Category:Shire



In T.A.1601, faced with the growing power of the noble house of Tarma, King Argeleb II of Arthedain chose to respond to the situation by dividing up the Tarma lands, claiming an ancient right over property in times of need. Advised by the Istar Gandalf. Argeleb granted four large but underpopulated parcels of land on the southern border of Arthedain to a sizable band of Hobbits. At this time, the brothers Marcho and Blanco had been petitioning the King for three years, hoping to gain some small plot of land on which to settle their wandering people. These first Hobbit settlers were soon joined by their cousins from Cardolan. Breeland and Rhudaur, creating a sizable and stable community in a surprisingly short time. Argeleb, pleased by the success of his gift, bestowed many rights of self-governance upon the Hobbits, asking only for payment of an annual tax known among the Hobbits as The Rent. The Hobbits spoke their own language among themselves, but many soon learned Westron in order to communicate with the Men and Dwarves who pass along the Great East Road on some errand.

The Shire in TA 1650

 * Political Organization: Autonomous Shire of Arthedain. Clan-based Aristocracy.
 * Rulers: Marcho and Blanco, Fallohide Hobbits, Founders of Shire, first rulers by acclamation. Isumbras Took. Thain of the Took Clan in the Southfarthing.
 * Administrative Organization: Officials elected by clan members, land divided into four Farthings, further subdividedby private ownership.
 * Population: 12.500 Hobbits.
 * Military: 300 Standing Fyrd led by elected Shirriffs.1.500 Levy organized by clan.
 * Products: Grain, fruit, mushrooms.
 * Symbol: None.

Although the brothers Marcho and Blanco made the decisions which concern all of the Shire, most power was held by the hereditary thains of each tribe. A few tribes, however, elected officials to carry out work for the good of the community with the thains taking on a ceremonial role, usually prominent on feast-days. The Shire was organized along the boundaries of the old Arthadan territories, now known as Farthings. Marcho and Blanco originally intended to grant a farthing to each clan, but the turbulence of the sudden influx of new immigrants made the farthings little more than lines on the map. The clans mixed more or less freely; only the most aristocratic concerned themselves with the continuity of their clans when they made a marriage match. The Hobbitry-in-arms was a volunteer force, commanded by the more influential citizens, which met every month to practice military maneuvers. Few Men remained in The Shire, but bandits, some hired by the Tarmas, viewed the Hobbits as easy pickings. The Hobbit-fyrd however managed to change their opinion. The Shire is quietly agricultural, self-sufficient in most areas. Each year, a surplus of grain, fruit, and mushrooms went to the Autumn Fair at Bree. Despite their skill at smithing, Hobbit smelting practices were quite crude. and those who lived along the Great East Road eagerly tradde for ingots of pure copper, iron, and tin. Along the East Road, Hobbit culture was decidedly more "Mannish" ,Hobbits there dwelled in houses above ground, rather than in the burrows known as "smials," and all of these more urban Hobbits spoke Westron among themselves on a daily basis.

The Shire in TA 3019

 * Political Organization: Tribal Land.Clan-based aristocracy.
 * Rulers: Will Whitfoot, Mayor of Michel Delving, Paladin II Took, Thain of the Shire, Saradoc Brandybuck, Master of Buckland.
 * Administrative Organization: Officials elected by clan members;land divided into four Farthings, further subdividedby private ownership.
 * Population: about 140.000 Hobbits.
 * Military: 600 Hobbitry-in-arms four elected Shirriffs leading up to 40 Bounders.1.500 Levy organized by clan (for Example 100 Archers of Tookland).
 * Products: Grain, fruit, mushrooms.
 * Symbol: None.

Regions of the Shire

 * Bridgefields
 * Buckland
 * Eastfarthing
 * Northfarthing
 * Southfarthing
 * Tookland
 * Westfarthing
 * Westmarch

Villages of the Shire
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Forests

 * Bindbale Wood (Bindbale Rolls)
 * Corrywood
 * Gamwood
 * Glenwood
 * Harwood
 * Hobwood
 * Keegan Woods
 * Meewen Woods
 * Oakstand Woods
 * Tarmaglade Woods
 * Western Forests
 * Woody End
 * Wychwood
 * Wyerding Wood
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Hills

 * Barrow
 * Cragmoor Hills
 * The Crags
 * Far Downs (Fox Downs)
 * Grandheath Ridge
 * Green Hill Country
 * Hills of Evendim
 * Hills of Scary
 * The Hill (Screaming Hill)
 * South Downs of the Shire
 * Troll's Knoll
 * White Downs
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Rivers

 * Baining Stream
 * Biersing Stream
 * Brandywine (Baranduin)
 * Fayne
 * Fellbourne
 * Flaxen Stream
 * Michin Stream
 * Norbourne
 * Oakshade Stream
 * Reedly
 * Shirebourne
 * Stock Brook
 * Thistle Brook
 * The Water (Fairwater, Formensiril)
 * Withywindle
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Wetlands

 * Frogmoors
 * Lakemoors
 * Lostland Marshes
 * North Moors
 * The Marish
 * Mudling Fens
 * Overbourne Marshes
 * Rushock Bog
 * Teal Marshes
 * Western Moors
 * }

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Roads

 * Great East Road
 * Greenfields Pike
 * Greenfield Traces
 * Lakehead Trail
 * Redway
 * Westlake Trail
 * Whitescarp Trail
 * Wildland Trace
 * Wildland Trail
 * Woodland Trail (Woodland Tour)
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Other Sites

 * All-Welcome Inn
 * Bolestones
 * Brandy Hall
 * Brandywine Bridge (Bridge of Stonebows)
 * Buckland Gate
 * Caring Green
 * Crickhollow
 * Delving Fields
 * Delving Gap
 * Edileaf House
 * Faynreach
 * Girdley Island
 * Great Smials
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 * Hay Gate
 * Hobwood Inn
 * Lake Clarity
 * High Hay
 * Lost Ford
 * Mithe Steps
 * Nob Hill
 * Oakshade Vale
 * Overhill Yards
 * Scrag-Dells
 * Shire Commons
 * Shoe-Tree
 * Tammerlades
 * Three Farthing Stone
 * Wood's Edge
 * The Yale
 * }
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Around T.A.1650

 * Baret
 * Marcho Hardback
 * Tobe

Around T.A.2950

 * Hildifons Took

Around T.A. 3019

 * Master Worrywort
 * Mugwort Sandyman

Fourth Age

 * Beregond Took
 * Faramir Took
 * Ordelred Took

Creatures
Animals: Badgers Bindbole Weavers Biting Gnats Biting Shrews Black Bears Bogbulls Bog-slugs Bog-Toads Broadteeth Burrowing Shrews Buzzing Gnats Coneys Crop-scourge Flitting Bats Fowl Goats Goral Harvest-flies Hill-bears Hill-toads Hill Tuskers Hobbit Ponies Hobbit Sheep Long-grass Swine Long-tooth Shrews Marish-slugs Muck-glutton slithers Pond Frogs Rabbits Red Foxes Ribbon Snakes Shire-Packhorses Shiredown Cattle Stinging Gnats Thieving Shrews Tree-Weavers Tuskers White-tails Wood-bears