) ''Fellowship of the Ring''. [[Christopher Tolkien]] notes that in printings of the map the name is near a square mark, suggesting that the Yale is a settlement, possibly a misunderstanding.<ref>{{RS|3XXIIN}}, p. 387</ref><ref group=note>"The Yale" on the Map is printed in black letters, like all settlements, instead of red letters that label regions.</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The Yale refers to the "Yale-height", a hilltop with old [[Arnor]]ian ruins located east of the [[Woodhall]].

{{references|n}}
[[Category:Celtic names]]
[[Category:Regions of the Shire]]
[[de:Hugel]]
[[fi:Jeil]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/regions/comte/le val]]

The Yale

2026-03-27T04:28:14Z

Frankr:

[[File:The Lord of the Rings Online - The Yale.jpg|thumb|300px|The Yale-height in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'']]
'''The Yale''' was a region of lowlands that lay in the [[Eastfarthing]] of the [[Shire]] between the [[Bridgefields]] and the [[Marish]]. The road from [[Tuckborough]] emerged from the [[Woody End]] and descended into the Yale, on its way to join the [[Causeway]] at [[Stock]].<ref>{{FR|Part}}</ref><ref>{{FR|I3}}</ref>

The Yale was of old the home of the [[Boffin Family|Boffins]].<ref>{{App|Boffin}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[David Salo]] has suggested that Yale represents an [[Old English|Old Hobbitish]] form *''Geal'', from [[Welsh]] ''[[Wikipedia:Iâl|iâl]]''.<ref>{{webcite|author=[[David Salo]]|articleurl=https://tolkienlistsearch.herokuapp.com/message/5e9c35b63ee6a6c41e9862d6|articlename=Hobbitish Place-names|dated=23 November 1998|website=[[Elfling]]|accessed=9 March 2013}}</ref> This fits right in with Tolkien's comment to the Dutch Translator, [[Max Schuchart]], that there were "'[[Celtic]]' elements in [[Buckland]] and [[Eastfarthing|East-farthing]] names."<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 93</ref>

''Yale'' is also an English surname derived from a [[Welsh]] place name meaning "fertile upland".<ref name="Mathomium">[[Mark T. Hooker]], ''[[A Tolkienian Mathomium]]'', pp. 42-47</ref> The best known ''"Yale"'' in Britain is [[Wikipedia:Iâl|Iâl]] in Wales, the traditional home of the [[Wikipedia:Kingdom of Powys|kings of Powys]].<ref name="Mathomium"/>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
The Yale appeared in the text, as well as in the ''[[A Part of the Shire]]'' map only after the second edition ([[1966]]); Tolkien himself had added the name on the map of his own copy of the (first edition) ''Fellowship of the Ring''. [[Christopher Tolkien]] notes that in printings of the map the name is near a square mark, suggesting that the Yale is a settlement, possibly a misunderstanding.<ref>{{RS|3XXIIN}}, p. 387</ref><ref group=note>"The Yale" on the Map is printed in black letters, like all settlements, instead of red letters that label regions.</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The Yale refers to the "Yale-height", a hilltop with old [[Arnor]]ian ruins located east of the [[Woodhall]].

{{references|n}}
[[Category:Celtic names]]
[[Category:Regions of the Shire]]
[[de:Hugel]]
[[fi:Jeil]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/regions/comte/le val]]

Frodo Baggins

2026-01-28T12:22:49Z

Frankr: /* Characteristics */

{{short description|Ring-bearer of the Third Age}}
{{Disambig-two|the Ring-bearer|son of [[Samwise Gamgee]]|[[Frodo Gardner]]}}
{{infobox character
| ribbonid = test
| ribboncolor = #90a26f
| people=[[Hobbits|Hobbit]]
| name=Frodo Baggins
| image=Matt Stewart - Frodo Baggins.webp
| caption="Frodo Baggins" by [[:Category:Images by Matt Stewart|Matt Stewart]]
| pronun=
| othernames=''[[#Other names|See below]]''
| titles=
| position=[[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]]
| location=[[Brandy Hall]], [[Buckland]] [[Bag End]], [[Hobbiton]] [[Crickhollow]] [[Tol Eressëa]]
| affiliation=[[Fellowship of the Ring]]
| language=[[Westron]] and [[Sindarin]]
| birth=[[22 September]], {{TA|2968}}
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| sailedwest=[[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
| sailedfrom=[[Grey Havens]]
| age=53
| notablefor=Bearing the [[One Ring]] to the land of [[Mordor]], and bringing it to the [[Cracks of Doom]]
| family=[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]
| parentage=[[Drogo Baggins]] and [[Primula Brandybuck]]
| siblings=
| spouse=Never married
| children=None
| gender=Male
| height=Taller than some Hobbits<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>
| hair=Brown<ref group="note">In the chapter "[[Strider (chapter)|Strider]]", [[Nob]] says to Frodo: "And I made a nice imitation of your head with a brown woollen mat"</ref>
| skin=Fairer than most Hobbits<ref name="Strider">{{FR|Strider}}</ref>
| eyes=
| clothing=[[Mithril coat]], [[Elven cloaks|Elven cloak]]
| weapons=[[Sting]]
| steed=[[Strider (pony)|Strider]]
}}

{{quote|And though all the mighty elf-friends of old, [[Hador]], and [[Húrin]], and [[Túrin]], and [[Beren]] himself were assembled together, your seat should be among them.|Elrond to Frodo Baggins in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}

'''Frodo Baggins''' was a [[Hobbits|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 [[Hobbits|Halfling]] throughout [[Middle-earth]]. He is also peculiar for being, as a [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]], one of the only three Hobbits to be granted passage from Middle-earth to [[Aman]], the [[Undying Lands]].

==History==
===Childhood and youth===
Frodo, child of the respectable [[Drogo Baggins]] and [[Primula Brandybuck]], was born on [[22 September]] of {{TA|2968}}. After his parents died in a boating accident in {{TA|2980|n}}, Frodo went to live in [[Brandy Hall]] with his mother’s relatives, the [[Brandybucks]]. He grew up under the guardianship of the [[Master of Buckland]] [[Rorimac Brandybuck|Rorimac "Goldfather" Brandybuck]], who was his maternal uncle. Frodo was caught several times stealing [[mushrooms]] from [[Farmer Maggot]], who, on the last incident, thrashed Frodo and set his three dogs to chase Frodo from [[Bamfurlong]] to [[Bucklebury Ferry]]. Frodo was terrified of them afterwards.<ref>{{FR|14}}: "''though I daresay the beasts knew their business...''"</ref>

Frodo stayed in Buckland until his "uncle" [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] adopted him and took him in to live in [[Bag End]], Bilbo's house in [[Hobbiton]]. He enjoyed life with Bilbo, with whom he shared the same birthday - though others often called the old hobbit "queer." Bilbo taught him to read, and told him stories of the past, even giving him some instruction in the [[elvish]] tongue. Frodo was the only one Bilbo allowed to read [[There and Back Again|his memoirs]]. Bilbo made Frodo his heir, frustrating the attempts of the disagreeable [[Sackville-Baggins Family|Sackville-Baggins]]es, who coveted the estate of Bag End.<ref name="party">{{FR|Party}}</ref>

The two went often out for long walks along the lanes of the [[Water-valley]] and talked about adventure; they were sometimes seen by [[Wandering Companies]] of [[Elves]], though the hobbits did not see them. When they returned home, Bilbo would tell Frodo that the Road is like a massive river, and all porches are its "springs" and all paths are its "tributaries".<ref>{{FR|Three}}</ref>

Frodo and Bilbo were comfortable and well off until {{TA|3001}}. At this time, Bilbo threw an enormous [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|party]] to celebrate his 111th birthday, and Frodo's 33rd, the date of Frodo's coming of age. At this party Bilbo gave his farewell speech, and made his long-planned "disappearance" and withdrawal from [[the Shire]]. Frodo, who had been informed beforehand of the "joke", as Bilbo called it, was spared the shock that afflicted the other assembled Hobbits. Frodo returned home as the new Master of Bag End, as per [[Bilbo's will]]. He was greeted there by [[Gandalf]], who informed him that, among other things, Frodo had inherited Bilbo's [[One Ring|magic ring]].

===Master of Bag End===
[[File:Eric Faure-Brac - Bag End.jpg|thumb|left|220px|''Bag End'' by Eric Faure-Brac]]
Frodo took charge of distributing the presents Bilbo had left for the other hobbits, a long and tiring task. Then [[Gandalf]] the [[Wizards|wizard]], who had come for the festivities, warned Frodo not to use the magic ring, and to keep it secret and safe. Then he left, Frodo knew not where, with his mind full of curiosity about the ring. A suspicion was growing in the back of the Wizard's mind, but Gandalf did not yet know what it was.

Frodo, meanwhile, was quite well off. He continued honouring Bilbo every year along with his own birthday. He had also inherited some strange customs from Bilbo, like wandering by himself at nights far from home in the hills and woods under the starlight. His closest friends at this time were [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], also [[Folco Boffin]] and [[Fredegar Bolger]], and other cousins from the family of the [[Old Took]]. Like Bilbo, Frodo continued to look robust and energetic even in his forties, and dreamed of one day seeing mountains and wilderness; he often wondered what lay beyond the borders of the Shire, and as he grew older, he would travel further and further from home. His friends were worried, and suspected that he met [[Elves]] and other strangers that had begun to be more common sights in the Shire. These strangers bore strange tales of unrest from lands far-off.<ref name="shadow">{{FR|Shadow}}</ref>

Still, he lived in peace and respectability for seventeen years, until Gandalf returned with the dreadful revelation that the "magic ring" was really the [[One Ring]], weapon of [[Sauron]], a thing of evil power thousands of years old. Furthermore, the Dark Lord was now aware of its survival, and would be searching for it, as [[Gollum]] had revealed - under torture - that it was to be found in the Shire. After a long discussion and a test by fire, which revealed the [[Black Speech]] written upon the ring, the two agreed that Frodo would have to leave the Shire for his own safety. [[Samwise Gamgee]], the gardener, was selected to travel with him. Gandalf recommended Rivendell as a destination, as the road was likely safe and the valley well-protected. He told Frodo to take the alias [[Mr. Underhill|Underhill]] while abroad. Frodo was reluctant, but wisely followed the wizard's advice. He bought a house in [[Crickhollow]] as an excuse to head east.

Gandalf stayed for two months while Frodo worked out the details. At the end of that time the wizard left to "get some news", as rather disturbing tidings had come to his ears. He promised to be back for the farewell party. Meanwhile, Frodo was not aware that some of his closest friends were watching him - [[Fredegar Bolger|Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger]], his cousin [[Peregrin Took|Peregrin "Pippin" Took]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Meriadoc "Merry" Brandybuck]], and Sam himself knew that Frodo and Gandalf were in some trouble concerning the Ring, and that Frodo was preparing for some adventure.

As autumn passed, Frodo was waiting for Gandalf, but did not return and Frodo grew quite anxious. Merry and Fatty drove the cart of Frodo's belongings ahead, while Frodo still waited for Gandalf. At the last possible day, he gave up waiting and departed with Pippin and Sam.

===Hobbiton to Crickhollow===
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Last Sight of Hobbiton.jpg|thumb|220px|''Last Sight of Hobbiton'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Less than a day into their journey, Frodo, strangely nervous, requested that the threesome hide upon the approach of a [[Nazgûl|horseman]]. The rider was dressed in black, riding upon a black horse, and making queer sniffling noises. Frodo felt the urge to put on the Ring and vanish, but just as he was about to give in, the rider departed at a trot. Samwise then remarked upon the "[[Nazgûl|Black Rider]]" that had spoken to his father, [[Gaffer Gamgee]], some time earlier. This made Frodo wish that he had waited for Gandalf.

That night, they were again overtaken by a Black Horseman. This time it seemed to be able to sniff out their hiding place. But as it approached, it was driven away by the song of a group of [[Elves]]. Their leader, [[Gildor]], greeted the hobbits warmly, and lauded Frodo for his knowledge of their tongue. Frodo tried to get information from Gildor on the Black Riders, but the elf would tell him very little. Gildor foresaw that Frodo would have many dealings with the Riders in the future, and urged him to flee them whenever he met them. He and his party left the Hobbits before daybreak, while the three slept.

The next day the threesome agreed to stay off the road. After a brief scare when Sam sighted a Rider, they worried about losing their way. That evening they heard a terrible wail, and Frodo distinguished words in it. Before long they came to [[Bamfurlong]], the property of [[Farmer Maggot]]. Although Pippin knew Maggot, Frodo recalled a scare he had received at a young age after caught stealing the farmer’s mushrooms, being threatened with the dogs. He froze when the dogs came forth from the house, but Maggot's hospitality soon won him over. When Maggot told of a Black Rider who had stopped at his house asking for "Baggins," and made several shrewd guesses, Frodo grew uncomfortable. Maggot took them to [[Bucklebury Ferry]] in his wagon. There they joined up with Merry. As they were ferried across into [[Buckland]], they caught sight of a dark shape on the landing from which they had come.

===Crickhollow to Bree===
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Under the Spell of the Barrow-wight.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Under the Spell of the Barrow-wight'']]
When they reached the house in Crickhollow, the other hobbits revealed their knowledge of the One Ring and promised to stick with Frodo on the road to [[Rivendell]]. The next morning, leaving Fatty to housesit, they passed into the [[Old Forest]]. In time they were driven by the trees down to the [[Withywindle]], where they were ensnared by [[Old Man Willow]]. Rescued by [[Tom Bombadil]], the hobbits came to his house. There they met Tom's wife, [[Goldberry]], and Frodo was moved to poetry over her loveliness. He was interested in Bombadil himself, and several times tried to learn who he was. That night he dreamed of a white-haired figure on a pinnacle of stone, borne away by an eagle.

The next day Frodo tried on the Ring, after finding it had no effect on Bombadil. Not subject to the Ring’s power, Tom nevertheless could see Frodo. That night Frodo dreamed once more, a dream he never forgot.

{{Blockquote|Frodo heard a sweet singing running in his mind: a song that seemed to come like a pale light behind a grey rain-curtain, and growing stronger to turn the veil all to glass and silver, until at last it was rolled back, and a far green country opened before him under a swift sunrise.|''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[Fog on the Barrow-downs]]"}}

After bidding Tom and Goldberry farewell, the Hobbits went on and traveled through the [[barrow-downs]]. Becoming lost in the mist, they were taken by the [[barrow-wights]], Frodo last of all. Frodo woke in the barrow to find the barrow-wight bending over his three friends. He rose and in a tremendous act of bravery and resilience took a sword and smote off the wight's hand. Then he summoned Bombadil with a [[Ho! Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo!|song]] Tom had taught him. Bombadil drove the wight away and helped Frodo wake the others. Tom gave the hobbits ponies and escorted them all to the road before turning his face back toward the Withywindle. The hobbits continued along the road to Bree, where they took lodging at [[The Prancing Pony]] inn as Bombadil had recommended, with Frodo registering under the name of [[Mr. Underhill|Underhill]] as Gandalf had suggested.

===Strider and Weathertop===
[[File:Peter Xavier Price - Strider in The Prancing Pony.jpg|thumb|200px|''Strider in The Prancing Pony'' by [[Peter Xavier Price]]]]
While Merry went out to take a walk in the night air, the other hobbits came down to the common-room and were introduced by the landlord [[Barliman Butterbur]] to the gathering, Frodo under his alias. Frodo asked if Gandalf was present in Bree, only to learn that he had not yet arrived. While Pippin and Sam enjoyed the drink and conversation, Frodo remained withdrawn, soon falling into conversation with a curious [[Rangers of the North|ranger]] called [[Aragorn|Strider]], who gave him a warning about letting his friends talk to much. Pippin began to tell about [[Bilbo's Farewell Party|Bilbo's Birthday Party]], and Frodo, at Strider’s encouragement and in an attempt to prevent the name of Baggins from being raised, began to sing ''[[The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late]]''. This proved popular with the gathering, but unfortunately, as Frodo relaxed, he fell from the table and the Ring slipped on his finger, causing him to vanish.

