[Child of the 7th Age]

Background Material on Maura Took and the Hobbits of Beleriand

Maura Took, the son of Isenbar and Mirabella Took, was born in Dor-Lomin in the year 461 of the First Age. Maura came from a long line of lore-masters and wise women desended from Izindi Took. More than two hundred years prior to the fall of Gondolin, Izindi had led the hobbits on a westward march from the lands of their birth, joining up with the Men of the First House of the Edain.

Alhough the Elvish chronicles fail to record the details, the hobbits were most likely represented at the initial meeting between Beor the Wise and the Elf-lord Finrod, son of Finarfin and brother of Galadriel, that took place in the year 310. The fortunes of the Took family, and of the hobbit community in general, continued to be tied to those of the First House. Thus, the hobbits temporarily settled in Estolad, but then moved to Ladros in Dorthonion, after that land was granted to Lord Boron.

It is interesting to note that, although Maura himself never lived in Ladros, he considered that city to be his true cultural heritage, and was well acquainted with the words and deeds of the wise-woman Andreth who was the grand-daughter of Boron. With the fourth battle of the Beleriand wars, that of Dagor Bragollach in 455, the hobbits were expelled from Dorthonion, along with the Edain, and did not return until after the fall of Gondolin, this time in the guise of prisoners.

Maura's grandfather, for whom the lad was named, died fighting at Tarn Aeluin in the year 460 beside the outlaw Barahir and his son Beren, the only one of the group who managed to escape.

Most of the hobbit community went into exile in 456, settling in Dor-Lomin, along with a number of the Edain. This is where Maura himelf was born in 461. As a young lad of just twelve years, Maura was forced to flee, along with his surviving family and most of the other hobbits, after the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, in which his own father Isenbar had been killed, acting as a courier for Fingon.

It was at this point that Idril intervened with her father and secured permission to safeguard the hobbits within the secret stronghold of Gondolin, where they remained till the fall of the city in 511.

We know that in the year 500 Maura's mother and his twin sister Mirella were killed ouside Gondolin's gates by a band of roving Orcs. Seven years later, Maura's youngest sister Zira married Ban. Abar was born in 508, and Azra in 512 on the isle of Tol-Fuin.

Maura's growing love for Cami is detailed in the tale of the Lonely Star. It should also be noted that, although Maura held great respect for Elves and Elvish learning, he was careful to stress that the destiny of hobbits lay elsewhere, and that, being mortals, their interests were more closely tied to those of Men. Maura's scholarly contributions were primarily in the area of history; he also acted as a teacher for the hobbit youngsters. Moreover, it was to Maura whom Ancalimon turned whenever he needed to discuss urgent community matters.

Maura seems to have been a gentle and easy-going fellow who, although thoroughly conversant in ancient lore, greatly enjoyed popular songs and nonsense, hence his popularity with hobbit children. He was adept with the bow, and well respected within the general community. He was tall and slender for a hobbit, with grey eyes and brown curls that were tinged with grey. The only criticism his neighbors offered was that he tended to keep his feelings to himself, so that it was sometimes difficult to know what he was really thinking.

[ February 17, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]