The Complete History of Hobbits: From the Vales of Anduin to the Shire

 

 

Hobbit History: How the Shire's Origins Shaped the Fate of Middle-earth

When we picture Hobbits, we think of rolling green hills, round doors, and a peaceful folk concerned only with food and comfort. The Shire, their homeland, seems a tranquil oasis, untouched by the great and terrible events of Middle-earth. Yet, this very perception of idyllic isolation is a testament to a long and arduous history. These small people, J.R.R. Tolkien's most unique creation, are far more than simple farmers. They are the product of a thousand-year journey of migration, hardship, and quiet resilience.

This article delves deep into the lore, drawing from Tolkien's extensive appendices and histories, to explore the full narrative of the Hobbit race. We will trace their origins from the Vales of Anduin, examine the three distinct bloodlines that define them, and recount the perilous "Wandering Days" that finally led to the founding of the Shire. This is the hidden history that explains how a seemingly insignificant people could produce individuals like Bilbo and Frodo Baggins—Hobbits who, against all odds, held the destiny of Middle-earth in their small hands.

Table of Contents

• The Enigmatic Origins: Are Hobbits Related to Men?
• The Three Hobbit Bloodlines: Harfoots, Stoors, and Fallohides
• The 'Wandering Days': A Perilous Journey to the Shire
• The Founding of the Shire (T.A. 1601)
• Trials of the Shire: Forging Courage in Isolation
• The Hobbit Paradox: Why the Smallest Folk Changed Everything
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Hobbit History

 

The Enigmatic Origins: Are Hobbits Related to Men? 🤔

Tolkien himself is clear on this point, though the details are lost to time: **Hobbits are, without a doubt, related to the race of Men.** They are not Elves, Dwarves, or a separate creation, but rather a "branch" of humanity. In the prologue to The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien notes, "It is plain indeed that in spite of later estrangement Hobbits are relatives of ours: far nearer to us than Elves, or even than Dwarves."

Their precise origins lie in the "Elder Days," but their recorded history begins in the Third Age, in the Vales of Anduin—the lands between the Misty Mountains and the great river. They lived in close proximity to the Northmen (ancestors of the Rohirrim), and their languages and customs were similar. This connection explains their shared speech (the Common Tongue, or Westron, which they adopted) and their fundamental "human" nature, including their mortality.

Their small stature and "hobbit-like" qualities (hairy feet, love of holes) seem to be a unique evolutionary quirk, one that led other races of Men, Elves, and Dwarves to overlook them for most of history.

 

The Three Hobbit Bloodlines: Harfoots, Stoors, and Fallohides 🌿

Before they ever reached the Shire, the Hobbits were divided into three distinct groups, or bloodlines. These types later intermingled, but their original traits defined Hobbit culture and even influenced the heroes of the War of the Ring.

1. The Harfoots

The Harfoots were the most numerous and "typical" of the Hobbits. They were smaller, "browner of skin," and preferred hillsides and caves. They were the first to cross the Misty Mountains and were the most traditional, preserving the custom of living in "smials" (tunnels) the longest. Samwise Gamgee and his family are excellent examples of the steadfast, loyal, and earth-bound Harfoot tradition.

2. The Stoors

The Stoors were broader, heavier in build, and had larger hands and feet. They were unique in that they were comfortable with water, living on flatlands and riverbanks—some even used boats and could swim. The Stoors were the last to migrate, and some (like the family of Déagol and Sméagol) remained in the Vales of Anduin far longer. The Baggins family, notably, had strong Stoor blood, which might explain the "un-Hobbit-like" curiosity and desire for water (boats, rivers) seen in Bilbo and Frodo.

3. The Fallohides

The Fallohides were the least numerous but the most impactful. They were taller, fairer of skin, and more adventurous. They loved trees and forests and were skilled in both language and song. Crucially, they were natural leaders. The Fallohides led the Hobbits across the mountains and were often found as the heads of prominent clans, such as the **Tooks and the Brandybucks**. The bold, adventurous, and slightly "reckless" nature of Merry and Pippin is a classic Fallohide trait.

 

The 'Wandering Days': A Perilous Journey to the Shire 🧭

The Hobbits' peaceful life in the Vales of Anduin came to an end around **T.A. 1050**. A great shadow was growing in the nearby forest, Mirkwood. This shadow was, unknown to most, the return of Sauron, who built his fortress of **Dol Guldur**.

This evil presence, combined with the migration of hostile Easterling Men, made their homeland unsafe. Fearing for their survival, the Hobbits began a mass migration westward. This period of rootless wandering, lasting hundreds of years, is known in their history as the **"Wandering Days."**

They crossed the perilous Misty Mountains, a monumental feat for such small folk, and entered the vast, largely empty lands of Eriador. Here, many settled for a time in the lands around Bree and Staddle, where they first encountered the Dúnedain (the Rangers) and where a community of Hobbits exists to this day. However, the shadow of war followed them. The rise of the Witch-king and his kingdom of **Angmar** to the north plunged Eriador into centuries of conflict. The Hobbits were forced to move again, seeking a final, permanent, and *safe* home.

