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Dates
Lotho Sackville-Baggins adopted the title 'Chief Shirriff'1 soon after New Year III 3019 (1419 by the Shire-reckoning); he was slain sometime before November of the same year
Location
The Shire
Origins
A title created by Lotho Sackville-Baggins for himself
Race
Hobbits
Culture
Shire-hobbits
Family
Sackville-Baggins
Settlements
Headquartered at Bag End in Hobbiton
Pronunciation
Shirriff is pronounced 'shi'rriff'
Meaning
Shirriff comes from Old English scirgerefa ('Shire-reeve' or 'Shire-steward')
Other names
Commonly shorted to simply 'Chief'
Title of
Lotho Sackville-Baggins

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About this entry:

  • Updated 7 February 2021
  • Updates planned: 1

Chief Shirriff

A title claimed by Lotho Sackville-Baggins

A title apparently invented for himself by Lotho Sackville-Baggins after he deposed Will Whitfoot as Mayor of the Shire and took power for himself. Though 'Chief Shirriff' was his official title, he was more commonly called simply 'the Chief'. After Saruman came to the Shire and took it over as 'Sharkey', the Hobbits considered him to be the 'real' Chief.


Notes

1

The Shirriffs dated back into the history of the Shire, but traditionally their leader had been known as the 'First Shirriff', a rank attached to the position of Mayor. When Lotho Sackville-Baggins overthrew Mayor Will Whitfoot and took power in the Shire, he seems to have invented 'Chief Shirriff' as a new title for himself. We're told that '...[Lotho] called himself Chief Shirriff, or just Chief, and did as he liked' (The Return of the King VI 8 (The Scouring of the Shire).

See also...

Chief’s Men, Cock-robin, First Eastfarthing Troop, First Shirriff, Lobelia Sackville-Baggins (née Bracegirdle), Lotho Sackville-Baggins, Pimple, Shirriff-houses

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 7 February 2021
  • Updates planned: 1

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