Isumbras Took II

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Isumbras Took II
Hobbit
Biographical Information
TitlesThain of the Shire
LocationThe Shire
BirthSometime between S.R. 740 and S.R. 1083
RuleSometime between S.R. 740 and S.R. 1083
DeathSometime between S.R. 740 and S.R. 1083
Family
FamilyTook
Physical Description
GenderMale

Isumbras Took II was a Hobbit of the Shire who held the position of Thain some time between S.R. 740 and S.R. 1083.

History[edit | edit source]

There are no direct records of Isumbras II, but he evidently existed between his namesake Isumbras I, who founded the Took line of Thains in S.R. 740, and the later Isumbras III.[1] Isumbras II's reign could have occurred no later than S.R. 1083, when Isengrim II became Thain, since there were no subsequent gaps in the Took family's genealogy.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

"Isumbras" is of French and Anglo-Saxon origin and means "iron-arm". It comes from the French bras meaning "arm", and the Anglo-Saxon and Middle High German word isen which means "iron".[3]

Tolkien possibly got the name from Sir Isumbras, an English medieval romance about a man who suffers a lifetime of hardship but who finds happiness in his latter years.[4]

Notes

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "Took of Great Smials"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  3. Jim Allan, An Introduction to Elvish, "Giving of Names"
  4. Harriet Hudson (ed.), Four Middle English Romances, Medieval Institute Publications; 2 edition (November 1, 2006)
Thains of the Shire
Bucca of the Marish (from S.R. 379) · 10 unknown Oldbucks · Gorhendad Oldbuck (until S.R. 740) · Isumbras I (from S.R. 740) · 8 unknown Tooks (includes: Isengrim I · Ferumbras I · Paladin I · Isumbras II) · Isengrim II (S.R. 1083 - 1122) · Isumbras III (1122 - 1159) · Ferumbras II (1159 - 1201) · Fortinbras I (1201 - 1248) · Gerontius (1248 - 1320) · Isengrim III (1320 - 1330) · Isumbras IV (1330 - 1339) · Fortinbras II (1339 - 1380) · Ferumbras III (1380 - 1415) · Paladin II (1415 - 1434) · Peregrin I (1434 - 1484) · Faramir I (from 1484)