[[File:John Howe - Against the Shadow.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''Against the Shadow'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Frodo crawled over to Strider's corner and slipped off the Ring, and said that he had rolled quickly to the side. The suspicious Breelanders, however, grew angry or frightened, and eventually all left the common-room. Frodo and his comrades retired to their room, where they found Strider waiting to talk to them. Strider was honest and blunt, telling what he had overheard and what he knew of them, as well as warning them of the Black Riders and traitors in Bree. He urged them to accept his aide by inviting him into the company. Frodo was leaning to believe the ranger when Butterbur broke in, giving Frodo the long-awaited letter from Gandalf, undelivered by Butterbur’s forgetfulness. After some little bit of light was shed on the situation to the innkeeper, he swore to help the hobbits in any way he could, as a friend of Gandalf and one very much afraid of Mordor. Frodo, reading the letter, learned that Gandalf recommended Strider as one to whom Frodo could go for help. After some further debate, Frodo agreed to let Strider lead them to Rivendell.

Strider arranged for a deception, by moving them to a different room. The next morning, their ponies were gone and the room was ravaged. Butterbur paid for a [[Bill the Pony|replacement pony]], and the four hobbits and ranger set out into the Wilds. They passed through [[Chetwood]] and [[Midgewater Marshes]], and finally to the [[Weather Hills]] before coming up to [[Weathertop]]. Black Riders were sighted from the top of the cairn, and Strider counselled to remain where they were. Shortly after the Black Riders came, and Frodo was stricken down. In desperation he put on the Ring and saw the [[Nazgûl]] in their true forms. Frodo then tried to attack in [[Varda|Elbereth]]’s name, but their leader, the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]], stabbed Frodo in the shoulder with a [[Morgul-knife]], before being driven away by Strider.

===Weathertop to Rivendell===
Because of a piece of the knife embedded in his shoulder, Frodo started to become ill, so his companions hurried to take him to the [[Rivendell|House of Elrond]]. After journeying for 12 days, they were found by [[Glorfindel]], one of the [[Calaquendi|High Elves]], who was sent by Elrond to help Frodo after he heard of him from Gildor. Glorfindel, seeing that Frodo was starting to fade, put him upon his horse, [[Asfaloth]], and ordered him to go on when the Ringwraiths approached. Asfaloth outran the steeds of the Nazgûl and bore Frodo across the [[Ford of Bruinen]], but Frodo, who was on the brink of becoming a [[Wraiths|wraith]], turned around at the other side and defied the Nine. The Riders, were driven into the [[Bruinen|River]] by Glorfindel, Strider and the three hobbits, where they were swept away by the ensuing waters.<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref> As a sign that Frodo was shifting to the [[Wraith-world]], he could see the [[Unseen]] [[Light of Valinor|luminous form]] of Glorfindel.

Unconscious, Frodo was carried inside Rivendell, where Elrond removed the fragment of the knife from his shoulder. He awoke two days later, mostly recovered, and was delighted to find that Gandalf had arrived. Frodo's recovery was celebrated with a feast during which he met [[Glóin]] and asked concerning the [[Dwarves of Erebor]]. Afterwards, Elrond led his guests to the [[Hall of Fire]], where Frodo found Bilbo, whom he hadn't seen in seventeen years. Bilbo asked to see the Ring and was saddened to see Frodo's negative reaction. The two hobbits then enjoyed talking about Bilbo's [[Translations from the Elvish|works on lore]] and [[the Shire]].<ref name="Meetings">{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>

===Fellowship of the Ring===
{{seealso|Quest of the Ring}}
During the [[Council of Elrond]], it was decided that the Ring must be destroyed by casting it into the [[Cracks of Doom]]. Frodo volunteered to be the [[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]], and a [[Fellowship of the Ring|Fellowship]] was formed to protect him; the fellowship included Gandalf, Aragorn (Strider's real name), [[Boromir]] of [[Gondor]], [[Legolas]] of the [[Woodland Realm]], [[Gimli]] of [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]], and Frodo's friends Sam, Merry and Pippin.<ref name="council">{{FR|Council}}</ref> Before their departure, Bilbo gave Frodo his sword, [[Sting]], and his [[Mithril-coat]] to protect him on the perilous journey to [[Mount Doom]] that lay ahead.

On [[December 25]], the fellowship left Rivendell, and headed south along the west side of the [[Misty Mountains]]. They attempted to cross them by the Redhorn gate, but were thwarted by a fierce blizzard <ref>{{FR|II3}}</ref> and had to go back. After surviving a [[Wargs|Warg]] attack, Gandalf persuaded the company to go through the abandoned [[Dwarves|Dwarf]] kingdom of [[Moria]]. Just before entering Moria, Frodo was attacked by the [[Watcher in the Water]] and barely escaped. During the journey through Moria, Frodo began to suspect that something was tracking them. Later, inside the [[chamber of Mazarbul]], the Fellowship was attacked by [[Orcs]], and Frodo was struck by an Orc spear but was saved by the mithril coat he wore. The company escaped the chamber, and were close to exiting Moria, when [[Durin's Bane]] appeared and pursued them to the [[bridge of Khazad-dûm]] where Gandalf held him off so the rest of the Fellowship could escape. After breaking the bridge, both he and the [[Balrogs|Balrog]] fell and disappeared into the chasm below, after which Aragorn took over as leader.<ref>{{FR|Bridge}}</ref>
[[File:Alan Lee - The Mirror of Galadriel.jpg|thumb|''The Mirror of Galadriel'' by [[Alan Lee]]]]
Eventually they reached [[Lothlórien]], and were housed by the elves at [[Caras Galadhon]]. During their rest there, [[Galadriel]] allowed Frodo and Sam to look into the [[Mirror of Galadriel]], in which they saw many things.<ref>{{FR|Mirror}}</ref> When leaving the Woods, Galadriel gave Frodo a [[Phial of Galadriel|vial]] with light from the [[Silmaril]] of [[Eärendil]].<ref>{{FR|Farewell}}</ref>

They travelled down the [[Anduin]] river in boats given to them by the elves. On their trip down the river, Frodo confirmed his suspicion that they were being trailed by Gollum. At [[Amon Hen]], the Ring's corrupting power caused Boromir to try to take the Ring from Frodo, who escaped by putting it on. Seeing the corrupting influence of the ring on Boromir, he then decided to leave the Fellowship and go on alone, but he was thwarted in this when Sam discovered him attempting to cross the [[Nen Hithoel]], and insisted on accompanying him.

===Emyn Muil to Ithilien===
The two companions reached [[Amon Lhaw]] and toiled through the [[Emyn Muil]]. Soon after, they found Gollum following them, and they captured him with the [[Elven rope]].
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Through the Marshes.jpg|thumb|left|''Through the Marshes'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
Frodo decided to trust Gollum to be their guide. He led the Hobbits out of the Emyn Muil and through the [[Dead Marshes]]. During their route, they were delayed several times by a [[Nazgûl]] flying on a [[Fell beasts|fell beast]]. The Hobbits reached [[Carchost]], the western [[Towers of the Teeth|Tower of the Teeth]], where Frodo had intended to enter Mordor, but Gollum persuaded Frodo to follow him to a safer entrance, the pass of [[Cirith Ungol]]. During the next night's march they passed into [[North Ithilien]], and by daylight of [[March 7]] they reached the stream of [[Henneth Annûn]].

Their camp fire attracted the [[Rangers of Ithilien]], and their leader, [[Faramir]] (Boromir's brother), considered them spies and questioned Frodo concerning their errand, who recounted the journeys of the Fellowship, but said nothing about the Ring. Faramir informed Frodo of Boromir's death, implying Frodo's involvement. Faramir blindfolded the Hobbits and led them to Henneth Annûn, a secret Gondorian outpost, and questioned them further in private. After a meal, Sam accidentally revealed that Frodo had the Ring, but Faramir denied its lure, and thus gained the trust of the hobbits.

During the night, Faramir called Frodo and Sam to him, and showed them Gollum, who had found his way to Henneth Annûn, and (ignorant of their presence) was hunting for [[fish]]. Faramir, suspecting that Frodo had lied about Gollum's involvement in their quest, threatened to kill him for fear that he might reveal the location of their outpost to the enemy. Frodo confessed to the part of Gollum in their errand, and begged Faramir not to slay him. Gollum was caught and questioned and then surrendered to Frodo. The following morning Faramir released the three travellers, warning them strongly against taking the pass of Cirith Ungol.

===Entering Mordor===
[[File:John Howe - Shelob About to Leap on Frodo.jpg|thumb|left|''Shelob About to Leap on Frodo'' by [[John Howe]]]]
After two marches they came to the valley of the [[Morgulduin]] and continued east. On the "[[Dawnless Day]]" Gollum lead them east to the [[Southward Road]] and reached the [[Cross-roads]] just as the sun was setting.<ref>{{TT|Journey}}</ref> They reached just opposite the north-facing gate of [[Minas Morgul]] and they saw the Morgul-host march forth.

In that night they ascended the [[Straight Stair]] and reached the top of the [[Winding Stair]] at dawn of [[March 11]] where they were woken by Gollum. He led the up the to the entrance to [[Shelob's Lair]]. Inside the tunnel Gollum betrayed Frodo and Sam to [[Shelob]] the [[Spiders|spider]], who stung Frodo after he left the tunnel. Sam saved Frodo from being eaten by Shelob, but thought him dead and took the Ring from him, resolving to continue the Quest alone. However Frodo (who was still alive) was captured by Orcs and taken to the [[Tower of Cirith Ungol]].

===Cirith Ungol to Mount Doom===
[[File:John Howe - Mount Doom II.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Mount Doom'' by [[John Howe]] ]]
Learning of this, Sam rescued Frodo and on early [[March 15]] the Hobbits escaped and jumped into the ravine west of the [[Morgai]] and crossed the valley. The next day they attempted to climb the Morgai, but had to retrace their steps and reached the north end of the valley, and on [[March 18]] they set out on the road that ran to the [[Carach Angren|Isenmouthe]]. There they were overtaken by an Orc troop and had to follow their trot.

As Sauron's troops moved at night, the hobbits continued their journey in daytime towards Mount Doom. During the morning of [[March 25]] they reached the [[Cracks of Doom|Crack of Doom]] where, at the last moment, Frodo, under the influence of the Ring, claimed it as his own. However, at that moment he was attacked by [[Gollum]], who seized the Ring and then fell into the fire with it, thus destroying the Ring.

By then, this pressure of the ring reached its maximum, which was impossible, "especially after long possession, months of increasing torment, and when starved and exhausted." Frodo had done what he could, and by then he was simply incapable of making a conscious decision to destroy the Ring.<ref>{{L|246}}</ref>

===Return home===
Frodo and Sam were rescued by [[Gwaihir]], [[Landroval]] and [[Meneldor]] and taken to [[Ithilien]]. After being healed and having rested for a month, the Ring-bearers were honoured on the [[Field of Cormallen]]. The following months the Hobbits witnessed the coronation of their companion Aragorn as King Elessar, and were present at his marriage to [[Arwen]] that summer. Arwen renounced her [[immortality]] and gave to Frodo her place to sail into the [[Uttermost West|West]]. She also gave to Frodo a white gem on a silver necklace that she claims would aid him when he remembers the fear and darkness of the toll the ring took on him.<ref>{{RK|Partings}}</ref>

Frodo and his company left Minas Tirith on [[July 19]] for [[Edoras]] and the funeral of King [[Théoden]], then set out for the [[Hornburg]] and eventually [[Isengard]]. They parted there from Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn.

After overtaking Saruman and [[Gríma|Wormtongue]], they reached the [[Mountains of Moria]]; and when they approached [[Lothlórien]], [[Celeborn]] and Galadriel parted from their company. The hobbits, with Gandalf and other Elves, reached Rivendell on [[September 21]], where Frodo met Bilbo once again.

They stayed there until [[October 5]] and eventually visited the ''Prancing Pony'' in Bree before reaching the Shire. At the Buckland Gate Gandalf left them to go and have a talk with Tom Bombadil. Once in the Shire, they reached [[Frogmorton]] where they were arrested. The next day they reached [[Bywater]] where they defeated the [[ruffians]] who had overtaken their land. The leader of the ruffians was revealed to be Saruman, and Frodo decided to let him live, even after he had tried to stab him with a knife. But Saruman did not live much longer, for his servant, Wormtongue, killed him himself (before being killed by the hobbits), thus ending the [[War of the Ring]].

===Later years===
[[File:Francesco Amadio - Grey Havens.jpg|thumb|220px|''Grey Havens'' by [[:Category:Images by Francesco Amadio|Francesco Amadio]]]]
Over the next two years, the travellers reordered the Shire and their lives; but Frodo was still troubled by his wounds, falling ill every [[13 March]] and [[6 October]], clutching the white gem in a manner reminiscent of the One Ring. Frodo served as [[Mayor of Michel Delving]] until [[Will Whitfoot]] was restored in {{SR|1420}}.<ref name="chief">{{App|Chief}}</ref> Having no family of his own, Frodo left his estate ([[Bag End]]) and passed on the [[Red Book of Westmarch|Red Book]] to Samwise Gamgee, who named [[Frodo Gardner|his son]] after Frodo.

On [[September 21]] of {{TA|3021}} Frodo set out for the [[Grey Havens]]. Going south to Woody End he met the [[Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings]], Elrond, Galadriel, and Bilbo. On [[September 29]] they came to the firth of [[Lhûn]] where Gandalf awaited them, and on the [[White Ship]]<ref name="chief" /> they crossed the [[Straight Road]] into the West. Frodo would spend the rest of his days in "a period of reflection and peace" on [[Tol Eressëa]], giving him the opportunity to truly understand his position in [[Arda]] before passing beyond the [[Circles of the World]].<ref>{{L|246}}: "a gaining of a truer understanding of his position..."</ref>

==Legacy==
According to [[Elanor Gardner]], Sam followed Frodo across the sea on September 22, 1482 following the death of his wife [[Rose Cotton|Rose (née Cotton)]].<ref>{{App|B5}}: "''Among them the tradition is handed down from Elanor...''"</ref>

At some point well into the [[Fourth Age]], the words "''Frodos Dreme''" appeared scrawled at the head of a poem, [[The Sea-Bell]], within the Red Book, possibly derived from the nightmares that Frodo had before passing into the West.<ref>{{AB|Preface}}: "''It is the latest piece and belongs to the Fourth Age...''"</ref>

==Characteristics==
The only real description of Frodo's appearance was given only once by Gandalf in his letter to Barliman Butterbur, in which he was declared a "stout fellow with red cheeks, taller than some (hobbits), and fairer than most", with a cleft chin, a bright eye, and a perky personality.<ref name="Strider" /> Although Frodo was apparently fairly stout before his journey, he seemed to have lost a significant amount of weight on his trip from Hobbiton to Rivendell.<ref name="Meetings" /> Also, at a later point, Sam remarked that Frodo was "too thin and drawn" for a hobbit.<ref>{{TT|Herbs}}</ref>

Frodo carried a small Elven sword called [[Sting]] and wore a coat of Dwarven mail made of ''[[mithril]]'' under his clothes, both given to him by Bilbo. In [[Lothlórien]], [[Galadriel]] gave Frodo, along with all of the Fellowship, an [[Elven cloaks|Elven cloak]], which allowed the wearer to blend in with his natural surroundings, and, to Frodo alone, the [[Phial of Galadriel]], a small crystal phial in which light from the [[Star of Eärendil]] had been captured, to aid him on his quest.

Before Frodo returned to the Shire after the Quest of the Ring was completed, Arwen Evenstar, wife of Aragorn and daughter of Elrond, gave Frodo a white gem on a silver necklace to wear around his neck.

Frodo is said to have shown great "skill with foreign sounds" and probably could pronounce [[Elvish]] correctly, more than other Hobbits (who pronounced long Elvish vowels as diphthongs).<ref>{{App|Vowels}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The name ''Frodo Baggins'' is an English translation of his [[Westron]] name '''[[Maura]] [[Baggins Family|Labingi]]'''. The name ''Maura'' has the element ''maur-'' (wise, experienced), which Tolkien equated to the Germanic element ''frod-'' of the same meaning. Frodo's name in [[Sindarin]] was '''''[[Iorhael]]''''' ("old-wise") although in some instance he is mentioned as '''Daur''' (probably [[lenition|lenited]] form of ''[[taur]]'').