 

The Founding of the Shire (T.A. 1601) 🏞️

In **Third Age 1601**, the Fallohide brothers **Marcho and Blanco** received permission from the King of Arthedain, Argeleb II, to cross the Brandywine (Baranduin) River and settle the fertile, uninhabited lands beyond. This land, a former royal hunting ground, was granted to them on three conditions:

1. They must acknowledge the King's lordship.
2. They must maintain the bridges and roads (especially the Great East Road).
3. They must aid the King's messengers.

The Hobbits joyfully agreed. This land became the Shire. After the fall of the northern kingdom of Arthedain (T.A. 1974), the Hobbits became entirely autonomous. They elected their own leader, the **Thain of the Shire** (a role that eventually became hereditary in the Took family), and lived by their own laws (the "Rules"). For nearly a thousand years, they lived in almost complete isolation from the outside world.

💡 A Note on Their Protection:
The Hobbits' peace was not an accident. They were, largely without their knowledge, protected. The **Dúnedain**, or the Rangers of the North, led by the heirs of the lost kings, tirelessly patrolled the borders of the Shire, intercepting Orcs, wolves, and other dark things that would have otherwise destroyed the Hobbits' peaceful land.

 

Trials of the Shire: Forging Courage in Isolation ⚔️

Though protected, the Shire was not immune to hardship. These trials, while terrible, proved the Hobbits' mettle and deep-seated courage.

• The Great Plague (T.A. 1636): Only 35 years after settling, the plague that ravaged Middle-earth hit the Shire, killing thousands and leaving many parts of it deserted for a long time.
• The Battle of Greenfields (T.A. 2747): A band of Orcs from the Misty Mountains invaded the Shire. A force of Hobbits, led by the giant **Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took**, met them and defeated them. It was in this battle that Bullroarer famously knocked the Orc-chief's head off with a club, sending it flying down a rabbit hole and inventing the game of Golf.
• The Long Winter (T.A. 2758): A terrible winter that brought great famine. Hobbits endured with compassion and shared resources. It was during this time that Gandalf the Grey first visited the Shire and grew to admire the Hobbits' remarkable courage and pity for one another.
• The Fell Winter (T.A. 2911): Another brutal winter where the Brandywine froze, allowing White Wolves to invade the Shire.

 

The Hobbit Paradox: Why the Smallest Folk Changed Everything 🌟

By the time of the War of the Ring, the Hobbits of the Shire had become insular. They took their peace for granted and viewed the outside world with suspicion. But their history proves that this peace was a hard-won anomaly.

This is the genius of Tolkien's creation and the core of the E-E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust) of his world-building. The Hobbits' strength did not come from power, but from their *history*.

• Their long migration (Wandering Days) gave them a hidden **endurance**.
• Their history of hardship (plagues, winters) forged a deep **compassion** and **loyalty**.
• Their Fallohide blood (Tooks, Brandybucks) ensured a spark of **adventure** and **courage** never fully died out.

Gandalf saw this. He saw a people who, because they were "unimportant," had a resistance to the very temptations of power that plagued the Great. Their feet were planted firmly in the earth, and from that simple, humble ground, they drew a strength that could face down the Dark Lord himself. The history of the Hobbits is the ultimate foundation for the entire plot of The Lord of the Rings—a testament to the idea that the smallest, most overlooked people can, and must, be the ones to change the world.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Hobbit History ❓

Q: Are Hobbits related to humans or Elves?

A: Hobbits are a branch of the race of Men. They are "far nearer to us than Elves, or even than Dwarves." Their exact origins are lost, but they are considered a unique offshoot of humanity.

Q: What are the three types (bloodlines) of Hobbits?

A: The three bloodlines are the Harfoots (the most common, hill-dwellers), the Stoors (broader, river-folk), and the Fallohides (taller, more adventurous, leaders).

Q: Who are the most famous Hobbits from each bloodline?

A: Samwise Gamgee is a classic Harfoot. The Baggins family (Frodo, Bilbo) has significant Stoor blood. Merry Brandybuck and Pippin Took are quintessential Fallohides.

Q: Did Hobbits ever fight in wars before the War of the Ring?

A: Yes. The most famous was the Battle of Greenfields (T.A. 2747), where Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took defeated an Orc invasion. Their only other major battles were the Battle of Bywater and the Scouring of the Shire *after* the Ring was destroyed.

Q: Why did Gandalf choose a Hobbit to carry the Ring?

A: Gandalf had studied Hobbits and admired their hidden qualities: their endurance, their compassion, and their relative immunity to the corrupting influence of power and greed. He saw that their simplicity was, in fact, their greatest strength.