From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth, the Thain was a leader of the Hobbits of the Shire.
Evidently a Hobbitish word created by chopping the 'chief' off the word 'chieftain', the Hobbits first chose a Thain to rule them when Arvedui, last King of Arnor died.
Over time the Thain became a hereditary position, and it remained within the powerful Took clan.
In the Fourth Age the title in Sindarin was Ernil i Pheriannath ("Prince of the Halflings"), after Peregrin Took became the Thain.
Other rulers of the Shire were the Master of Buckland and the mayor of Michel Delving in the White Downs, as well as in the Fourth Age the Warden of Westmarch.
See also Thains of the Shire.
