Bilbo Full Name: Bilbo Baggins Name Meaning: Unknown Aliases: Elf-friend, Ring-finder, Ring-bearer, thief Birth Date: 22nd September, TA 2890 Date of Death: Unknown Race: Hobbit Parents: Father, Bungo Baggins. Mother, Belladonna Took Siblings: None Spouse: None Children: None History: Bilbo Baggins lived in Bag End, a house in the Shire, for 50 years. His family was very wealthy, and he was respected for never being adventurous. All that ended when Gandalf the wizard and a company of dwarves, led by Thorin II, visited him. Thorin was attempting to take back the Lonely Mountain, the home of his forefathers, from Smaug the Dragon. The dwarves needed a stealthy individual to take the job of "burglar," and Gandalf recommended Bilbo. Bilbo was hard to convince, but he eventually agreed to take part in the quest, perhaps because some of his ancestors were of the Took family, who were known for going off on adventures and doing very unexpected things. On the journey, the party was attacked by goblins in a mountain pass. Gandalf managed to divert the goblins' attention with his magic so that the company managed to escape, but Bilbo was separated from Gandalf and the dwarves. In the scuffle, he found a ring on the ground and put it in his pocket, thinking nothing of it. Bilbo wandered in the dark caves until he came upon the creature Gollum. Bilbo foolishly introduced himself and said that he was lost, and Gollum would have eaten him if not for Bilbo's sword. The two agreed to play a riddle-game: if Bilbo won, Gollum would show him the way out of the cave; but if Gollum won, he would eat Bilbo. After many riddles, Bilbo won with the question, "What have I got in my pocket?" Gollum did not keep his end of the bargain, as he began to suspect that the mysterious object in Bilbo's pocket was a ring that had belonged to Gollum for hundreds of years: a ring that gave the wearer invisibility. Bilbo sensed that Gollum was up to no good, and he tried to run away, Gollum chasing him. Bilbo tripped, and as he fell, the ring that he had found managed to slip on his finger, and Gollum passed by him. Bilbo found his way back to his companions, and had many other adventures, including one in which he fought giant spiders. It was at this occasion that Bilbo gave his short sword a name: Sting. Bilbo returned home with many riches. Many years later, Bilbo adopted his younger cousin, Frodo. The two shared the same birthday (September 22nd), and celebrated it together. On Bilbo's 111th birthday (Frodo's 33rd), they held a great party which Gandalf and almost all the hobbits in the Shire were invited to. Bilbo was asked to give a speech, but instead of the good-natured but meaningless chatter which the guests expected, Bilbo put on the Ring and disappeared. He returned to Bag End, where his belongings were packed and ready for a journey. All his belongings, that is, except the Ring. After a quarrel, Gandalf convinced him to leave the Ring to Frodo, and Bilbo set out for Rivendell, where he lived in peace for many years. At Rivendell, Bilbo completed many writings, including translations from Elvish. After the War of the Ring, Bilbo passed over the sea with Frodo, Gandalf, Galadriel, and Elrond. Bilbo lived to be the oldest hobbit in history, leaving Middle-earth at age 131.   < <Back to character biographies index