''Frodo'' is a real name, which comes from the Gemranic tradition with ''Fróda'' being its [[Old English]] form. It is obviously connected with the Old English word ''fród'', which means "wise by experience", but it was connected mythologically with legends of the Golden Age in the North.<ref>{{L|168}}</ref>

In the German translation he is called ''Frodo Beutlin'', in Spanish, ''Frodo Bolsón'', in French, ''Frodon Sacquet'', or ''Frodo Bessac'' (in the latest translation of the books), in Norwegian, ''Frodo Lommelun'', in Danish, ''Frodo Sækker'', in Faroese, ''Fróði Pjøkin'', in Finnish, ''Frodo Reppuli'', in Swedish, ''Frodo Secker'', in Portuguese, ''Frodo Bolseiro'', in Czech, ''Frodo Pytlík,'' 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.

===Other 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.
*[[Maura]] [[Baggins Family|Labingi]] - the [[Hobbitish]] name for Frodo.
*[[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]] - he bore the [[One Ring]] to [[Mount Doom]].
*[[Elf-friends|Elf-friend]] - given to him by [[Gildor|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. Also a title given to him in [[Gondor]] after he accomplished the [[Quest of the Ring]].
*[[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 {{TA|3019|n}} through Mid-Year's Day in {{TA|3020|n}}.
*[[Taur|Daur]] - which translates to "noble" and was given to Frodo at the [[Field of Cormallen]].
*[[Iorhael]] - the [[Sindarin]] name for Frodo which comes from ''[[iaur]]'' meaning "old" and ''[[sael]]'' meaning "wise".

*[[Bingo Baggins]] - Frodo's name in the early drafts of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.
*''Bronwe athan Harthad'' - name given to Frodo by Gandalf in an early version of the ''[[Many Partings]]'' chapter, meaning "Endurance beyond Hope".<ref>{{SD|VII}}: "''the bards and the minstrels should give them new names...''"</ref>

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | |BAL|y|BER| |BAL=[[Balbo Baggins]]|BER=[[Berylla Baggins|Berylla Boffin]]}}
{{familytree| |,|-|-|-|^|-|.| |}}
{{familytree|MUN| | | |LAR|y|TAN|MUN=[[Mungo Baggins]] (grandfather of Bilbo)|LAR=[[Largo Baggins]]|TAN=[[Tanta Hornblower]]}}
{{familytree| | | | |,|-|-|-|v|^|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{familytree| | | |DOR| |DRO|y|PRI| |DUD|DOR=[[Dora Baggins]]|DRO=[[Drogo Baggins]]|PRI=[[Primula Brandybuck]]|DUD=[[Dudo Baggins]]}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | |!|}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | |FRO| | | |DAI|~|GRI|FRO='''Frodo Baggins'''|DAI=[[Daisy Baggins]]|GRI=[[Griffo Boffin]]}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Frodo Baggins in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="170px" heights="170px">
File:Frodo.png|Frodo in [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]
File:Frodo Rankin Bass.png|Frodo in [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Frodo at the Grey Havens.png|Frodo in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Frodo Baggins and the One Ring.JPG|Frodo in [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Frodo Baggins.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Lego LOTR logo.png|Frodo as a ''[[Lego]]'' minifigure
</gallery>
===Films===
'''1978: [[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978 film)]]:'''
:Frodo was voiced by [[Christopher Guard]]. [[Sharon Baird]] was the model for Frodo in the live-action recordings Bakshi used for rotoscoping.

'''1980: [[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980 film)]]:'''
:Frodo was voiced by [[Orson Bean]], who had previously played Bilbo in [[The Hobbit (1977 film)|''The Hobbit'' (1977 film)]].

'''2001-03: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:Frodo is played by [[Elijah Wood]].

'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:[[Elijah Wood]] reprises his role as Frodo Baggins.<ref name="PJCasting">{{webcite|author=[[Peter Jackson]]|articleurl=http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150168211921558|articlename=Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit|dated=20-March-2011|website=[http://www.facebook.com/ Facebook]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref> He has a conversation with Bilbo on the day of his 111th Birthday, before setting off to the woods to wait for Gandalf.

===Television===
'''1993: ''[[Hobitit]]'':'''
:Frodo was played by Taneli Mäkelä.

===Radio series===
'''1955: [[The Lord of the Rings (1955 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1955 radio series)]]:'''
:[[Oliver Burt]] provided the voice of Frodo.

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

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

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Frodo is played by Matthias Haase.

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

'''2001-2003: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:In the first of the three series (seasons), based on ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', the voice of Frodo is provided by Dušan Cinkota. Cinkota was unable to reprise his role after the first series, and the role of Frodo was recast with Ľuboš Kostelný for the second and third series (based on ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and ''[[The Return of the King]]'').

===Games===
'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:Frodo is one of the playable characters; his story doesn't significantly differ from the book. He is voiced by [[Steve Staley]].

'''2003: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (video game)]]:'''
:Frodo is present in all missions from Sam's perspective: escape from [[Osgiliath]], Shelob's Lair, Cirith Ungol and the Crack of Doom. Completing the game allows to replay those missions from Frodo's perspective.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring]]'':'''
:Frodo is a "Hero" unit of the Free People; his ability to use the Ring and turn invisible makes him ideal for scout missions.

'''2004: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth]]'':'''
:Unlike most other characters, Frodo and Sam make no appearance in Skirmish battles - they only appear in the storyline campaign.

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Frodo and other Hobbits are no longer permanent units, they are now a temporary power boost available to Free People forces.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Frodo is first met in Rivendell, preparing for departure. Later, he is found on Cerin Amroth in Lothlorien, weary from the loss of [[Gandalf]]. From [[Amon Hen]] onwards, player experiences Frodo's journey in a series of Session Plays, alternatively playing as either Frodo, Sam or [[Gollum]]. The player meets Frodo again at the [[Field of Cormallen]], he later gives a speech at [[Aragorn]] and [[Arwen]]. A Hobbit actor portrays Frodo Baggins in a Hobbit-made theater play "The Disappearance of Mad Baggins". Notably, the player is not told about Frodo's mission for a very long time, with [[Elrond]], [[Gandalf]], [[Aragorn]] and others only saying that it is "of great importance".

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Frodo is mentioned as '''"Frodo the Ringbearer"''', one of the much honored heroes of the [[War of the Ring]], in the introduction of the game. In [[The Prancing Pony]] [[Aragorn]] tells that he is waiting on a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] with [[The One Ring|an important burden]], this refers to Frodo and the One Ring.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'', ''Prologue''</ref>
:Later in the game, Frodo appears in [[Rivendell]], but interactions with him do not affect the main plot.

==See also==
*[[Timeline of Frodo Baggins]]

{{References|Notes}}
{{seq-start}}
{{seq-head
| race=hobbit
| house=[[Baggins Family]]
| born=[[22 September]], {{TA|2968}}
| died=Sailed west on [[29 September]], {{TA|3021}}
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Bilbo Baggins]]
| list=[[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]]
| dates=[[22 September]], {{TA|3001}} - [[13 March]], {{TA|3019|n}}
| next=[[Samwise Gamgee]]
}}
{{seq
| prev=[[Samwise Gamgee]]
| list=[[Ring-bearers|Ring-bearer]]
| dates=[[14 March|14]] - [[25 March]], {{TA|3019}}
| next=[[Gollum]]
}}
{{seq-end}}{{councilofelrond}}
{{fellowship}}{{FellowshipRoute}}
{{ringbearers}}{{hobbitfilms}}
{{lordoftheringsfilms}}
[[Category:Baggins]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Chroniclers of Arda]]
[[Category:Hobbits]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Frodo Beutlin]]
[[fi:Frodo Reppuli]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hobbits:bessac:frodo bessac]]

Grimbeorn

2026-01-19T02:50:45Z

Frankr: /* History */

{{infobox character
| people=[[Northmen|Northman]]
| name=Grimbeorn
| image=The Lord of the Rings - The Card Game - Grimbeorn.jpg
| caption="Grimbeorn" by [[Jason Jenicke]]
| pronun=
| othernames=The Old
| titles=Chieftain of the [[Beornings]]
| position=
| location=[[Vales of Anduin]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=
| parentage=[[Beorn]]
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Grimbeorn the Old''' was the son of [[Beorn]].

==History==
Grimbeorn became a great lord in his own right. Like his father, he was the chieftain of the [[Beornings]] and he dwelt in the same regions of the [[Vales of Anduin]]. During his time, the [[High Pass]] and the [[Ford of Carrock]] were kept open and no [[Orcs|Orc]] or [[Wargs|Warg]] dared to enter his land.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>

==Etymology==
'''Grimbeorn''' is an [[Old English]] name,<ref>{{HM|IE}}, The Giving of Names, On Old English, pp. 212 and Meaningful Names, p. 218</ref> which means "fierce-warrior" or "severe-prince"<ref>{{HM|IE}}, The Giving of Names, Meaningful Names, p. 218</ref>.

''Grim'' (like in [[modern English]]) means "fierce" or "severe" in Old English.<ref name="BT">{{webcite|website=[http://www.bosworthtoller.com/ Bosworth-Toller Anglo-Saxon Dictionary]|articleurl=https://bosworthtoller.com/17507|articlename=GRIM|accessed=4 October 2025}}</ref> For the meaning of ''beorn'' refer to [[Beorn#Etymology|Beorn - Etymology]].

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| BEO | |BEO=[[Beorn]] ''fl. {{TA|2941}}''}}
{{familytree| |!| | |}}
{{familytree| GRI | |GRI='''GRIMBEORN''' ''fl. {{TA|3019}}''}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Grimbeorn in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="250px" heights="150px">
File:Decipher - Grimbeorn.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Card Game - Grimbeorn.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Grimbeorn.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
</gallery>

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'':'''
:Despite not featuring in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film series]], Decipher produced a card depicting the character. He was portrayed by sword smith Peter Lyon.

'''2014: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Grimbeorn is the lord of all Beornings and lives at his home, the [[Beorn's Hall|Beorninghús]], with his wife Gírta and three children: the eldest daughter Langhár, the middle son Sterkist and the youngest, who becomes the [[Beorning]] player's character after Grimbeorn sends them to find the Ranger [[Aragorn]] at the urging of [[Radagast]]. During the [[War of the Ring]] Grimbeorn visits the camp of Vindurhal in the [[High Pass]] of the [[Misty Mountains]], but returns home soon after. After the destruction of [[The One Ring]], Grimbeorn is visited by [[Gandalf]], [[Legolas]] and the player on their journey back to [[Gondor]] after a brief visit to the northern lands. Already annoyed by a number of visitors, Grimbeorn is then forced to host a much larger procession when [[Elrond]] and much of his house stay at his lodge on their way to [[Minas Tirith]] for [[Arwen]]'s wedding.

{{References}}
{{Seq-start}}
{{Seq-head
|race=[[Northmen]]
|house=[[Beornings]]
|born=After {{TA|2941}}
|died=After {{TA|3018}}
}}
{{seq
|prev=[[Beorn]]
|list=2nd Chieftain of the [[Beornings]]
|dates=Around {{TA|3018}}
|next=Unknown
}}
{{seq-end}}
[[Category:Beornings]]
[[Category:Rulers in Middle-earth]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Grimbeorn]]
[[fi:Grimbeorn]]

Pipe-weed

2026-01-14T02:58:53Z

Frankr: It grew elsewhere also

[[File:Kay Woollard - TS Greeting Card - Pipe-weed.jpg|thumb|''Pipe-weed'' by [[Kay Woollard]]]]
'''Pipe-weed''' (also known as Halflings' Leaf or simply Leaf) was a plant that was most notably cultivated by the [[Hobbits]] of [[the Shire]].

==Properties==
Pipe-weed was famous for its fragrant flowers. It preferred southern climates and grew abundantly in [[Gondor]]. In northern regions, like [[Eriador]], it was not as rich and large, and was never found in the wild; it flourished only in warm sheltered places like the southern slopes of the [[Bree-hill]], or [[Longbottom]] in [[the Shire]].<ref name="pipeweed">{{FR|Pipeweed}}, p. 8</ref>

==History==
The plant was probably native to [[Númenor]], and was brought to [[Middle-earth]] by the [[Númenóreans]] during the [[Second Age]].<ref name="pipeweed" /> It grew in [[Gondor]] as a wild herb, appreciated primarily for its fragrant blossoms, where it was known as '''''sweet galenas''''' or more popularly as '''''westmansweed'''''.<ref name="healing">{{RK|V8}}</ref>

Pipe-weed reached [[Eriador]] by the [[Greenway]] some time in the [[Third Age]].<ref>{{FR|Pipeweed}}, p. 9</ref> The [[Bree-hobbits]] were the first to put it in pipes and use it for [[smoking]], but the first "true" pipe-weed was grown by [[Tobold Hornblower]] of [[Longbottom]] in the [[Southfarthing]] around {{SR|1070}}. The art of smoking pipe-weed spread from [[Bree]] to [[Men]], [[Dwarves]] and others who wandered through the crossroads by Bree. [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] therefore considered ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' as the "home and centre" of the smoking art.<ref name="pipeweed" />

The [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] learned to smoke pipe-weed from the Hobbits and was often seen blowing smoke-rings.<ref name="pipeweed" /> [[Saruman]] initially derided him for this, but at some point he took up smoking himself, and even had commerce with the Shire; after the destruction of [[Isengard]], pipe-weed was found among its stores, but the Hobbits [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] failed to realize the [[Sharkey|sinister implications]].

The cultivation and exportation of this herb became a key industry in the Shire, especially in the south. Popular varieties of pipe-weed from the Shire included [[Longbottom Leaf]], [[Old Toby]], and [[Southern Star]].<ref name="pipeweed" /> Perhaps less popular was [[Southlinch]] from Bree.<ref>{{RK|VI7}}</ref>

After the [[War of the Ring]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] authored ''[[Herblore of the Shire]]'' discussing the origins and history of the Hobbits' 'art' of [[smoking]] pipe-weed.<ref name="pipeweed" />

==Inspiration==
In the prologue to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien stated specifically that it is "a variety probably of ''Nicotiana''",<ref name="pipeweed" /> i.e. tobacco.

==Other names==
The common Gondorian name of pipe-weed was '''''westmansweed'''''.<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> The more noble name was '''''galenas''''' (a [[Númenórean Sindarin]] form of the proper [[Sindarin]] form ''galanes''), with [[Quenya]] forms '''''alanessë''''' or '''''alenessë''''' derived from [[GALA|ala-]] ("plant, grow") and ''nes-'' ("sweet smelling").<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 100</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[Image:Item-Sweet Galenas.jpg|thumb|250px|Sweet Galenas in [[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]]]
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The smoke from Sweet Galenas takes the form of a sailing ship that floats out from the pipe.
'''2014: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]] (Game of the Year Edition)'':'''
:The plant is used for healing Tallion, as well as other plants.

{{references}}
[[Category:Pipe-weed| ]]
[[de:Pfeifenkraut]]
[[fr:essais/divers/herbe a pipe]]
[[fi:Piippukessu]]

Pipe-weed

2026-01-14T02:55:53Z

Frankr: developed -> cultivated

[[File:Kay Woollard - TS Greeting Card - Pipe-weed.jpg|thumb|''Pipe-weed'' by [[Kay Woollard]]]]
'''Pipe-weed''' (also known as Halflings' Leaf or simply Leaf) was a plant cultivated by the [[Hobbits]] of [[the Shire]].

