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Dates
The title was created at the time of Buckland's founding in III 2340 or soon afterwards (740 by the Shire-reckoning); the line of the Masters continued into the Fourth Age
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  • Updated 2 July 2009
  • Updates planned: 1

Master of Buckland

The head of the Brandybuck family

Gorhendad
Oldbuck

Approximately twelve
unnamed Masters
Gormadoc
'Deepdelver'

Madoc
'Proudneck'

Sadoc

Marroc

Marmadoc
'Masterful'

Gorbadoc
'Broadbelt'

Three other
children
Rorimac
'Goldfather'

Six other
children
Saradoc
'Scattergold'

Merimac
Meriadoc
'The Magnificent'

The descent of the Masters of Buckland from Gorhendad Oldbuck through his descendants of the Brandybuck clan. Names shown in bold held the office of Master.

Hereditary title of the head of the Brandybuck family, descended from Gorhendad Oldbuck, who founded the march-land of Buckland and built Brandy Hall.

Gorhendad Oldbuck The hereditary Thain of the Shire, Gorhendad abandoned his birthright to pass across the River Brandywine and found Buckland. He created Brandy Hall within Buck Hill above the village of Bucklebury, and changed his name to Brandybuck. His descendants were Masters of the Hall and leaders of the people of Buckland.
Approximately twelve unnamed Masters We know nothing of the Masters between Gorhendad and Gormadoc, but given that the later Masters ruled the Hall for an average of forty years each, and a gap of about five hundred years, there would probably have been twelve or thirteen Masters of the Hall in the intervening period.
Gormadoc Brandybuck
'Deepdelver'
Master to III 2836 (1236 by the Shire-reckoning)
Brandy Hall had been established by Gorhendad Oldbuck, but Gormadoc delved more deeply into Buck Hill, expanding the Hall greatly, and gaining his nickname 'Deepdelver' in the process. He married Malva Headstrong and had three sons, the eldest of whom would succeed him.
Madoc Brandybuck
'Proudneck'
Master from III 2836 to III 2877 (1236 - 1277 by the Shire-reckoning, 41 years)
Madoc married Hanna Goldworthy, and was succeeded by his only son.
Marmadoc Brandybuck
'Masterful'
Master from III 2877 to III 2910 (1277 - 1310 by the Shire-reckoning, 33 years)
Master of Buckland at the time of Bilbo Baggins' birth, Marmadoc married into the Bolger family, and had four children. He was succeeded by the eldest of these.
Gorbadoc Brandybuck
'Broadbelt'
Master from III 2910 to III 2963 (1310 - 1363 by the Shire-reckoning, 53 years)
Gorbadoc's time as Master began with disaster; the year after he succeeded, the Fell Winter struck the Shire. The Bucklanders survived that dreadful winter, and Gorbadoc remained as Master for a further fifty-two years. He had seven children, and through his youngest daughter Primula he was the grandfather of Frodo Baggins. He was succeeded by his eldest son.
Rorimac Brandybuck
'Goldfather'
Master from III 2963 to III 3008 (1363 - 1408 by the Shire-reckoning, 45 years)
Rorimac lived to the age of 106, and in his later years he was popularly known as 'Old Rory'. He was the Master of Brandy Hall during Frodo's youth there, and also at the time of Bilbo's famous Birthday Party, which he attended with both his sons. He was succeeded by the elder of those two sons.
Saradoc Brandybuck
'Scattergold'
Master from III 3008 to IV 11 (1408 - 1432 by the Shire-reckoning, 24 years)
Saradoc was Master of the Hall during the great events that brought the Third Age to an end (events in which his son Meriadoc played a great part). He and his people survived Sharkey's takeover of the Shire, and he remained Master through the early years of the Fourth Age. He was succeeded by his famous son.
Meriadoc Brandybuck
'The Magnificent'
Master from IV 11 to IV 63 (1432 - 1484 by the Shire-reckoning, 52 years)
In his youth Meriadoc had accompanied the Fellowship of the Ring, and on his return he played a part in rescuing the Shire from Sharkey and his Men. Thirteen years after those events, he succeeded his father to become the Master of Buckland in his own right. In his old age, Meriadoc departed from the Shire, and at that time the title of Master would have been passed on to his son, whose name is not recorded.

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About this entry:

  • Updated 2 July 2009
  • Updates planned: 1

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