The Encyclopedia of Arda - Shire-thain (original) (raw)

Dates Location Origins A title originally conferred on Bucca of the Marish, and handed down through many generations Race Culture Settlements From III 2340, the seat of the Shire-thains was at Great Smials in the Tookland Family Originally the Oldbucks, but later the Tooks Meaning 'Shire' is from Old English scír, a land granted as a fiefdom; Thain is from Old English thegn, used of chieftains, but originally meaning 'servant' or 'soldier' Title of At least thirty-five Hobbits of the Shire Other names Indexes: Alphabetical: S Hobbits About this entry: Updated 16 March 2018 This entry is complete Titular leader of the Shire-hobbits Eight Thains ofthe Took line Eight other sons and daughters For nearly four hundred years after its foundation, the Shire had been part of the lands of Arthedain, and under the rule of that land's King. Ultimately, Arthedain fell to the forces of Angmar, and its last King, Arvedui, was lost, leaving the Shire-hobbits without a ruler. They remedied this by choosing a new leader from among themselves, Bucca of the Marish, who was given the title thain, a word simply meaning 'chief'. Bucca and his descendants, a family known as the Oldbucks, served as Shire-thain for twelve generations. The twelfth Thain, one Gorhendad Oldbuck, left the Shire and crossed the River Brandywine to found Buckland. With his departure, the Thainship passed to a new line, the Tooks, and specifically to Isumbras Took I. From Isumbras I, the line of the Took Shire-thains continued unbroken to the time of the War of the Ring and beyond. The last recorded Thain was Faramir Took I, the thirty-fourth to hold the title of Shire-thain. The fact that both he and his father Peregrin Took are recorded as the first of that name shows that there must have been more Thains after this time, and the tradition clearly lasted well into the Fourth Age. For a list of the Shire-thains, see the entry for Thain of the Shire See also... Counsellor of the North-kingdom, Eastfarthing of the Shire, Ferumbras Took III, Hobbitry-in-arms, Isengrim Took II, Isumbras Took I, Paladin Took II, Shire-reckoning, Thain of the Shire, The Marish, The Smials Indexes: Alphabetical: S Hobbits About this entry: Updated 16 March 2018 This entry is complete For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page. Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2001, 2010, 2018. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ. Website services kindly sponsored by myDISCprofile, the free online personality test.Take the FREE myDISCprofile personality test to discover your core personality and your ideal job.