==Properties==
Pipe-weed was famous for its fragrant flowers. It preferred southern climates and grew abundantly in [[Gondor]]. In northern regions, like [[Eriador]], it was not as rich and large, and was never found in the wild; it flourished only in warm sheltered places like the southern slopes of the [[Bree-hill]], or [[Longbottom]] in [[the Shire]].<ref name="pipeweed">{{FR|Pipeweed}}, p. 8</ref>

==History==
The plant was probably native to [[Númenor]], and was brought to [[Middle-earth]] by the [[Númenóreans]] during the [[Second Age]].<ref name="pipeweed" /> It grew in [[Gondor]] as a wild herb, appreciated primarily for its fragrant blossoms, where it was known as '''''sweet galenas''''' or more popularly as '''''westmansweed'''''.<ref name="healing">{{RK|V8}}</ref>

Pipe-weed reached [[Eriador]] by the [[Greenway]] some time in the [[Third Age]].<ref>{{FR|Pipeweed}}, p. 9</ref> The [[Bree-hobbits]] were the first to put it in pipes and use it for [[smoking]], but the first "true" pipe-weed was grown by [[Tobold Hornblower]] of [[Longbottom]] in the [[Southfarthing]] around {{SR|1070}}. The art of smoking pipe-weed spread from [[Bree]] to [[Men]], [[Dwarves]] and others who wandered through the crossroads by Bree. [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] therefore considered ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' as the "home and centre" of the smoking art.<ref name="pipeweed" />

The [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] learned to smoke pipe-weed from the Hobbits and was often seen blowing smoke-rings.<ref name="pipeweed" /> [[Saruman]] initially derided him for this, but at some point he took up smoking himself, and even had commerce with the Shire; after the destruction of [[Isengard]], pipe-weed was found among its stores, but the Hobbits [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] failed to realize the [[Sharkey|sinister implications]].

The cultivation and exportation of this herb became a key industry in the Shire, especially in the south. Popular varieties of pipe-weed from the Shire included [[Longbottom Leaf]], [[Old Toby]], and [[Southern Star]].<ref name="pipeweed" /> Perhaps less popular was [[Southlinch]] from Bree.<ref>{{RK|VI7}}</ref>

After the [[War of the Ring]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] authored ''[[Herblore of the Shire]]'' discussing the origins and history of the Hobbits' 'art' of [[smoking]] pipe-weed.<ref name="pipeweed" />

==Inspiration==
In the prologue to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien stated specifically that it is "a variety probably of ''Nicotiana''",<ref name="pipeweed" /> i.e. tobacco.

==Other names==
The common Gondorian name of pipe-weed was '''''westmansweed'''''.<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> The more noble name was '''''galenas''''' (a [[Númenórean Sindarin]] form of the proper [[Sindarin]] form ''galanes''), with [[Quenya]] forms '''''alanessë''''' or '''''alenessë''''' derived from [[GALA|ala-]] ("plant, grow") and ''nes-'' ("sweet smelling").<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 100</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[Image:Item-Sweet Galenas.jpg|thumb|250px|Sweet Galenas in [[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]]]
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The smoke from Sweet Galenas takes the form of a sailing ship that floats out from the pipe.
'''2014: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]] (Game of the Year Edition)'':'''
:The plant is used for healing Tallion, as well as other plants.

{{references}}
[[Category:Pipe-weed| ]]
[[de:Pfeifenkraut]]
[[fr:essais/divers/herbe a pipe]]
[[fi:Piippukessu]]

Pipe-weed

2026-01-14T02:53:28Z

Frankr: /* Properties */ The Leaf -> Pipe-weed

[[File:Kay Woollard - TS Greeting Card - Pipe-weed.jpg|thumb|''Pipe-weed'' by [[Kay Woollard]]]]
'''Pipe-weed''' (also known as Halflings' Leaf or simply Leaf) was a plant developed by the [[Hobbits]] of [[the Shire]].

==Properties==
Pipe-weed was famous for its fragrant flowers. It preferred southern climates and grew abundantly in [[Gondor]]. In northern regions, like [[Eriador]], it was not as rich and large, and was never found in the wild; it flourished only in warm sheltered places like the southern slopes of the [[Bree-hill]], or [[Longbottom]] in [[the Shire]].<ref name="pipeweed">{{FR|Pipeweed}}, p. 8</ref>

==History==
The plant was probably native to [[Númenor]], and was brought to [[Middle-earth]] by the [[Númenóreans]] during the [[Second Age]].<ref name="pipeweed" /> It grew in [[Gondor]] as a wild herb, appreciated primarily for its fragrant blossoms, where it was known as '''''sweet galenas''''' or more popularly as '''''westmansweed'''''.<ref name="healing">{{RK|V8}}</ref>

Pipe-weed reached [[Eriador]] by the [[Greenway]] some time in the [[Third Age]].<ref>{{FR|Pipeweed}}, p. 9</ref> The [[Bree-hobbits]] were the first to put it in pipes and use it for [[smoking]], but the first "true" pipe-weed was grown by [[Tobold Hornblower]] of [[Longbottom]] in the [[Southfarthing]] around {{SR|1070}}. The art of smoking pipe-weed spread from [[Bree]] to [[Men]], [[Dwarves]] and others who wandered through the crossroads by Bree. [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] therefore considered ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' as the "home and centre" of the smoking art.<ref name="pipeweed" />

The [[Wizards|Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] learned to smoke pipe-weed from the Hobbits and was often seen blowing smoke-rings.<ref name="pipeweed" /> [[Saruman]] initially derided him for this, but at some point he took up smoking himself, and even had commerce with the Shire; after the destruction of [[Isengard]], pipe-weed was found among its stores, but the Hobbits [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] failed to realize the [[Sharkey|sinister implications]].

The cultivation and exportation of this herb became a key industry in the Shire, especially in the south. Popular varieties of pipe-weed from the Shire included [[Longbottom Leaf]], [[Old Toby]], and [[Southern Star]].<ref name="pipeweed" /> Perhaps less popular was [[Southlinch]] from Bree.<ref>{{RK|VI7}}</ref>

After the [[War of the Ring]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]] authored ''[[Herblore of the Shire]]'' discussing the origins and history of the Hobbits' 'art' of [[smoking]] pipe-weed.<ref name="pipeweed" />

==Inspiration==
In the prologue to ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Tolkien stated specifically that it is "a variety probably of ''Nicotiana''",<ref name="pipeweed" /> i.e. tobacco.

==Other names==
The common Gondorian name of pipe-weed was '''''westmansweed'''''.<ref>{{RK|Houses}}</ref> The more noble name was '''''galenas''''' (a [[Númenórean Sindarin]] form of the proper [[Sindarin]] form ''galanes''), with [[Quenya]] forms '''''alanessë''''' or '''''alenessë''''' derived from [[GALA|ala-]] ("plant, grow") and ''nes-'' ("sweet smelling").<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 100</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[Image:Item-Sweet Galenas.jpg|thumb|250px|Sweet Galenas in [[The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar]]]]
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:The smoke from Sweet Galenas takes the form of a sailing ship that floats out from the pipe.
'''2014: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]] (Game of the Year Edition)'':'''
:The plant is used for healing Tallion, as well as other plants.

{{references}}
[[Category:Pipe-weed| ]]
[[de:Pfeifenkraut]]
[[fr:essais/divers/herbe a pipe]]
[[fi:Piippukessu]]

Fell beasts

2026-01-09T14:11:51Z

Frankr: /* Description */

{{disambig-two|the winged steeds of the [[Nazgûl]]|vague term|[[Fell beasts (vague term)|fell beasts]]}}
{{race infobox
| name=Fell beasts
| image = John Howe - Nazgul 01.jpg
| caption="Nazgul" by [[John Howe]]
| pronun=
| othernames=Nazgûl-birds, Black Wings, hell-hawks
| origin=
| location=[[Mordor]]
| affiliation=[[Nazgûl]]
| rivalry=
| language=
| people=
| members=
| lifespan="Older world" - [[Third Age]]
| distinctions=A long neck and vast pinions
| height=
| hair=None
| skin=Webbed and plain
| clothing=
| weapons=Horned fingers, claws, and a beak
}}

"'''[[Fell beasts (vague term)|Fell beasts]]'''"<ref name="pelennor">{{RK|Battle}}</ref>, also called '''Nazgûl-birds'''<ref name="name">{{L|100}}</ref>, '''Black Wings'''<ref name="blackwing">{{TT|Gate}}</ref>, and "'''hell-hawks'''"<ref name="siege">{{RK|Siege}}</ref>, were huge pterodactylic flying creatures that served as steeds for the [[Nazgûl]].

== Description ==
Fell beasts were huge winged creatures with a beak and claws and were described as similar to carrion birds<ref name="blackwing" /> but much greater and more monstrous<ref name="harrowdale">{{RK|Muster}}</ref> than any kind of bird, including [[Eagles]].<ref name="siege"/> They were dark and appeared shadow-like even at night.<ref name="dark">{{FR|River}}</ref> Their body was plain and naked, lacking any quills or feathers. They had a long neck as well as vast pinions consisting of a web-like "hide between horned fingers". They possessed a "fell speed" which allowed them to fly faster than the wind.<ref name="deadmarshes">{{TT|Marshes}}</ref> Furthermore, fell beasts also gave off a stench. In battle they swooped upon prey with their feet to drop foes from the sky,<ref name="siege"/> crushed enemies under their sheer weight,<ref name="siege"/> and used their vast wings to blow foul gusts of wind.<ref name="pelennor" />

== History ==
While their origins are unspecified, it was believed that fell beasts were creatures "of an older world" that may have been survivors of earlier "geological eras".<ref name="letter211">{{L|211}}</ref> While most of their kind presumably fell in those eras,<ref name="letter211"/> some "outstayed their day" and lingered on, breeding within a hideous eyrie "in forgotten mountains" that were "cold beneath the [[Moon]]". The fell beasts dwindled over time until, eventually, all that remained was a single "untimely brood" with an instinct for [[:Category:Evil|evil]]. Sometime later, this brood was taken by the [[Dark Lord]], who "nursed it with fell meats" until they grew larger than every other winged creature.<ref name="pelennor" />

In the year {{TA|3018}} of the late [[Third Age]], the [[Nazgûl]] rode black [[horses]] in their pursuit of [[Frodo Baggins]]. These horses were killed when they and their riders were washed away by [[Elrond]]'s flood at the [[Ford of Bruinen]].<ref>{{FR|Flight}}</ref> However, the Nazgûl survived; over the next few months made their way unseen to [[Mordor]], where [[Sauron]] gave them fell beasts to serve as new steeds.<ref name="pelennor" />

When the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] had left [[Lothlórien]] and were camped on the western shore of the river [[Anduin]] near [[Sarn Gebir]], a winged creature tried to approach them at night. However, it vanished "into the gloom of the eastern shore" with "a harsh croaking scream" after [[Legolas]] shot it with an arrow.<ref name="dark"/>

On Thursday [[1 March]],<ref name="thursday">''[[The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings]]'', p. 60</ref> a Nazgûl was sent from Mordor to the [[Dead Marshes]]. As Frodo, [[Samwise Gamgee]], and [[Gollum]] traveled through the marshes, the Nazgûl passed overhead on a winged creature at midnight<ref name="thursday" /> at "the speed of the wrath of Sauron" back to Mordor.<ref name="deadmarshes" />

In the evening of Sunday [[4 March]],<ref name="date">''[[The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings]]'', p. 62</ref> Frodo, Sam, and Gollum witness another Nazgûl, possibly "on some swift errand from Barad-dûr", pass overhead on a winged creature. On Monday [[5 March]],<ref name="date" /> a third winged creature flew overhead towards Mordor "an hour after midnight" which Gollum claimed was a very bad omen.<ref name="deadmarshes" />

In the dawn of Tuesday<ref name="tuesday">''[[The Chronology of The Lord of the Rings]]'', p. 64</ref> [[6 March]], a winged creature flew over [[Edoras]] in [[Rohan]] and stooped just over [[Meduseld]]. They described it as being a darkness in the shape of a monstrous bird. After this, [[Gandalf]] told the [[Rohirrim]] to assemble at [[Dunharrow]] rather than outside Edoras to prevent any attack. Three days later in the evening of [[9 March]], [[Dúnhere]], the lord of [[Harrowdale]], reported the incident to [[King of Rohan|King]] [[Théoden]], who had just returned from the [[Hornburg]].<ref name="harrowdale" />

When [[Faramir]], captain of [[Gondor]], was fleeing from the besieged city of [[Osgiliath]] on his way to [[Minas Tirith]], he and his men were beset many times by five winged creatures ridden by Nazgûl until Gandalf rode out and drove them away with a shaft of white light from his raised hand.<ref name="siege"/>

During the [[Battle of the Pelennor Fields]], the [[Witch-king]] of [[Angmar]] rode his winged steed in battle against King Théoden; the Witch-king shot a dart which killed Théoden's [[Snowmane|horse]], who fell upon him, mortally wounding him. [[Éowyn]] removed her guise as Dernhelm and defended the dying Théoden, challenging and decapitating the winged creature. She then confronted and slew the Nazgûl, with the aid of [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]].<ref name="pelennor" />

== Etymology ==
As in the expression "fell things" occurring earlier in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'',<ref>{{FR|I3}}</ref> the word ''[[Wiktionary:fell#Etymology 4|fell]]'' in this sense is an archaic English word meaning "dreadful, terrible".<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 110</ref>

The term "[[Fell beasts (vague term)|fell beasts]]" is not used solely for the winged steeds of the Nazgûl: it was also used as a descriptor for various evil creatures of [[Mirkwood]],<ref>{{FR|Breaking}}</ref> and also a descriptor of a type of creature hunted by [[Oromë]] in addition to monsters.<ref name=valar>{{S|IIb}}</ref>

== Other versions of the legendarium ==

== Inspiration ==
In a reply to a letter, [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] wrote that he did not intend for the Nazgûl-bird<ref name="name" /> to be a [[Wikipedia:Pterosaur|pterodactyl]], though he acknowledged that it was "''pterodactylic''" and "owes much to" the "mythology of the 'Prehistoric'". He considered that its description left open the possibility for it to be "a last survivor of older geological eras".<ref name="letter211"/>

== Portrayal in adaptations ==
=== Fell beasts in adaptations ===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="180px" heights="180px">
File:The Return of the King (1980 film) - Witch-king.png|[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|''The Return of the King'' (1980)]]
File:Liz Danforth - Fell beast.png|"Fell beast" in ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]''
File:Angus McBride - Wild Fell Beast.jpg|"Wild Fell Beast" in ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Fell beast attacks Minas Tirith.jpg|Fell beast descending in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]
File:SBG - Fell beast.jpeg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]''
File:Mark Evans - Hell-hawk.png|"Hell-hawk" in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game]]''
File:LOTR-WITN-Fell Beast-1.png|"Fell beast" in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]''
</gallery>

'''1978: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:One of the Nazgûl (possibly the Witch-king, for he carries a mace) is shown riding on a winged creature. However, Bakshi's film only covers events up to the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], so that is the only appearance of a Nazgûl-bird<ref name="name" />.

'''1980: ''[[The Return of the King (1980 film)|The Return of the King]]'':'''
:The Nazgûl ride winged horses. In the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWjt6LGhHsI confrontation] between Éowyn and the Witch-king, the latter is seen riding a plump black-grey dragon-like animal. Gandalf had called it a '''Carrion-fowl'''.

'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:The Fell Beasts are said to likely be "distant relatives of ancient [[Cold-drakes]]", and "grow to lengths of 30 feet (with 30-35-foot wingspans)". In the middle Third Age they live in [[Mountains of Mirkwood|mountainous]] areas of Mirkwood, presumably because of the [[Sauron#Sauron's Return|Necromancer]]'s presence at [[Dol Guldur]]. They are used as steeds by both the Nazgûl and a few [[Olog-hai]] warlords.<ref>{{ICE|2019}}</ref><ref group="note">In the supplement, ''[[Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition)|Creatures of Middle-earth]]'', the Fell beasts are said to be "presumably bred from Winged-drakes" and to have a body between 15-25 feet and a wingspan between 30-40 feet.</ref>

'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:'''Fell Beast''' increases the number of strikes of one Nazgûl hazard-creature. '''Wild Fell Beast''' is a Drake which attacks with three strikes. With the card "Fell Rider" the Ringwraith may move to a non-Darkhaven site, but without allies and followers.

