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Baranduin
(S. "Brown-river")
W. "Brandywine"


Brandywine

Course of Baranduin (MERP)
Other names
(gen. W.) Bralda-hîm, Branda-nîn[1]; Brandywine, The River
Type
River
Region(s)
Realm(s)
Tributaries
Source
Terminus

The Baranduin (S. "Brown River"; Os. Baranduil), nicknamed Brandywine by the Hobbits, was a reddish-brown river, and one of the three great rivers of Eriador. The Brandywine left its source at Lake Evendim (S. Nenuial) between the village of Lakehead and the ruins of Annúminas, with only a hint of its eponymous brown color, derived from the iron and matted turf of the Twilight Hills. It passed eastward through the river fiefs of Arthedain over several minor rapids, collecting most of the drainage of the North Downs, turned south at Rood, then proceeded through a series of minor shoals and large swamplands to Sarn Ford, winding southwest from there to its mouth (Ethir Baranduin) in the Belegaer just north of Rast Vorn.
Baranduin, forming the northwestern border of Minhiriath, was the eastern border of the territory administered and protected by Lindon for most of the Second Age, and as a result had buried in its channel ward-stones as remnants of the old defenses. In the Third Age, it formed the majority of the border between Arthedain (including The Shire) and Cardolan.
Navigable to small craft for all of its length, the Baranduin was an important trade artery for Arnor (and later, Arthedain, Cardolan, and The Shire). Also, the Great East Road crossed Baranduin at the Bridge of Stonebows.

  • Type: River.
  • Length: 440 miles.
  • Geographic Area: Eriador.

Portage[]

Except for short stretches usable by local boats and barges, trade along the river was carried in Riverman Canoes. Rapids that could not be navigated directly by these agile, shallow-draft boats could be bypassed. Stairs and pathways had been built along all shoal stretches of the river to make portage easier. Aside from the rapids and the rough and tumble Rivermen themselves, there were few serious dangers to travelers on the river passage. Most camped close to the shore at night. Inland, on the west bank, lived Elves who might take offense to strangers tramping through their woods. On the east bank, along the river's central reach, lay the Old Forest, where the trees themselves might divert and trap an unwary traveler. The swamps, of course, were homes to quicksand, poisonous snakes, insects, and fevers. The biggest river pikes were powerful enough to injure a swimmer, but they were obliged by their nature to take prey they could swallow whole. The most dangerous "moss-backs", great, scarred pikes ten to twenty feet in length, were creatures of legend, appearing in fishing lore once or twice in a century; they were reputed to be capable of taking and swallowing a small Hobbit. In practice, even pike of this size were more of a danger to ducklings and pet frogs than to any fisherman.

The East Bank[]

Main article: Brandywine East Bank

That part of the east bank north of the Men Romen was named the Nan Turnath; south of the great road lay the Old Forest, and beyond the wood the Red Hills.

The West Bank[]

Within the bounds of the Shire, most of the shoreline of the river was masked by swamps. Good riverside landings tended to be occupied by Riverman encampments and Eriadorian fisher-folk. There were rapids south of Rood and shoals above Girdley Island. The swamplands were named, as the Rivermen paddled southward from Rood to Sarn Ford, the Teal Marshes, Pikeman Dwells, the Marish, the Overbourne Marshes and the Mudling Fens.

The Brandywine after TA 1975[]

After the destruction of Arthedain in T.A. 1975, there were fewer Men along the Brandywine in this time period, although the lands held by Hobbits of the Shire and Buckland were safe and well-tended. Parts of the Marish and other swamp-land had been diked, drained, and turned to cultivation. Enough of the original wetlands remained to provide breeding grounds for fish and birds, although steady pressure from Hobbit hunters and fishermen kept the pike small and the ducks bashful. The Rivermen minded their manners around the Shire-folk, for the most part, and stuck to their own havens and camps. The Eriadoran descendants of the Arthedain and Cardolandrim were few in number and confined to a handful of villages.
King Elessar's proclamation of F.A. 6, banning Men from entering the Shire, contained an escape clause for those trafficking along the Brandywine. The Rivermen, in particular, were allowed passage along its length, but no privileges on its banks save in dire need. Riverman voyages between the Bridge of Stonebows and Haysend were now done in a single bound, without grounding at Buckleberry; exchange of goods tended to take place from canoes and barges anchored in the river.

Points of interest[]

Bridge of Stonebows Buckland Bucklebury Ferry Ethir Baranduin Girdley Island The Marish Nengaran Bogs Old Forest Overbourne Marshes Pinnath Ceren Sarn Ford Sarn Marches Sarn Settlements

Settlements[]

Allimir Annon Baran Annúminas Breredon Bridgebury Bucklebury Cor Wilishar Deephallow Flynettle Fordhall Ganderch Gistfell Harbarist Havirmarsh Haysend Lakehead Mirion Nelval Nirmolian Orchelor Rood Rushey Sarn Castle Stonehall Stonehill Swanlynn Thaendor Woodsedge

Notes[]

  1. These are genuine (as opposed to translated) Westron terms meaning, respectively: "Heady-ale" and "Border-water".

References[]

  • MERP #2005: Arnor
  • MERP #2017: The Shire
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