Timeline Event
Ferumbras Took III becomes Thain of the Shire
Event Type: Political
Age: 3rd Age - The Stewards
Year: 2980
Description:
Ferumbras Took III, son of Fortinbras Took II, 29th Thain of the Shire, becomes 30th Thain of the Shire (but not yet head of the Took family) at his father's death:
Fortinbras II... died in 1380 at the age of 102, but [Lalia, his wife] long outlived him, coming to an unfortunate end in 1402.... So she ruled the Tooks and the Great Smials for 22 years....
The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Edited by Humphrey Carpenter, Letter 214 to A. C. Nunn, 1958-59?
In the Took-family, since the headship was also connected with the title and (originally military) office of Thain, descent was strictly through the male line.
The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Edited by Humphrey Carpenter, Letter 214 to A. C. Nunn, 1958-59?
Although his mother became the titular head of the Took family after his father's death, the office of Thain passed to Ferumbras immediately:
This title [Thain] and office descended immediately, and was [never] held by a widow. But Ferumbras, though he became Thain Ferumbras III in 1380, still occupied no more than a small bachelor-son's apartment in the Great Smials, until 1402.
The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Edited by Humphrey Carpenter, Letter 214 to A. C. Nunn, 1958-59?
Contributors:
Elena Tiriel 8May10