'''2001-3: [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]]:'''
:The fell beasts are depicted as more [[Dragons|Dragon]]-like and serpentine. As opposed to having beaks, they have lipless mouths full of jagged teeth, fins running along their spine, long whip-like tails and dark gray scales. This depiction is heavily influenced by [[John Howe]], who was one of the concept artists for the films.

:In the films, the fell beasts are used for attack much more often than in the books, with the Nazgûl usually swooping down and screeching, making the defenders at the gate of Minas Tirith run away, leaving [[Gandalf]] alone to face the Witch-king as he enters.

:Although on screen the films never make this mistake, sometimes cast or crew members ([[Lawrence Makoare]] and [[Richard Taylor]] most notably) on the commentary tracks and the documentaries refer to the fell beasts as Nazgûl; this is incorrect. The fell beasts are the creature that the nine Nazgûl ride, and the mistake probably arose because fell beasts are always seen with a Nazgûl atop them.

'''2001-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]'':'''
:The Fell Beasts are portrayed without beaks, reminiscent of the depiction in ''The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy''.<ref>[http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod480006a&_requestid=1321389 Winged Nazgûl] at [http://www.games-workshop.com/ Games-workshop.com] (accessed 10 June 2011)</ref>

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:A Nazgûl mounted on a fell beast (depicted as a dragon-like creature) appears in the [[Amon Hen]] stage of the PC and console versions of the game, where it serves as the final boss. In the first phase of the battle, the beast crawls on the ground and fights Aragorn (armed with his sword). During the second and final phase, it flies into the sky and shoots green fireballs from its mouth down at Aragorn (who shoots back at it with his bow), until it is weakened and finally shot down by Legolas in the game's ending cutscene.

'''2002-5: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game]]'':'''
:Hell-hawks, employed as mounts by the Ringwraiths and found wild in southern Mirkwood and (after the War of the Ring) in Gondor, resemble a "cross between lizards and featherless birds". They were bred by Sauron in mockery of the [[Eagles|Great Eagles]].<ref>{{D|Fell}}, pp. 30-31</ref>

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Agandaûr has several Fell beasts under his control. At the end of Chapter 1, Agandaûr flees on the back of one of them.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Citadel Tower''</ref>

'''2023: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria]]'':'''
:Fell beasts are among the monsters infesting Moria. The female dragon Narag-Shazon claims that Sauron forcibly employed her to breed the creatures.

{{references|note}}

[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Nazgûl]]
[[Category:Other races]]
[[Category:Servants of Sauron]]

[[de:Reittiere der Nazgûl#Flugwesen]]
[[fi:Sormusaaveiden siivekkäät ratsut]]

Reunited Kingdom

2026-01-07T10:24:05Z

Frankr: /* Later History */

{{Sources}}
{{kingdom
| image=Sage - Reunited Kingdom.png
| name=Reunited Kingdom
| pronun=
| othernames=
| location=[[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]]<ref name="Appendix A Third Line">{{App|Mark}}, Third Line</ref>
| capital=[[Annúminas]] ([[Arnor]]) [[Minas Tirith]] ([[Gondor]])<ref name="Elendil">{{PM|Elendil}}</ref>
| towns='''Arnor''' [[Bree]], [[Bywater]], [[Fornost Erain]], [[Hobbiton]], [[Michel Delving]], [[Tuckborough]] '''Gondor''' [[Calembel]], [[Dol Amroth]], [[Erech]], [[Linhir]], [[Pelargir]], [[Umbar]]
| regions='''Arnor''' [[Arthedain]], [[Cardolan]], [[Rhudaur]] '''Gondor''' [[Anfalas]], [[Anórien]], [[Belfalas]], [[Dorwinion]], [[Enedwaith]] (shared with [[Arnor]]), [[Ithilien]], [[Lamedon]], [[Lebennin]], [[Lossarnach]], [[South Gondor]]
| population=Primarily [[Men]] (many [[Hobbits]] in the [[Shire]] and [[Bree-land]])
| language=[[Westron]], [[Númenórean Sindarin]], [[Quenya]], [[Hobbitish]]
| govern1=[[High King (Dúnedain)|High King]]
| govern2=[[Council of Gondor]]<ref name="politics"/>
| govern3=
| currency=[[tharni]], [[castar]]<ref>{{PM|Languages}}</ref>
| holiday=[[Cormarë]]
| precededby=[[Arnor]], [[Gondor]]
| event1=Established
| event1date=[[1 May]], {{TA|3019}}
| event2=
| event2date=
| event3=
| event3date=
| event4=
| event4date=
| event5=
| event5date=
| followedby=
}}

{{quote|Thus peace came again, and a new Spring opened on earth; and the Heir of Isildur was crowned King of Gondor and Arnor, and the might of the Dúnedain was lifted up and their glory renewed.|''[[The Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age]]"}}

The '''Reunited Kingdom''' was the restored kingdom of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]], the twin kingdoms founded at the end of the [[Second Age]] by [[Elendil]] and his sons [[Isildur]] and [[Anárion]]. In the beginning, Elendil was [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of both realms, but the two were divided after the deaths of his sons. Over 3,000 years later [[Aragorn]] was crowned as '''''Elessar''''' and reunited the kingdoms, ruling as [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]] of the newly-founded Reunited Kingdom.

==Geography==
During Aragorn's reign, the Reunited Kingdom was comprised of the old realms of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]], excluding only [[Rohan]] (the [[Oath of Eorl|grant]] of which he renewed); and the [[Shire]], the [[Drúadan Forest]], and the [[Treegarth of Orthanc]] (which became protectorates).<ref name="Appendix A"/>

The Reunited Kingdom included all the lands of [[Arnor]]; all of [[Eriador]], except the [[Lindon|regions]] beyond the [[Lune]], and the lands east of [[Greyflood]] and [[Loudwater]], in which lay [[Rivendell]] and [[Eregion]].<ref name="Eriador">{{App|Eriador}}</ref>

In [[Gondor]], the realm extended:<ref name="AppGondor">{{App|Gondor}}</ref>

* North to the [[Field of Celebrant]] and the southern eaves of [[Mirkwood]]<ref name="AppGondor"/>
* West to the [[Greyflood]]<ref name="AppGondor"/>
* East to the inland [[Sea of Rhûn]]<ref name="AppGondor"/>
* South to the [[River Harnen]], and also along the coast to the peninsula and haven of [[Umbar]]<ref name="AppGondor"/>

==Politics==
The [[Númenórean]] [[High King (Dúnedain)|High King]] governed the realm with the frame of ancient law, of which he was administrator (and interpreter) but not the maker.<ref name="politics">{{L|244}}</ref>

In all debatable matters of importance domestic, or external, however, even [[Denethor II|Denethor]] had a [[Council of Gondor|Council]], and at least listened to what the Lords of the Fiefs and the Captains of the Forces had to say.<ref name="politics"/> [[Aragorn]] re-established the [[Council of Gondor|Great Council of Gondor]], and in that [[Faramir]], who remained by inheritance the [[Steward]] (or representative of the King during his absence abroad, or sickness, or between his death and the accession of his heir) was his chief counsellor.<ref name="politics"/>

After his accession, [[Aragorn]] established a council in [[Arnor]], because in {{FoA|13}}, he chose three [[Counsellor of the North-kingdom|Counsellors of the North-kingdom]] from the people of the [[Shire]] and [[Buckland]].<ref name="AppBLater">{{App|B5}}</ref> These Counsellors were those appointed to the positions of the [[Thain]] and [[Mayor of the Shire]], and the [[Master of Buckland]].<ref name="AppBLater"/>

==History==
===Background===
{{main|Realms in Exile}}
At the end of the [[Second Age]], [[Elendil]] and his sons established two great kingdoms in [[Middle-earth]]: [[Arnor]] in the north and [[Gondor]] in the south. These [[Kingdoms of the Dúnedain]] were united under a single [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]], [[Elendil]] himself, who ruled the [[Arnor|North-kingdom]] while his sons reigned jointly over the South-kingdom of [[Gondor]].<ref name=rings>{{s|Rings}}</ref>

In the first years of the [[Third Age]], this union failed. After the loss of [[Isildur]] at the [[Disaster of the Gladden Fields]], his nephew [[Meneldil]] took up the [[Kings of Gondor|kingship of Gondor]], and that country remained independent from the [[North-kingdom]] through most of the [[Third Age]].<ref name=rings/>

In the north, the realm of Arnor fell into troubled times. It broke into three separate kingdoms, and in time these too were lost, so that the Dúnedain of the North-kingdom of Elendil were reduced to a wandering people led by a [[Chieftains of the Dúnedain|Chieftain]]. Nonetheless, they were able to maintain Isildur's line in unbroken descent.<ref name=rings/>

There was only one attempt to reunite the kingdoms while they were both in existence. This attempt occurred in {{TA|1944}} when [[Arvedui]], [[King of Arthedain]], claimed the [[High King (Dúnedain)|High Kingship]] of the [[Two Kingdoms]].<ref name="AppGondor"/> His claim was rejected by Steward [[Pelendur]] and the [[Council of Gondor]], who elected to maintain their independence.<ref name="AppGondor"/>

Soon enough, the line of [[King of Gondor|Kings]] failed in [[Gondor]] altogether; [[Eärnur]] was lost without heirs. Its rule was taken up by the [[Stewards]] of the [[House of Húrin]].<ref name=rings/>

===Reunification===
====Reign of Elessar====
More than a thousand years later, after the [[War of the Ring]], Arvedui's direct descendant, [[Aragorn]], came forward to make the same claim. This time, the people of Gondor accepted a [[High King of the Dúnedain|High King]], and the Two Kingdoms were restored and reunited at last.

[[Aragorn]] restored [[Gondor]] and repeopled it, but retained [[Minas Tirith]] as the chief city.<ref name="Elendil"/> He rebuilt [[Annúminas]] and when he went north, would rule from there.<ref name="Eriador"/> He also had the ruins of [[Fornost Erain]] rebuilt and made it a great city where [[Men]] dwelt once again.<ref name="Bound">{{RK|VI7}}</ref> [[The Shire]] was an exception to this, and though it lay within the Reunited Kingdom, Aragorn made a law that Men should not enter it, a law that he observed himself.<ref name="Eriador"/>

During his reign, he, alongside [[King of Rohan|King]] [[Éomer]], led military campaigns beyond the [[Sea of Rhûn]] and on the far deserts of the [[South]].<ref name="Appendix A">{{App|Mark}}</ref> The threat of the [[Corsairs of Umbar|Corsairs]] was finally completely subdued during his reign.<ref name="AppGondor"/> He also made peace with the [[Haradrim]] after his coronation.<ref name="RK-StewardKing">{{RK|VI5}}</ref>

====Later History====
After Aragorn's death in {{FoA|120}},<ref name="Tale">{{App|Tale}}</ref> his son [[Eldarion]] took up the High Kingship.<ref name="Tale"/> It is said that Eldarion's reign lasted for about 100 years after the death of Aragorn.<ref name="L338">{{L|338}}</ref>
Of [[Eldarion]], it was foretold that he should rule a great realm, and that it should endure for a hundred generations of [[Men]] after him, that is until a new age brought in again new things; and from him should come the kings of many realms in long days after. But if this foretelling spoke truly, none now can say, for [[Gondor]] and [[Arnor]] are no more; and even the chronicles of the [[House of Telcontar]] and all their deeds and glory are lost.<ref name="Third">{{PM|Third}}, text of manuscript T4 events after the end of the Third Age in the year 3021</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In an unfinished story set some 220 years after the fall of Sauron, the Reunited Kingdom encountered a renewal of [[Sauron]]-worship known as the [[Dark Tree]].<ref>{{PM|Shadow}}</ref> However, J.R.R. Tolkien did not finish this story, because he "discovered that the King's Peace would contain no tales worth recounting".<ref name="L338"/>

{{references}}

[[Category:Arnor]]
[[Category:Fourth Age]]
[[Category:Gondor]]
[[Category:Mannish realms]]

[[de:Wiedervereinigtes Königreich]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/royaumes/royaume reunifie]]
[[fi:Jällen yhdistetty Valtakunta]]

Neil Finn

2026-01-04T17:16:47Z

Frankr:

[[File:Neil Finn.jpg|thumb|250px]]
'''Neil Finn''' is a New Zealand singer and musician, both as a solo artist and as a member of the bands Split Enz and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowded_House Crowded House]. He performed "[[Song of the Lonely Mountain]]", the credit song of ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''.

==External links==
*[http://neilfinn.com/ Official Website]
*{{WP|Neil Finn}}
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278154/ Neil Finn] at IMDb

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finn, Neil}}
[[Category:New Zealand people]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Singers]]

Neil Finn

2026-01-04T17:16:00Z

Frankr:

[[File:Neil Finn.jpg|thumb|250px]]
'''Neil Finn''' is a New Zealand singer and musician, both as a solo artist and as a member of the bands Split Enz and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowded_House| Crowded House]. He performed "[[Song of the Lonely Mountain]]", the credit song of ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''.

==External links==
*[http://neilfinn.com/ Official Website]
*{{WP|Neil Finn}}
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278154/ Neil Finn] at IMDb

{{DEFAULTSORT:Finn, Neil}}
[[Category:New Zealand people]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Singers]]

Rabbits

2025-11-10T12:03:23Z

Frankr: /* Rabbits in adaptations */

[[File:John Howe - Stewed Rabbit.jpg|thumb|''Stewed Rabbit'' by [[John Howe]]]]
{{quote|Do you remember that bit of rabbit, Mr. Frodo?|[[Sam Gamgee]] in ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Mount Doom (chapter)|Mount Doom]]"}}
'''Rabbits''' were long-eared, furry animals, also called '[[Wiktionary:coney|coneys]]'.

In {{TA|2747}}, the game of [[Golf]] was invented in the [[Battle of the Green Fields]] when [[Bandobras Took]] cut the head off the [[Orcs|Goblin]] King [[Golfimbul]] and his head flew through the air and went down a rabbit hole.<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref> After rescuing [[Thorin and Company]] the [[Eagles]] brought them rabbits to eat.<ref>{{H|Pan}}</ref> On [[7 March]] {{TA|3019}} in northern [[Ithilien]], [[Samwise Gamgee]] asked [[Gollum]] to bring him some food. Gollum brought him two small rabbits which Sam proceeded to cook, to Gollum's intense displeasure.<ref>{{TT|IV4}}</ref>

==Etymology==
In a linguistic manuscript dating from the 1930s, appears the [[Quenya]] gloss '''''lopo''''' ("rabbit").<ref>{{PE|21}}, pp. 8, 31</ref> In earlier [[Qenya]], it was ''lapatte''.<ref>{{PE|12}}, p. 51</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Rabbits in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="250px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Rabbits.jpg|Rabbits in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - Rhosgobel Rabbits.jpg|"Rhosgobel Rabbits" in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
</gallery>

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:While they camp in [[Ithilien]], [[Gollum]] brings [[Frodo]] and [[Sam]] a pair of freshly caught rabbits. Sam is appalled at Gollum's suggestion that they eat the rabbits raw and replies "There's only one way to eat a brace of coneys..." Sam is then seen making rabbit stew in his cooking pot. Gollum wails at this, crying that by cooking them the fresh rabbit has been ruined.

'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:[[Radagast]] drives a sled pulled by large rabbits, referred to as "[[Rhosgobel]] Rabbits".<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/01/03/67872-radagasts-racing-rhosgobel-rabbits-a-recreational-musher-looks-at-the-realities-of-bunny-sledding/|articlename=Radagast's Racing Rhosgobel Rabbits: A Recreational Musher Looks at the Realities of Bunny Sledding|dated=3 January 2013|website=TORN|accessed=11 March 2013}}</ref>

{{References}}
[[Category:Animals]]

[[de:Kaninchen]]

Rabbits

2025-11-10T11:52:18Z

Frankr:

[[File:John Howe - Stewed Rabbit.jpg|thumb|''Stewed Rabbit'' by [[John Howe]]]]
{{quote|Do you remember that bit of rabbit, Mr. Frodo?|[[Sam Gamgee]] in ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Mount Doom (chapter)|Mount Doom]]"}}
'''Rabbits''' were long-eared, furry animals, also called '[[Wiktionary:coney|coneys]]'.

