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The '''Battle of Greenfields''' was a battle fought in the [[Shire|Shire's]] [[Northfarthing]] in the year III 2747, the only battle to be fought within the borders of the [[Shire]] before the [[War of the Ring]]. An invading band of [[Orcs]] from [[Mount Gram]] were led into the [[Shire]] by their chief [[Golfimbul]]; they were defeated, and [[Golfimbul]] was slain, by [[Bandobras Took]], otherwise known as '[[Bullroarer]]'.
{{battle
| name=Battle of Greenfields
| image=[[File:Gregor Roffalski - Bandobras Took.jpg|250px]]
| conflict=Series of Orc-invasions in northern Eriador
| date={{TA|2747}}
| place=[[Greenfields]], [[Northfarthing]]
| result=Victory for the [[Hobbits]]
| side1=Hobbits
| side2=Orcs of [[Mount Gram]]
| commanders1=[[Bandobras Took|Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took]]
| commanders2=[[Golfimbul]]
| forces1=Unknown
| forces2=Unknown
| casual1=Unknown
| casual2=Unknown, but severe
}}


[[Category:Battles|Greenfields]]
The '''Battle of Greenfields''' or '''Battle of the Green Fields'''<ref name="Party">{{H|1}}</ref> was the first battle fought in [[the Shire]], and the only one until the [[Battle of Bywater]].<ref name="Scouring">{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>
 
==History==
===Prelude===
The Shire was generally untroubled by any harm for the first 1140 years of its history. [[Eriador]] was quiet until {{TA|2740}}, when [[Orcs of the Misty Mountains]] invaded several parts of Eriador.<ref name="AppB">{{App|TA}}</ref>
 
The [[Rangers of the North]] fought many battles trying to hold them back, but one party managed to reach the Shire.
 
===The Battle===
Seven years after the start of the unrest, a band of Orcs of [[Mount Gram]], led by their king [[Golfimbul]], entered the [[Northfarthing]].<ref name="Scouring"/> [[Bandobras Took]], who was living in [[Long Cleeve]], crossed the river [[Norbourn]] to engage them in the region known as Greenfields, between the Norbourn and the [[Brandywine]].<ref name="Index">{{HM|UI}}, p. 24</ref> Large enough to ride a horse, Bandobras clove through the ranks of the Orc-band and knocked Golfimbul's head off with his club. The head landed in a [[Rabbits|rabbit]]-hole a hundred yards away.<ref name="Party"/> The rest of the orcs were routed.<ref name="Concerning">{{FR|Hobbits}}</ref>
 
===Aftermath===
With the route of the orcs and the death of their king, the short uprisings in Eriador ceased.<ref name="Index"/> The Shire, and Eriador as a whole, would not suffer from any more invasions until the [[War of the Ring]].<ref name="Scouring"/>
 
According to Hobbit folklore, when Golfimbul's head landed in the rabbit-hole, Bandobras invented the game of [[golf]].<ref name="Party"/>
 
==Other versions of the legendarium==
In the first phase of ''The Hobbit'', the battle was called the '''Battle of the Green Fields of Fellin''', and the goblin king was called "[[Fingolfin]]". In addition to golf, chess was also invented, because the battle was won by "checkmate".<ref name="Pryftan">{{HH|Pryftan}}</ref> The reference to chess was likely removed because it was a philologist's joke that would have gone over too many heads: "checkmate" comes from Persian ''shah mat'', "the King is Dead".<ref>"[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=checkmate Checkmate]", [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php Etymonline.com]</ref>
 
The name "Battle of the Green Fields" first arose in the second phase. The reference to chess was removed at this stage.<ref name="Bladorthin">{{HH|Bladorthin}}</ref>
 
==Portrayal in Adaptations==
'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]:'''
:The first Hobbit outside [[Bag End]] recounts the story of Bandobras, followed by the accusations that young hobbits do not know enough about their history.<ref>[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]], "Hobbiton"</ref>
 
'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:In the evil campaign, the Goblins lay siege (and conquer) the Shire as part of their revenge; the Battle of Greenfields is not yet forgotten.<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'', Evil Campain Stage 3: "The Shire"</ref>
 
{{References}}
 
[[Category:Conflicts of the Third Age]]
[[Category:History of the Shire]]
 
[[de:Schlacht von Grünfeld]]
[[fr:encyclo:evenements:3a:guerres:bataille_des_champs_verts]]
[[fi:Viherkenttien taistelu]]

Revision as of 11:49, 9 October 2014

Battle of Greenfields
Gregor Roffalski - Bandobras Took.jpg
Conflict: Series of Orc-invasions in northern Eriador
Date: T.A. 2747
Place: Greenfields, Northfarthing
Outcome: Victory for the Hobbits
Combatants

Hobbits

Orcs of Mount Gram

Commanders

Bandobras "Bullroarer" Took

Golfimbul

Strength

Unknown

Unknown

Casualties

Unknown

Unknown, but severe

The Battle of Greenfields or Battle of the Green Fields[1] was the first battle fought in the Shire, and the only one until the Battle of Bywater.[2]

History

Prelude

The Shire was generally untroubled by any harm for the first 1140 years of its history. Eriador was quiet until T.A. 2740, when Orcs of the Misty Mountains invaded several parts of Eriador.[3]

The Rangers of the North fought many battles trying to hold them back, but one party managed to reach the Shire.

The Battle

Seven years after the start of the unrest, a band of Orcs of Mount Gram, led by their king Golfimbul, entered the Northfarthing.[2] Bandobras Took, who was living in Long Cleeve, crossed the river Norbourn to engage them in the region known as Greenfields, between the Norbourn and the Brandywine.[4] Large enough to ride a horse, Bandobras clove through the ranks of the Orc-band and knocked Golfimbul's head off with his club. The head landed in a rabbit-hole a hundred yards away.[1] The rest of the orcs were routed.[5]

Aftermath

With the route of the orcs and the death of their king, the short uprisings in Eriador ceased.[4] The Shire, and Eriador as a whole, would not suffer from any more invasions until the War of the Ring.[2]

According to Hobbit folklore, when Golfimbul's head landed in the rabbit-hole, Bandobras invented the game of golf.[1]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the first phase of The Hobbit, the battle was called the Battle of the Green Fields of Fellin, and the goblin king was called "Fingolfin". In addition to golf, chess was also invented, because the battle was won by "checkmate".[6] The reference to chess was likely removed because it was a philologist's joke that would have gone over too many heads: "checkmate" comes from Persian shah mat, "the King is Dead".[7]

The name "Battle of the Green Fields" first arose in the second phase. The reference to chess was removed at this stage.[8]

Portrayal in Adaptations

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

The first Hobbit outside Bag End recounts the story of Bandobras, followed by the accusations that young hobbits do not know enough about their history.[9]

2006: The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II:

In the evil campaign, the Goblins lay siege (and conquer) the Shire as part of their revenge; the Battle of Greenfields is not yet forgotten.[10]

References