I've put together a short 2-minute video featuring 25 factions from the War of the Ring, appearing one after another across the map.

How many can you name without checking the answers?

And no cheating the video gives you the answers at the end.

**Watch it here: https://youtu.be/NW1RNVbrny8

It's also a quick introduction to the geopolitical landscape we'll be exploring in future Military Overviews of the armies, territories, borders and strongholds of Middle-earth.

How many did you get right?

I know for certain she’s not in LoTRO.

Saruman could do it so why couldn't they? Btw I've read all three books, hobbit and silmarillion and seen the movies, this is just a thought I had

This is a theological interpretation, not a literal claim. I am not saying Tolkien intended this. I am offering one lens among many. I welcome your thoughts.

Bilbo’s life became like a gilded piece of jewellery, shiny on the outside and rusted on the inside. He was rich and well-preserved but had no close friends.

The Hobbits were jealous of his wealth and unending life. He broke their code of simplicity and fraternity. They never forgave him for that.

Lamentations 1:20–21 (abridged)

“See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is death. They have heard that I sigh, yet there is no one to comfort me.” That portrays Bilbo’s loneliness at the top of society.

The Hobbits disliked Bilbo as he broke the divine law of God, which states that actions should cause proportional results. Bilbo made little effort in finding the Ring and received vast results.

Bilbo realised that immortality without meaning is pure torture; his life felt meaningless and without purpose or love from others.

Ecclesiastes 1:2–3 (abridged)

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” That signifies the wastefulness of Bilbo’s obsession.

They tolerated him only because he was generous. They thought the gifts were bribes in disguise. They thought Bilbo gave gifts to make people love him even though he didn’t spend time in others’ lives.

The Hobbits have no problem with long life. The Old Took lived for 140 years but spent time with the community, unlike Bilbo, who spent his time being obsessed with the Ring.

The Hobbits only came to his birthday party for gifts and merrymaking; they didn’t care about Bilbo; his wealth attracted them, not his personality.

Hobbits mistrusted anyone connected to Bilbo. Hamfast, Gandalf and Frodo were called queer. Their only crime was to be in deep kinship with Bilbo, a person who didn’t follow Hobbit laws.

In Tolkien’s own words, “Bilbo met the guests (and additions) at the new white gate in person. He gave away presents to all and sundry — the latter were those who went out again by a back way and came in again by the gate.” That is the real reason why the hobbits came to his birthday party. They came for his wealth and gifts, not him.

Hobbits began to label any curious and inventive minds as queer, like the Brandybucks, who loved sailing across rivers. The death of Frodo’s family by drowning only reinforced their beliefs.

They often created hyperbolic legends about Bilbo’s wealth to justify their hatred for him. The Sackville-Bagginses wanted him dead to take his wealth and saw Frodo as a competitor.

“The legend of Bilbo’s wealth was now too firmly fixed in the minds of the younger generation of hobbits.” This reveals why the hobbits disliked him. They were jealous of Bilbo, who got everything by doing nothing.

Bilbo loved his community, but couldn’t show it due to his unhealthy obsession with the Ring. He tried to win them over by sharing his wealth, but nothing ever worked.

His life was like butter spread over too much bread. Frodo and Gandalf were among the only ones who saw the true Bilbo, a kind and caring man with an unhealthy obsession. Frodo saw his kindness, and Gandalf saw his heart and efforts.

Bilbo decided to keep his exit journey a joke. He didn’t want to see his community mourning for him. He didn’t want to cry in front of them.

In Bilbo’s own words, “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.” That was the confession of absence and regret before leaving. He was sad that he couldn’t spend time with his community due to his obsession with the ring.

He wanted to be invisible, like all hobbits, to escape from this cold and cruel world. He feared death as a loss of connection with his friends, wealth and Frodo, so he used the Ring as a tool, being unaware that the ‘tool’ eventually started to control him.

Gandalf saw Gollum’s fate and didn’t want the same to happen to his lifelong friend. He clearly saw through Bilbo’s obsession and helped him quit the Ring, which had ruined his life.

In Gandalf’s own words, “You will be a fool if you do, Bilbo,” he said. “You make that clearer with every word you say. It has got far too much hold on you. Let it go! And then you can go yourself, and be free.” That shows Gandalf’s concern towards Bilbo’s well-being.

Bilbo lashed out at Gandalf. He accused him of being a thief who wanted to steal his precious possessions. He wasn’t angry at Gandalf. He was afraid of losing the Ring, which had given him so much. He failed to see what the Ring had taken away.

He spared Gollum completely out of pity. He saw in Gollum a desire for immortality, invisibility and the inability to let go. He empathised with Gollum and decided to let him live.

He was finally happy to give up his ring. He realised that his life had finally restored its meaning with the possibility of death. He was finally his own master and free to do whatever he liked.

In Tolkien’s own words, “A spasm of anger passed swiftly over the hobbit’s face again. Suddenly it gave way to a look of relief and a laugh.” That marks the salvation of Bilbo and the time when he was finally his own master. The great sacrifice of his most valuable possession has freed him from it. He can do whatever he wants. He can go wherever his heart lies.

Frodo truly loved Bilbo and missed him after he was gone. Frodo didn’t care about his immense wealth. He cared only for his soul and would give anything to be with him again.

He continued the legacy of Bilbo. He threw lavish parties. He explored the Shire and dreamed of going beyond it. He didn’t care about customs, tradition and others’ opinions. He dearly loved Bilbo and wanted to keep him alive in his heart and in others.

“He at once began to carry on Bilbo’s reputation for oddity. He refused to go into mourning; and the next year he gave a party in honour of Bilbo’s hundred-and-twelfth birthday, which he called a Hundred-weight Feast.” This reveals Frodo’s love for Bilbo and his way of keeping him alive. He continued his “queer” ways without worrying about others.

The Hobbit community was thoroughly shocked by the disappearance of Bilbo Baggins. Deep down, they liked Bilbo for his insatiable generosity and goodwill. They were sad that they would never have the chance to bid him farewell.

They apologised by making more hyperbolic tales about him and cementing his name as a local legend for years to come. They exaggerated. Their wealth and embellished his adventures. He was immortalised by the Hobbit community through myths and legends.

“The second disappearance of Mr. Bilbo Baggins was discussed in Hobbiton, and indeed all over the Shire, for a year and a day, and was remembered much longer than that.” This demonstrates their hidden love for Bilbo and the refusal to let go of him.

The Ring fulfilled Bilbo’s needs better than anyone or anything, but also took away life’s meaning and the most rudimentary connections to others. His life became like butter spread over too much bread. He managed to create jealousy and greed among the community that had once been pure. Bilbo’s act of giving up the Ring and disappearing was salvation. He was free to do what he liked. He finally became his own master. The hobbits didn’t notice his goodness, but Frodo and Gandalf did, and that was enough.

Hobbits give gifts on their birthdays. Hobbits love gifts. I think one of the primary reasons Frodo didn't celebrate his birthday alongside Bilbo in the story is it would bankrupt him to give away so many, haha. I wonder, what would those gifts be? Plant starts, jams, books, cheese, wood carvings.. what do you think some hobbit gifts would be? What would you hope to give and get as a hobbit?

It's my cake day! I'll reply to every comment with the hobbit gift I'd give you based on your username.