In {{TA|2747}}, the game of [[Golf]] was invented in the [[Battle of the Green Fields]] when [[Bandobras Took]] cut the head off the [[Orcs|Goblin]] King [[Golfimbul]] and his head flew through the air and went down a rabbit hole.<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref> After rescuing [[Thorin and Company]] the [[Eagles]] brought them rabbits to eat.<ref>{{H|Pan}}</ref> On [[7 March]] {{TA|3019}} in northern [[Ithilien]], [[Samwise Gamgee]] asked [[Gollum]] to bring him some food. Gollum brought him two small rabbits which Sam proceeded to cook, to Gollum's intense displeasure.<ref>{{TT|IV4}}</ref>

==Etymology==
In a linguistic manuscript dating from the 1930s, appears the [[Quenya]] gloss '''''lopo''''' ("rabbit").<ref>{{PE|21}}, pp. 8, 31</ref> In earlier [[Qenya]], it was ''lapatte''.<ref>{{PE|12}}, p. 51</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Rabbits in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="250px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Rabbits.jpg|Rabbits in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - Rhosgobel Rabbits.jpg|"Rhosgobel Rabbits" in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
</gallery>

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:While they camp in [[Ithilien]], [[Gollum]] brings [[Frodo]] and [[Sam]] some rabbits that he caught. Sam is appalled at Gollum's manners when he suggests they eat the rabbits raw. Sam concludes "There's only one way to eat a brace of coneys..." and is later seen preparing their meat in a small kettle, as part of a stew. Gollum, in turn, vocally disapproves of cooked rabbit meat and cooked food in general.

'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:[[Radagast]] drives a sled pulled by large rabbits, referred to as "[[Rhosgobel]] Rabbits".<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/01/03/67872-radagasts-racing-rhosgobel-rabbits-a-recreational-musher-looks-at-the-realities-of-bunny-sledding/|articlename=Radagast's Racing Rhosgobel Rabbits: A Recreational Musher Looks at the Realities of Bunny Sledding|dated=3 January 2013|website=TORN|accessed=11 March 2013}}</ref>

{{References}}
[[Category:Animals]]

[[de:Kaninchen]]

Rabbits

2025-11-10T11:49:02Z

Frankr: conies, not connies

[[File:John Howe - Stewed Rabbit.jpg|thumb|''Stewed Rabbit'' by [[John Howe]]]]
{{quote|Do you remember that bit of rabbit, Mr. Frodo?|[[Sam Gamgee]] in ''[[The Return of the King]]'', "[[Mount Doom (chapter)|Mount Doom]]"}}
'''Rabbits''' were long-eared, furry animals, also called '[[Wiktionary:coney|coneys]]'.

In {{TA|2747}}, the game of [[Golf]] was invented in the [[Battle of the Green Fields]] when [[Bandobras Took]] cut the head off the [[Orcs|Goblin]] King [[Golfimbul]] and his head flew through the air and went down a rabbit hole.<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref> After rescuing [[Thorin and Company]] the [[Eagles]] brought them rabbits to eat.<ref>{{H|Pan}}</ref> On [[7 March]] {{TA|3019}} in northern [[Ithilien]], [[Samwise Gamgee]] asked [[Gollum]] to bring him some food. Gollum brought him two small rabbits which Sam proceeded to cook, to Gollum's intense displeasure.<ref>{{TT|IV4}}</ref>

==Etymology==
In a linguistic manuscript dating from the 1930s, appears the [[Quenya]] gloss '''''lopo''''' ("rabbit").<ref>{{PE|21}}, pp. 8, 31</ref> In earlier [[Qenya]], it was ''lapatte''.<ref>{{PE|12}}, p. 51</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Rabbits in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="250px" heights="150px">
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Rabbits.jpg|Rabbits in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]''
File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - Rhosgobel Rabbits.jpg|"Rhosgobel Rabbits" in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
</gallery>

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:While they camp in [[Ithilien]], [[Gollum]] brings [[Frodo]] and [[Sam]] some rabbits that he caught. Sam is appalled at Gollum's manners when he suggests they eat the rabbits raw. Sam concludes "There's only one way to eat a brace of conies..." and is later seen preparing their meat in a small kettle, as part of a stew. Gollum, in turn, vocally disapproves of cooked rabbit meat and cooked food in general.

'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:'''
:[[Radagast]] drives a sled pulled by large rabbits, referred to as "[[Rhosgobel]] Rabbits".<ref>{{webcite|author=|articleurl=http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/01/03/67872-radagasts-racing-rhosgobel-rabbits-a-recreational-musher-looks-at-the-realities-of-bunny-sledding/|articlename=Radagast's Racing Rhosgobel Rabbits: A Recreational Musher Looks at the Realities of Bunny Sledding|dated=3 January 2013|website=TORN|accessed=11 March 2013}}</ref>

{{References}}
[[Category:Animals]]

[[de:Kaninchen]]

Mabel Tolkien

2025-01-17T10:44:38Z

Frankr: diabetes, insulin not yet discovered, formatting etc.

[[File:Mabel Tolkien.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Mabel Tolkien]]
'''Mabel Tolkien''' (''née'' '''Suffield''', [[January]] [[1870]] - [[14 November]] [[1904]]) was the mother of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Hilary Tolkien]], being the wife of [[Arthur Tolkien|Arthur Reuel Tolkien]]. She was the child of John and Emily Suffield, along with six other siblings.<ref>[[Christina Scull]] and [[Wayne G. Hammond]] ([[2017]]), ''[[The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion and Guide]]'' (Revised and Expanded Edition): II. ''Reader's Guide'', pp. 1267, 1312</ref>

==Biography==
===Marriage to Arthur Tolkien===
Mabel Suffield grew up in [[Birmingham]]. In [[March]] [[1891]] she sailed from England to meet and marry her fiancé and marry in [[:Wikipedia:South Africa|South Africa]] after an engagement of three years. Her father, John Suffield, had not allowed her to marry until she turned twenty-one. After arriving in South Africa she travelled to [[:Wikipedia:Bloemfontein|Bloemfontein]] with her husband.

On [[3 January]] [[1892]], she gave birth to a son named John Ronald Reuel and on [[17 February]] [[1894]], they had a second whom they called Hilary Reuel.

Hilary was a healthy child who flourished in the Bloemfontein climate, but his elder brother had more difficulty. Teething upset him badly and made him feverish, and a doctor was constantly called in, tiring Mabel. The heat was doing a great deal of harm to Ronald's health, but Arthur did not want to return to England.

In [[November]] 1894, Mabel took the boys to Cape Town and made preparations to sail to England, while Arthur agreed to come and join them in England when his job allowed. They set sail in [[April]] [[1895]]. However, before Arthur could join them, he contracted [[:Wikipedia:rheumatic fever|rheumatic fever]] and died after suffering a severe [[:Wikipedia:haemorrhage|haemorrhage]] on [[15 February]] [[1896]].<ref name=biography>[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''</ref>{{rp|17–24}}

===Raising two sons===
Arthur had only amassed a modest sum of capital and it would not bring Mabel an income of more than thirty shillings a week, scarcely sufficient to maintain herself and two children even at the lowest standard of living.

In summer of 1896 when Mabel found a house in [[Sarehole]], 5 Gracewell, cheap enough for herself and the children to live independently. It was a semi-detached brick cottage at the end of a row.

When at Sarehole, Mabel began to teach her two sons writing, reading, languages, art and botany. She realized that her son Ronald had a special aptitude for language. She began to teach him [[:Wikipedia:French|French]]. He liked this much less, preferring the sounds of [[:Wikipedia:Latin|Latin]] and English. She also tried to arouse his curiosity in playing the piano, but without success. He took more interest in words than music.<ref name=biography />{{rp|25–30}}

===Conversion to Catholicism===

[[Christianity]] became an increasingly important part in Mabel Tolkien's life after her husband's death, and at first each Sunday she took the boys on a long walk to a [[:Wikipedia:Anglo-Catholicism|High Anglican church]]. In [[May]] of [[1900]], Mabel, along with her sister, May Incledon (''née'' Suffield), was accepted into the [[:Wikipedia:Catholic Church|Catholic Faith]].

Their family was greatly upset by this. Their father, John Suffield, had been brought up at a [[:Wikipedia:Methodism|Methodist]] school and was now a [[:Wikipedia:Unitarian|Unitarian]]. He was outraged that his daughter would become Catholic. May's husband, Walter Incledon, considered himself to be a pillar of his local Anglican church, and did not wish May to associate with the Catholic Church. When May returned to Birmingham he forbade her to enter a Catholic church again and she obeyed him.

Walter Incledon had provided a little financial help for Mabel Tolkien since Arthur's death, but now refused. Mabel faced hostility from Walter and from other members of her family, as well as the Tolkiens, many of whom were[[:Wikipedia:Baptists|Baptists]] and strongly opposed to Catholicism. But she stood by her new faith, and against opposition she began to instruct Ronald and Hilary in the Catholic religion.<ref name=biography />{{rp|31–2}}

===Life in Moseley and Edgbaston===
That same year, the family moved to [[:Wikipedia:Moseley|Moseley]], conveniently situated on the tram route to Tolkien's new school. A Tolkien uncle who was uncharacteristically well-disposed towards Mabel paid the fees, which then amounted to twelve pounds per annum.

But Mabel, still not satisfied, moved the family again, to [[:Wikipedia:Edgbaston|Edgbaston]], where they found a house near the [[Birmingham Oratory]], a large church in the suburb of Edgbaston that was looked after by a community of priests. Attached to the Oratory and under the direction of its clergy was the Grammar School of St Philip, where the fees were lower than Tolkien’s previous school and where her sons could receive a Catholic education. There, the family met [[Francis Xavier Morgan|Father Francis Xavier Morgan]], the parish priest. In him Mabel soon found not only a sympathetic priest but a valuable friend. He soon became an indispensable part of the Tolkien household. In Edgbaston, she started to teach her boys again, but soon Tolkien started to attend St Philips, and Mabel was left only with Hilary.

Soon Ronald had outpaced his class-mates, and Mabel realised that St Philip's could not provide the education that he needed. So she removed him, and once again undertook his tuition herself: with much success, for some months later he won a Foundation Scholarship to King Edward's and returned there in the autumn of [[1903]].<ref name=biography />{{rp|32–5}}

===Death===
[[File:GentryGraves - Mabel Tolkien's grave.jpg|thumb|Mabel's grave at Bromsgrove]]

During the New Year of [[1904]], Ronald and Hilary were confined to bed with measles followed by whooping- cough, and in Hilary's case by pneumonia. The additional strain of nursing them was difficult for their mother, and as she feared it proved 'impossible to go on'. By April 1904 she was in a hospital, and her condition was diagnosed as diabetes, a disease about which relatively little was known: insulin had not yet been discovered and effective treatment of diabetes was not yet available.

There was much anxiety over Mabel's condition, but by the summer she had recovered sufficiently to be discharged from hospital. She was given a cottage to recuperate in by the Oratory. The boys went to live with her there during the summer holidays, but went back to school in Birmingham in the autumn.

She deteriorated again in [[November]], falling into a sudden diabetic coma. Six days later, on [[14 November]] [[1904]], she died with Fr. Francis and her sister, May, at her side.

Mabel was buried in the Catholic churchyard at Bromsgrove, and Fr. Francis provided a cross for her headstone – the same design of stone cross as was used for the Catholic clergy in the Rednal cemetery. She left £800 of invested capital, and appointed Fr. Francis as guardian to Ronald and Hilary.<ref name=biography />{{rp|36–9}}

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | |JS|y|EJS| | |JS=John Suffield|EJS=Emily Jane Sparrow}}
{{familytree| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|.}}
{{familytree|JS| |RS| |MI| |MT|y|ART| |JN| |WS| |R| | | | |JS=John Suffield|RS=Roland Suffield|MI='May' Incledon|JN=[[Jane Neave]]|MT=Mabel Tolkien|ART=[[Arthur Tolkien|Arthur Reuel Tolkien]]|WS=William Suffield|R=Rose Suffield}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | EDB |y| JRR | | HART |~| MM | | | | | | |JRR=[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]|EDB=[[Edith Tolkien|Edith Bratt]]|HART=[[Hilary Tolkien]]|MM=[[Magdalen Matthews]]}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | | | | | | | JOT | | MIT | |CHT | | PRT |JOT=[[John Tolkien]]|MIT=[[Michael Tolkien]]|CHT=[[Christopher Tolkien]]|PRT=[[Priscilla Tolkien]]}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Legacy==
Mabel's death had a profound impact on her son's faith. Years later, Tolkien wrote: "My own dear mother was a martyr indeed, and it is not to everybody that God grants so easy a way to His great gifts as He did to Hilary and myself, giving us a mother who killed herself with labour and trouble to ensure us keeping the faith."<ref name=biography />{{rp|39}}

In the 2019 biographical drama film ''[[Tolkien (film)|Tolkien]]'', Mabel was portrayed by actress Laura Donnelly.
{{References}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Suffield, Mabel}}
[[Category:British people]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Tolkien Family]]
[[Category:Suffield Family]]
[[de:Mabel Tolkien]]
[[fr:tolkien/portraits/mabel suffield tolkien]]
[[fi:Mabel Tolkien]]

Black Hand

2024-11-10T15:59:51Z

Frankr:

[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Sauron.jpg|thumb|Watercolour of the Black Hand of Sauron by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]]]

The '''Black Hand''' was a title of [[Morgoth]], used by [[Beleg]] to explain how Morgoth's power had expanded southwards [[Beleriand]] after the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]].<ref>{{S|Turin}}</ref>

In the [[Third Age]], [[Gollum]] twice applied the same epithet to [[Sauron]]'s left hand. Gollum mentioned how Sauron had just four fingers on his "black hand", this being of course due to the fact that [[Isildur]] had cut off the finger that bore the [[The One Ring|One Ring]].<ref>{{TT|IV3}}</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Epithets]]

File talk:J.R.R. Tolkien - Sauron.jpg

2024-11-10T15:40:50Z

Frankr: Created page with "Surely this is a watercolour, not a sketch? ~~~~"

Surely this is a watercolour, not a sketch? [[User:Frankr|Frankr]] ([[User talk:Frankr|talk]]) 15:40, 10 November 2024 (UTC)

Elves

2024-09-27T13:05:59Z

Frankr: /* Fairies */

{{sources}}
{{race infobox
| name=Elves
| image = Janka Latečková - Vanyar.jpg
| caption="Vanyar" by [[:Category:Images by Janka Latečková|Janka Latečková]]
| pronun=
| othernames=People of the Stars, Firstborn, Elder Children of Ilúvatar
| origin=Firstborn of the [[Children of Ilúvatar|Children]] of [[Ilúvatar]]
| location=[[Cuiviénen]], [[Tirion]], [[Taniquetil]], [[Formenos]], [[Alqualondë]], [[Tol Eressëa]], [[Doriath]], [[Falas]], [[Hithlum]], [[Ossiriand]], [[Vinyamar]], [[Nargothrond]], [[Gondolin]], [[Edhellond]], [[Mouths of Sirion]], [[Isle of Balar]], [[Lindon]], [[Eldalondë]], [[Eregion]], [[Lothlórien]], [[Rivendell]], [[Mirkwood]], [[Ithilien]]
| affiliation=
| rivalry=[[Orcs]], [[Dwarves]]
| language=Various [[Elvish]] languages, most notably [[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]; [[Westron]]
| people=[[Vanyar]], [[Noldor]], [[Teleri]], [[Sindar]], [[Nandor]], [[Silvan Elves|Silvan]], [[Falmari]], [[Avari]]
| members=[[Ingwë]], [[Thingol]], [[Finwë]], [[Fëanor]], [[Fingolfin]], [[Gil-galad]], [[Galadriel]], [[Finrod]], [[Sons of Fëanor]], [[Lúthien]], [[Fingon]], [[Turgon]], [[Idril]], [[Maeglin]], [[Círdan]], [[Celeborn]], [[Celebrimbor]]
| lifespan=[[Arda]]'s existence; near [[immortality]]
| distinctions=
| height=Tall
| skin=Pale, occasionally ruddy
| hair=Blond, black, brown, red, and occasionally silver
| clothing=
| weapons=Typically swords and bows
}}
{{quote|But the Quendi shall be the fairest of all earthly creatures, and they shall have and shall conceive and bring forth more beauty than all my Children; and they shall have the greater bliss in this world|[[Ilúvatar]] in ''[[Quenta Silmarillion]]'', "[[Of the Beginning of Days]]"}}
The '''Elves''' (''[[Quendi]]'') were the first of the races of the [[Children of Ilúvatar]], known also as the [[Firstborn]] for that reason. The Elves are distinguished from the other two races, the [[Men]] and the [[Dwarves]], especially by the fact of their near [[immortality]].

