The Fantasy Review’s a brief history of the Hobbits.
Halflings, Little Folk, hole-dwellers, Hobbits. Despite their small stature, this race of people in Middle-earth would go on to have the greatest success against the Dark, with one of their own defeating Sauron during the War of the Ring in the Third Age.
But, Hobbits have a rich history, so here is a brief history of the Hobbits for all of you who want to know more about our favourite kuduk.
Origins and Early History of the Hobbits
Hobbits were created in the First Age and lived in the Vales of Anduin. They were a traveling people with no permanent home and went unnoticed until the Third Age (about 1050), where they were forced to flee westward because of the evil in Mirkwood.
At this point, the Hobbits were separated into three groups:
- The Fallohides
- The Harfoots
- The Stoors
They continued to flee westward, crossing the Misty Mountains until they found somewhere to settle.
Migration to the Shire
The Shire was founded in TA 1600 and nearly all the Hobbits came to live there, or in Bree. There were some exceptions, such as the small colony of Stoors in the Gladden Fields in 2463.
They lived peacefully in Eriador for many years, thanks in part to the Rangers and Galdalf. Because of the peace, their population grew and the boundaries of the Shire expanded to include Buckland, and the Westmarch.
Hobbit Culture and Society
Hobbits are characterized by their small size, typically between two and four feet tall, with large, hairy feet. They are known for their resilience, good nature, and ability to move quietly. They could live for about 100 years, with the age of 33 considered the start of adulthood.
Frodo Baggins is 33 years-old at the start of The Lord of the Rings, just coming into adulthood, however for most of the book he is 50 years-old.
They might have been a peaceful people, distrustful of the outside world, they could be courageous in the face of great danger to protect their loved ones and their lives.
Hobbit society is largely informal, governed by traditions and customs rather than strict laws. However, the Stoors of the Gladden Fields in TA 2463 were matriarchal and at one point all Hobbits may have been organised into matriarchal clans.
The Fourth Age and Beyond
Following the War of the Ring, the Shire entered a golden age under the protection of the Reunited Kingdom. Hobbits like Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took became respected figures both in the Shire and the wider world, bridging the gap between Hobbit society and the rest of Middle-earth.
Having gone unnoticed before the War of the Ring, the Hobbits were now included in the great songs and tales told all over Middle-earth, including the deeds of Frodo and his companions.
