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A reference to Saradoc's great wealth1
Title of

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  • Updated 12 April 2024
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Scattergold

A title for Merry’s father

It seems to have been tradition for each of the Masters of the Hall of Buckland to be given a sobriquet or informal title. This tradition went back at least as far as Merry Brandybuck's great-great-great-great-grandfather, Gormadoc (whose title was 'Deepdelver'). Each of Gormadoc's heirs and successors bore a similar title.

Merry's father Saradoc, who was Master of Buckland at the time of the War of the Ring, was known as 'Scattergold'. That name is never specifically explained, but it seems to refer to his wealth and presumably also his generosity. Incidentally, Merry himself was given one of these unofficial titles - after the War, he was to become 'Meriadoc the Magnificent'.


Notes

1

Master Saradoc Brandybuck was famed for his wealth (in earlier versions of the genealogy of the Bucklanders he is named Caradoc Dives, 'Caradoc the Rich'). The implications of the 'scatter' in his title are less clear, but the suggestion seems to be that he was open-handed with his great wealth, either giving it away or spending it freely.

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  • Updated 12 April 2024
  • This entry is complete

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