==History==
===Awakening===
{{main|Awakening of the Elves}}

[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Dawn of the Firstborn Elves.jpg|thumb|left|200px|''The Dawn of the Firstborn Elves'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]] About the same time that [[Varda]], Queen of the [[Valier]], ended her labours in creating the [[Stars]], the Elves awoke beside the lake [[Cuiviénen]]. The first things they saw were the stars, and henceforth they adored them. The first sound they heard was the flowing of water, the noise and splash of water on the stones. And henceforth they loved water as well.

They made speech then, and called themselves the ''[[Quendi]]''. [[Morgoth|Melkor]] was the first to be aware of them, and he caused evil spirits to go about among them. When one or a small group wandered abroad, they would often vanish. It is believed that Melkor may have created [[Orcs]] with the elves he captured.

[[Oromë]], the Huntsman of the [[Valar]], happened upon them when he heard their singing far-off. He was amazed to see them, and called them the ''Eldar'', "People of the Stars".

===Sundering===
{{main|Sundering of the Elves}}

[[File:Anke Eißmann - Oromë espies the first Elves.jpg |thumb|right|250px|''Oromë espies the first Elves'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]] Though at first the Quendi were afraid of Oromë, the noblest among them saw that he was no dark horseman, as the lies of Melkor claimed. He had the light of [[Aman]] in his eyes and face, and they were drawn to him.

After spending a while among the Quendi, Oromë returned to [[Valinor]] and took council with the other Valar and Valier. At the counsel of [[Ilúvatar]], [[Manwë]], King of the Valar, decided that they must go to war against Melkor to protect the Quendi from him, beginning the [[Battle of the Powers]]. After a great battle and a siege against [[Utumno]], which reshaped the earth itself, Melkor was bound and cast into the prison of [[Mandos]]. Then the Valar, pleased with the outcome, summoned the Elves to Valinor, seeking fellowship with them, they were captivated by the beauty of the elves.

At Oromë's urging, many of the Elves (especially the kindreds of [[Ingwë]], [[Finwë]], and [[Elwë]]) agreed. But others, henceforth called the [[Avari]], declared that they preferred starlight and the wide spaces of [[Middle-earth]]. So the Elves were first sundered. During the journey to [[Belegaer]], gradually the number of the Elves began to lessen as various groups dropped away. Some of the [[Teleri]] (kindred of Elwë) refused to cross the [[Misty Mountains]], and settled in [[Anduin]] under the leadership of [[Lenwë]], to be called later the [[Nandor]]. Elwë then went missing, and in dismay the rest of the Teleri remained behind, while the [[Noldor]] (kindred of Finwë) and [[Vanyar]] (kindred of Ingwë) used an island as a ship, and found at last Aman and Valinor.

After several years, Oromë returned to search for the Teleri. Some, under [[Olwë]], relented and followed. Others remained to continue to search for Elwë. Still others, under [[Círdan]], remained because in that time they had become devoted to [[Ossë]] and the Sea. Those Teleri that chose to remain were called the [[Sindar]]. Elwë, who had fallen asleep due to his enchantment with [[Melian]], returned to claim lordship and establish them in [[Doriath]]. The Noldor and some of the Teleri, however, built the great cities of [[Tirion]] and [[Alqualondë]] (respectively) in Aman. The Vanyar dwelt in [[Valimar]], for they were closest to the Valar of the kindreds.

===Exile of the Noldor===
{{main|Exile of the Noldor}}

[[File:Jenny Dolfen - The Coming of Fingolfin.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''The Coming of Fingolfin'' by [[Jenny Dolfen]]]] Melkor, having been released on the promise of good behavior, spread lies about the Valar among the Noldor. [[Fëanor]], the eldest son of Finwë and one of the greatest Elves to have ever lived, hated Melkor more than all the other Noldor, but was paradoxically one of the most influenced by his lies. He forged weapons, and his greatest works, the [[Silmarils]], captured the light of the [[Two Trees]] – and his own heart. After Melkor stole the Silmarils and killed Finwë, Fëanor stirred the Noldor to open disobedience to the Valar. In an epic journey filled with treachery, death, and deceit, the Noldor entered in to Exile, crossing over into [[Beleriand]].

===Battles of Beleriand===
{{main|Battles of Beleriand}}

There were five great battles fought in Beleriand. The [[First Battle]] was the result of an attack by Melkor on Círdan and Elwë (now known as [[Thingol]]). Though the Elves managed to resist the attack successfully, this left Melkor essentially with full reign of Beleriand. Upon the sudden and unanticipated [[Return of the Noldor]], the tables were reversed in the [[Dagor-nuin-Giliath]]. The third battle (“[[Dagor Aglareb]]”) occurred when Melkor tried unsuccessfully to destroy the Elves, breaking forth from [[Angband]]. This only resulted in the vigilant [[Siege of Angband]]. Morgoth was more successful in the next battle, [[Dagor Bragollach]], which ended in the deaths of many Elven princes, among them [[Fingolfin]], [[High King of the Noldor]]. The siege was broken. Several decades later, [[Maedhros]], eldest son of Fëanor, counterattacked in the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]. Although at first very successful, the tide turned against the Elves, and ended in the destruction of [[Hithlum]]. It was not half a century later that [[Gondolin]], the last real stronghold of the Noldor, was [[Fall of Gondolin|destroyed]]. [[Doriath]], the centre of the [[Sindar]]in realm, was sacked by [[Dwarves]].[[File:Ted Nasmith - Eärendil and the Battle of Eagles and Dragons.jpg|left|150px|thumb|''Eärendil and The Battle of Eagles and Dragons'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]

===Salvation===
{{main|War of Wrath}}

With the near destruction of the Elves, the last survivors were at the [[Mouths of Sirion]] and [[Isle of Balar|Balar]] and were led by Gil-galad and Círdan. Among them was [[Eärendil]], the son of [[Tuor]] and [[Idril]]. Eärendil made a miraculous voyage to [[Valinor]] to beg the pardon of the Valar. His request was granted. The Valar came across the Sea to [[Middle-earth]], and in the [[War of Wrath]] thrust Morgoth into the [[Void]] and purged Beleriand. They offered to let the Elves return with them to Valinor; some accepted, but many others, under [[Gil-galad]], chose to remain.

===Decline===

[[File:Angus McBride - Celebrimbor.gif|thumb|right|150px|''Celebrimbor'' by [[Angus McBride]]]] Though Morgoth was gone to trouble the world no longer, [[Sauron]], his greatest servant, was still there, and he made war on the remaining Elves who chose not to depart Middle-earth throughout the [[Second Age|Second]] and [[Third Age]]s.

During this time the Elves realized how [[Men]] were rising to take their place, and Sauron exploited their longing for the Undying Lands. [[Annatar]] corrupted [[Celebrimbor]], the grandson of Fëanor, to make the [[Rings of Power]], with the [[Three Rings]] being created specifically to preserve the Elves against the ravages of time. Annatar was a guise of Sauron who also forged a ring – [[the One Ring]]. However the Elves realised the deception and defied Sauron, who then [[War of the Elves and Sauron|waged War against them]]. In the following centuries Elves continued to heed the invitation of the Valar, desire the Sea and depart for the Undying Lands. Realms such as [[Dol Amroth]] were deserted and gave their place to Men.

It was not until the end of the Third Age that the One Ring was destroyed, marring the Three Rings at the same time. In the years that followed the last of the Elves departed across the Sea to Valinor, their mission against Sauron complete, never to return.

Well into the [[Fourth Age]] and the [[Dominion of Men]], most Elves apparently had left the [[Westlands]], with most populations remaining at least in [[Mirkwood]] and [[Lindon]]. [[Rivendell]] and [[Lothlórien]] appeared abandoned around the time of [[King Elessar]]'s and [[Arwen]]'s death.<ref name="AppTale">{{App|Tale}}</ref> The [[Last Ship]] of the Elves, carrying [[Cirdan]] and [[Celeborn]],<ref>{{FR|Prologue}}</ref> apparently sailed early in the [[Fourth Age]].<ref name="AppTale" />

The remaining Elves in [[Middle-earth]] eventually faded, as their spirits overwhelmed and consumed their bodies. By the end of the world, all Elves will have become invisible to mortal eyes, known as ''Lingerers'', except to those to whom they wish to manifest themselves.<ref>{{MR|Laws}}</ref> [[Ilúvatar]] had not revealed the role of the Elves after [[the End]].<ref>{{S|1}}</ref>

==Life and customs==
:''Main articles: ''[[Elven characteristics]], [[Elven life cycle]], and [[Elven customs]]

Besides being considered more beautiful than men, Elves were also generally taller. Their hair colour varied; but the basic rules were that the [[Noldor]] generally had dark hair (brown or black), the [[Vanyar]] golden, and the [[Teleri]] silver or dark. Their eyes are usually described as grey or blue.
[[File:Elena Kukanova - A child of the Elder Race.jpg|thumb|''A child of the Elder Race'' by [[Elena Kukanova]]]]
Their lives were counted to begin at conception rather than birth, and though their minds sharpened much earlier in life than in the race of Men, their bodies grew more slowly. They were considered fully-grown at about a century. They married usually only once in their lives, and their children were often few and far-between.

Their most distinguishing characteristic from the [[Mortals|Mortal]] races was the fact that they were invulnerable to age or disease; unless they were killed by sword or sorrow, they would live to the end of the world. Unlike Men whose [[fëar]] (spirits) left Arda when their bodies died, Elves' fëar were bound to Arda until its ending. If an Elf's hröa (body) died, its fëa would be summoned to the [[Halls of Mandos]], where the Valar could re-embody the Elf in a hröa that was identical to the Elf's previous hröa. However, if an Elf committed evil acts during their lifetime and refused to repent, the Valar could delay the Elf's re-embodiment, impose conditions on it, or refuse it altogether.<ref name="P4i">{{MR|P4i}}, p. 339</ref><ref>{{PM|Last}}, pp. 380, 389</ref> An Elf could refuse the summons to Mandos or choose to remain disembodied,<ref name="P4i" /><ref>{{PM|XI2}}, p. 334</ref> but the Elf's houseless fëa would still be unable to leave Arda.

==Arts, crafts, powers and magic==
{{Main|Magic}}
Other races often spoke of 'Elf magic', or of objects made by Elves as if they contained enchantments. It is unclear how accurate it is to call Elvish arts and crafts 'magic' or 'enchanted'. Elves themselves only used these words when attempting to simplify or clarify how elvish-made things seemed to have a special quality that no other races were able to achieve. Powerful Elves seemed to have control over nature and the elements, their clothes seemed to shine with their own light, their blades seemed to never lose their sharpness. Less educated folks could not explain these effects, so they simply called them 'magic'.

Elf-minstrels had the gift to make visions of the things they sung before their audiences.<ref name="AppTale" />

==Major divisions==
{{familytree/start|align=center}}
{{familytree | | | | | | |QUE| | | | | | | | | | | | QUE=[[Quendi]] All Elves }}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |)|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | }}
{{familytree | | | | | | |ELD| | | || AVA| | | | | | ELD=[[Eldar]] West-elves|AVA=[[Avari]] The Unwilling }}
{{familytree | | |,|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | }}
{{familytree | |VAN| | |NOL| | |TEL| | | | | | | | | VAN=[[Vanyar]] Fair-elves|NOL=[[Noldor]] Deep-elves|TEL=[[Teleri]] The Hindmost }}
{{familytree | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|-|.| |!| | | | | | | | | }}
{{familytree | | | |AMA| | | |EXI|!| | | | | | | | | | | AMA=Amanyar Noldor Noldor of [[Aman]]|EXI=[[Exile of the Noldor|Etyañgoldi]] Exiled Noldor }}
{{familytree | | | | | | | |,|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|.| | | | }}
{{familytree | | | | | | |FAL| | |SIN| | |NAN| | | | | | FAL=[[Falmari]] Sea-elves of [[Aman]]|SIN=[[Sindar]] Grey-elves of [[Beleriand]]|NAN=[[Nandor]] Followers of [[Lenwë]] }}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |,|-|-|^|-|-|.| }}
{{familytree | | | | | | | | | | | | | |LAQ| | | |SIL| | LAQ=[[Laiquendi]] Green-elves of [[Ossiriand]]|SIL=[[Silvan Elves]] Wood-elves }}
{{familytree/end}}

When Oromë invited the Elves to Valinor, those who followed him on the Great Journey were called the Eldar,<ref name="B">{{WJ|B}}</ref>{{rp|374}} while those who refused were called the Avari.<ref name="S3">{{S|3}}</ref> The Eldar were divided into three clans−the Vanyar, the Noldor, and the Teleri.<ref name="S3" /> All of the Vanyar and Noldor reached Aman. Two groups of Teleri abandoned the Great Journey: the Nandor, who came to live in the [[Vale of Anduin]],<ref name="S3" /> and the Sindar, who remained in Beleriand.<ref>{{S|4}}</ref> The Nandor eventually split into the Laiquendi, who migrated into Beleriand and settled in [[Ossiriand]], and the Silvan Elves, who established realms in [[Mirkwood]] and [[Lothlórien]]. Those Teleri who completed the Great Journey and settled in Aman were called the Falmari.<ref name="S3" /> Those Noldor who later returned to Middle-earth in exile were called the ''Etyañgoldi''.<ref name="B">{{WJ|B}}</ref>{{rp|374}}

==Languages==
{{main|Elvish}}

[[File:Donato Giancola - Lore.jpeg|thumb|right|200px|''Lore'' by [[Donato Giancola]]]]
The term ''quendi'' refers to all Elves, meaning "speakers", calling themselves so at Cuiviénen before having contact with any other race<ref name="B">{{WJ|B}}</ref>{{rp|372}} as they were the first speaking beings. Their ancient language was divided in other languages and dialects after their sundering.

The Elves also invented the [[Cirth]] and [[Tengwar]] scripts to write them.
*'''[[Primitive Quendian]]'''
**'''[[Avarin]]'''
***'''Various Avarin languages''' (some later merged with Nandorin)
**'''[[Common Eldarin]]''' (the early language of all the [[Eldar]] of the Great Journey)
***'''[[Quenya]]''' (the language of the [[Noldor]] and the [[Vanyar]])
****''' ''[[Quendya]]'' (also ''Vanyarin Quenya'') ''' (daily tongue of the Vanyar: closest to archaic Quenya)
****''' ''Noldorin Quenya'' (also ''[[Exilic Quenya]]'') ''' (the "Elven Latin" of Middle-earth)
***'''[[Common Telerin]]''' (the early language of all the [[Lindar]])
****'''[[Telerin]]''' (the language of the [[Falmari]] who reached the [[Undying Lands]])
****'''[[Nandorin]]''' (languages of the [[Nandor]] — some were influenced by Avarin)
*****'''Original language of [[Mirkwood|Greenwood the Great]]'''
*****'''Original language of [[Lothlórien|Lórinand]]'''
****'''[[Sindarin]]''' (language of the [[Sindar]])
*****'''[[Doriathrin]]''' (dialect of [[Doriath]])
*****'''[[Falathrin]]''' (dialect of the [[Falas]] and [[Nargothrond]])
*****'''[[North Sindarin]]''' (dialects of [[Dorthonion]] and [[Hithlum]])
******'''[[Gondor Sindarin]]''' (dialect of [[Gondor]])

==Inspiration==
[[File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Beleg.jpg|thumb|right|Detail of a [[:File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Fangorn Forest.jpg|drawing]] with [[Beleg]], a rare depiction of an Elf made by Tolkien]]
===Languages===
[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] developed the Elves (and his whole [[legendarium]]) to serve as a setting for his languages that he constructed according to his [[lámatyávë|personal sense of beauty]]. His Elven languages are of special interest to many Tolkien scholars. His most developed are [[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]], along with more obscure dialects for which he invented (at best) a small vocabulary, usually in earlier stages of his creation.

