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Particularly associated with Brandy Hall in Buckland
Meaning
Open to question1
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About this entry:

  • Updated 8 July 1999
  • Updates planned: 56

Meriadoc ‘Merry’ Brandybuck

Companion of the Ring and later Master of Buckland

Meriadoc
Brandybuck
(At least one
unnamed son)2

Masters of Buckland

The Company of the Ring

Son of Saradoc Brandybuck, called 'The Magnificent', Merry accompanied Frodo on the Quest of Mount Doom. Captured with his friend Peregrin Took by Orcs, they were separated from the rest of the Company of the Ring, but eventually escaped to become the first mortals for many centuries to encounter the Ents of Fangorn Forest. Merry was present at the destruction of Isengard, and rode to the Battle of the Pelennor with the Rohirrim. There, his deeds won great renown, for with Éowyn of Rohan he defeated and slew the Lord of the Nazgûl.


Notes

1

The name Meriadoc seems to be derived from, or at least influenced by, the figure of Conan Meriadoc, a legendary British leader who was said to have been the founder of Brittany. The possibility of this connection is supported by the fact that Conan's father was named Gerontius (a name apparently borrowed for another important Hobbit by Tolkien). The derivation of Meriadoc is uncertain, but some sources suggest an origin in Old Welsh meriadeg 'sea brow', while others suggest simply 'great one'.

2

We're given practically no information about the progeny or descendants of Meriadoc and Estella, but we can be sure that they had at least one son. In Appendix B to The Lord of the Rings, in the entry for Shire Year 1484, Merry and Pippin '...handed over their goods and offices to their sons'. We know from other sources that the son of Peregrin mentioned here was named Faramir, but there is no comparable reference to Meriadoc's heir.

See also...

Adamanta Chubb, Ants, Aragorn Elessar, Battle of Bywater, Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Berilac Brandybuck, Black Breath, Brandybuck Family, Bregalad, Broadbelt, Bucklebury Ferry, Bumpkin, Captain of Sauron, Captain of the Dúnedain of Arnor, Chieftain of the Ringwraiths, [See the full list...]

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 8 July 1999
  • Updates planned: 56

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