

The Battle of Bywater was a battle for control of the Shire and the final battle of the War of the Ring.

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History

Background

The battle was precipitated by Saruman's takeover of the Shire supported by Lotho Sackville-Baggins, and a band of Ruffians who acted as their enforcers. These events led to major changes in the shire which were resented by many Hobbits as industrious and destructive. When the Hobbits Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Sam returned to the Shire after their adventures, they did not like what they saw going on there either. Using the courage and skill they discovered in themselves while abroad, they were able to take up leadership of the Hobbits who wanted to resist the tyranny of Sharkey and the Ruffians. Soon, the Shire-folk were rallied against the invaders and managed to assemble a force.

Gathering Hobbits for battle

Upon arriving in Bywater, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were questioned by the Ruffian leader as to their intentions. After he had insulted Frodo, the Leaders challenge of authority was met by Pippin, who declared himself as a messenger of the King, and drew his sword against him, Sam and Merry followed suit. The Leader and his men fled, leaving the four hobbits to raise the Shire, and to rally their troops. Merry used the Horn of Rohan to great effect, his call was met by many hobbits throughout that part of the Shire.

The battle

After returning, then being surrounded by a ring of hobbits, the Leader, now with more men, was pierced by four hobbit arrows as he attempted to break away and maim Merry. He died instantly. His gang was then rounded up and locked away. More Ruffians had been sent by Sharkey to suppress the Hobbit revolt breaking out in Bywater. However, the Hobbits scouts gave them advanced warning. The Hobbits then devised a plan to surround and trap the Ruffians when they arrived. Makeshift mobile roadblocks were made out of carts and wagons, and after the Ruffians reached the center of the town the road was blocked in front and behind them. The Ruffians then tried to fight their way out through the Hobbits, some breaking through. These were then encircled and engaged until the battle was won.

The Hobbits were informally commanded by Merry and Pippin. Technically, Pippin was still a Knight of Gondor, as King Elessar had not released him from service but granted him indefinite leave, and when he departed Aragorn reminded Pippin that his restored kingship now extended to the old northern lands which included the Shire. Therefore, Pippin loosely saw himself as fighting off the Ruffians with the authority of the King supporting him. Sam Gamgee also fought in the battle. Frodo was also present at the battle, though he did not fight: he spent the battle making sure that no Ruffians who threw down their weapons were killed as well as making sure that none of the hobbits who had joined the Ruffians were killed stating that no hobbit had killed another hobbit and that it was not going to start there.

Aftermath

The next day, Frodo and his three companions, leading the Hobbits of the Shire, marched to Hobbiton. There Frodo confronted Saruman and exiled him from the Shire. Then Wormtongue killed Saruman by slitting his throat, on the very doorstep of Bag End. Before Frodo could react, the Hobbits of the Shire shot Wormtongue dead with three arrows. The Battle of Bywater occurred on November 3, 3019 or SR 1419 by Shire-reckoning in the Shire Calendar and was the last major military engagement of the War of the Ring.[1]

Translations

Foreign Language Translated name Bulgarian Cyrillic Битката в Крайречкино Chinese (Hong Kong) 臨水之戰 Croatian Bitka Po vodom Czech Bitva o Povodí Danish Slaget ved Sidenå Dutch Slag van Bijwater French Bataille de Lézeau German Schlacht von Wasserau Greek Μάχη της Βυωατερ ? Hebrew קרב ביווטר Italian Battaglia di Lungacque Kannada ಬೈವಾಟರ್ ಕದನದಲ್ಲಿ Polish Bitwa nad Wodą Romanian Bătălia de la Bywater Russian Битва при Байуотере Spanish Batalla de Delagua