===Germanic influence===
In ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', a diminutive fairy-like race of elves had once been a great and mighty people who had "diminished" as Men took over the world.<ref name="bolt1" /><ref>{{HM|LT2}}</ref><ref name="Fimi">[[Dimitra Fimi]], [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2386/is_2_117/ai_n16676591 "Mad" Elves and "elusive beauty": some Celtic strands of Tolkien's mythology] in ''Folklore'', vol. 117, iss. 2, August 2006, pp. 156–170</ref> They were influenced by the [[Wikipedia:Elf|Elves]] of Northern European mythologies, especially the god-like and human-sized ''[[Wikipedia:Light elf|Ljósálfar]]'' of Norse mythology,<ref>[[Tom Shippey]], ''[[The Road to Middle-earth]]''</ref> also appearing in medieval works such as ''[[Sir Orfeo]]'', the Welsh [[Pwyll Prince of Dyved|Mabinogion]], [[The Fall of Arthur|Arthurian romances]] and the legends of the [[Wikipedia:Tuatha Dé Danann|Tuatha Dé Danann]].<ref name="Anderson1">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[Douglas A. Anderson]] (ed.), ''[[The Annotated Hobbit]]'', p. 120</ref>

Terry Gunnell also claims that the relationship between beautiful ships and the Elves is reminiscent of Njörðr and Skíðblaðni, Freyr's ship.<ref name="Articles" />

===Celtic influence===
Tolkien expressed a dislike in Celtic legends and denied that his legendarium is "Celtic",<ref>{{HM|Bio}}, p. 26</ref> however it is believed that Celtic Mythology had a great influence on Tolkien's writings on Elves <ref name="Articles">Terry Gunnell, "[http://www.hi.is/Apps/WebObjects/HI.woa/wa/dp?detail=1004509&name=nordals_en_greinar_og_erindi ''Tívar'' in a Timeless Land: Tolkien's Elves]" conference lecture delivered on 13 September 2002</ref><ref>[[John Garth]], ''[[Tolkien and the Great War]]'', p. 222</ref> and some of the stories Tolkien wrote as their 'legends' are directly influenced by it.<ref name="Fimi" /> For example, the [[Noldor]] are based on the Tuatha Dé Danann in the ''Lebor Gabála Érenn'', and their migratory nature comes from early Irish/Celtic history.<ref name="Fimi" /> John Garth has also referenced the Tuatha Dé Danann in suggesting Tolkien was essentially rewriting Irish fairy traditions.

Tolkien also retains the usage of the Celtic and popular term 'fairy' for the same creatures.<ref>[[Marjorie J. Burns]], ''[[Perilous Realms: Celtic and Norse in Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'' ([[2005]]), p. 22</ref> The Elves are also called fair folk (based on [[Welsh]] ''Tylwyth teg'' 'the beautiful kindred' = fairies)<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 757 cf. "Fair folk"</ref> although they are unrelated to fairies.

===Eschatology===
The larger Elves are also inspired by Tolkien's [[Christianity|Christian theology]] — as representing the state of Men in Eden who have not yet "[[Wikipedia:Fall of Man|fallen]]" — similar to humans but fairer and wiser, with greater spiritual powers, keener senses, and a closer empathy with nature, freed from human limitations, immortal, with wills directly effective for the achievement of imagination and desire.<ref name="Carpenter" />

===Fairies===
Traditional "Victorian" dancing [[fairies]] and elves appear in Tolkien's early poetry,<ref name="bolt1">{{HM|LT1}}</ref> and have influence upon his later works<ref>[[Dimitra Fimi]], "[http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/working_with_english/Fimi_31_05_06.pdf Come sing ye light fairy things tripping so gay: Victorian Fairies and the Early Work of J. R. R. Tolkien]". ''Working With English: Medieval and Modern Language, Literature and Drama''. Retrieved 11/01/08</ref> in part due to the influence of a production of J.M. Barrie's ''Peter Pan'' in [[Birmingham]] in 1910<ref name="Carpenter">[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''</ref> and his familiarity with the work of Catholic mystic poet, Francis Thompson<ref name="Carpenter" /> whose work Tolkien had acquired in 1914.<ref name="bolt1" />

In ''The Book of Lost Tales'' Tolkien includes both the more serious 'medieval' type of elves such as [[Fëanor]] and [[Turgon]] alongside the frivolous, "Jacobean-era" type of elves such as the [[Solosimpi]] and [[Lúthien|Tinúviel]].<ref name="Anderson1" />

Tolkien also developed the idea of children visiting [[Valinor]] in their sleep. Elves would also visit and comfort chided or upset children at night. This theme was largely abandoned.<ref>{{LT1|I}}</ref>

However after the publication of ''The Lord of the Rings'', Tolkien repeatedly expressed his misgivings concerning the undesirable associations of the name "elf" like those of ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'', the Victorian notions of fairies or mischievous imps, the imaginations of Michael Drayton or the fanciful beings with butterfly wings.

He proposed that in [[translations of The Lord of the Rings|translations]] the "oldest available form of the name" be used for more elevated notions of beings "supposed to possess formidable magical powers in early Teutonic mythology" ([[OED]] viz. the [[Old English]] ''ælf'', from Proto-Germanic ''*albo-z''). Tolkien warned against associations to the debased English notion of ''elfin'' and suggested that Germans would not translate his ''Elves'' as ''Elfen'', which might retain the undesirable images. He rather suggested words such as ''Alp'' or ''Alb'', historically the more normal form and true cognate of English ''elf''.<ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 756, s.v. "Elven-smiths".</ref> [[Margaret Carroux]] chose the word ''Elben'' (singular ''Elb'') in her translation.

{{references}}
{{elves}}
[[Category:Elves]]
[[Category:Races]]
[[de:Elben]]
[[fr:encyclo/peuples/elfes/elfes]]
[[fi:Haltiat]]

Beorn

2024-09-20T16:20:08Z

Frankr: /* Beorn in adaptations */ chronological order

{{disambig-two|the [[skin-changer]]|uncle of [[Eriol]]|[[Beorn (son of Heden)]]}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Northmen|Northman]]
| name=Beorn
| image=Lelia - Beorn.jpg
| caption="Beorn" by [[:Category:Images by Lelia|Lelia]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| titles=
| position=
| location=[[Beorn's Hall]]
| affiliation=[[Thorin and Company]] [[Beornings]]
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death= Before the [[War of the Ring]]
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=being a [[Skin-changers|Skin-changer]]
| house=
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=
| children=[[Grimbeorn]]
| gender=Male
| height=Tall
| hair=Black
| eyes=
| clothing=Woollen tunic
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Beorn''' was a [[Skin-changers|Skin-changer]], a man who could assume the form of a huge black [[bears|bear]]. He aided [[Thorin and Company]] during their [[Quest of Erebor]].

==History==
[[File:Jef Murray - At the Carrock.jpg|[[Jef Murray]] - ''At the Carrock''|thumb|left]]
His origins lay in the distant past, and [[Gandalf]] suspected he and his people had originally come from the mountains, until the [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] drove them away. He lived with his tame [[horses]] in a wooden house [[Beorn's Hall]] between the [[Misty Mountains]] and [[Mirkwood]], to the east of the [[Anduin|Great River]] of [[Rhovanion|Wilderland]].

Beorn named the stone eyot, the [[Carrock]] because he named such eyots "carrocks" and this one was closer to his home. He created the steps that led from its base to the flat top. Once Gandalf saw him as a huge black bear sitting all alone on the top of the Carrock watching the moon sinking towards the Misty Mountains, and heard him growl in the tongue of bears "''The day will come when [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains|they]] will perish and I shall go back!''". While Gandalf knew him, Beorn did not know Gandalf; but he knew his fellow wizard, [[Radagast]].<ref name=Queer/>

During the [[Quest of Erebor]], Beorn received Gandalf, [[Bilbo Baggins]] and the thirteen [[Dwarves]] and gave the Dwarves and Bilbo help in their quest.<ref name=Queer>{{H|Queer}}</ref>

In the [[Battle of Five Armies]], Beorn appeared transformed into a giant black bear, rescued [[Thorin]] from the [[Orcs|Goblins]] and killed their leader, [[Bolg]].<ref name=H18>{{H|18}}</ref>

After Thorin's burial, Beorn followed Bilbo, Gandalf and [[Thranduil]] on their way back to the west. Beorn once more hosted Bilbo and Gandalf and other [[Woodmen]] who came to celebrate [[Yule]].<ref name=H18/>

Eventually, he became a "''great chief''" in the [[Vales of Anduin]], and it is said that his descendants also were skin-changers, able to take the shape of a bear.<ref name=H18/> His people became known as the [[Beornings]],<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''passim''</ref> and they helped defend [[Thranduil]]'s kingdom of northern Mirkwood.<ref>{{App|B3}}</ref>{{fact}}. Beorn presumably died some time before the [[War of the Ring]] began<ref>{{L|144}}</ref> and was succeeded by his son [[Grimbeorn|Grimbeorn the Old]].<ref>{{FR|II1}}</ref>

==Character & Appearance==
Beorn was a great strong black-haired man with huge arms and a great beard. He was generally benevolent and hated goblins and wargs; but he was also a loner and distrustful of travelers and beggars. He was never polite, and became easily angry. He never invited people into his house and his very few friends, who lived a good way away, came no more than a couple to his house at a time. Added to this, Beorn was not fond of [[Dwarves]]. Although fierce to his enemies, once convinced of the others' goodwill, he was welcoming, generous and helpful. He did not eat any meat, as he could talk with his animals, who helped him. His grove was occupied by huge [[bees]]. Beorn's diet was mainly honey and cream.

==Etymology==
''[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/beorn Beorn]'' is an [[Old English]] word, which originally meant "bear" and in a heroic sense "man".<ref>[[Tom Shippey]], ''[[The Road to Middle-earth]]'' (revised and expanded ed. 2012), p. 91</ref> It also means "warrior", "hero", "man of valour" (or poetic "man") in Old English and is cognate to [[North Germanic languages|Old Norse]] ''[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/bj%C7%ABrn björn]'' ("bear").<ref name=AH164>{{HM|AH}}, pp. 164-5</ref><ref name=RW>{{HM|RW}}, pp. 95-6</ref><ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 207</ref> In the Scandinavian-speaking countries ''Björn''/''Bjørn'' is a personal name, attested since the 11th century.

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| BEO | |BEO='''BEORN''' ''fl. {{TA|2941}}''}}
{{familytree| |!| | |}}
{{familytree| GRI | |GRI=[[Grimbeorn]] ''fl. {{TA|3019}}''}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Other versions of the legendarium==
In early manuscripts of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', the name of the character that would become Beorn is ''Medwed''. Medwed's ability to change shape to a bear was due to an enchantment, perhaps of his own.<ref>{{HH|Medwed}}</ref> It has been suggested that ''Medwed'' is a Slavic name.<ref>{{HM|IE}}, p. 175</ref><ref>{{HH|Medwed}}, 'vi. Radagast', 'The Name Radagast'</ref> The similarity between ''Medwed'' and ''[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Medved Medved]'', the common Slavic word for "bear", is striking, but it is ultimately unknown if Tolkien had this in mind. But it should be noted that [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/medv%C4%9Bd%D1%8C Medved] is a taboo word for "bear" and the literal sense of the word is "honey-eater", which is an apt description of Beorn's diet.

In the [[The Etymologies|''Etymologies'']], [[Ilkorin]] ''[[ber]]'' ("valiant man, warrior") and [[Danian]] ''[[Beorn (Nandorin)|beorn]]'' ("man") derive from the [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|root]] [[BER]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 352 (root BER-; cf. root [[BES|BES-]])</ref>

==Inspiration==
It has been suggested that the character Beorn was influenced by the Norse ''[[wikipedia:Hrólfs saga kraka|Saga of Hrólfr Kraki]]''.<ref name=RME73>[[Tom Shippey]], ''[[The Road to Middle-earth]]'' (revised and expanded ed. 2012), pp. 91-2</ref> In the saga appears a great bear defending [[wikipedia:Hrólfr Kraki|Hrólfr Kraki]], and also a man cursed to being transformed into a bear during nighttime. The work was well-known to [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], as one of his students and friend, Stella Miller, made [[The Saga of Hrolf Kraki|a translation of the saga]] dedicated to Tolkien, [[E.V. Gordon]] and C.T. Onions;<ref name=AH164/> but even more importantly as Tolkien himself wrote an unpublished short story of the tale, entitled ''[[Sellic Spell]]''.<ref>{{HM|MB}}, pp. 256-60</ref>

Another suggested inspiration is the character of [[Beowulf (poem)|Beowulf]], "''whose name is commonly explained as Beowulf = 'bees' wolf' = honey-eater = bear, and one who breaks swords, rips off arms and cracks ribs with ursine power and clumsiness.''"<ref name=RME73/>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
===Beorn in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="250px" heights="150px">
File:Glen Michael Angus - Beorn.jpg|Beorn in ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]''
File:Stefano Baldo - Beorn.jpg|Beorn in ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|MECCG]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Beorn.jpg|Beorn in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug - Beorn.jpg|Beorn in [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]
File:The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug - Beorn as a bear.png|Beorn in bear form in [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]
</gallery>
'''1980: [[Der Hobbit (1980 German radio series)|''Der Hobbit'' (1980 German radio series)]]:'''
:Beorn is played by Martin Hirthe.

'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
: Beorn is one of the Lords of the Beijabar (Beornings). His manor is called Muidwe Beorn.<ref>{{ICE|8003}}, p. 19</ref><ref>{{ICE|2019}}, pp. 105-6</ref>

'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
: Beorn is a Character, with the Home Site Beorn's House.

'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]:'''
: In the GBA version, Beorn is visited after Thorin and Company depart from the Carrock. In the console and PC versions, Beorn appears only during the Battle of Five Armies and the ending cutscene, both times in the shape of a black bear.<ref>[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]], "The Clouds Burst"</ref>

'''2012-14: [[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]
: [[Mikael Persbrandt]] portrays Beorn.<ref name="AFTONBLADETCasting">{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/film/article13349150.ab|articlename=Persbrandt den bäste för jobbet|dated=30-April-2011|website=[http://www.aftonbladet.se/ AFTONBLADET]|accessed=23-Dec-2011}}</ref> In ''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]'', while in bear form, he picks up on the [[Thorin and Company|Company's]] trail and chases them into his [[Beorn's Hall|home]]. He stands guard overnight, thwarting the plans of [[Azog]] and his [[Orcs|Orc]] pack to attack. The next morning, he lends the Company some of his [[horses]] in order to get to [[Mirkwood]] before the Orcs. In ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'', he arrives with [[Radagast]] on the back of one of the [[Eagles]] late in the [[Battle of Five Armies|battle]], and leaps down to the ground, transforming into his bear form in midair. Along with the rest of the Eagles, he helps decimate the remaining Orc army. He is also present during the funeral of Thorin, Fili and Kili.

'''2019: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Beorn makes a brief cameo in a flashback sequence where he saved a [[Woodmen]] child from [[Gollum]] the child-snatcher.

== See also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Beorn|Images of Beorn]]

{{references}}
{{hobbitfilms}}
[[Category:Beornings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Old English names]]
[[Category:Rulers in Middle-earth]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]

[[de:Beorn]]
[[fi:Beorn]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:hommes:3a:hommes du nord:beornides:beorn]]